I used my 038M today and it had been sitting for a couple months, took about 10-12 pulls to get gas back in the carb. After that it would fire right up warm, needed a pull or two on choke if it sat while I played with chunks of cordwood ( was below freezing today)Great pics! another question...this saw was always a hard start...should i consider changing the ignition or wouldnt that have anything to do with it???
Does yours fire up OK warm, and with a splash of mix in the carb cold?
If so, check the choke inside the airfilter. It may not be shutting all the way. Sometimes it's the linkage/switch shaft not making proper contact to lever on filter, can be due to worn linkage, sometime it's the filter. assy. Some aftermarket airfilters have faulty chokes.
For the shaft check that it makes contact with lever from choke on airfilter, and moves it far enough to close the choke on choke position. You should be able to move that lever with your finger when switch shaft is in run or off position and feel the choke shut. The ends of the shaft can wear, along with the holes where it fits in the tank housing, check there is not slop there.
My 038 saws have pretty new Stihl flocked airfilters.