Stihl 064 easy to flood

[jb-chainsaws]

Just had a customer ring me saying his saw won't start and he's been pulling and pulling on choke but it won't fire. it's an old 064 with no half choke position, and I suspect he's most likely flooded the crap out of it.

Anyone else had a similar issue?

 

[CR888]

Not much 064 experience here however my 660 is easily flooded to the point I'll switch it over to fast idle after two pulls whether I heard a 'pop' or not. It sounds like he's trying to start a well flooded saw that simply won't start in that state. The wet spark plug is the confirmation and at that point it needs to be removed, turned upside down and turned over with the starter several time to drain the fuel. Ya muh suc suxty floods hard and fast.

 

[MustangMike]

Could be flooded, could be it needs a tune up, could be lots of things, bad coil, spun flywheel, etc.

But I always check the easy stuff first ... is it flooded ... does it need a tune up ...

 

[jb-chainsaws]

Could be flooded, could be it needs a tune up, could be lots of things, bad coil, spun flywheel, etc.

But I always check the easy stuff first ... is it flooded ... does it need a tune up ...

I rebuilt the saw for him a month ago so everything was sorted then, carb rebuilt, coil gap set etc etc. He did say that it had a good spark but that he'd been pulling it and pulling it but it wouldn't fire. He's one of those complaining types that nothing is ever his fault, which grinds my gears a little bit. Told him if he can't start it today then fetch it in and I'll start it for him

 

[MustangMike]

Sounds like it is just flooded.

 

[Backtroller]

I have a little Stihl that if you don't hear the slightest "pop" and move it off of the choke position it's all over. I have to find a place away from other running saws when I fire it up so I can hear it. Start it right and it will reward you with an excellent day of cutting. Goof it up and you might as well put it away for the day.

 

[MustangMike]

If I don't hear a pop when I expect to hear one, I take the choke off a pull several times on fast idle.

Now & then I have to put the choke back on to get a pop, but pulling on fast idle does not hurt anything and can save you from a flooded saw.

I had a MS460 that popped on the fist pull every time, but it was not ported and I sold it. None of my other saws are that consistent.

 

[CR888]

In my experience you can't just keep pulling with the choke on these saws their kinda annoyingly sensitive. I nearly flooded my ms261 yesterday after hearing the pop on the third pull I thought I switched it to fast idle but as I don't look just do it by feel my clumbsy gloves missed it and it was on choke. I got to it quick and it started with lots of smoke but 1/2 more pulls and the scrench would be needed.

 

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

If the carb won't hold pressure that's a sure sign of easy flooding. Timing off, plug worn out, hole in the fuel line, air leak. I've never had an 064 that left my shop hard to start yet. When they popped it was noticeable. Usually after 2 pulls. Fresh off the bench with a rebuilt carb only takes about 5 or 6 pulls.
Start with the easy stuff like pressure testing the fuel system...could have gotten a tiny piece of crap stuck on the needle or seat.
Check the timing...if the saw back fired on him or from just pulling the crap out of it he could have sheered the flywheel key.
Tank vent? The older vents were not the best system.

 

[jb-chainsaws]

If the carb won't hold pressure that's a sure sign of easy flooding. Timing off, plug worn out, hole in the fuel line, air leak. I've never had an 064 that left my shop hard to start yet. When they popped it was noticeable. Usually after 2 pulls. Fresh off the bench with a rebuilt carb only takes about 5 or 6 pulls.
Start with the easy stuff like pressure testing the fuel system...could have gotten a tiny piece of crap stuck on the needle or seat.
Check the timing...if the saw back fired on him or from just pulling the crap out of it he could have sheered the flywheel key.
Tank vent? The older vents were not the best system.

I did flood the same saw myself once, missed the pop, however once I'd sorted that I started it fine, and a dozen times after that from cold. I think it may just be "one of those saws", as once started from cold it'll work all day absolutely perfectly

 

[angelo c]

I have a little Stihl that if you don't hear the slightest "pop" and move it off of the choke position it's all over. I have to find a place away from other running saws when I fire it up so I can hear it. Start it right and it will reward you with an excellent day of cutting. Goof it up and you might as well put it away for the day.

MS 250/025....
Pretty much any saw we should pull the choke off after 3-4 pulls.

 

[Backtroller]

192t. Often it slightly pops on 1 or 2. Sometimes you don't notice it.

 

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

I did flood the same saw myself once, missed the pop, however once I'd sorted that I started it fine, and a dozen times after that from cold. I think it may just be "one of those saws", as once started from cold it'll work all day absolutely perfectly

Had a couple of those....some saws I pulled on choke 3 times and moved the lever up a notch just cause I knew one more pull would flood it.

 

[blsnelling]

it's an old 064 with no half choke position..

There's an issue with the master control lever if it doesn't have a fast idle position.

 

[jb-chainsaws]

There's an issue with the master control lever if it doesn't have a fast idle position.

I'll get some photos when it comes back in, The guy has now changed his mind and said it's not getting any fuel at all. Not sure how it can go from flooding to no fuel but I'll find out!

The guy professes to know everything about chainsaws yet told me he tried starting it with easy start after saying it flooded easily. Something doesn't quite add up, but I've given him the benefit of the doubt for now and said to drop it off and I'll stick a new control lever in it and pressure test the fuel system.

The saw left the shop immaculate as every part had been through the parts cleaner. He says he hasn't used it at all, so I'll know if he's bullshitting me!