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MS361 has me stumped

Warped5

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I don't post 'issues' often, but this one's driving me nuts.

I have an MS361 here that I cannot get to run for nothing. I searched Saturday and read a LOT of threads about the starting issues this model has. Tried many of those suggestions without success .... so I post here.

The facts:

- Owner said it would run for a few seconds, then die.
- New carb kit installed after USC and carb cleaner spray-out
- Walbro HDA-34C carb
- Fuel is getting to the cylinder
- Fresh fuel
- Good spark (1/4" tester)
- New spark plug
- Good compression
- Flywheel is installed correctly
- No cracks in fuel line
 

BuckthornBonnie

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Been into 1135s recently for a buddy. Does it pop and try to run?
One of two had bad bearings and ate both seals to the point where it wouldn’t run at all. Seals ok on that one? Any wiggle to the crank?
The one I managed to rebuild wouldn’t fire off so I switched coils and found a bad plug lead that would give intermittent issues connecting.
Piston look ok?
 

Warped5

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Crank has no play ..

Piston looks very good ..

MANY posters said this saw will often give a 'quiet' pop when on choke ... ??

I read a couple of times where problems were corrected by coil replacement .... are these known to be wonky?
 

Warped5

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Another note .... this saw has been hard to start for a LONG time. The original starter pawls were so worn, they would rarely catch!
 

BuckthornBonnie

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My shop had two “dead” 361 coils in the last few years. One wouldn’t spark at all, the other resulted in major running issues.

Both were fixed by coils from parts saws (unfortunately for me and now Stihlbro, who bought those parts saws lol).
 

Cracker Boy

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Check your piston, i just built one from ground up with new rings new seals new bearings i put a new wrist pin bearing that was trash and wrist pin was on back order so i had another member send me a used one. After putting together would do what your talking about but my ring end gap was bad and pin bosses were allmost gone.i put a new piston and problem solved.there known for the pistons and pin boss location. Keep us posted
 

Cracker Boy

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Old piston looked fine too until further checking and tearing saw topend back off.
 

Warped5

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Mine would idle and rev just fine. Put it in wood and it would stumble and puke. New coil fixed it. Coils are notorious for going bad on this model

Hey Kevin!

Even though the spark looks good, we know that spark can 'misbehave' under compression at times.
 

a. palmer jr.

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I bought a 361 at that flea market I told you about, couple or more years back. It gave me all kinds of problems at first then I finally noticed the pulse line was very loose, looked okay until I looked closer, just barely touching the nozzle..I don't know how it ran at all.
 

huskihl

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(Sorry I haven't updated here...)

Thanks Doc ... The boot is good and impulse is good. Waiting for a Huztl coil (haven't failed me yet).

Will put in a new fuel filter tomorrow.
Let us know. I have the same AM coil as a spare for mine
 

MustangMike

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In addition to the coil or fuel filter, the fuel line can go soft and squish when drawing fuel, or it could be the tank vent.

Coils have both a primary and secondary winding, the primary may be fine, but not the secondary, so it will start, but not run.

Another problem would be the lever in the carb not set at the right height. Sometimes just trying another carb makes sense.

Good luck with it, and keep us posted.
 

Cracker Boy

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Gonna post pics tomm. Of piston off the 361 i got for sale in saws for sale that kicked my ass and it wouldnt idle either after new rings. But by looking at piston its perfect youd never know.as soon as i tore it back apart and i put piston in it it ran perfect
 
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