anyone else having hard time starting a ms361 stihl

[Danno77]

Damn! 7 pulls? Here I've been threatening to trade in my old Partner on a new Stihl if'n when it takes more than 5 pulls to start the old girl. 7 pulls for a new Stihl? Is the 362 any better?

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

I like your line of reasoning and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. I think the same thing everytime I read a post complaining about cold starts. We aren't talking 12 or 15, which might indicate a problem with the saw. I'd venture a guess that if you are under 8 you are in the realm of normal, even for a good saw. I usually get mine going in 4 pulls sometimes 5-6.

 

[MofoG23]

My 361 is very consistent - you could set your watch to it.

4 pulls with full choke (on the 4th it burps) - rare occasion the 3rd pull burps.
2 pulls with half choke (on the 2nd pull it fires up)

seriously though, damn near every cold start is that exact process and number of pulls.

 

[Freeheat]

You guys need to go Husquvarna my process is primer bulb 2-3 times set the choke two pulls and its running.

 

[Piston]

Edited original post as to not offend anyone.....







CTburner,
Have you made any progress with your original issue?

 

[wetwood]

Stihl saws are no different than any other saw. You have to master the choke or your going to have problems. If you choke a warm engine it will flood. All my saws start on the 1st or 2nd pull after warmed up and 3rd or 4th if they have been setting a few weeks. When my son flooded both saws he did it by setting them to full choke with warm engines.

 

[LLigetfa]

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

No, I was serious but you missed my point. First off, I've been toting this saw around for decades now so shaving a pound or two in and of itself is no justification to replace it. If I told the wife that I'm buying that new Stihl cuz it's lighter, she'd tell me to lose 20 pounds of beer belly. This, the same girl that spent thousands on her bicycles cuz they are lighter.

There needs to be some cut-off point where one can say "time for a new saw". For me it just happens to be the frustration of having something that is unreliably hard to start. Who honestly has not thought of throwing their saw in anger. Irrational maybe, but the more times I pull the cord the less confident I am that it will start and that I flooded it. Others have since said that the Stihl is very consistent and consistency is more important than the actual pull count. For the most part my old saw is consistent.

2 pulls full choke and it burbles.
2 pulls half choke and if I get to the choke and throttle right, it's running.
1 more pull if I didn't get it right.
Any more pulls and I'm angry with myself and with the saw.

 

[smokinj]

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

No, I was serious but you missed my point. First off, I've been toting this saw around for decades now so shaving a pound or two in and of itself is no justification to replace it. If I told the wife that I'm buying that new Stihl cuz it's lighter, she'd tell me to lose 20 pounds of beer belly. This, the same girl that spent thousands on her bicycles cuz they are lighter.

There needs to be some cut-off point where one can say "time for a new saw". For me it just happens to be the frustration of having something that is unreliably hard to start. Who honestly has not thought of throwing their saw in anger. Irrational maybe, but the more times I pull the cord the less confident I am that it will start and that I flooded it. Others have since said that the Stihl is very consistent and consistency is more important than the actual pull count. For the most part my old saw is consistent.

2 pulls full choke and it burbles.
2 pulls half choke and if I get to the choke and throttle right, it's running.
1 more pull if I didn't get it right.
Any more pulls and I'm angry with myself and with the saw.

Thats just not normal on a 361. 7 pulls on it, isnt hard either. It is also the only stihl saw I have own thats like that. Once started it is a bad @ss saw.

 

[lukem]

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

No, I was serious but you missed my point. First off, I've been toting this saw around for decades now so shaving a pound or two in and of itself is no justification to replace it. If I told the wife that I'm buying that new Stihl cuz it's lighter, she'd tell me to lose 20 pounds of beer belly. This, the same girl that spent thousands on her bicycles cuz they are lighter.

There needs to be some cut-off point where one can say "time for a new saw". For me it just happens to be the frustration of having something that is unreliably hard to start. Who honestly has not thought of throwing their saw in anger. Irrational maybe, but the more times I pull the cord the less confident I am that it will start and that I flooded it. Others have since said that the Stihl is very consistent and consistency is more important than the actual pull count. For the most part my old saw is consistent.

2 pulls full choke and it burbles.
2 pulls half choke and if I get to the choke and throttle right, it's running.
1 more pull if I didn't get it right.
Any more pulls and I'm angry with myself and with the saw.

Thats just not normal on a 361. 7 pulls on it, isnt hard either. It is also the only stihl saw I have own thats like that. Once started it is a bad @ss saw.

Sounds about like mine. When cold, 4 pulls on full choke til it pops, then 2 pulls on run. When warm first pull every time.

 

[smokinj]

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

No, I was serious but you missed my point. First off, I've been toting this saw around for decades now so shaving a pound or two in and of itself is no justification to replace it. If I told the wife that I'm buying that new Stihl cuz it's lighter, she'd tell me to lose 20 pounds of beer belly. This, the same girl that spent thousands on her bicycles cuz they are lighter.

There needs to be some cut-off point where one can say "time for a new saw". For me it just happens to be the frustration of having something that is unreliably hard to start. Who honestly has not thought of throwing their saw in anger. Irrational maybe, but the more times I pull the cord the less confident I am that it will start and that I flooded it. Others have since said that the Stihl is very consistent and consistency is more important than the actual pull count. For the most part my old saw is consistent.

2 pulls full choke and it burbles.
2 pulls half choke and if I get to the choke and throttle right, it's running.
1 more pull if I didn't get it right.
Any more pulls and I'm angry with myself and with the saw.

Thats just not normal on a 361. 7 pulls on it, isnt hard either. It is also the only stihl saw I have own thats like that. Once started it is a bad @ss saw.

Sounds about like mine. When cold, 4 pulls on full choke til it pops, then 2 pulls on run. When warm first pull every time.

Yea,If you cant pull a 361 7 times its time to give up firewood...lol

 

[LLigetfa]

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

No, I was serious but you missed my point. First off, I've been toting this saw around for decades now so shaving a pound or two in and of itself is no justification to replace it. If I told the wife that I'm buying that new Stihl cuz it's lighter, she'd tell me to lose 20 pounds of beer belly. This, the same girl that spent thousands on her bicycles cuz they are lighter.

There needs to be some cut-off point where one can say "time for a new saw". For me it just happens to be the frustration of having something that is unreliably hard to start. Who honestly has not thought of throwing their saw in anger. Irrational maybe, but the more times I pull the cord the less confident I am that it will start and that I flooded it. Others have since said that the Stihl is very consistent and consistency is more important than the actual pull count. For the most part my old saw is consistent.

2 pulls full choke and it burbles.
2 pulls half choke and if I get to the choke and throttle right, it's running.
1 more pull if I didn't get it right.
Any more pulls and I'm angry with myself and with the saw.

Thats just not normal on a 361. 7 pulls on it, isnt hard either. It is also the only stihl saw I have own thats like that. Once started it is a bad @ss saw.

Sounds about like mine. When cold, 4 pulls on full choke til it pops, then 2 pulls on run. When warm first pull every time.

Yea,If you cant pull a 361 7 times its time to give up firewood...lol

Ja, and if you can't tote around a 15lb saw all day, it's time to give up firewood too.

It's not about the 7 pulls... it's knowing whether you need to go back to full choke, or half choke, or fast idle, or full throttle for more pulls only to realize you had the switch on kill. DOH!

 

[smokinj]

Not trying to sound rude or anything, but are you serious or joking? If someone is going to tote around a 15lb saw all day, either cutting firewood, bucking logs, or cutting brush, or anyone of the other numerous jobs we all do, I think pulling a cord 7 times vs. 2 or 3 to start a saw is the last thing that people are gonna worry about.

If that's the case, I'd suggest one of those cute little electric saws for you. :lol:


However, I imagine you were being sarcastic

No, I was serious but you missed my point. First off, I've been toting this saw around for decades now so shaving a pound or two in and of itself is no justification to replace it. If I told the wife that I'm buying that new Stihl cuz it's lighter, she'd tell me to lose 20 pounds of beer belly. This, the same girl that spent thousands on her bicycles cuz they are lighter.

There needs to be some cut-off point where one can say "time for a new saw". For me it just happens to be the frustration of having something that is unreliably hard to start. Who honestly has not thought of throwing their saw in anger. Irrational maybe, but the more times I pull the cord the less confident I am that it will start and that I flooded it. Others have since said that the Stihl is very consistent and consistency is more important than the actual pull count. For the most part my old saw is consistent.

2 pulls full choke and it burbles.
2 pulls half choke and if I get to the choke and throttle right, it's running.
1 more pull if I didn't get it right.
Any more pulls and I'm angry with myself and with the saw.

Thats just not normal on a 361. 7 pulls on it, isnt hard either. It is also the only stihl saw I have own thats like that. Once started it is a bad @ss saw.

Sounds about like mine. When cold, 4 pulls on full choke til it pops, then 2 pulls on run. When warm first pull every time.

Yea,If you cant pull a 361 7 times its time to give up firewood...lol

Ja, and if you can't tote around a 15lb saw all day, it's time to give up firewood too.

It's not about the 7 pulls... it's knowing whether you need to go back to full choke, or half choke, or fast idle, or full throttle for more pulls only to realize you had the switch on kill. DOH!

Not on a 361 (or any stihl I have owned and I have had most of them) its always full till she pops then half. Miss the pop and its a long day.

 

[CTYank]

Let's keep this thread on track and not derail it to another useless husky vs. stihl debate.....

CTburner,
Have you made any progress with your original issue?

We got us a cat-herder.

Some folks thought-processes don't necessarily follow mine, or yours, but I'm not going to direct anyone. Great country, America.

 

[Freeheat]

Let's keep this thread on track and not derail it to another useless husky vs. stihl debate.....

CTburner,
Have you made any progress with your original issue?

Didn't know we had to follow your rules

 

[Piston]

Didn’t know we had to follow your rules

Edited my original post as to not offend anyone....

 

[Dieselhead]

My 361 is very consistent - you could set your watch to it.

4 pulls with full choke (on the 4th it burps) - rare occasion the 3rd pull burps.
2 pulls with half choke (on the 2nd pull it fires up)

seriously though, damn near every cold start is that exact process and number of pulls.

same here, 3 year old 361

 

[MasterMech]

You guys need to go Husquvarna my process is primer bulb 2-3 times set the choke two pulls and its running.

Some truth here, lack of a primer adds a few yanks to a cold start, My 034 is the same way. Not every husky has a primer tho and the ones without are the same way. My buddy's 272XP is just as cold-blooded as my 034.

 

[CTBurner]

I want to thank you all for all the help. i finally received new fuel line and when i changed it i found a small split in old fuel line. new fuel line and it runs great.

 

[Danno77]

classic fuel line problem

Rob

Props to Rob (Reply #2) for calling it first!

Props to you for getting it up and going again. Ain't the interwebs great?

 

[CTBurner]

classic fuel line problem

Rob

Props to Rob (Reply #2) for calling it first!

Props to you for getting it up and going again. Ain't the interwebs great?

yes props to Rob, and i lean heavy on interwebs for repairs to all my toys and tools

 

[Brogan007]

Kinda on the same subject as original poster....I have a new Stihl 362, and was scared about having starting issues.
Never had such an easy starting saw. Cold, 2 pulls, burp, then one pull, fires up. Warm, one pull.
Idle saw for 30 secs...and away she goes.
LOVE the beastie.

 

[Jags]

My 361 is very consistent - you could set your watch to it.

4 pulls with full choke (on the 4th it burps) - rare occasion the 3rd pull burps.
2 pulls with half choke (on the 2nd pull it fires up)

seriously though, damn near every cold start is that exact process and number of pulls.

Every single time. Without failure, this is exactly how my 361 responds. EVERY time (cold start).

 

[Spikem]

Couple years ago my oldest son did that to my 361, then he grabbed the 250 and flooded it to. We spent the rest of the day with the 180 whittling on a large oak I had just felled. Next day those saws were still flooded and we were messing with that same oak. My younger son said We are not doing this again, grabbed the 361, left the gas off and pulled and pulled and pulled till he cleared out the cylinder. He then set the choke and it started right up. Did the same to the 250 and we were done in no time.

What does "...left the gas off and pulled and pulled and pulled till he cleared out the cylinder" mean?

I'm also having the problem with the 361 in which after I have it running for a while and turn it off that I have significant difficulty in restarting it.

 

[lukem]

What does "...left the gas off and pulled and pulled and pulled till he cleared out the cylinder" mean?

I'm also having the problem with the 361 in which after I have it running for a while and turn it off that I have significant difficulty in restarting it.

If the saw is warm do NOT set the choke. What is your warm start process ?

 

[Foragefarmer]

classic fuel line problem

Rob

+1

 

[Spikem]

If the saw is warm do NOT set the choke. What is your warm start process ?

I put the Master Control lever to warm start, left hand on the fronthandle, pull the cord until the slack is gone and then pull. Sometimes I use the decompression valve, sometimes I don't; if it doesn't start, I try it. (This is all after it having started, and run, in the first place.)