First Chainsaw purchase...$40 used Echo CS-400

[JKernea]

Been looking for a good deal on a Stihl for a couple of weeks now...no luck. This Echo CS-400 popped up on our local 'For Sale' site and I jumped on it after reading some good reviews on here. The saw idles but cuts out when you give it a little throttle. I'm hoping it's just a carb adjustment or bad gas or something similar. So, where do I start? I've been reading on the Muffler Mod and carb adjustment...but being a chainsaw newbie, I think I may just want to get it back to factory good before messing with it any. Besides draining the gas and changing the plug, is there anything I can do to get it going?

Also, what's a good chain to purchase for casual use. We have 1 acre currently with a few hardwoods, but we're currently building a house on our new 8.5 acre purchase. The saw will only be used a handful of times a year for a mixture of hardwoods and pine trees. So, I need a good all around chain for general purpose I guess. Oh yeah, it's an 18-inch bar. Thanks everyone! Looking forward to modding it a little after I get it running correctly.

 

[dougand3]

Welcome. Search youtube for chainsaw carburetor adjustment...but it's probably dirty with stiff diaphragms. Carb disassembly, cleaning and rebuild kit. Or just buy a new carb. Fuel lines, fuel pickup (filter) need inspection and may need changing. Don't use ethanol gas.

 

[James Miller]

If it will only run a few times a year your better off to buy true fuel premix.

 

[mountainlake]

That's the way a lot of them run with the factory setting, you have to pull the limiter caps, trim the tabs and adjust. A muff modd REALLY wakes these saw up. Steve

 

[old 040]

These are great little 40cc saws, and yes, a muffler mod is in order..........I own three 400's and use one regularly for trail clearing and some firewood duty....

 

[JKernea]

Is this a good chain for a variety of pine and hardwoods? Good general purpose chain?

Oregon S62 3/8LP chain

 

[stubnail67]

Jeeze guys we dont even know his skill level yet.....all of the above good advice... first things first if you have not done it yet take the muffler off and check out the piston and save your self hours of BS to make sure your not pissing in the wind....then if the piston is good trim or take out limiters .....and try adjust the carb sounds like a low adjustment....but do yourself a huge favor look at the piston first before you spend anything on it....saws with lightly scored pistons can run like this.....after that do some reading alot plenty of threads... if it checks out then do what ever it needs... and yes a muffler mod is a good thing on this saw.... its also one of the harder ones to do... get your saw checked out running first learn how to adjust the carb if you dont already then I would do the muffler mod.....i have used these with and with out a mod and its helps it out alot but dont waste time and money on a used saw till you check the piston.....Sorry thats my advice....

 

[stubnail67]

this is what you dont want to see....

 

[JKernea]

Piston looks good, no scoring.

Something else I observed yesterday...the primer bulb is barely pulling in any gas when I push on it 5 times. With my limited knowledge here, it sounds like the fuel lines may need to be replaced? Where are you guys sourcing fuel lines from? Would it be good to purchase one of those "kits" that have fuel lines, filter, plug, gas filter, etc. for $10 or so on eBay? Any better sources? Thanks!

 

[m21bmr]

Nice find for $40. It is good news that your piston doesn't appear to be scored. Given that, it narrows your issues down likely to just fuel system. Since you mention the primer not pulling gas well, I would first do as was previously suggested, remove the carburetor and check for debris, rust/corrosion and/or stiff diaphragms. Just cleaning everything might work. You need to assess the condition of the fuel lines and fuel filter as well.
I have a CS-400 that I bought used, and I have owned a few other CS-370 and CS-400 saws over the years. My current saw was behaving a lot like you describe when I got it. I could get it to start and idle, but it would bog badly when the throttle was opened up. I opened up the H needle on the carb some, and that was all the saw needed to get it running well. Some of the other CS-370/400 saws I have had were also not getting enough fuel on the H side, and would not run well, so that does seem to be a common issue.
After you inspect the carburetor, you might also try a little sea-foam in the fuel to help clean the carb if you get it running. I also don't like using fuel with ethanol in my small engines.

Another possibility, which would be low probability since you've already had the muffler off, but make sure the muffler isn't blocked by either dirt dobbers, etc, or carbon build up.

 

[stubnail67]

Thats great news you got a super deal .... since the saw fires up.... why not get those limiters off and see if opening / the low and high screws clockwise on the screws helps... i bet it will... even if it does why not take the time to read up and replace the primer bulb fuel lines filters etc like was suggested...take pics with your phone to remember how the fuel lines are routed....then once you have it running good and if you want to read up on some muffler mod posts... I think mountain lake and cliff R have done some in depth threads... I think... I know they are on the forum I have read them a few times.... At 40 bux its worth that in parts .....Take your time read some threads there are a few with really good information.....Making sure your piston was not toast is the first thing i do when i buy a new/USED saw.....there are threads on how to get the plastic limters off with a dry wall screw it works make sure to line the tabs up....

 

[stubnail67]

Oem lines will last alot longer in my opinion... but i have used tygon...... remember take pics of the fuel lines before you pull them off....

 

[leecopland]

Echo does tuneup kits which would have the fuel related items except a carb rebuild kit(which you might not need) after replacing the fuel lines and primer bulb.

 

[m21bmr]

... why not get those limiters off and see if opening / the low and high screws clockwise on the screws helps... i bet it will...

Minor correction here... Once the limiters are off, you would want to open the screws by turning Counter-clockwise.

 

[stubnail67]

Minor correction here... Once the limiters are off, you would want to open the screws by turning Counter-clockwise.

yes my bad i meant counterclockwise thanks .... clockwise will lean it out