Low compression on my new Stihl MS362

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Oh well I think I’m outta here as well, still wish the OP luck.gotta say I’ve had dang good luck with my 461’s! see you guys on another thread somewhere,he put a 462 Oiler on saw at purchase, these oilers have little pin you can ping in & it makes it a h.o. Oiler

Bingo, and i thought it was possibly carb or ignition problem, there is too much bar oil causing a build up of debris and sawdust to bind up the bar and stall, then the motor with good compression spins the clutch, smoking the drum, , and gets going again if he shakes it out. There it is folks.
 
You are right, our wives need more attention since we have been following this thread on the edge of our seat for 24/7
Went fishing yesterday, came home and checked my notifications, status on this thread, the same! I’m guessing I can do the same next week.:rolleyes:
 
Jerry makes a good point.
Is the saw slinging oil off the bar tip?

From the early posts I was caught up in the low compression numbers and was just thinking along those lines but as the compression senario has played out and its most likely to be found to be higher when tested with the proper tool I now am thinking there might be a problem with the chain and bar. I myself have gone through a dozen or more new bars that have too small oil holes from the factory, these bars required me to drill them out to get adequate flow to the chain channel. The short bars, 14 - 16 would barely work but bars from 18" on up would not allow enough oil in to the drivers to keep the chain lubed and cooled, the chain would bind and the clutch would stall and smoke, the bar would be too hot to hold onto. Drill out the holes to 7/64 and problem solved, I now drill every new bar right off but did give a new GB bar a chance this weekend past, same result, not enough oil getting to the chain and it bound up in a 20" hardwood cut. Drilled it out right after getting back home, had other saws with me so was not a total waste of a trip out cutting.
 
From the early posts I was caught up in the low compression numbers and was just thinking along those lines but as the compression senario has played out and its most likely to be found to be higher when tested with the proper tool I now am thinking there might be a problem with the chain and bar. I myself have gone through a dozen or more new bars that have too small oil holes from the factory, these bars required me to drill them out to get adequate flow to the chain channel. The short bars, 14 - 16 would barely work but bars from 18" on up would not allow enough oil in to the drivers to keep the chain lubed and cooled, the chain would bind and the clutch would stall and smoke, the bar would be too hot to hold onto. Drill out the holes to 7/64 and problem solved, I now drill every new bar right off but did give a new GB bar a chance this weekend past, same result, not enough oil getting to the chain and it bound up in a 20" hardwood cut. Drilled it out right after getting back home, had other saws with me so was not a total waste of a trip out cutting.

+1 On that bar oiler holes being on the small side I have only had a my MS462 for a short while now but noticed on the 20 " and 25" bars ran on the warm side and the chain when rotated by hand was on the loud side. After squirting a couple of drops of oil in the bar it quieted right down. After taking the bar off and attempting to clear the oiler holes in the bar I was amazed at how small they are, I think I'll take your advise on drilling them out. Thanks

Pete
 
+1 On that bar oiler holes being on the small side I have only had a my MS462 for a short while now but noticed on the 20 " and 25" bars ran on the warm side and the chain when rotated by hand was on the loud side. After squirting a couple of drops of oil in the bar it quieted right down. After taking the bar off and attempting to clear the oiler holes in the bar I was amazed at how small they are, I think I'll take your advise on drilling them out. Thanks

Pete
I would if I were you , I run mostly Stihl bars but this last one was a new GB, seems all new bars have these tiny oil port holes and if the bar is painted as most are the paint makes the hole so tiny its less than 1/16 " , the smallest amount of sawdust plugs them up. Drilling them out takes no special tools, just a good quality HSS drill bit and a drill, takes less than 30 seconds per side and they don`t clog easily after, plenty of oil flow out to 32" on my 066`s.
 
The 5 compression test are null if they were using the wrong tester like stated. Post a vid. The problem could be a simple fix with a fresh set of eyes and ears.

Well the test runs I did aren't null and both shops tests aren't null. This whole thing has just been eating at me a lot. When I talked to JD I thought well maybe Stihl is right I just need to run it more so I kept the saw. Its been raining like a mother here plus flooding and with all that going on with our parents I just haven't had time to run this saw! I see on here some one buys a new saw off the shelve and cuts like that with the same chain I have in hardwood...you know that kind of upsetting the more I think how these shops just pass this saw back. Knowing how my 362 cuts just makes me really upset! Then I found this nearly new MS361 the more I thought about it the more I decide that would be better. JD did tell me Stihl not going to give me a new saw and take this one back. I've been thinking about this a lot, I'd have put $400 plus to upgrade to MS462 which I don't need , the 1st shop showed me a 362 with the same compression. At this point I just need sent the saw to JD, maybe Stihl will put new cylinder on. After thinking about this I spent $500 now and I have something I can use. I keep thinking about how tough is it to cut a slabs off 15" log that canterlevered off the ground. Your kid could do that! I don't need a compression release to start this 362 , I can't even tell the difference with it on or off starting this saw. I just mad about this whole thing. I'm sending this saw to JD and I keep thinking about these shops...two different business. Both these shops aren't willing do anything. I was really proud of this MS362 when I bought it. Spent the time and money just to get it how I wanted it to be. Yes I was should have ran it within 7 days of purchase... lesson learned. I have no guarantee sending this saw to JD. My saw is all cleaned up and ready, I going send this bar and chain as requested plus a new Stihl chain. I hope to have it ready to ship by the Friday...Saturday at the latest. The more I thinking about this I do believe Austin at Cascade called JD. I'm going have Austin ship it back to Stihl and I'm going ask him if he did. Yes I did have the email ready to forward to the address forward by a member on this site. I type up the whole history with names, phone numbers and dates. JD did said sent him the saw so I didn't see the point sending the email to the other contact. I did sent a copy of the history to JD plus address to this post, because I thought he should know about how these shops are dealing with problem as a business concern. With JD not seen my saw I can't expect much from it but I did forward it to JD. I don't have a good way to do a video other than my phone. I have no way of hold my phone...I guess I could cut kerf in round and set my phone it that. Believe me... you all know a child can cut slabs off 15" log, It's a 60 cc saw! Who can't cut a 15" log off with 60 cc saw. The second shop should have sent this saw to JD from the start. Why didn't they...they saw the problem, they ran the compression tests...5 of them. They are Stihl dealer they should have the skills and the tools....yes it simple. The test cuts they ran prove my point. Why give me the run around...the advice and post on here just prove this saw has a problem. Yesterday I just got caught up in how a 362 should run, my wife mom going in care home, in out of the hospital these last few weeks and we have another parent going into Hospice! Its been raining and Flooding here plus I have big equipment upgrade at work so I really haven't had time to deal with this saw. Yes I've had multiple private offer to fix this saw. Fact there a guy's 40 miles from me offered, I even got prices from him and I know he can fix it! I keep thinking I'm going have more money in saw I shouldn't have too and no warranty. The more I think about it I really don't have a guarantee from Stihl this will be resolve, but I do know I need sent them the saw to give them the chance. If you read this post I've been really careful about doing the right thing, maybe I should have just sent the saw to JD right after I spoke to him. I did have a nice conversation with JD, fact a couple and I thought instead of just sending it off I really should try running it some more... I just haven't had time. Right now with what I got going on... its going to be awhile before I can. So I'm going to box this saw up and send it to JD this week. But...here an offer to the members here on this site, because I serious about this problem I have with this 362. If someone want to pick up my saw and run it give their evaluation back to this group I willing! Anyone, on web site can say anything... you don't know me from Adam, you all have tried to help. I sorry if I'm haven't just jump on all the advice as it was given. I'm just a home owner with a little bit of ground and I have lot other thing going on and I have tried to do the right thing. If someone want to run this saw and they can give reference from a couple people on here I would be more than happy to let them take this saw and run it. You all seem like nice helpful people and I do appreciate the advice. I'll provide the fuel, the original bar and chain plus another new chain. The question about compression or what it is really isn't the point the point... it how this saw runs, its not question about my skills or my word or anything in that line. Its how this saw preforms ...does this saw run right or does it really have a problem. If some wants to make arrangements before Friday then great, We'll let the group know what happening. Otherwise by Friday this saw getting dropped off at Cascade for shipment to JD. I did not mean to upset people on here, yes this has been going on along time but their are other reason why. I think my offer is fair to everyone who has tried to help, it only fair for those people get the answers they need! I honestly I think that is right thing to do at this point! If this group thinks they can find someone they trust that live near Lebanon, Oregon 97355, I'm in Corvallis Monday thru Friday or some where close that wants to run this saw...I think that is more than fair to this group.
 
Well the test runs I did aren't null and both shops tests aren't null. This whole thing has just been eating at me a lot. When I talked to JD I thought well maybe Stihl is right I just need to run it more so I kept the saw. Its been raining like a mother here plus flooding and with all that going on with our parents I just haven't had time to run this saw! I see on here some one buys a new saw off the shelve and cuts like that with the same chain I have in hardwood...you know that kind of upsetting the more I think how these shops just pass this saw back. Knowing how my 362 cuts just makes me really upset! Then I found this nearly new MS361 the more I thought about it the more I decide that would be better. JD did tell me Stihl not going to give me a new saw and take this one back. I've been thinking about this a lot, I'd have put $400 plus to upgrade to MS462 which I don't need , the 1st shop showed me a 362 with the same compression. At this point I just need sent the saw to JD, maybe Stihl will put new cylinder on. After thinking about this I spent $500 now and I have something I can use. I keep thinking about how tough is it to cut a slabs off 15" log that canterlevered off the ground. Your kid could do that! I don't need a compression release to start this 362 , I can't even tell the difference with it on or off starting this saw. I just mad about this whole thing. I'm sending this saw to JD and I keep thinking about these shops...two different business. Both these shops aren't willing do anything. I was really proud of this MS362 when I bought it. Spent the time and money just to get it how I wanted it to be. Yes I was should have ran it within 7 days of purchase... lesson learned. I have no guarantee sending this saw to JD. My saw is all cleaned up and ready, I going send this bar and chain as requested plus a new Stihl chain. I hope to have it ready to ship by the Friday...Saturday at the latest. The more I thinking about this I do believe Austin at Cascade called JD. I'm going have Austin ship it back to Stihl and I'm going ask him if he did. Yes I did have the email ready to forward to the address forward by a member on this site. I type up the whole history with names, phone numbers and dates. JD did said sent him the saw so I didn't see the point sending the email to the other contact. I did sent a copy of the history to JD plus address to this post, because I thought he should know about how these shops are dealing with problem as a business concern. With JD not seen my saw I can't expect much from it but I did forward it to JD. I don't have a good way to do a video other than my phone. I have no way of hold my phone...I guess I could cut kerf in round and set my phone it that. Believe me... you all know a child can cut slabs off 15" log, It's a 60 cc saw! Who can't cut a 15" log off with 60 cc saw. The second shop should have sent this saw to JD from the start. Why didn't they...they saw the problem, they ran the compression tests...5 of them. They are Stihl dealer they should have the skills and the tools....yes it simple. The test cuts they ran prove my point. Why give me the run around...the advice and post on here just prove this saw has a problem. Yesterday I just got caught up in how a 362 should run, my wife mom going in care home, in out of the hospital these last few weeks and we have another parent going into Hospice! Its been raining and Flooding here plus I have big equipment upgrade at work so I really haven't had time to deal with this saw. Yes I've had multiple private offer to fix this saw. Fact there a guy's 40 miles from me offered, I even got prices from him and I know he can fix it! I keep thinking I'm going have more money in saw I shouldn't have too and no warranty. The more I think about it I really don't have a guarantee from Stihl this will be resolve, but I do know I need sent them the saw to give them the chance. If you read this post I've been really careful about doing the right thing, maybe I should have just sent the saw to JD right after I spoke to him. I did have a nice conversation with JD, fact a couple and I thought instead of just sending it off I really should try running it some more... I just haven't had time. Right now with what I got going on... its going to be awhile before I can. So I'm going to box this saw up and send it to JD this week. But...here an offer to the members here on this site, because I serious about this problem I have with this 362. If someone want to pick up my saw and run it give their evaluation back to this group I willing! Anyone, on web site can say anything... you don't know me from Adam, you all have tried to help. I sorry if I'm haven't just jump on all the advice as it was given. I'm just a home owner with a little bit of ground and I have lot other thing going on and I have tried to do the right thing. If someone want to run this saw and they can give reference from a couple people on here I would be more than happy to let them take this saw and run it. You all seem like nice helpful people and I do appreciate the advice. I'll provide the fuel, the original bar and chain plus another new chain. The question about compression or what it is really isn't the point the point... it how this saw runs, its not question about my skills or my word or anything in that line. Its how this saw preforms ...does this saw run right or does it really have a problem. If some wants to make arrangements before Friday then great, We'll let the group know what happening. Otherwise by Friday this saw getting dropped off at Cascade for shipment to JD. I did not mean to upset people on here, yes this has been going on along time but their are other reason why. I think my offer is fair to everyone who has tried to help, it only fair for those people get the answers they need! I honestly I think that is right thing to do at this point! If this group thinks they can find someone they trust that live near Lebanon, Oregon 97355, I'm in Corvallis Monday thru Friday or some where close that wants to run this saw...I think that is more than fair to this group.
Send it to Pioneer Guy he has decades of experience!
 
Send it to Pioneer Guy he has decades of experience!

I think James has it right, at this point send it back to Stihl Corp, let them have a chance to fix it, if they don`t and they send the saw back still not working properly then one of us will gladly take it and fix it properly. There is just too many possibilities for faults or problems with this saw, seen this so many times over the years and its very difficult to pinpoint just what needs to be done til the saw is in ones hands, then a proper evaluation can be undertaken and fault or faults determined and repaired. If I was within driving distance of James residence I would have been there by now and we would not have 28 pages of guess work going on.
 
Well the test runs I did aren't null and both shops tests aren't null. This whole thing has just been eating at me a lot. When I talked to JD I thought well maybe Stihl is right I just need to run it more so I kept the saw. Its been raining like a mother here plus flooding and with all that going on with our parents I just haven't had time to run this saw! I see on here some one buys a new saw off the shelve and cuts like that with the same chain I have in hardwood...you know that kind of upsetting the more I think how these shops just pass this saw back. Knowing how my 362 cuts just makes me really upset! Then I found this nearly new MS361 the more I thought about it the more I decide that would be better. JD did tell me Stihl not going to give me a new saw and take this one back. I've been thinking about this a lot, I'd have put $400 plus to upgrade to MS462 which I don't need , the 1st shop showed me a 362 with the same compression. At this point I just need sent the saw to JD, maybe Stihl will put new cylinder on. After thinking about this I spent $500 now and I have something I can use. I keep thinking about how tough is it to cut a slabs off 15" log that canterlevered off the ground. Your kid could do that! I don't need a compression release to start this 362 , I can't even tell the difference with it on or off starting this saw. I just mad about this whole thing. I'm sending this saw to JD and I keep thinking about these shops...two different business. Both these shops aren't willing do anything. I was really proud of this MS362 when I bought it. Spent the time and money just to get it how I wanted it to be. Yes I was should have ran it within 7 days of purchase... lesson learned. I have no guarantee sending this saw to JD. My saw is all cleaned up and ready, I going send this bar and chain as requested plus a new Stihl chain. I hope to have it ready to ship by the Friday...Saturday at the latest. The more I thinking about this I do believe Austin at Cascade called JD. I'm going have Austin ship it back to Stihl and I'm going ask him if he did. Yes I did have the email ready to forward to the address forward by a member on this site. I type up the whole history with names, phone numbers and dates. JD did said sent him the saw so I didn't see the point sending the email to the other contact. I did sent a copy of the history to JD plus address to this post, because I thought he should know about how these shops are dealing with problem as a business concern. With JD not seen my saw I can't expect much from it but I did forward it to JD. I don't have a good way to do a video other than my phone. I have no way of hold my phone...I guess I could cut kerf in round and set my phone it that. Believe me... you all know a child can cut slabs off 15" log, It's a 60 cc saw! Who can't cut a 15" log off with 60 cc saw. The second shop should have sent this saw to JD from the start. Why didn't they...they saw the problem, they ran the compression tests...5 of them. They are Stihl dealer they should have the skills and the tools....yes it simple. The test cuts they ran prove my point. Why give me the run around...the advice and post on here just prove this saw has a problem. Yesterday I just got caught up in how a 362 should run, my wife mom going in care home, in out of the hospital these last few weeks and we have another parent going into Hospice! Its been raining and Flooding here plus I have big equipment upgrade at work so I really haven't had time to deal with this saw. Yes I've had multiple private offer to fix this saw. Fact there a guy's 40 miles from me offered, I even got prices from him and I know he can fix it! I keep thinking I'm going have more money in saw I shouldn't have too and no warranty. The more I think about it I really don't have a guarantee from Stihl this will be resolve, but I do know I need sent them the saw to give them the chance. If you read this post I've been really careful about doing the right thing, maybe I should have just sent the saw to JD right after I spoke to him. I did have a nice conversation with JD, fact a couple and I thought instead of just sending it off I really should try running it some more... I just haven't had time. Right now with what I got going on... its going to be awhile before I can. So I'm going to box this saw up and send it to JD this week. But...here an offer to the members here on this site, because I serious about this problem I have with this 362. If someone want to pick up my saw and run it give their evaluation back to this group I willing! Anyone, on web site can say anything... you don't know me from Adam, you all have tried to help. I sorry if I'm haven't just jump on all the advice as it was given. I'm just a home owner with a little bit of ground and I have lot other thing going on and I have tried to do the right thing. If someone want to run this saw and they can give reference from a couple people on here I would be more than happy to let them take this saw and run it. You all seem like nice helpful people and I do appreciate the advice. I'll provide the fuel, the original bar and chain plus another new chain. The question about compression or what it is really isn't the point the point... it how this saw runs, its not question about my skills or my word or anything in that line. Its how this saw preforms ...does this saw run right or does it really have a problem. If some wants to make arrangements before Friday then great, We'll let the group know what happening. Otherwise by Friday this saw getting dropped off at Cascade for shipment to JD. I did not mean to upset people on here, yes this has been going on along time but their are other reason why. I think my offer is fair to everyone who has tried to help, it only fair for those people get the answers they need! I honestly I think that is right thing to do at this point! If this group thinks they can find someone they trust that live near Lebanon, Oregon 97355, I'm in Corvallis Monday thru Friday or some where close that wants to run this saw...I think that is more than fair to this group.

Paragraphs are your friend.

.
 
At this point definitely return to Stihl and good luck I hope you get a positive result.

One of my saws is a 04/2017 ms362c with a 20” bar and full chisel chain; it runs beautifully and you can bury the bar in softwood and it doesn’t bog unless you lean on it real heavy. It will cut hardwood (English oak) of 18” dia relatively easily also without bogging. I did a cold compression test yesterday, with an accurate and appropriate tester and it was just under 110 psi which surprised me....an old Jonny 630 Super 2 I have is at 150! Saying that the 362 runs great, and has done for nearly 2 years now, maybe 110 is about right?!

Anyway, chin up fella, it can only get better and if necessary it looks like there are some good lads on here that will sort it out for you if Stihl do not
 
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