Thank you, Don. Someone told me a few years ago that my ms 170 had NO carb adjustment screws, so I believed him. Yesterday, my old ms 170 would not idle. I found your video and learned about this idle adjustment screw. Maybe it’s not technically a carburetor screw - I don’t know - but it fixed my problem. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told this saw isn’t worth fixing, only to find a video like yours that helps me repair it for little or no $. It’s a great little saw.
Donny---I have been watching your video for a number of years. Today---your video on adjusting the idle speed for the Stihl MS 180 was just what I needed. Before checking out your video---I had the plastic orange cover off---looking for the high and low screws. Then I watched your video and learned of the location of the idle screen---and I was set. I appreciate your solid advice and super clear video. I live in CA---but if I was in your area you'd been my small engine dude. Thanks for your help. Warmly, Rich
I found one in the garbage. Cleaned and salvaged it. This was the last step. I appreciate your video and info my friend now my farm boss has a little brother
Still relevant today. It just helped me find that little hole to adjust the carb. I saw the arrows but it just didn't seem like you'd go through the handle. Thanks a bunch
Love this little chainsaw, got mine last spring used it all summer and it never once gave me any issues. Feld a 2 foot maple no problems, but then again I do sharpen that chain often. ;) It's a great tool for the home owner who isn't cutting trees for a living and has average size trees on his land to tend. Not having carb adjustment screws doesn't bother me, one less thing to have to factor in when trouble shooting, most people don't even know how to properly adjust them anyways.
HaHa, sorry to laugh at you but damn if that is not the reality of the world of mechanics, just be glad you are not throwing hundreds of dollars at a car gremlin.
Thank you for all your videos on the ms180. I am working on my saw now and replaced the fuel line and filter and carb parts and now test run and idle. Thanks.
Many thanks for this little tidbit of info. My saw was racing mad and I went looking for an adjustment screw on the carb. Nothing. I really like your videos. You provide great information and tips.
I'm having a hell of a time starting equipment in general at my new house. We live above 900 feet, and around 600-some feet they start up without issue. How should I adjust the carburetor so itll turn over?
Thank you for the video! I have a problem where my saw. It doesn't reach max RPM's. It studders a bit at full throttle. So I learned from your video it does not have a high speed adj. I've cleaned the air filter, mixed new gas for it, and changed the spark plug. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks again!
say donyboy73 i have a ms170,it turns it runs but like 10 or 15 mimutes the spark plug gets wet and i have to take it out clean it and then again the same prosses. what can it bee. thanks for the videos they help a lot.
Dony, I think you are correct that the lack of carburetor adjustment screws on the Sihl is a government mandate. My second chain saw is a HomeLite and it has the H / L screws, but they are not slotted, but rather splined, and inset into the body so that they can not be reached with pliers. The dealer told me this also is a government mandate, and he is not allowed to sell me the spline tool that will reach into the inset area and allow adjustment.
Gene Bailey-You can modify a screw driver to make adjustments. Like some trimmers have a D-shaped adjustment screw (Echo) . The manufacturers are wanting you to have to bring it in the shop every time it needs adjustment.
@strokincivic1994 why don't you make a video to show , i have never seen them on an ms180, i also have a video series on the carb rebuild and there are no H L screws on it
so i have an issue with my 180c... it will just randomly just shut off either under load or just being revved or even at idle, i took it to the dealer and they could not reproduce the issue with it after 30 minutes of hard use! however it happens to me practically every time i use it! it is extremely annoying seeing as they couldnt find anything wrong with it!
Those saws have a little screen in the muffler that gets clogged with carbon an they start running slow....loosen the muffler and clean or take out the screen , using the right mix of gas 50-1 will help from building up excess carbon.
thanks very much, the manual has a drawing with this little screw , it looks apsolutly like nothing anywhere on the saw... no wonder nobody reads these things
It's not a big deal unless it starts bogging down and you can't adjust it enough to get through doing what you was doing. I suppose those folks at the EPA never have that situation. lol
I cant get any changes turning all way in or out, it idles high , any ideas whats going on? I soaked carb in Berryman carb cleaner and installed new diaphragms, but still no changes on idle screw?
if u buy a bigger saw it will still have the carb adjuster screws high low ritch rare the reason small ones don't have it is so the user dosant blow it up they are a lot more delicate.
Whenever a product lists conformance to EPA or California as a feature, reject it and find another. Lack of adjustable carb is not going to save the earth in the next million years. And great video, you should consider adding a tach and adjust the idle.
Hey,I have the same chainsaw and I replaced the carburetor, but it still won't run.I have fuel and spark, what else could it be? Please help if you can.
HI donyboy73. Thank you very much for the helpful insightful videos. I was told an adjustable carburetor off a stihl ms250 would fit and be adjustable on a ms170, any thoughts?
If you marry the local Stihl dealers sister, he will give you one of those nifty little flathead screwdrivers for a wedding present ! I got mine, but i aint sharing !
Ive been struggling with my ms 170 for a while now it has a brand new carburetor in it and it starts and runs just fine and it will idle until i give it gas and it dies when i let off the gas and even weirder to me i got it running from a cold start and sat it down and it idled and as soon as i pick it up it starts to die again anybody know what could be causing this? It also has a new fuel filter and clean air and exhaust filters
I have a stihl ms260 pro chainsaw. when i start it it does fine but after a few seconds it bogs out. The muffler is clean. so I'm kinda scratching my head over it. if you can help me out I'd would greatly appreciate it.
Donny Boy!!!!! Help!!!! I'm looking at a ms441 that needs work and it's M-tronic???? Is that what this is too ???? It adjust itself ??? How would I control the rich/lean condition and top no load RPM???? It there a laptop program or something crazy to help fine tune this beast??? Is I did a muffler mod would it automatically adjust itself more rich to compensate??? Can this thing really tune itself... They have a computer like a car???? In a little saw box??? This seems too good to be true ...and if it goes lean... I can't stop it from eating up its piston or whatever without any over ride system?????
I've had one for 7 or 8 years. It is completely self adjusting, within its limitations. Dirty air filters,not so great fuel,and yes muffler mods it can handle with ease. Mine has been great,even running an Alaskan mill up high in the mountains.
Most chainsaws have an oil filter. check that. Also all chainsaws have a pathway from the body to the bar and then ports through the bar. Debris can obstruct/block these ports and passageways. an air blow off gun can be used on the area where the bar mounts and the bar. I always do field work on my saws but my in shop maintenance includes these steps. Professional arborist for a decade (the 90's). OH YEAH.... some of the more professional/more expensive $$$ saws do have bar oiler adjustment screws. Never think any other type of oil is a substitute for bar oil. Motor oil slings off the bar and bar oil sticks and lubricates.
Can anyone help me I've got a trimming chainsaw I think its called and when you start it the engine and chain and stuff just go flat out az fast az they can how do I fix this?
Ughm....where could I adjust this seting on the stihl ? I do not have this adjustment on the outside of the chainsaw like the brand new chainsaws (I am from Europe if this helps) ....and the adjustment is on the inside :( ...
Making a non adjustable carb is silly, thank you government. Remember the diaphragm gets hard sometimes and makes the carb and saw not run right, or carb is dirty. Clean carb, rebuild, or replace if not running correctly.
4th time I used it won't fucking stay idle wtf. Idle screw vibrated out, do I need take it all apart? Tried a magnetic screw driver can't seem get it to thread without seeing. STIHL you suck
You should really do your research before you go putting info on CZcams about how that saw doesn't have any adjustmement screws because on the side of the saw that the idle is on there is a high and a low set screw for adjustment and you would know that if you knew what you were talking about just because you can't see then doesn't mean there not there read up bud....
Glad I bought mine at an auction. Government mandates will literally be the death of many. No mixture screw is asinine the mixture needs to change with altitude due to air density. Done all the normal stuff including making sure the pickup tube was falling into the right places and no water accumulation in the tank even running high octane non-alcohol crap fuel. Stihl does need to Pander to California and screw the rest of the country. It's screw California, ("which state likely like" wrong subject) and Pander to the country. Perhaps the CEOs live in S.F. or L.A. What is a fairy screwed up deal. I think of people as animals, sheeple if you will. And they're not really wrong many are easily trained with free treats. Once trained they easily do As Told. When when they've outplayed their usefulness, they get euthanized. Just as bad animal owners do.
Thank you, Don. Someone told me a few years ago that my ms 170 had NO carb adjustment screws, so I believed him. Yesterday, my old ms 170 would not idle. I found your video and learned about this idle adjustment screw. Maybe it’s not technically a carburetor screw - I don’t know - but it fixed my problem. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told this saw isn’t worth fixing, only to find a video like yours that helps me repair it for little or no $. It’s a great little saw.
Donny---I have been watching your video for a number of years. Today---your video on adjusting the idle speed for the Stihl MS 180 was just what I needed. Before checking out your video---I had the plastic orange cover off---looking for the high and low screws. Then I watched your video and learned of the location of the idle screen---and I was set. I appreciate your solid advice and super clear video. I live in CA---but if I was in your area you'd been my small engine dude. Thanks for your help. Warmly, Rich
I found one in the garbage. Cleaned and salvaged it. This was the last step. I appreciate your video and info my friend now my farm boss has a little brother
Still relevant today. It just helped me find that little hole to adjust the carb. I saw the arrows but it just didn't seem like you'd go through the handle. Thanks a bunch
Love this little chainsaw, got mine last spring used it all summer and it never once gave me any issues. Feld a 2 foot maple no problems, but then again I do sharpen that chain often. ;) It's a great tool for the home owner who isn't cutting trees for a living and has average size trees on his land to tend. Not having carb adjustment screws doesn't bother me, one less thing to have to factor in when trouble shooting, most people don't even know how to properly adjust them anyways.
HaHa, sorry to laugh at you but damn if that is not the reality of the world of mechanics, just be glad you are not throwing hundreds of dollars at a car gremlin.
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this! Very helpful! Take care.
So how do you adjust it if it bogs when the accelerator but is on full speed if it has no high speed adjustment?
Thank you for all your videos on the ms180. I am working on my saw now and replaced the fuel line and filter and carb parts and now test run and idle. Thanks.
Many thanks for this little tidbit of info. My saw was racing mad and I went looking for an adjustment screw on the carb. Nothing. I really like your videos. You provide great information and tips.
Thank you 🙏🏼 much needed help, love from the himalayas
Hi Dony
thanks for all your help
thanks for watching
Great info, so helpful to me. Thanks !!!
The ms 180 is a good little saw (I have one). The fact that there is no carburetor adjustment is stupid. Thanks again government and California.
That’s why I like the 181 over the 180 - it has an adjustable carb.
my favorite is the old model 170
I'm having a hell of a time starting equipment in general at my new house. We live above 900 feet, and around 600-some feet they start up without issue. How should I adjust the carburetor so itll turn over?
check the intake boot, fuel filter and line then carburetor
Good close ups. Bravo!
Thank you for the video! I have a problem where my saw. It doesn't reach max RPM's. It studders a bit at full throttle. So I learned from your video it does not have a high speed adj. I've cleaned the air filter, mixed new gas for it, and changed the spark plug. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks again!
did you find out the problem?!?!
Yea, thats the saw I was running this past summer. I would like to be able to adjust the carb, I like 1972FordF150's idea!
good idea
My Echo weedwacker has the same kind of carburetor. As soon as that carb goes bad I'm putting an adjustable walbro on it !
How are you going to get to the adjustment screws?
@bugiktm a turn and a 1/4 for the high and low speed adjustment screws on most stihl saws.
say donyboy73 i have a ms170,it turns it runs but like 10 or 15 mimutes the spark plug gets wet and i have to take it out clean it and then again the same prosses. what can it bee. thanks for the videos they help a lot.
did u check the intake boot?
Dony, I think you are correct that the lack of carburetor adjustment screws on the Sihl is a government mandate. My second chain saw is a HomeLite and it has the H / L screws, but they are not slotted, but rather splined, and inset into the body so that they can not be reached with pliers. The dealer told me this also is a government mandate, and he is not allowed to sell me the spline tool that will reach into the inset area and allow adjustment.
Gene Bailey-You can modify a screw driver to make adjustments. Like some trimmers have a D-shaped adjustment screw (Echo) . The manufacturers are wanting you to have to bring it in the shop every time it needs adjustment.
Use a pen melt the tip just a bit to form it.
@strokincivic1994 why don't you make a video to show , i have never seen them on an ms180, i also have a video series on the carb rebuild and there are no H L screws on it
so i have an issue with my 180c... it will just randomly just shut off either under load or just being revved or even at idle, i took it to the dealer and they could not reproduce the issue with it after 30 minutes of hard use! however it happens to me practically every time i use it! it is extremely annoying seeing as they couldnt find anything wrong with it!
bonjour donyboy73...I know this is an older video but did you do one that show you actually setting the idle speed? Thanks.
Ahhhh, no I didnt! I saw that in your one video, thanks for jogging my memory! I bet thats it! Thanks!
anyone knows the initial setting of the idle screw?
might be the crank seals. also check the crank bearings
@strokincivic1994 this is a non adjustable carb!
Those saws have a little screen in the muffler that gets clogged with carbon an they start running slow....loosen the muffler and clean or take out the screen , using the right mix of gas 50-1 will help from building up excess carbon.
mark oleary screen also gets clogged up from using ethanol based gasoline!
Thanx !
thanks very much, the manual has a drawing with this little screw , it looks apsolutly like nothing anywhere on the saw... no wonder nobody reads these things
Would a micro screen help ti block debris from going into the carb if it is placed on the air intake hole that the air filter doesn't cover
It's not a big deal unless it starts bogging down and you can't adjust it enough to get through doing what you was doing. I suppose those folks at the EPA never have that situation. lol
If you can't adjust the carb what do you do to fix a boggy chain saw?
Where can I purchase one of these carbs?
I cant get any changes turning all way in or out, it idles high , any ideas whats going on? I soaked carb in Berryman carb cleaner and installed new diaphragms, but still no changes on idle screw?
Hi Dony!If adjusting the idle does not work what's the next step?
Take off exhaust clean inner Reed valve plate and screen
if u buy a bigger saw it will still have the carb adjuster screws high low ritch rare the reason small ones don't have it is so the user dosant blow it up they are a lot more delicate.
Whenever a product lists conformance to EPA or California as a feature, reject it and find another. Lack of adjustable carb is not going to save the earth in the next million years. And great video, you should consider adding a tach and adjust the idle.
you might also need a new cylinder
Hi donny. My chainsaw carb has a L/H screw. Do all the carbs have an idle screw as I can’t locate it?
@Frederik19951995 they sometimes do that
Done all that and still nothin'!It only work after i set the lever of the needle in a higher position.Did you ever done something like that ?
Hey,I have the same chainsaw and I replaced the carburetor, but it still won't run.I have fuel and spark, what else could it be? Please help if you can.
Check spring on choke if ur saw randomly stalls
I did the exaust mod i now i want to tune the carb is there any way
HI donyboy73. Thank you very much for the helpful insightful videos. I was told an adjustable carburetor off a stihl ms250 would fit and be adjustable on a ms170, any thoughts?
I have never tried it and I don't think it fits
How do you remove the intake seal on an sthil ms180c?
Factory rated rpms for a ms180?
If you marry the local Stihl dealers sister, he will give you one of those nifty little flathead screwdrivers for a wedding present ! I got mine, but i aint sharing !
Ive been struggling with my ms 170 for a while now it has a brand new carburetor in it and it starts and runs just fine and it will idle until i give it gas and it dies when i let off the gas and even weirder to me i got it running from a cold start and sat it down and it idled and as soon as i pick it up it starts to die again anybody know what could be causing this? It also has a new fuel filter and clean air and exhaust filters
after i set the lever of the needle in a higher position it works(little basterd)....anyway i like working on husqvarna's
Not on my MS170 there isn't as hole in the handle.
I have a stihl ms260 pro chainsaw. when i start it it does fine but after a few seconds it bogs out. The muffler is clean. so I'm kinda scratching my head over it. if you can help me out I'd would greatly appreciate it.
it probably needs a carb kit
Yep.
Donny Boy!!!!! Help!!!! I'm looking at a ms441 that needs work and it's M-tronic???? Is that what this is too ???? It adjust itself ??? How would I control the rich/lean condition and top no load RPM???? It there a laptop program or something crazy to help fine tune this beast??? Is I did a muffler mod would it automatically adjust itself more rich to compensate??? Can this thing really tune itself... They have a computer like a car???? In a little saw box??? This seems too good to be true ...and if it goes lean... I can't stop it from eating up its piston or whatever without any over ride system?????
I've had one for 7 or 8 years. It is completely self adjusting, within its limitations. Dirty air filters,not so great fuel,and yes muffler mods it can handle with ease. Mine has been great,even running an Alaskan mill up high in the mountains.
anyone know how to adjust the chain oiler? My ms180 oils really slow
Most chainsaws have an oil filter. check that. Also all chainsaws have a pathway from the body to the bar and then ports through the bar. Debris can obstruct/block these ports and passageways. an air blow off gun can be used on the area where the bar mounts and the bar. I always do field work on my saws but my in shop maintenance includes these steps. Professional arborist for a decade (the 90's). OH YEAH.... some of the more professional/more expensive $$$ saws do have bar oiler adjustment screws. Never think any other type of oil is a substitute for bar oil. Motor oil slings off the bar and bar oil sticks and lubricates.
my poulan chainsaw when I turned the idle down the chain keeps spinning fast
it's because you are actually already out of fuel and are running on fumes. fumes are way more combustable than gas its self.
Put a new carburetor on this Saw will not start any advice
Can anyone help me I've got a trimming chainsaw I think its called and when you start it the engine and chain and stuff just go flat out az fast az they can how do I fix this?
double check the fuel line. i just found a small hole in mine
My chain is moving .......on my chainsaw without pressing the button...what should I do ?
+sorin990 what make and model?could be clutch springs
Ughm....where could I adjust this seting on the stihl ? I do not have this adjustment on the outside of the chainsaw like the brand new chainsaws (I am from Europe if this helps) ....and the adjustment is on the inside :( ...
No amount of adjusting of the idle screw improves my MS170. It runs on idle some days, then won't the next...grrr!!
Making a non adjustable carb is silly, thank you government. Remember the diaphragm gets hard sometimes and makes the carb and saw not run right, or carb is dirty. Clean carb, rebuild, or replace if not running correctly.
Does anyone konw my my Stihl 180 c. Is going crazy (when its idle) just before its running dry of fuel?
Its pretty annoying. And dangerous...
It's tunned rich, as it runs out it hits lean and revs, very common, your saw needs a tune up.
Yeah mine will start and run good at half speed then you pull the trigger all the way and it dies.
The EPA hopefully will not exist like this in 2025 when the overhaul of our entire Government begins.
It is a big deal they lean them too much and the saw will not last as long.
4th time I used it won't fucking stay idle wtf. Idle screw vibrated out, do I need take it all apart? Tried a magnetic screw driver can't seem get it to thread without seeing. STIHL you suck
You should really do your research before you go putting info on CZcams about how that saw doesn't have any adjustmement screws because on the side of the saw that the idle is on there is a high and a low set screw for adjustment and you would know that if you knew what you were talking about just because you can't see then doesn't mean there not there read up bud....
Figure it out yet? No edit?
Glad I bought mine at an auction. Government mandates will literally be the death of many. No mixture screw is asinine the mixture needs to change with altitude due to air density. Done all the normal stuff including making sure the pickup tube was falling into the right places and no water accumulation in the tank even running high octane non-alcohol crap fuel. Stihl does need to Pander to California and screw the rest of the country. It's screw California, ("which state likely like" wrong subject) and Pander to the country. Perhaps the CEOs live in S.F. or L.A. What is a fairy screwed up deal.
I think of people as animals, sheeple if you will. And they're not really wrong many are easily trained with free treats. Once trained they easily do As Told. When when they've outplayed their usefulness, they get euthanized. Just as bad animal owners do.
Doesn't work,, screw does nothing at all. I can turn it all the way in or take it out completely with no difference at all,,,, What a pile of junk.