Export thread

I've had this one 7 years with no problems until recently when it wouldn't crank. I tried all my little tricks with draining old fuel and
putting in fresh fuel and checking spark which appeared no spark. Took it to a authorized Stihl dealer. They replaced the ignition
module for $130 and it ran fine to cut up one tree limb that had fallen. Took it out today to cut up another limb and it's doing the same thing
as before, not even a hint of wanting to crank. I checked the spark and could see a very faint spark but it was a spark! Right now
I'm pretty aggravated. He said to bring it back if I had any problems, don't know what that means! another $130??? After while
it starts approaching the cost of a new saw. My last Stihl lasted 30 years, so I was kinda hoping it would be a repeat

Before bad mouthing anything, take it back and have the mechanic take a look at it. At a good repair shop and in a reasonable time periID, most good shops will replace a defective part under warranty. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve run into defective parts.

I've had it back about a week. Most likely I will take it back tomorrow.

Just wondering?? I was pricing ignition modules on the net and there were cheap modules from $10 to $30 and the
Stihl was $75. Wonder how the quality of the cheap ones stack up against the Stihl?

Is it losing prime? Have the fuel lines, fuel tank grommet, and primer bulb been replaced?
Has the spark arrestor screen been cleaned?
Was a new spark plug installed?
I'm willing to bet that the shop didn't do a thorough evaluation.
Aftermarket ignition modules aren't the best.

No it's all original except the new ignition module. Believe it or not, it has no primer bulb. Same plug.

Well I took it back to the Stihl Shop today. Told him it just wasn't cranking. He ask me if I had tried to crank it today. I said no. He picked it up
and pulled the crank cord about 25 times in quick succession and it finally fired and ran good. He said it was just flooded and you have to pull
it like that to clear it out. I'm not sure in my physical condition I can pull it with that intensity for that long---so I hope it's a little easier to crank
when I go out to cut my limb in a few minuets.

BTW---when I tried it, if fired up on the first pull and I cut my big limb all up. When it stalls again, I'll take it to the Stihl man to give
it the "25 Quick Pulls" to get it going again! Just kidding:>)

Try this procedure which I use on my Echo. Put the choke on fully closed. Put the rope 2 or 3 times, until you hear it pop. Move choke to 1/2 position and pull the rope until it starts. This procedure eliminates flooding the engine.

Rivets, that is the same procedure in my Stihl MS250 Manual and what I follow most of the time but---when that
don't work? I usually let it sit a while and try that procedure again and it usually fires up. This time none of that
procedure would work for me and it was a reason, the Ignition Module was out and was replaced. I cranked and
ran well for me to do one job last week. Then this week it was acting just like it did when the ignition module
was out----just dead. So I'm glad it's working now because I really like this saw.

On funny note----before I took it to the Stihl Dealer I called a local repairman that I had used years before to get him to work on my saw. The
second I told him it was a Stihl his whole demeanor changed and he was angry! He said I don't work on Stihls and he told me
about the Stihl dealer in town that I didn't know we had--so I appreciate that. I wanted to ask him why he felt that way about
Stihls but by the sound in his voice, I decided to leave it alone:>)

Not all Stihl dealers are the same and maybe only one individual has past their silver level training for Stihl and never went any further.

Stihl use to really push for dealer tech training, now they seem to shy away and concentrate on volume sales of new units.

My first Stihl Was a 011AV with 16" Bar purchased new in 1986. It finally played out in 2018. So 32 years of good solid trouble free
service is why I went Stihl again. I never had to rely on their service tech because it was always working. I changed the bar and chain a couple of
times, but that's it.

Hello platefire,

Be aware that the old saws were much more forgiving and had more size and power. The carburetor passages were larger. They also belched more smoke than they do today. EPA regulations have starved many small engines down.

Do yourself a favor, if you have not already, and use No-Ethanol fuel and the Stihl oil. Mix the fuel exactly as instructed in a steel 1-gallon can. No guess work or estimation to the mix, because the carburetor and newer spark plug designs will cause a terrible hard start. The steel (paint thinner) can with a good screw on lid will preserve the mix much longer than any plastic fuel container ever will.

Don't use the old cheap straight weight oil mix methods like we used to years ago. It will cause you much grief.

I have had to pull many mufflers off of chainsaws and weed eaters to heat the red hot to burn out all the oil coking. The wrong oil mix will choke up a modern muffler quickly.

With 2-stroke engines, the basic rule is: "If old burnt carbon exhaust air cannot get out, new fresh air cannot get in to draw the fuel in."

I've had many Stihl dealers "condemned" saws come to me for a second opinion and it was poor fuel mix related about 80% of the time.

platefire said:

Rivets, that is the same procedure in my Stihl MS250 Manual and what I follow most of the time but---when that
don't work? I usually let it sit a while and try that procedure again and it usually fires up. This time none of that
procedure would work for me and it was a reason, the Ignition Module was out and was replaced. I cranked and
ran well for me to do one job last week. Then this week it was acting just like it did when the ignition module
was out----just dead. So I'm glad it's working now because I really like this saw.

On funny note----before I took it to the Stihl Dealer I called a local repairman that I had used years before to get him to work on my saw. The
second I told him it was a Stihl his whole demeanor changed and he was angry! He said I don't work on Stihls and he told me
about the Stihl dealer in town that I didn't know we had--so I appreciate that. I wanted to ask him why he felt that way about
Stihls but by the sound in his voice, I decided to leave it alone:>)

Click to expand...

I love working on Stihl equipment! Stihl is the most common handheld equipment in my area. My success rate for getting Stihl equipment starting and running well is very high as long as there is good compression.

Sounds like the needle is passing excess fuel possibly. 7 year old carb probably needs a rebuild.

slomo said:

Sounds like the needle is passing excess fuel possibly. 7 year old carb probably needs a rebuild.

Click to expand...

Could be.
My old SRM225 is hard to start after running a while and putting it down for a few minutes. I imagine that the diaphragms in the carburetor are perished. I replaced all of the fuel lines last year. I may just buy an OE carburetor and be done with it.

Well I have to confess, have been using regular gas with Lucus mixed in and using other kinds of oil to the 50:1 mix
other than Stihl oil. So I know that's not prime like using non Ethanol gas and Stihl oil mixture