stalling saw with choke

[stihl for life]

hey ive have been asked today if it bad for your chainsaw if u use your choke to stall your saw ,beacuse your kill switch itsent working. i couldn't give him a straight answer i told him that it would be best for safety reasons to replace it . will this ever harm your saw . if so why is this.any input would be awesome thanks

 

[workshop]

I'd rather do it the right way and fix the kill switch.

 

[AKDoug]

Shutting off a saw with the choke will not hurt it, but the kill switch should be replaced.

 

[Marshy]

Might foul your plug..?

 

[axe2fall]

I seem to remember an older model Stihl that the off switch did choke out the saw

 

[XSKIER]

Yep, 08. The choke is used for starting, governing top rpm, and stopping.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Might foul your plug..?

Bingo!!

 

[Rockfarmer]

I would think it fills the crankcase with large amounts of fuel only making it harder to start, especially right away. Some times its not the switch thats bad, its the missing ground strap between the av isolated tank handle and the actual metal mass of the motor.

 

[stihl for life]

cool thanks for the input

 

[SEAM]

The very first Stihl 08 series (no "S") did not have a kill switch - you were supposed to "kill" the engine using the choke.
The only problem you may have using this method is when the saw delevops an air leak

 

[XSKIER]

My 08 restarts hot on the first pull without engaging the throttle. No air leaks, fresh carb kit.

Stihl 08 in wood:

 

[CTYank]

Might foul your plug..?

Extremely unlikely unless you have other probs working. Choking hot engine @ idle would have much less such effect than choking it when cold with fast idle set- normal starting procedure. If doing that causes fuel accumulation in crankcase (very doubtful with hot engine) it should start without choke next time. Wouldn't count on it, though.

 

[T0RN4D0]

As long as the choke really chokes there shouldn't be any problems. If it leaks, you can let it run out of fuel to die. Or maybe readjust the carb every time

 

[DanS]

my 08 has a kill switch...

 

[SEAM]

my 08 has a kill switch...

The very early ones didn't...