Stihl 361 issue

[Tucker943]

Looking for any ideas. Start fine, revs up and idles fine, drops flat on its face when you touch wood. Peeked in at the cylinder, looks beautiful. However I didn't compression test it. I was given the saw, so it owes me nothing and I wouldn't mind taking a swing at fixing it.

 

[pete mctree]

You done the basics? New fuel filter, check tank vent & checked carb for dirt clogging it?

 

[woodworkingboy]

As suggested, I'd check the basics, also look to see that you are getting a good spark, then at possible fuel problems, starting with the hoses and carburetor. Has the saw run well for you at all? It could be as simple as improper carb settings.

 

[Cobleskill]

I would try a new plug. They can do goofy things. I swore I was getting no fuel in my 4 wheeler. Uh Uh, bad plug. It would run for a while and then just start fading like a filter was plugging up. Cheap and easy thing to check.

 

[Tucker943]

Ill do the basic inspection of those things shortly. I just popped the muffler and had a look inside and ran out of time. I received the saw in this condition, hence free.

 

[woodworkingboy]

The ignition gap might be worth a look, and clean up any gunk that might interfere with the magnets. I had a saw that gave me fits until I discovered the gap being too close. On another, the wrong carb diaphragm that someone put on a saw, made the engine act very strange, the diaphragm was the right shape but lacking a small hole that vented into the carb body. Probably as a matter of course with any saw that runs poorly, checking the conditions of the diaphragms, especially the metering diaphragm (the side with the metering needle), is a good idea. Clean out the little screen on the pump diaphragm side too, if there is stuff in there.

 

[Al Smith]

It's starving for fuel most likely .Could be any of the fuel related problems already mentioned .

 

[Tucker943]

Ill dig into it tomorrow. I degreased it tonight and washed it down and blew it out. Cant fix a dirty saw. I cant anyhow.

 

[Tucker943]

Silly me. Plug boot was loose and barely on the plug. Runs like a champ now. Not bad for a free saw.

 

[arborworks1]

I picked up a 460 like that a few years ago from a local tree guy. Plug was out of the head. Saw shop swore it was blown up! Gave him $60 bucks for it!

It still amazes me that folks don't have some basic knowledge of the tools they put food on the table with.

 

[Tucker943]

Here's the thing. My uncle gave it to me. Not because he doesn't know his saws. It was a matter of it acted up for him and got set aside to be fixed when he got time. While I was visiting with him and we were in his garage, he sort of tossed it my way and said, "figure it out, its your problem now". He raised me and brought me up and into this line of work. He constantly hands me toys. A year or so ago he had a 441 on the bench with a broken chain brake lever and a new lever in the bag beside the saw. Handed it to me and goes "If you can spare 3 minutes to swap that part, you'll have another saw in your fleet". Its not so much a matter of not knowing his tools, its more a matter of him wanting to see me do well in life and finding silly reasons to give me a tool. Every time we spend time together he tosses stuff in my truck and says "go make money with it"...... ropes, soil tamper, port-a-wrap, gaffs, etc..... Don't get me wrong, I built my own business from scratch, but along the way he has handed me a few toys. We have a father/son relationship, and have since I was 3 and my father walked away.

 

[Al Smith]

It still amazes me that folks don't have some basic knowledge of the tools they put food on the table with.

It might be amazing but it's a fact .Some people have the where with all and some don't ,just the way it is .

 

[woodworkingboy]

Loose plug wires always make me think about a saw catching on fire. It can be a little unnerving, especially up in a tree. A lot of unburned gas goes out in the exhaust, you just can't see it.

 

[Tucker943]

Id say most men in the business have a vague knowledge of saw function. Im not as smart as I should be, but get the saw fixed every time. I often ask for ideas on here first, to get some starting points from guys that are better then me. Ive built entire saws from ebay parts, and Im talking every single part. But, while I can turn the small wrenches just fine, diagnostics can take me a bit of digging and wasted time to figure out. Some men in the trade don't know anything but how to flip the bar and file the chain, often for the fact that they are far too busy with other tasks keeping the business afloat, and just don't have the time to monkey with the small tools. Some men just aren't mechanically inclined. I know many guys that if they're changing the oil, they're probably going to be changing the engine. its just not in their reach to solve mechanical riddles.

jay, I wouldn't waste a minute being nervous about the loose wire burning the saw up in flames. The saw is probably more likely to strangle you with the pull cord then burn from a loose plug wire.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I know it isn't common, Chris, but my old 020 has a tendency for the wire to come loose, I should really replace the spring in the plug wire. When it does come loose, it ignites the unburned gas coming out of the muffler right next to it, and one time there was some residual gas from an overfill that hadn't evaporated yet. I was holding a burning saw in my hands and thinking, "Should I toss it before it maybe explodes"? Finally smothered it with dirt. Happened twice, but now I know to shut off the engine, and the loose plug wire makes a distinctive sound. The first time was a bit hairy, not knowing what was going on.

 

[Tucker943]

I stand corrected my friend. In that case, Ill go with keeping the plug boot on nice and snug.

 

[sawinredneck]

I had an old Homelite weedeater with the strap catch on fire from a loose plug wire one time! I kept throwing it away, but it kept coming back! Liked to taken me forever to get that damn strap figured out and off! Say what you want, but you don't think right when something you aren't used to running catches on fire and you want away from it, NOW!

 

[woodworkingboy]

True, Andy. Something on fire in your hands with gasoline in it and one part of your brain is saying to be rational and put it out, and another part is telling you to give it a heave. Working in dry woods can further complicate the matter.

 

[Al Smith]

Well gents don't feel pregnant because I've flamed two so far .Each time trying to start with a flooded engine with the air filter removed .You'd be surprised how far you can toss a saw on fire .