395xp choke issue

[Waltzie]

Hello all,

Was running a 395 XP yesterday and got through about 7 of 10 cords of logs, and the choke lever started coming out on its own while in the cut killing the saw. Made it through about 2 more cords using the back of my hand to hold the lever in, but unfortunately the lever snapped. Any idea why the lever would engage on its own? I need to tear into it to fix the lever, figure I may as well reach out for possible insight to the choke issue, so I can fix that as well. BTW, the saw is not stock, it was built by Mastermind.

 

[Mastermind Worksaws]

I have never seen this issue in the dozen or so years I've been messing with saws. I'm not sure what to tell you. But if the choke lever is broken from you just holding it in.......that absolutely amazes me.

 

[Gord404]

Check your carb rubber mounts maybe or mounts in general - linkage on carb?.... ya never come across that either on that model.

 

[Waltzie]

Will do. What should I be checking them for… other than if they are present?

I don’t think the handle broke because I was holding it in, I think it broke because the angle of my hand while cutting would push it up if it popped out and I went to push it back up before it stalled. Sort of bent it up and it snapped.

btw, the saw is an animal. This post is in no way a shot at Mastermind. I love it.

 

[Mastermind Worksaws]

Will do. What should I be checking them for… other than if they are present?

I don’t think the handle broke because I was holding it in, I think it broke because the angle of my hand while cutting would push it up if it popped out and I went to push it back up before it stalled. Sort of bent it up and it snapped.

btw, the saw is an animal. This post is in no way a shot at Mastermind. I love it.

How many hours has this saw got on it you think? I wonder if the detent in the choke shaft is missing/worn/etc

 

[Waltzie]

Maybe 35. Yesterday was 6 straight when the issue popped up.

 

[Mastermind Worksaws]

Maybe 35. Yesterday was 6 straight when the issue popped up.

Not enough for anything to be worn. Very odd one here.

 

[Waltzie]

It was like the knob was being forced back…. It had some force to it.

 

[Mastermind Worksaws]

Pull that cover off....and check it out.

 

[Waltzie]

Here’s what I found. The pics were taken chronologically as I disassembled it, hopefully they load in that order. Up until now I haven’t done anything further then take the air filter out to tap it clean. I noticed the screw was missing on the front of the cover, and I tightened the side cover screw once I removed the top. When I saw the screw in the throttle assembly, I didn’t know where it came from, but the thread pitch seems to be the same as the missing screw. I have no idea how it got there, or could have gotten there when the top cover was in place.

Can any of the experts on here explain how the choke knob would be forced out by a screw stuck in the throttle mechanism?


Mastermind, thanks for writing my initials on the head.

And how do you get the choke knob disconnected from the carb? I will order a new one tomorrow.

-Matt

 

[angelo c]

The choke rods break, come loose, and fall off often on the 395. There is a tiny screw that holds the mounting and connector arm to the choke shaft. The choke lever itself is just mechanically attached. You kinda twist it into the mounting bracket.

 

[lwmibc]

FWIW, I have run into the same choke issue when using a new-this-year 395XP for milling, you can see the sawmill in another thread on here. When it happens it is always when the saw revs too high, as in at the end of cut if I'm caught unprepared and don't get the 'throttle lock' (a tie-wrap that slides over the trigger) off in time. I just concluded that it was an over-rev preventing design and didn't care if I was right or not, that's the way it seemed to work and I didn't mind it, it kept me on my toes more. It never happens when the saw is loaded and working. And obviously since it happened a couple of times in one day I haven't let it happen again.

 

[angelo c]

Pull that cover off....and check it out.

Hey Randy....thanks for helping out with the 880. Greatly appreciated. Saw runs great now. Happy holidays to you and Glenda.

 

[mbrick]

Wow, where did that extra screw come from??

I guess this is a lesson to stop and "check it out" if something seems off instead of forcing it.

 

[Woodslasher]

That missing screw actually came from the hole I circled in the pic below. I just rebuilt one of these so I still have a good idea of what hardware goes where.

 

[mbrick]

Good eye, that's sure it!

 

[huskihl]

Bigger huskies need most every bolt retorqued after each of the first few uses. Usually good to go after that

 

[cscltd]

I had one with same issue. The choke spring behind shaft was not applying enough force on shaft detent. I got small piece of metal to use as a washer/spacer behind spring to add extra spring force on shaft and seemed to work. (Requires removing choke shaft from carb)

 

[John Stryker]

Another thing could be where you drilled for the impulse hose fitting could be a loose fit.

 

[Waltzie]

That missing screw actually came from the hole I circled in the pic below. I just rebuilt one of these so I still have a good idea of what hardware goes where.
View attachment 949964

Thanks slasher, what is this screw for?