Canyon Angler
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hey, all,
I have a MS361 I was using today that, after shutting it down, wouldn't restart an hour later. When I was using it earlier in the day, it seemed fine -- plenty of power, it was 4-stroking/burbling nice out of the cut, and cleaning up when under load, it had fresh fuel, etc. But I couldn't restart it even with lots of choking, even after pouring some mix down the throat and changing fuel filter and cleaning the air filter -- not even a pop. (It has a modded muffler so I didn't check the screen for getting carboned up yet.)
So my question is, is there a standard sequence that you more experienced guys look at when diagnosing a saw that won't start?
For example, I assume if I pull the plug and confirm that I have a nice strong blue spark, then I know I need to confirm that I'm getting fuel. But if I try a new spark plug and find that I have no spark, what then? (I've never replaced any ignition components on any of my saws, yet.) I haven't checked condition of piston/cylinder yet, mainly because I'm 99% sure it never went lean.
(What bugs me is that once or twice I've had this happen before with this same saw, and tried for HOURS to start it without so much as a pop, and finally took it to the dealer under warranty, and left it there -- and the dealer called back and said he started it up on the first or second pull. So after that, I take the time to make sure it's not flooded...)
Thanks for any clues.
I have a MS361 I was using today that, after shutting it down, wouldn't restart an hour later. When I was using it earlier in the day, it seemed fine -- plenty of power, it was 4-stroking/burbling nice out of the cut, and cleaning up when under load, it had fresh fuel, etc. But I couldn't restart it even with lots of choking, even after pouring some mix down the throat and changing fuel filter and cleaning the air filter -- not even a pop. (It has a modded muffler so I didn't check the screen for getting carboned up yet.)
So my question is, is there a standard sequence that you more experienced guys look at when diagnosing a saw that won't start?
For example, I assume if I pull the plug and confirm that I have a nice strong blue spark, then I know I need to confirm that I'm getting fuel. But if I try a new spark plug and find that I have no spark, what then? (I've never replaced any ignition components on any of my saws, yet.) I haven't checked condition of piston/cylinder yet, mainly because I'm 99% sure it never went lean.
(What bugs me is that once or twice I've had this happen before with this same saw, and tried for HOURS to start it without so much as a pop, and finally took it to the dealer under warranty, and left it there -- and the dealer called back and said he started it up on the first or second pull. So after that, I take the time to make sure it's not flooded...)
Thanks for any clues.