Just an update:
Checked impulse hose, it was off, probably from me monkeying around with it trying to figure out what was wrong. It pops out easily from the barb fitting with a little bit of manipulation from a screwdriver. Way to easy. While it is soft and supple, it no longer grips the fitting in the crankcase tightly. Tested for leaks and no leaks found. So I jimmy rigged a zip tie as a make shift hose clamp till a new one arrives. It did not help in how it runs. Pulled muffler and piston and cylinder look fine.
BTW, the top cover (orange) does need to come off, and the carb and gas tank. Maybe someone could get to the impulse hose connection at the engine if the pull starter and plastic shroud was removed, but it is kind of
tight.
Step 2: Pulled carb off again, cleaned and rebuilt it, it started then died after 5 seconds. Kept flooding. Pulled carb off again, double checked my work, put it all back together and nothing. Getting good spark, but kept flooding and this time no attempt to start.
Step 3: I removed the pull starter and flywheel. Flywheel nut seemed a little loose. Popped off flywheel and found a sheared woodruff key. A sliver was still in the flywheel, and the other piece was left in the crank groove just about as smooth as the crank taper. Not sure why that happened. Just discovered it tonight so I will pick up a new key at the stihl dealer tomorrow.
Hopefully the dealer will have a 3x3x7 woodruff key. I do have some key stock, but I would probably spend way too much time making one. The stock I have is way to thick. Besides, if I fixed it tonight, I would just have to try it out and it is way to late for that now. The neighbors just don't seem to understand that kind of stuff.
Step 4 would have been a pressure test for crank seals. Glad it did not have to go that far. Hopefully this will be it. :monkey: KD
