IowaDiver
ArboristSite Member
I found a Stihl 029 Super Farm Boss 20".... litterally found this thing, in the case on the side of the road! So I took it home... it looks like a much better saw than my Husquvarna, so I'd like to see if I can get it operational. At first glance the saw is pretty clean with minimal wear, but it could have taken a tumble off the back of a truck or something, so i need help trouble shooting to get this thing going if possible.
First off I cleaned the saw up and of course tried to start it.... no luck. I pulled the spark plug to dry out the cylinder in case i flooded it, no luck. I bought a new spark plug, replaced, no luck. I tried plugging the spark plug into the cord (sorry for lack of technical language), pulled the cord and I do see a spark (good sign!)... still no luck. I dissambled the saw... removed all the body parts, fuel lines, carb, exhaust, bar/chain, etc... cleaned out all debris, checked all electrical connectors (in case one came undone in "the fall"), reassembled.... no luck. I read a bunch of posts on this forum with guys trying to trouble shoot the same saw and decided to check compression. I actually had a brand new in the package compression tester I bought several years ago and never used.... i never used one of these, so I read the directions, hooked it up to the cylinder, opened to full choke and gave it a few pulls... the tester first read approx. 60, then 90 on the second pull, then maxed out at 100. I reset and got the same results several times. I also removed the exhaust to inspect the cylinder head.... i've never done this before, so who knows if I am giving a proper evaluation... but the head looked clean yet had streaks that ran up and down... not sure if they are scratches or just simply oil/fuel streaks. I watched the head move up and down as I pulled the cord slowly... noticed some fuel actively seeping along the sides of the piston... normal?
It seems like everyone on here suggest rebuilding the carb first off for troubleshooting.... cheap enough and easy, but I thought I would ask for any additional suggestions or troubleshooting tricks prior to doing that. Any ideas?
Matt
First off I cleaned the saw up and of course tried to start it.... no luck. I pulled the spark plug to dry out the cylinder in case i flooded it, no luck. I bought a new spark plug, replaced, no luck. I tried plugging the spark plug into the cord (sorry for lack of technical language), pulled the cord and I do see a spark (good sign!)... still no luck. I dissambled the saw... removed all the body parts, fuel lines, carb, exhaust, bar/chain, etc... cleaned out all debris, checked all electrical connectors (in case one came undone in "the fall"), reassembled.... no luck. I read a bunch of posts on this forum with guys trying to trouble shoot the same saw and decided to check compression. I actually had a brand new in the package compression tester I bought several years ago and never used.... i never used one of these, so I read the directions, hooked it up to the cylinder, opened to full choke and gave it a few pulls... the tester first read approx. 60, then 90 on the second pull, then maxed out at 100. I reset and got the same results several times. I also removed the exhaust to inspect the cylinder head.... i've never done this before, so who knows if I am giving a proper evaluation... but the head looked clean yet had streaks that ran up and down... not sure if they are scratches or just simply oil/fuel streaks. I watched the head move up and down as I pulled the cord slowly... noticed some fuel actively seeping along the sides of the piston... normal?
It seems like everyone on here suggest rebuilding the carb first off for troubleshooting.... cheap enough and easy, but I thought I would ask for any additional suggestions or troubleshooting tricks prior to doing that. Any ideas?
Matt