261 c-m running LEAN?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
My 261cm is going on 2 years old now, I always drain the gas if I'm not going to be using it for a few weeks.

It's 5 pulls on the dot every single time after I drain the gas and run it dry. 5th pull it takes right off. Once warm, it's always a 1 pull saw. It's been this way since new.

I'd say it was a good idea taking it back to the dealer and letting them check it out. That's not normal operation.


Letting the saw sit in the start position won't do anything. There's no battery in there to give the electronics power...they only turn on and work when the flywheel is spinning. Also, the m-tronic system is not a fuel pump, so it's not going to help prime the saw. You have to pull to get the saw primed. Should be 5ish pulls for a 100% dry saw.
 
Maybe, I only run mine at 50:1

I'm picky about my fuel...all my buddies give me **** because I have to bring my own fuel with me when we cut together...but who knows how long they've had that fuel, if it has ethanol or not, or what kind of oil at what ratio they're burning. None of them buy quality saws and I'm not risking my pro-level saw just so we can tote around one gas can instead of two. They also refuse to use my fuel...so, whatever lol
 
My 261cm is going on 2 years old now, I always drain the gas if I'm not going to be using it for a few weeks.

It's 5 pulls on the dot every single time after I drain the gas and run it dry. 5th pull it takes right off. Once warm, it's always a 1 pull saw. It's been this way since new.

I'd say it was a good idea taking it back to the dealer and letting them check it out. That's not normal operation.


Letting the saw sit in the start position won't do anything. There's no battery in there to give the electronics power...they only turn on and work when the flywheel is spinning. Also, the m-tronic system is not a fuel pump, so it's not going to help prime the saw. You have to pull to get the saw primed. Should be 5ish pulls for a 100% dry saw.

What ... no purge magic in the c-m ! :p

Thanks for the feedback, I guessed as much but had to ask.
 
Maybe, I only run mine at 50:1

I'm picky about my fuel...all my buddies give me **** because I have to bring my own fuel with me when we cut together...but who knows how long they've had that fuel, if it has ethanol or not, or what kind of oil at what ratio they're burning. None of them buy quality saws and I'm not risking my pro-level saw just so we can tote around one gas can instead of two. They also refuse to use my fuel...so, whatever lol

Picky about fuel is good! I always run 94 non-ethanol @ 40/1 in my Huskies.
 
I'm also wondering if this saw is fussy about 50/1 and does not like 40/1? I seem to remember someone else saying they had trouble and when they went back to 50/1 everything cleared up.

First off, this is not a Stihl sales pitch BUT, I have been seeing a waxy residue from two different premixed fuel brands. It adheres to the fuel filter and can/will work its way into the strainer in the carb. I see it in first aid and fire company saws and cutoff saws. I 've seen it in a linetrimmer. Very bad. The inside of the tank was greasy and the fuel filter weights about 2 pounds LOL

I have not seen it with Motomix. I was told by our distributor that Motomix goes through an additional refining step. It removes these olefins.
Any saw that has been run dry will take varying degrees of effort to start. If the saw is under warranty, bring it back. The dealer should be able to retrieve the fuel numbers,
in memory of the control unit. IF it does or is damaged from lean running, and the is evidence of proper lubrication in the saw, warranty should not be a problem.
But that will depend on the dealer. Its all in the delivery.
And running 40:1 instead of 50:1 does squat. The saws designed to run on, at least 89 octane and 50:1. Why not do that?
 
And running 40:1 instead of 50:1 does squat. The saws designed to run on, at least 89 octane and 50:1. Why not do that?

Long standing habit of using a little more oil to keep things well lubed - 40/1. How much extra longevity it provides is certainly debatable, but it's what has worked for me for some years.

I do believe that running non-ethanol fuel is compulsory, unless you like gummed up fuel lines and carbs and/or you drain your saws thoroughly before putting them away. All my equipment gets non-ethanol 94 octane.
 
. My 261 took about 8 or 10 pulls new out of the box to start.

8 or 10 times .... :confused:

love my little EA4300 for this reason - hit purge bulb a few times - pull 2x with super easy start - cut wood! you'd think another manufacturer would have nailed this by now .... It's not rocket science :nofunny:

My 562xp - hit purge bulb about 6 times on previously drained saw. Press decomp ... pull 3 times - move switch to run - pull one more time - go cut wood.
 
8 or 10 times .... :confused:

love my little EA4300 for this reason - hit purge bulb a few times - pull 2x with super easy start - cut wood! you'd think another manufacturer would have nailed this by now .... It's not rocket science :nofunny:

My 562xp - hit purge bulb about 6 times on previously drained saw. Press decomp ... pull 3 times - move switch to run - pull one more time - go cut wood.
The 500i I ran Saturday took about the same . It was never fueled before either. It does have a purge bulb. I think after the initial start up it started 1st pull for the guys that ran it.
 
The 500i I ran Saturday took about the same . It was never fueled before either. It does have a purge bulb. I think after the initial start up it started 1st pull for the guys that ran it.

500i sounds like a nice saw!

I know some guys don't like purge bulb, but they work for me. When I get my saw back if it is still a lot of pulling to start, I may ditch it for the 550xp with purge bulb. I can still work hard and regularly work out with weights when not on the hill, but ain't no spring chicken anymore - easy does it on the shoulder joints.
 
When you fuel up a dry saw that you know struggles to prime, pull the air filter and drip 1/2-3/4 tspn of mixed fuel into the carb. Put it back together and try a pull or two on choke. The saw should kick. Bump to half choke or run and repeat. It might sputter and die a couple times, but normally that will prime the fuel system. I do it all the time when building a saw from dry parts.

Just don’t put too much fuel in the carb. Then it’s flooded...and won’t start. :angry:

There is a big difference between a dry saw and a cold saw though. A cold saw should still have fuel in the line and carb.

Besides, it shouldn’t take 20 pulls to start a $600 pro saw. Cold or hot. Glad you made the dealer deal with it. It’s not unreasonable to ask for a loaner if they can’t look at yours for a long time. It’s under warranty.
 
My saw is ready for pickup. Only word I got so far is they updated software and pulled muffler and saw no scoring - supposedly running fine now. Will speak with mechanic soon to get more details.

Q: Will the software on an M-tronic suggest if there might be any leaks or do you have to do thorough leak test?
 

Latest posts

Back
Top