Stihl 028 chainsaw won't start

LonJ

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How are you at diagnosing chainsaws that won't start.
A friend gave me one that he couldn't get started. I thought , no problem, this shouldn't be to hard to fix.

I seem to have spark,( visable when spark plug grounded to head, and get some very short engine firings.) (Makes me think it is fuel problem). I have installed new spark plug, carb kit, and fuel line. Carb looked clean inside. Saw was stored with gas tank empty. I have tried many adjustments of the high (h) carb adjustment screw, to no real effect. I don't really know if I have too much or too little fuel. Plug does seem to get wet during choking, but not excessively so. I usually blow off plug and blow out plug hole between trys. I have tried using starting fluid thru carb with inconsistent results, sometimes I get a couple fires then nothing, other times nothing (Makes me wonder if it really is an ignition problem).. I have kind of run out of ideas. The only remaining thing that I can think of is to replace the so called impulse line from the engine to the carb. This is supposed to be a vacuum line which is necessary for carb to get fuel. Unfortunately it is really difficult to get to. I guess the other choices are spark intensity (a function of ignition coil), and perhaps ignition timing (which is also difficult to mess with).

Any ideas on how to really isolate problem to fuel vs ignition, if fuel then what?

Thanks for any insight you have on this issue.
 

Fish

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Go on e-bay and buy a good 029/290 coil... Wire it in and be done with it!!!!!
 

LonJ

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I would if I could be sure that the coil is the problem.
 

LonJ

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Fish
Why do you think it is the coil, when I have visable spark when I ground the plug to the head and crank it?

Why do you recommend a coil for a different model saw than my o28?
 

Fish

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Does your saw have points? Is it a WB 028?
 

Fish

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Go to Bing, type in "Fish 028 points", and read the threads in the top two hits. If your saw doesn't have points, let us know.

Just because you see a spark doesn't mean it is all good.
 

LonJ

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Does your saw have points? Is it a WB 028?
It is a 028 WB and it does have points. Did I read some where , where this design could be updated to a pointless system?
 

LonJ

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It is a 028 WB and it does have points. Did I read some where , where this design could be updated to a pointless system?
I noticed when I removed the flywheel to check the points that the key in the crank was almost if not totally flush with crank. It did not look functional to me. Any thoughts?
I assume if the key is sheared then the timing is messed up. Maybe a new woodruff key and reassembly of flywheel correctly is all I really need!
 
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Fish

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I was trying to get you to replace the coil, without removing the flywheel, I failed....

Yes, if you would "google" or "bing" the topic, you would have your cure......Just slap on the new coil, and be done with it. But now, you have to worry about whether you re-torqued the flywheel nut enough.....
 
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