Thread: Stihl 028 AV Super Wood Boss Master Control Lever question

Hello all!
This is my first time posting on this (or any) site. I’ve been reading your threads with great interest. You all sound like you are, collectively, extremely knowledgeable in the realm of chainsaws (and other devices of maim and pain).

I have an Stihl 028 AV Super Wood Boss. I’m not sure of the age but, I don’t remember NOT using it to cut firewood (2-½ to 3 cords each year) for my parents. When my dad passed away in 1998, my mother moved to a house which had electric heat and therefore no need for firewood. I left a lot of the background details out because I don’t want to put anybody to sleep.

Fast forward, I retrieved the saw from my sister’s shed (don’t ask. Thank God she still has all of her limbs!) and I am ‘dusting it off’. In so doing, I removed the air filter assembly, disassembled it, cleaned it and reassembled it. When I put the filter back on the carb I noticed that the Master Control Lever makes no contact with the choke actuator in ANY of the three positions.

Any thoughts, comments, etc.

How is the lever on the master control that operates the choke? Is it broken? Just tossin this out there, but when you cleaned the air filter did you get it assembled properly? Not sure if it is even possible but could the plastic choke in the air filter be backwards?

Well, nevermind my suggestion about the choke being installed backwards. Just checked my IPL and it looks like it would take an act of god to get it in backwards.

The choke is a flap inside the filter. There should be a tit on the right side of the control lever that comes up and pushes a plastic arm that closes the choke. If it doesn't something is broken or missing.

oscar4883, et al,
I should have included that tidbit of info. I can see the 'tit' on the right side of the air filter and it makes no contact with anything... in any of the Master Control Lever positions. I don't see any wear marks on the 'tit'. I can't tell from the attached pic if part of my MCL is broken. I would think it would be some sort of cam arrangement. The MCL in my saw looks exactly like the one in the attached picture.
You made the same logic jump that I did when I put it back together. I must have put it together bassackwards. And right you are! Impossible to do without rearranging the molecules.

Is the spring inside the filter connected to the choke flap and holding it back, in the open position?

Pioneerguy600

Originally Posted by pioneerguy600

Is the spring inside the filter connected to the choke flap and holding it back, in the open position?

Pioneerguy600

And or, is the little cotter pin in place that holds the spring. If not the choke could stay closed and the "tit" won't hit anything.


If your lever looks like it is supposed to. If there is nothing on that filter for the tit to hit then something on your filter is missing. Buy a new filter on eBay or somewhere. There are plenty of aftermarket filters for this saw at reasonable price.

Yep! Spring is engaged and miniscule cotter pin is in place keeping tension on the spring.
I'm going to get back to it this weekend.

Thanks for the input so far. I'll check back later to see if there are any other suggestions.

Is there a tang sticking out of the airfilter for the tang on the master control to make contact with? It takes the two of them in alignment to make contact when the master control is in the all the way down/ choke position.

Pioneerguy600

The Boss is running!
I must have OFD with a large helping of CRS!
All I needed to do was squeeze the trigger and THEN push the lever down. The choke is engaged and the saw fires right up as if I was cutting wood yesterday.
(OFD=Old Farts Disease) (CRS=Can't Remember Sh#t)
Thanks all! Your help is greatly appreciated.