Tom et al...
I know someone in these post suggest I bought a dud in a 361 but I never thougth of it that way. It was basically getting the starting procedure right...no users manual will get it right as each saw is different.
I went to my customers and finished up the job today. He hired me to do some clearing of overgroth in front of his TH and this is where my Wild Thang took a puke. I have been over his place two times with the saw and could not get it start. He suggest I take it back to HD LOLOL (don't know **** from a good saw but that is ok otherwise he would not hire me to do it). I have started the saw multiple times since I got it right and it did so today.
My simple plan is to start the saw on full choke and crank exactly 2 times, then move choke up to fast idle and crank two or three times and it starts. I do not know if I will feel the same fire on full choke but I err on the safe side and crank 2 times and move on to fast idle. If it does not start on fast idle I will go to full choke again and try two cranks and move to fast idle. This way I will not crank too many times on full choke and flood the saw. This seem to work for me.
I understand why Cen or someone did not want to have a bunch o' 361's on the truck and workers flooding these saws. It seem the 361 is a bit pricky about starting and if this is the case...leave the 361 to the pros who know how to start it. Not taking away from anyone but if this saw floods easy all you got to know is it flood easy and attempt to start it with minimal full choke and it will usually start. BTW I do not use the decomp anymore as so far it seem to be working for me. And I do the drop start as it is a easy saw to start.
I know ya all got your favorite saws and that is the point of this site. nothing wrong with the saws everyone likes but I sure ain't gonna go out and buy another saw for $500 bux just cuz this 361 gave me fits. I like it and it is humming along for me now...that is all I care. I do not think it needs a carb afjustment...for THE KING start it in front of me own eyes