Thread: Why? (A rhetorical question)

So, I own several saws of good reputation and of European manufacture. They cost me several hundred dollars in some cases. So, why is it that I have to tinker and fart around with my high dollar Euro-saws, but the ancient, Walmart cheapy, given to me by a friend, ugly as sin, with cracked housings and a fuel line that looks like a Gummy Worm Poulan will start right up on the 3rd pull after doing nothing more than adding gas and scraping the corrosion out of the gas cap threads enough so I could keep the gas in the tank? It shouldn't work like this. My Huskys should always start on the 2nd pull, my Stihls should run without changing plugs or carb kits for years. Instead it's a free Poulan (one of 3 saws the guy gave me) that starts right up after sitting in my garage for over 10 years. I always said, "They'll never run!" In fact it's in my sig line. So far this week I brought a Farm Pro 375 and this old lime green unknown model back to life with nothing more than some electrical tape and some Walmart spray lube! The 375 needed half a roll of tape to hold the handle halves together after the guy ran it over with a skid steer and the limey needed the same thing because the aluminum has actually corroded away from the nuts and bolts.

It's kinda like that brand spankin' new Crapsman garden tractor I bought some years back. Paid $2500.00 for a hunk of garbage that 10 years later has just over 100 hours on the meter. Meanwhile my 1964 Wheelhorse Lawn Ranger will start on the third pull any day of the year.

It makes you wonder- why? Is it the famous Mr. Murphy? Karma? The gods? The God? An ancient curse laid on my family by some Saracen as my ancestor plunged a sword into his gut during a Crusade? Got me. But it happens a little too regularly to be chance.

Spooky, eh?

I have no problem with my Stihls or Huskys.

Karma, what did you do to piss of the saw gods?

My saws sit unused for long lengths of time, they always pop on 2 and start on 3. I've rarely seen such from the walmart breeds.

Originally Posted by Justsaws

Karma, what did you do to piss of the saw gods?

Mmmm....perhaps it's my dislike for saws less than 20 years old? Or my affection for Sachs Dolmar?

Nice to see someone has a sense of humor.

Originally Posted by Bret4207

Mmmm....perhaps it's my dislike for saws less than 20 years old? Or my affection for Sachs Dolmar?

Now the truth comes out But that's ok to like the oldies. I like them myself.

Bret

That's easy. Somehow I understand you because I behave in many senses like this way. As you said

Originally Posted by Bret4207

So, I own several saws of good reputation and of European manufacture. They cost me several hundred dollars in some cases.

Gives you peace of mind and sense of self confidence! That's the inner essence of CAD. You know you can count on the "backup"! Now make yourself a favor and buy more

Originally Posted by Bret4207

several saws of good reputation and of European manufacture.

to increase your sense of self confidence and keep on working with the

Originally Posted by Bret4207

ancient, Walmart cheapy, given to me by a friend, ugly as sin, with cracked housings and a fuel line that looks like a Gummy Worm Poulan will start right up on the 3rd pull after doing nothing more than adding gas and scraping the corrosion out of the gas cap threads enough so I could keep the gas in the tank

Sounds like there's been a mix up? The better quality European saws will be orange, or orange and white. The wal mart saws will probably be green, green and purple, or possibly yellow.

i don't recall any of the commercial class huskys,j-reds or stihls that we logged with having any starting problems/issues going as far back as 1978---IIRC.

these 044/460s and the stock ms440 i have now start very quickly in any kind of weather. the ms440 that i just got will often start on the first pull cold!

any of them are a 2pull saw cold and a one pull hot.

the dolmar 6800i i had was a bit cranky to start cold and easy to flood out. i think that there was a problem with that saw though and it's condition was not normal for that make. it did have some fuel leaks too boot . one of them in shape would start much better.

my uncle has a 260 pro that like to flood out and it is hard to start cold or hot. i know something is broke on that saw--he insists it is in fine shape. by the time he gets that damn thing started i have got more wood on the ground and cut up than we can load on his flat-bead trailer!

but he just keeps telling me how great that 260 is! 260 the best ####ing saw EVER!--lol--LOL!

why on your sig does it state "poulans wont run"?

Originally Posted by Bret4207

So, I own several saws of good reputation and of European manufacture. They cost me several hundred dollars in some cases. So, why is it that I have to tinker and fart around with my high dollar Euro-saws, but the ancient, Walmart cheapy, given to me by a friend, ugly as sin, with cracked housings and a fuel line that looks like a Gummy Worm Poulan will start right up on the 3rd pull after doing nothing more than adding gas and scraping the corrosion out of the gas cap threads enough so I could keep the gas in the tank? It shouldn't work like this. My Huskys should always start on the 2nd pull, my Stihls should run without changing plugs or carb kits for years. Instead it's a free Poulan (one of 3 saws the guy gave me) that starts right up after sitting in my garage for over 10 years. I always said, "They'll never run!" In fact it's in my sig line. So far this week I brought a Farm Pro 375 and this old lime green unknown model back to life with nothing more than some electrical tape and some Walmart spray lube! The 375 needed half a roll of tape to hold the handle halves together after the guy ran it over with a skid steer and the limey needed the same thing because the aluminum has actually corroded away from the nuts and bolts.

It's kinda like that brand spankin' new Crapsman garden tractor I bought some years back. Paid $2500.00 for a hunk of garbage that 10 years later has just over 100 hours on the meter. Meanwhile my 1964 Wheelhorse Lawn Ranger will start on the third pull any day of the year.

It makes you wonder- why? Is it the famous Mr. Murphy? Karma? The gods? The God? An ancient curse laid on my family by some Saracen as my ancestor plunged a sword into his gut during a Crusade? Got me. But it happens a little too regularly to be chance.

Spooky, eh?

maybe kind of the slant 6 -vs- A6 aesthetic.

Originally Posted by discounthunter

why on your sig does it state "poulans wont run"?

I had some poulans, but they were hard to get off so now I just wear boots.

you must have gotten your fuel mixed up, I think you're using your Husky/stihl fuel in the poulan and the poulan fuel in the husky and stihl...........yeah, that's you're problem...

What are you guys doing to get 2-3 pull starts when cold after the saw has sat for a couple weeks?? Starting fluid?

All my Huskies take around 10 pulls +/- before they pop after they've sat a while.

Ah, the sensitive side of the Euro-saw lovers rears it's head! Fear not friends, I love my Huskys and Stihls and Sachs and of course I have a soft spot for Olympiks and Jonsereds too, I was a dealer and mechanic back in the day when it was still Oleo-mac and Jonsered was brand new in the States and Sthils were still round and all metal. It just seems that I end up screwing around with my new saws, of any make, where my old 2100 or Sachs 133 or Mac 250 will always fire up when common sense says they shouldn't. The Poulans were a complete surprise.

Just venting a bit as the unfairness of it all guys, that's all.