Where does the spark arrestor screen fall on your list of checks when your saw starts running like a turd? I know the list order changes from one saw to the next, and varies based on what you last did to the saw, but running through the list today just got me curious about the steps others might follow.
Basically, the 61 was bogging down in the cut. It was doing it a little last time I cut, but that was in high humidity and rain, so I attributed it to bad gas. Today she was running on fresh mix. I bought the saw used, and never have cleaned the carb, so I wouldn't have been surprised to wind up there, but I thought I'd knock the easy stuff off first. Here's what I did:
1) Make sure it wasn't a Stihl.
2) Crack gas cap to make sure there was no vent issue.
3) Check filter. Space was right...no need to check it, it was clean.
4) Cover is off, so might as well look at the plug. Long overdue, but not in bad shape, so I cleaned it, filed it, and regapped it.
5) Plug is out, might as well test compression. 165 coldish.
6) Pull spark arrestor...clogged. Burned it off, put it all back together, ran like a top.
Basically, the 61 was bogging down in the cut. It was doing it a little last time I cut, but that was in high humidity and rain, so I attributed it to bad gas. Today she was running on fresh mix. I bought the saw used, and never have cleaned the carb, so I wouldn't have been surprised to wind up there, but I thought I'd knock the easy stuff off first. Here's what I did:
1) Make sure it wasn't a Stihl.
2) Crack gas cap to make sure there was no vent issue.
3) Check filter. Space was right...no need to check it, it was clean.
4) Cover is off, so might as well look at the plug. Long overdue, but not in bad shape, so I cleaned it, filed it, and regapped it.
5) Plug is out, might as well test compression. 165 coldish.
6) Pull spark arrestor...clogged. Burned it off, put it all back together, ran like a top.