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Hard to start / idle.

Blackgreyhounds

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My trusty MS 361, bone stock, original carb settings, recently started giving me problems at start up, particularly in the very cold (10-15F). I've had this saw for about 5 yrs now and it has been dead solid reliable starting cold and dry to hot and humid. Recently, it has been taking 10-20 pulls to start. At cold start, I put it on full choke until it pops, then high-idle, etc, but this just doesn't do it. I usually need a couple extra pulls on full-choke ?to get enough gas in the cylinder. Then for the first few minutes of running, it's got a terrible bog on acceleration. To me, this sounds like I need to open the "L" screw. What do you all think? I haven't been able to test this out yet. It seems funny that it has run for many years on standard settings, and only now it's giving me grief.
 

AVB

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Probably needing the metering diaphragm changed out. They do stiffen over the years and cold especially makes even stiffer. The fuel pump diaphragm should be change at the same times too.
 

huskyboy

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I have a 394xp I worked on that died while idling and the gaskets in the carb were starting to get stiff. Big difference when you hold new and old one up to each other and see difference. Saw idled way better after. Now it has a hot start flood issue I've traced to coil I believe. One problem over, on to next :(
 

Blackgreyhounds

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Thanks for the input everyone. Saw started, idled and ran great the other day (40 degrees F). I think I'll chalk it up to very a very cold day (yes I did flip the summer/winter doo-hicky carb warmer around when it was really cold). If it persists or bothers me, I'll clean the carb and put in a new diaphram, etc. Thanks again.
 

Wolverine

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I agree w/ the carb diaphragm. Did you buy this new, only 5 years ago?


Now it has a hot start flood issue I've traced to coil I believe. One problem over, on to next :(
I had the hot start issue on mine too, only when milling. I originally thought it was the common vapor lock in the intake block. Finally decided to try a cheena coil and all my start issues disappeared. But now, when milling the saw miss fires frequently. Wishing I would have bought an OEM. Saw just isn't quite the same, feeling like the timing has been retarded (less angry performance).
 
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