Chainsaw repair - FIXED

[osage outlaw]

My trusty little homelite chainsaw has not been running very well lately.  It has been bogging down when I'm cutting with it.  Now it won't hardly run at all.  I can get it started and it runs on full choke but it dies as soon as I go to half or no choke.  Today I cleaned the fuel filter, air filter, spark plug, and exhaust.  It didn't help at all.  I had problems with the fuel filter plugging up earlier in the year.  I replaced it this spring but I went ahead and ordered a 10 pack of new fuel filters for it yesterday.  I can't figure out what is going on with it.  When it's running on full choke it starts and sounds normal.   If I can't get it fixed I'll have to take it to a repair guy.  This has been a great little saw.  Its cut a ton of wood over the last 14 years.  And I've cut some big stuff with it to.  It's tackled 20"+ osage trees with ease.  I just had to go at them from each side.  I would like to get it running so I can keep it as a back up saw.

I remember getting it as a Christmas present the first year we were married.  It was my first chainsaw and the first time using one.  I went outside and found a tree in the edge of the yard to cut.  And then I found another and another.  I was having a great time.  I had three good sized trees laying in the yard in no time.  If it wasn't for the wife yelling at me from the porch who knows how many I would have dropped that day. 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get it running again?

[vtbow]

Check the fuel line for cracks. Air in the line causes leaning.

Pull the muffler and check the piston for scoring.

Sometimes the first will lead to the second if left too long.

[osage outlaw]

The fuel line inside the tank?

[stickbender]

     Fourteen years?!  Might need rings, or a complete rebuild.  Like they said, check the fuel line in the tank.
If you got fourteen years out of it, you did well.

                                    Wayne

[RidgeRunner]

Start by removing the spark plug.

Next remove the muffler.
Pay close attention how it comes off.  They often have small pieces ( Baffles and such ) that will come off with the muffler.  If the muffler will open... Open it up and see if it is full of carbon.  Remove any and all carbon.
You can burn the carbon out with a propain torch if you have to.

Before replacing the muffler look into the exhaust port.
Pull the rope and watch as the piston rises and falls.  Look for scratches and grooves on the piston.
If you can see over the top of the piston look at the cylinder walls as well.  You may need to shine a flashlight
threw the sparkplug hole to see into the cylinder.
If you see very many scratches the saw is toast and will need to be replaced.

If the piston and cylinder look good...  Replace the cleaned out muffler and install a NEW spark plug.
Clean the air filter.  You can, for a very short time, test run the saw with out the air filter.

Start the saw.  If it DOES NOT run right turn it off.  It will , most likely, need a new carburetor and fuel lines.
If is is sucking air threw a cracked fuel line.... Running it that way will ruin the moter

This is something that you can do.....

David

[Pappy]

Probably the jet in the carb. Pull it off and blow it out, some have a filter at the end of the pick up line inside the tank I would check that. running on full choke tells me it is running out of fuel so I would start with the filter in the tank unless you have checked and then to the carb.
   Pappy

[vtbow]

The fuel line inside the tank?

Hi osage, I used homelites in the early 70's! It can be, but I've found the upper line near the carb is the main trouble spot due to age and vibration. The tank line section is usually free to flop with a weight and damped, the upper section is fixed between grommet and the carb inlet and suffers more from vibration -- both age and crack. Seems like the older cheap clear vinyl plastic lines lasted better than some of the new fancy molded rubber (expensive) lines. The worst was a $30 Stihl saw's custom molded rubber line I had that lasted only 2 years before disintegrating. Ahhhh modern engineering....

[osage outlaw]

Thanks for all the help guys.

I took it all apart again today.  The piston and cylinder look shiny and smooth.  I checked the exhaust again and its clean.  I didn't pull the carb off because I'm afraid I'll mess it up.  I sprayed it down good inside with carb cleaner.  I also looked over the fuel lines and didn't see any cracks.  The line inside the tank is very soft and mushy.  I'm thinking it might be getting pinched shut somewhere.  The primer bulb won't pop out after I push it.  It takes several minutes for it to pop out all the way.  Could that be a sign of a pinched fuel line?  I'm going to get several feet of new hose and replace all of it.  Probably pick up a new spark plug to.  If that doesn't fix it I think I'm done messing with it.  There is a guy in town that fixes small equipment for a decent price.  I'll try taking it to him. 

[Eric Krewson]

Get it running and spray some Sea Foam in the carb, this has worked wonders on gummed up carbs for me lately.

[vtbow]

The line inside the tank is very soft and mushy. 

No good. Needs replacement for sure.

[Marc St Louis]

I've owned a lot of different chainsaws and they all have a fuel filter inline, usually on the end of the line inside the tank, and they do get dirty over time.  They also have a diaphragm in the carb to pump the gas, these wear out.  The diaphragm kit is not that hard to change, just pay attention to how it comes apart.

[osage outlaw]

I replaced the fuel filter this spring.  I blew it out with the air compressor yesterday.  I ordered a pack of 10 from the auction site.  I'll swap it out with a new one as soon as they get here.  I'm hoping its the fuel line.

[wildman]

Buy a STHIL ! !!!!

[osage outlaw]

I ordered a husqvarna.  It was more in my price range than a sthil. 

[Balsatech]

Don't know if your was running or not while you did that but watch about spraying carb cleaner into any two cycle when running. Cleaner will wash the oil off cylinder walls and you will scorch it.