I think I made a small amount of progress. I kept advancing it and at 1-1/8" it would pull back sometimes.
I got it to start and decided to try a brand new spark plug. It started much easier but after a while it was hard again. I put in another new plug and got the same results. I checked the gap on all the plugs I tried and they were all slightly wide. I set the gaps to .020", some slightly less and it starts a little easier now but still not how I want.
I brought the flywheel back to 1/2" advanced and got similar results without the pull back from the cord. I suspect the coil itself may be bad because after it gets nice and warmed up it won't start back up after shutting it down. Strangely, if I can't get it to start then I can put a different plug in and it will start. The plugs aren't even getting overly hot either.
I'm going to try less advancement and see what happens now that the plug gaps are set. It will idle around 2,300-2,400 rpm okay but the chain still slightly advances. I guess it needs new clutch springs but these saws usually idle a little lower. If I turn the idle screw out any more then it won't hardly touch the throttle lever and will stall.
I got it to start and decided to try a brand new spark plug. It started much easier but after a while it was hard again. I put in another new plug and got the same results. I checked the gap on all the plugs I tried and they were all slightly wide. I set the gaps to .020", some slightly less and it starts a little easier now but still not how I want.
I brought the flywheel back to 1/2" advanced and got similar results without the pull back from the cord. I suspect the coil itself may be bad because after it gets nice and warmed up it won't start back up after shutting it down. Strangely, if I can't get it to start then I can put a different plug in and it will start. The plugs aren't even getting overly hot either.
I'm going to try less advancement and see what happens now that the plug gaps are set. It will idle around 2,300-2,400 rpm okay but the chain still slightly advances. I guess it needs new clutch springs but these saws usually idle a little lower. If I turn the idle screw out any more then it won't hardly touch the throttle lever and will stall.