Thread: Fix Stihl MS310 or upgrade

Hi, I am new to this forum but a friend recommended it as "the" resource for saw questions. I have an MS310 that I bought new in 2001. I use it every year to cut about 6 cords of mesquite firewood out of a friends ranch fencelines. It recently developed a problem where it will start up but die the minute you give it throttle. I put in a new spark plug mixed a new batch of gas and the air filter is clean but no help. The local stihl dealer where I bought it seems like a jackass and I am leery of taking it in for service-I don't want to be taken for an expensive ride. Should I try and get it fixed or should I just consider it worn out and upgrade to a better saw? Is this much mesquite about all I can expect to cut with a cheap saw like this one? I am no expert but it seems a lot tougher cutting the mesquite than the pinon, pine, oak and juniper I used to cut in NM. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Welcome to the forum. In short...both. You can't just toss a chainsaw. It must be fixed. If you don't want it, send it to me, LOL

To me..I'd pull the muffler and check the piston out..If it looked ok,,,I'd do compression test and check and see what it was pullin,,and if that checked,,in my eyes,,and you all tell me if this is wrong 130 or above,,,,gotta be in the carb. I'm no experxt in no ways and there is alot of my friends on here a heck of alot smarter than I am on this,,but it sounds like something simple to me....

I'd bring it in for a tuneup. There is no reason to buy a new saw if you don't have to. If there is another dealer around might try them.

Find another Stihl dealer, or a board member in your area. Some on here will tell you the 310 stinks, but it is a fine saw for what your doing with it. Figure out what is wrong with it before throwing in the towel. It might be a quick fix. The fuel lines go bad on those quite often.

Sometime you panic and it's the simple thing that is wrong....Take your time,,and go tru things and ask!!!!

I would suspect that you only need a new fuel line. I just did a 029 with the exact same sypmtoms. It's very common on this line.

Thanks for the replies. How long will this model saw typically last? This is my first stihl. I used old husqvarna saws of my father's before this and one POS plastic craftsman that crapped out after one season. Would you consider the type and amount of wood I am cutting hard use? I wish I had researched this purchase better I would have bought a lighter pro saw. I often have to cut in weird positions to avoid the thorns on the mesquite and it is pretty tiring by days end. It is also very dirty wood with lots of sand and dirt in the bark. I have to touch up my chains often. I am considering building a rocker saw so i will only have to cut poles with the chainsaw and I can chop it up later. If it is just the fuel line, how hard would it be to thread up into the carb from the tank. I have been looking for troubleshooting info online and at the library and came up empty. Stihl seems to be one of those companies that keep everything in the dealer network and frown on DIYers. I can't seem to find any direct sales outlets for parts. The local dealer charges $33 for the paper air cleaner so I shudder to think what a new fuel line would cost.

Nearly as long as any saw if it's taken care of. They're just harder to work on.

I have a 310 that I had to replace the fuel line on. I think the part was somewhere between $10 and $13. It was pretty easy to do. Make sure that you clean out around the carb well so you don't have to worry about getting a bunch of crud into the gas tank. As I recall I fed a bit of the fuel line in to the gas tank from above the carefully used a pair of needle nose pliers to pull it down into the tank. I also used a little grease around the hole to make pulling easier.

I have 20 acres of pines and manzanita that I am clearing. I use the 310 quite a bit for the manzanita and I have to agree that does get heavy after awhile.

Originally Posted by naiche

Thanks for the replies. How long will this model saw typically last?

Well cared for, seems like 1,000-2,000 hours would be reasonable. First thing I'd do is pick the saw up, hang on to the starter handle, and let go of the saw. Does it go "chug, pause, chug" or does it go "chugchugchugchug"? If it pauses at least a couple of seconds between chugs, you've got enough compression to make it worth fixing.

Sounds like it's leaning out on you when you hit the throttle. Cracked fuel line or plugged fuel filter would be the easy fixes.

Originally Posted by naiche

Thanks for the replies. How long will this model saw typically last? This is my first stihl. I used old husqvarna saws of my father's before this and one POS plastic craftsman that crapped out after one season. Would you consider the type and amount of wood I am cutting hard use? I wish I had researched this purchase better I would have bought a lighter pro saw. I often have to cut in weird positions to avoid the thorns on the mesquite and it is pretty tiring by days end. It is also very dirty wood with lots of sand and dirt in the bark. I have to touch up my chains often. I am considering building a rocker saw so i will only have to cut poles with the chainsaw and I can chop it up later. If it is just the fuel line, how hard would it be to thread up into the carb from the tank. I have been looking for troubleshooting info online and at the library and came up empty. Stihl seems to be one of those companies that keep everything in the dealer network and frown on DIYers. I can't seem to find any direct sales outlets for parts. The local dealer charges $33 for the paper air cleaner so I shudder to think what a new fuel line would cost.

There is a sticky thread on here titled "the beg for Manuals" I am sure there is one in there for your 310. I just recently had mine torn way down replacing about everything under the bar cover! My advice is down load the manual and take your time pulling it down, go the extra step and it will make life easier for the fuel line.

On another note what about the impulse line? Could it be possible that it has a dry rot crack or something like that? Could keep from building the needed pressure to push the fuel up to the carb?

I have an ms310 that I bought in 2001. Ran fine until late last year. Then I had the same problem you note. I found an 3/16" hole in the side of the gas tank. Took it to dealer & they replaced the body--also put in a new fuel line.

Subsequently I could not get it started. The plug was totally dry despite plenty of fuel and fully choked. I turned the saw upside down and shook it quite a bit, it finally started and then stalled. It has run intermittently ever since.

Where are those manuals for a MS 310???

Originally Posted by Les

I have an ms310 that I bought in 2001. Ran fine until late last year. Then I had the same problem you note. I found an 3/16" hole in the side of the gas tank. Took it to dealer & they replaced the body--also put in a new fuel line.

Subsequently I could not get it started. The plug was totally dry despite plenty of fuel and fully choked. I turned the saw upside down and shook it quite a bit, it finally started and then stalled. It has run intermittently ever since.

Where are those manuals for a MS 310???

what do you mean you found a 3/16" hole? a hole that size would drain all of the fuel in a minute or less.

a 1/4" hole is very big ill call it quarter cause a round 3/16 would be very hard to measuer.

310 is good saw. id imagine if the dealer replaced the tank then the saw is now air leakn every and needs tore down and possibly put back together by someone that knows what there doing. was it warranty deal.


the 310 is worth fixing it i s good saw and should last a long time