Can My Apprentice Diagnose This New STIHL Chainsaw That Won't Run After 1 Tank Of Gas? - Video
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Can My Apprentice Diagnose This New STIHL Chainsaw That Won't Run After 1 Tank Of Gas?
I recently bought a brand new Stihl chainsaw from a customer that only ran one tank of fuel through it and now it won't run!
I have deliberately kept the saw to test Dave my apprentice on his diagnosing skills!
Don’t forget to click the 🔔 to turn on Video Notifications for more money saving videos and tips, featuring all the brands like Stihl, Husky, Husqvarna, Honda, Echo, Tecumseh, Dolmar, Makita, Poulan, Ariens, Briggs and Stratton, Murray, John Deere, Craftsman, MTD, AYP, etc.
FOR AN UPDATE ON THIS SAW CLICK BELOW
• Straight Gassed Stihl ...
Help me make videos or buy me a beer!!
/ donyboy73
Connect with me on these social media spaces (plus that's where I announce contest winners)
Facebook: / donyboy73-the-small-en...
Twitter: / donyboy73
Instagram: / donyboy73
Dave's CZcams channel;
/ davessmallengines
If you enjoy my small engine repair videos make sure to comment, share, thumbs up and subscribe. Thanks for watching!
Easy to follow and thorough step by step tutorials do it yourself (DIY) to help you with your broken lawn and garden equipment including snowblowers.
I do my best to teach you how to easily diagnose problems the fastest, quickest and most efficient way with real repairs beyond just replacing a spark plug. These tips are for both the homeowner and shop owner.
Whether it be a handheld, two stroke, two cycle engine like a chainsaw, weed eater, weed wacker, string trimmer, grass trimmer, line trimmer, hedge trimmer, strimmer, brush cutter, leaf blower, or four stroke, four cycle units like a lawnmower, wood splitter, lawn tractor, snowblower, pressure washer, generator or a ride on mower that needs parts installed or replaced, I’m your go-to guy.
My favorite brands of spark plugs are NGK and Champion and are the ones I recommend.
I’ve been a small engine mechanic for many decades and also run my own repair shop so my videos are loaded with tips and tricks that I have learned and want to share with you. You will also find many tool and product reviews from top brands on my channel as well.
I have the largest Small Engine Repair Video Library on CZcams and the entire internet with over 1200 videos, just GOOGLE "DONYBOY73"!
I want "DON THE SMALL ENGINE DOCTOR" on CZcams to save you time, frustration and most importantly, MONEY with my HOW-TO videos!
Due to factors beyond the control of DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor”, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor” assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor” recommends safe practices when working with power tools, hand tools, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor”, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor".
#donyboy73 #db73 #apprentice
Suspicion was raised already when they came right to you, Don, and avoided the dealer, lol! 😱
I work at a dealer and we also do repairs. The reason people often don’t come back to us for repairs is because we use the parts from Stihl, so a new piston assembly often times cost as much as the saw itself when you add labor.
@@princetondaxton8483 you’re right, we don’t care.
@@jeremykatchmark3606 I think he more meant they didn't try a warranty claim
My initial reaction also.
yea should been under warranty they know the dealer not cover damage due to no oil in gas
Novice tip: I have found that 90% of the time with older equipment that people give up on and sell at a yard sale, it's just a fuel issue. Bad hose or clogged jet or screen.
Or even bad fitting non sealing fuel caps, have had that
This is true enough for home-owner, big-box-store trash but not so much for a Stihl pro saw. In my area that saw will still bring $300, even with the blown top end.
@@cwytonweb yeah, I've never found a stihl at a garage sale that wasn't running, come to think of it. I did find a 710 sold as inoperable once that just needed the fuel system flushed out, so it is possible. 😀
I've saved 2 stihl weed eaters from the scrap yard. Fuel lines were trash.
LOL i watched a neighbour try and start his lawnmower and it kept stalling. he pushed it over to the curb and put free sign on it. i sent my son over to get it and about 15 min and a bit of carb cleaner and he was watching me cut my lawn with it.
Good video, as an owner of a small engine business its good to see you passing knowledge to younger workers. Your apprentice seems eager and respectful and will make a good technician. Best of luck to him.
Thanks Steve!!!
yes he's eager to learn and very respectful, just the right combination!
Hey Steve - where are you? I retired from a Stihl dealer in Peterborough.
@@donyboy73 I have a husqvarna 55 rancher 53 c.c. with not many hrs. on it. I can't start it without removing spark plug and using starting fluid. Very hard to pull start, like it's vapor locked.Once it's started it runs great. Do these saws have a compression release? What else should i try?
@@johnnellis3025 my 251wood boss is the exact same way. Like this from New. You find anything out with yours?
Brand new chainsaw, straight fuel. I knew that without pulling the muffler. I could tell by looking at the spark plug, it was dry as a sand pile. No oil residue. Dead give away.
Kind of a give away it was user error when it goes to an independent shop rather than the dealer.
RC Hobby- at least he didn’t ruin a DA-200 worth three of those saws.
right on the money!!
@@MrDmmeeks Wouldn't have made a difference lol..
$700 out the door with a 20" bar here in Michigan love it
What a lucky guy Dave to be trained by one of the best technicians of small engines. Soak it all up Dave.
Dave yea Dave has a bright future in small engines, and I'm sure Dave soaked it all up Dave
Great video. Having just retired from 40+ years training automotive apprentices, I can see that Dave has a very bright future. Keep up the good work with him.
Well said!
@@donyboy73 9
”o
I’ve watched your vids ever since I got laid off from my machine shop that I worked at fir 12 years.I found another job but when I got hired they thought I was a mechanic even tho I wrote machinist on the application but I needed work so I bluffed them and been with them for five years now I started tearing down a echo timber wolf..never have done any small engine repair.there’s a lot to learn and experience helps And videos like yours is a blessing thanks for all your free help and this video is awesome because it’s teaching made fun...lol.
Hey James! Thats a great story. Clearly you are capable!!!! We are having a blast making these videos and there is a ton more to come! Cheers!
I always thought you are a nice guy Don. And the fact that you are willing to pass your knowledge and experience to the next generation confirms what a super human being you are.
I wanted to let you know that this was my first time watching your channel and was really impressed with the troubleshooting tips you both shared. I also think the chemistry between you two makes it fun to watch as well.. Thanks again
What did it cost to put a new piston and rings in the saw with labour. Thanks Dave Goetz.
We are indeed very happy to see father and son working together to give their individual advices to diagnose the STOHL Chainsaw that won't run after experimenting with other gases. . .
I've notice this with cars too that it's like the clients think if they downplay the problem, it won't actually be that bad. "It's only a slight knocking from the engine" when it's really a broken rod.
I had one like this,every thing was the same,had spark,showed compression,but I pulled the muffler and BAM,scoring!! It turns out that the rings were welded into the piston as well! Good job,Dave!
I work on small engines and I'd suspect right away that the customer ran straight gas in it and the engine is trashed after being told they only ran one tank of gas through it and it's brand new. Great video!
Hey there! Great guess. Thanks for watching!
Please do more videos like this. I really enjoyed it. The two of you work great together.
Great job Dony and Dave !! As soon as I heard you say what the customer told you my first thought was water in fuel, then scored piston. My first step on most machines that come in, is dump the gas and see if it's mixed and check for water.. Easy and fast.. Then pull the muffler. Then check for spark. I really enjoy watching you guys, Ya'll work well together. I also noticed that I think Dave is a Left handed guy like me. LOL Hope ya'll have a great day.
Hey Raley! Us South Paws gotta stick together! Good observation!
One of the give ways was the sound of the saw when you tried to start it...that funny sounding wez when you pulled the rope.....my neighbor came over with a newer Stihl 029 years ago couldn't figure out why his new saw wouldn't run...had that funny sounding wez.I popped off the muffler...cylinder and piston looked terrible heavy scoring...he used quality stihl mix...problem was he would put a bottle of mix for one gallon in a gallon fuel can and completely fill the can...the gallon can has made for expansion....he was filling can with 1.3 or so of fuel or so....like I told him he needed to watch the fuel pump and only meter in 1.0 gallons of non ethanol premium gasoline. Great video thank you Shoe
I bought a MS291 a few years back. I remember the dealer had a hard time starting the saw and keeping it running when I purchased the saw. And I too had a saw that would not start/run after three tanks of fuel to have them check it out. It turned out to be a bad carb. It was fixed under warranty and the saw had been running good for me ever since. Thanks for the lesson.
And rightly so! They should fix if.
A lot of Stihl products now have carburetor problems because Stihl bought Zama. The early autotune Husky saws had Zama carbs and MANY of those were replaced. I’m sure the 290 is good for a homeowner but $470 USD for a plastic case saw is too much for me. Echo makes a Farm/ Ranch saw with a magnesium case with bolt on cylinder for $400 that is 59.8 cc’s. The 291 is 55.5 cc’s. The Echo Timberwolf is better built, cheaper to own, and has more power.Sorry, no $500 plastic saws for me.
Actually I would buy the MS 261CM. A pro magnesium frame with a little more horsepower (3.76bhp-291,4 bhp- 261CM). The 261 is almost 2 pounds lighter. For an extra $120 you get a much better saw with the 261.
@@andybecker2693 - Unfortunately, I did not know the difference at the time. I will run it till it wont run any more and then look at something better. I will look at the Timberwolf - any recommendations for a top handle saw? I had a Husky top handle at one time, but it was stolen from my garage along with 2 other Huskies and a battery powered saw. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this.
@@botabob
Your next saw will probably be electric.
I bought an ms362 in 2009. It’s gonna last another 50 years, but those new battery saws are amazing.
Get a cylinder cam. Makes checking scoring more efficient. I figured it was toast when you said it won’t run after first fill up. But not everyone would have that tool so respect on showing full diagnosis.
You can also score a piston/cylinder by gunning a saw as soon as you start it to full throttle, not warming it up. In 1957 I was with a kid who's dad just bought him a new Olds coupe. It was zero degrees outside, he pegged the throttle to mshow off and blew the engine
In the classes of ASE Cert on rebuilding engines course, the last step is what is called cycling a engin, This is when you bring up your RPM to 1500 for 5 Sec than drop the Rpm down to 650 for 10 sec than back up to 1500 for 5 Sec then drop to 650 to 10 sec you continue to do this for 5 min your allowing the oil& compression ring to expand at a normal rate, with plenty of oil to the scraper rings, when this is done you bring your Rpm up to 1750 Rps then repeat as mentioned as above... From there you can go at a raised idle to what the engin manufacturing recommend. As a mechanic I have ask so many other mechanics if they were familiar with the cycling steps on a new rebuilt engine.1 out of 10 could,
to where I quite asking. This is also applied to small engine rebuilds, where it's critical for ring expansion for compression...
If I hear that a 2 stroke ran on 1 tank of fuel and then won't run, open fuel cap and drain fuel. If the customer drained the fuel already, there's usually some left in the tank, so rub on fingers and if it evaporates it's straight fuel, if it leaves an oily residue it had some oil in it. You won't know if it was the proper mix, but at that point you'll at least have an idea of what was put in it. Then continue with inspection. Good vid!
I bought a 290 years ago after a hurricane. I read the owners manual and mixed the gas. I was never told that if you run straight gas you will ruin your saw instantly. I think dealers should drive this in to customers when they purchase saws or other 2 stroke equipment. I did get burned with the non metal non pro saw. A piece of plastic which is used for the choke, half choke, run, stop lever broke and the entire body of the saw had to be replaced.
I know that exact piece. I had an Ms170 that did that.
Thank you for all of your time explaining things! I wouldn’t have gotten my ms250 oil pump repaired without your careful explaining. Thank you again
I just subscribed to Dave’s channel, I love binge watching these after my honey to do list. Some people like to watch sports I prefer watching your small engine videos😂 Dave sounds like a really cool dude. Iv learned a ton. I’m so bummed it seems impossible to get certified by STIHL. 🤦♂️ but I try and lean as much as I can from y’all
Speaking of diagnostics, I had a case recently when the customer ran his Husqvarna 455 with the brake on, something he didn't tell me until after I'd stratched my head for a few hours over why it was going bonkers at high RPM's. He said it got so bad, it actually started a little fire near the clutch! It compromised the crank seals, which I should have detected with a leak down test right away. (But they're such a pain to set up!) It also puckered the oiler hoses. So after I installed new seals, it wouldn't oil the chain until I replaced the oiler and the lines. It was worth the cost of the repair, but he learned his lesson. And I learned mine. Complete diagnostics first!
Dave, you look like a kid in a candy store in that shop paradise! Lol
Any other shop Dave would be a lead guy but he's leveling up here majorly
Best of luck apprentice dave!
Dony, you are a great Teacher!. shout out to you from SFO, Cali. I have been watching you for over 4yrs.
Cool, thanks!
Excellent - Dave is really great.
I've got the same saw & was shocked to find out the reason for this one not running - There is soooo much I could say about some of these people who buy this stuff !
Many thanks.......all the way from London.
One thing I noticed was the colour of the spark plug - that saw overheated and seized. That would make me go right to taking off the muffler. Also another hint would be a hissing sound when you took the gas cap off. I am a retired small engine mechanic for 50 plus years and am still repairing saws. I like your apprentice - he has a great attitude and is willing to learn.
Please explain the hissing sound when removing the tank cap. You are implying that a blown ring can pressurize the fuel tank - please share what you know on this, and any other symptoms. Thanks!
Hey Ted! Don is a great teacher. I am a lucky apprentice. Stay tuned for lots more videos here, and I do a bunch of longer repair videos on my channel. I am still learning... so go easy! Cheers!
Knowing what they said about one tank of fuel, checking the fuel for oil was my first thought. I hadn't thought of the possibility of the client covering their tracks like that.
I can tell your a great teacher because of the patience in your voice.
Great video guys. Good interaction between you guys. I bet the customer was sick when figured out what he had done to that brand new saw. I have confidence Dave can get this saw running. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Nash! You bet. Stay tuned for the repair video on my channel and the follow up video here. Haven’t had a chance to pull it apart... but I will!
Solid video Don, I've torn apart several STIHL chainsaws and you are so correct about the plastic saws. The plastic breaks down or heats up causing things to go very wrong. A little tid bit, if you run the chainsaw full throttle with no load it can cause the aluminum head to fail.
What we don't know is how good was the orientation done by the dealer. Stihl doubles warranty if you buy six packs of oil or Motomix. That said, dealer should review gas oil mix especially with a new customer.
You can only help so much!
@@DavesSmallEngines You can't fix stupid.
Yes. Stihl will double the warranty if you buy the Ultra oil or motomix, but for residential use only. You don't get to double the warranty for commercial use (logging business or tree trimming etc....). Commercial and municipal/government use warranty is only 90 days.
If you have no idea you have to mix oil with gas. You have no business buying a chain saw. Every time I walk into my dealer they constantly try to sell you more oil.
I got a cheap B&Q chainsaw, said it was 50 to 1 ratio oil fuel mix, it was dead within a few months it was ment to be 40 to 1 barrel was so badly scored, my 20 year old homelite is still running fine though, couldn't affor a sthil so kept using my old a homelite and its the bees knees for my needs (live on a boat in UK so free fuel is cool)
I kinda knew it was a fuel no oil mix as soon as the video started.
Been using chainsaws over 35 years now.
And you got a new sub too
Hey Karrier! What model Homelite!?
Very well done video! I've been a small engine mechanic for 12 years 5 of which i worked for STIHL and have seen this too often, good to see you teaching your apprentice good diagnostic skills, i knew it was scored the moment i saw the color of the plug and how dry it was as you would know the alloy from the piston and cylinder burns to the plug
My brand new 261c ran beautifully first tank. I refilled, restarted and shortly wouldn't even stay running. Short story, I had "switched sides" filling up. The gas side was filled with bar oil, then run till it wouldn't. Easiest fix was a new aftermarket carburetor.
As soon as you told him it was a brand new chainsaw ran once and then wouldn't run again I screamed no oil in the gas, sadly I have made that mistake once before I understood the two stroke I worked on 4-stroke prior
I used to do loads of work on the 260 and 026, now I prefer the 261 it is a great saw. I have 4x 261's on the bench currently. They either need cylinder kits or cranks.
That shows how bad the customer service was at the point of purchase. In Australia the dealers generally won't let you walk out of there shop without a good run down on the saws operation including fuel mixing. They want to sell there oil products to you while you are there, and safeguard their reputation. That's one expensive mistake.
This is mandatory! - I co-own a Stihl dealership, extended warranty is allowed only if they purchase enough oil for the warranted period, plus people won't leave until all questions have been answered and they are properly educated on how to mix the fuel, store and generally use the equipment, I would rather stay 20+ extra minutes before closing the store and have them leave knowing all they need to know. Warranty can only be issued if we assemble and run the equipment ourselves (plus adjust the carb if need be) prior to the customer touching it. This is a must world-wide but not all dealers do it, some won't even register the serial numbers so no actual warranty Is issued (either way in this case it wouldn't be covered due to improper use, however I would argue the dealership is also at fault but not necessarily, this is why we have printed and signed instructions on how to mix the fuel and oil). You can tell when the serial number hasn't been registered in just a few seconds being an official dealer, I see this a lot alarmingly. But the most important aspect is safety specially when it comes to chainsaws, if this is their first saw I make sure they listen to what I'm saying and that if they've got any safety concerns they can ask all they want until they're confident they can safely run the saw, I take this very seriously having seen what happens when a bar and chain contact a person's face. Stay safe everyone and respect the saws. Even the MS170 is more than capable of ruining your day.
That's exactly what my Deere dealer had done. In fact you can't get the warranty unless you purchase the Stihl oil and they will start it for you in the shop. Good class Don. reminds me of my instructor days...lol
You'd think that after a million blown-top ends from running straight gas that 2-cycle saws would have a WARNING sticker that makes it clear improper fuel mixture will DESTROY the engine. Instead all you get is a cryptic graphic of a gas + oil can.
@@Smalltechguy you get the standard warranty and you get the extended warranty if you buy either stihls 6 pack of oil or a gallon of moto mix. This extended warranty only applies to non commercial use machines.
Same in UK they will NOT sell it unless you are actually present there to get instructions from them. To check you are not an numbskull and know nothing an also to show basics of that model. A man off the street cannot buy one without having a basic user certificate, other makes might not do this though.
I ended up getting a MS290 for free. Used to be a mechanic at a Stihl dealer. Customer brought in a saw that was only a month old or so. He said he let someone borrow it and they ran strait gas in it. Top end was toast. He just bought a new saw. Cost or repair was about the same as a new one. He just left the old saw at the shop. Had it under my work bench for almost a year. One day the manager came back and dropped a box full of parts on my bench. No work order which was odd. He said the parts were for the saw under my bench. I assumed the guy finally wanted to fix it. Manager said the saw was mine and here were all the parts to fix it. New cylinder, piston, rings, bearings and seals. Also put a carb kit in it. Still running that saw to this day.
Those muffler clips could take an eye out lol
Dave's a lucky guy having you as a mentor.
Good stuff - definitely one of the best channels on YT. I have learned a lot from you and I liked the step by step diagnosis here... I think often we don't know the steps to do the diagnosis and just start replacing things willy nilly. Thank you sir!
That’s what we’re after Matt!
The chainsaw that can cut wood is wonderful ♪
Great video: my question is would you recommend pulling the exhaust on a saw you are looking at buying second hand? To see how well it has been treated? Thanks
absolutely, check out my vid on that subject czcams.com/video/MRVMeU3ppAc/video.html
if they want to sell it, I'm pulling the muffler. otherwise $10-$20 is all I'd pay REGARDLESS
I was waiting for Dave's 1mio$ question: "where do we go from here"
Great to see the Master and the other Master in discussion
Premixed, in the long run, is the cheapest fuel. Always exactly the correct mix, no smoking caused by too much oil, no gumming or deterioration caused by ethanol.
How much do you pay for premixed fuel?
@@OOOOOO12345 Might be worth it if you only use a couple gallons a year. However, I am a pro using several gallons a month and could buy a new chainsaw every year with the money spent on premix. Bigger companies would be wasting 1000s. Mixing is easy and precise once you're used to it, and you can buy ethanol-free.
@@jamese9283 $3.99/qt
@@jamese9283 screw premixed use 100ll aviation fuel at correct mix for your saw and you will never have fuel problems under 10 bucks a gallon right now here it is 5.50 a gallon
On 2 Strokes I use to take a lil strip of cardboard an either stick it in fuel tank or just pour a lil fuel outta tank on the Cardboard, It only takes about 2 minutes for it to dry . If there's oil in the fuel it will stain the cardboard several shades darker , sometimes you run your finger over the cardboard an pick up the oily residue . Very simple quick test , Usually I will do that right in front of Customer--- cause they will always say I used the " Mixed Fuel Can " to fill it .
Me gustan mucho tus videos, siempre aprendo algo nuevo, gracias por compartir y suerte dave.
gracias amigo!
One thing I would love to see is the difference in compression between decomp in vs decomp out.
We need an updated shop tour
I agree
Don, seams like such a patient teacher.
That was a great video DonnyBoy! Interesting how a consumer mistake can kill a brand new saw just as if it was ten years old. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. Glad lockdown is over!!
Stay tuned for my fix video and then a follow up test here on Dons channel!
Definitely do more of these videos, very educational and I like the dynamic between you guys.
I've watched and learned alot from you guys. Love watching. I realize no mixed fuel is bad but how about too much oil? What does that do to your saw? Will that burn up the saw???
A 2 stroke with too much oil will run a little crappy, be hard to start, and might end up messing with the spark plug. Nothing really significant, but it can be annoying.
The saw will run rich when you mix too much oil, it will cause issues, it will start to bog down and then get to a point of not starting because the spark arrestor gets clogged. The spark arrestor is the screen in the muffler.
I think Dave nailed it a A would be in order. Thanks 🇨🇦👍
I didn’t know you could score a piston just by running with no load. Do you have a video with all the dos and don’t dos with 2 strokes?
coming soon!
@@donyboy73 Can't wait for this one!
Only needs fuel, spark and air. Compression low is a giveaway that unmixed fuel was used. I had several customers bring back brand new saws after one tank, but claimed they 'had been using chainsaws for years'. Kept several of those 'throwaway' saws for unique parts over time. Stihl saws also have problems with fuel lines cracking, coils opening up and oilers plugging if improper oil is used.
I knew that one without owning or operating a chain saw before.
It’s time to give Dave a raise!
Great story and rapport between you both! Could you Put Dave’s CZcams channel in the End Cards so more people can find him? 😀 Eric
link in description
Thanks GardenFork!
A new saw not taken back to the dealer indicates they did something wrong to the saw.
Love this format. Investigating like this, absolutely helps with troubleshooting. Hope you do more like this. On Stihl chainsaws. Because all other brands are garbage. Lol😜
So they brought it back to the dealer for warranty and got sent away. That's how a brand new saw ended up at ur shop.
yes
And now I’m going to fix it!
I knew straight away what the issue was. Lent a saw to someone with the same result once...
That is the first question I would have asked, why not take it back to where you bought it if it's brand new.
The fact that it was not taken back to the dealer immediately told me that the piston/cylinder was scored along with it being the first tank of gas. I can’t believe someone would buy a pro saw and not know how to mix fuel. That saw is $600 USD and $800 CAN. OEM piston and cylinder is probably half the value of the saw. Time for aftermarket parts!
*As soon as you said the customer ran 1 tank of fuel through a new saw and it wouldn't start anymore I knew right off the bat the customer ran straight gas in that saw.*
Someone was in there it is scratched the plugs
I like your teaching approach. You've got a good apprentice too.
If you can’t remember to use mixed gas, you don’t deserve to own a awesome saw like that lol
Some people make mistakes!
had to scroll down before I guessed lol as suspected
@@scooterdogg7580 yes sir!
What an awesome attitude Dave! Don seems like a great teacher! Subscribed!
Bruce Pender would say "They ran straight ethyl in this saw".
As a certified, gold level, stihl technician, I always look at the the fuel first, always. Second, it only takes another 60 seconds to take the muffler off to check the exhaust side of the piston. A faulty ignition module ( or control module in this case) is very rare. Also remember, there is at least a half dozen other reasons for a scored piston besides unmixed fuel. Most people automatically think that the customer ran unmixed fuel through the saw. (Not always true)
not having a single scratch in it after 3/4 of a tank of gas being used is a red flag.
Sorry, can you explain what this means? Thank you.
your apprentice has a great attitude and aptitude
Thanks Richard!!!
They are fortunate the saw quit running before they hurt themselves.
This model is WAY too large for someone with no experience to be using.
Couple years ago saw a similar story at local small-engine repair shop. Only difference, they filled fuel tank with bar oil. It smoked like crazy when shop drained tank and added proper mixed fuel.
First thing I would check is the gas . Then take the exhaust out and check for scoring .and proper piston assembly
Just a thought check the bar oil tank could have blue 2 stroke oil in it!
Diagnostic first steps for a chain saw...
#1 ... Check that the chain brake is released.
#2 ... Check if there is mixed fuel in the tank.
#3 ... Check if there is bar oil.
#4 ...Check for compression
#5 ... Check for spark.
#6...Check to see if owner is a moron.
The Red Armor 2 cycle engine oil is the best for your Stihl chainsaw,it prevents scoring your piston, Keep up the good work man.
Love your videos...over 10 years now
I can’t wait to see another video with Dave! Have been missing them
Just as you were telling Dave to turn the lights off for so we could see the spark, the light came on for me - straight gassed it! Swear to God! Hysterical!😂 Nice job guys! 13% sales tax, ouch!
Big ouch!
I haven’t finished the video yet but the first thing that comes to mind is using regular gas instead of mixed. Had someone do this and try to get it fixed where I work haha
Great Job Dave👍 It‘s exactly what Dony says: Don‘t trust the story they told you about what has happened 🤣👍 Always make your own diagnosis. Compression, Spark, Fuel and have a look into the engine. 👍👍
Greetings from germany, Stefan
greetings from Canada!
The two of you works Donny l believe people learn more with Dave's questions more thorough
absolutely, Dave is not afraid to ask the questions most people won't ask
That's a tough lesson to learn, but i bet that owner will never forget to mix his fuel again,.... hopefully:)
Why lying to the guy you pay by the hour to solve a problem... the bill will just be higher... But i'm not surprised, i've seen it an all kind of industries. Nice video again, thanks for sharing your experience!
The Holy Trinity of Compression Spark & Fuel is the prerequisite of course. I however have a lawnmower engine which does have all of that but still doesn't work. Now, what do I do to figure it out and what can be the cause?
The answer is leak down test, which will confirm your piston rings leaking. With 4-strokes you cannot see cylinder bore that well (unless you have a bore scope) but if it is really "shiny" it confirms the piston rings are worn and do not allow for the combustion pressure to build. Now, how do you get a decent compression test reading the you might ask? The whole system becomes pressurised after few pulls and your compression tester shows decent compression.
Great job Dave , youre learning pretty fast . And a great job to Don for being such a good teacher to you .
I’m lucky for sure!
I was wrong when I did my diagnosis by the video title. I was thinking piston ring failure due to over heating due to max load at max speed due to it being a new toy. Thanks Huey
.
Good job guys. I don't want to be picky, but per Stihl Gold Certification class, fuel should ALWAYS be mixed 50:1 and should never vary. From personal experience, there is a difference between Stihl's 2 cycle synthetic oil and other brands. The difference is apparent concerning internal wear and carbon deposits. Any cost difference is well worth it.
Back in the 1970s I bought a McCullough chain saw. Ran a can of gasoline through it, probably a gallon of gas. The saw wouldn't start just like this one. Took it back to the store for the warranty. Bought exactly another one . Ran a half can of gas this time. Same thing happened as first. Wouldn't start. There was marks on the piston and walls seen thru the sparkplug hole. Now the the store had 2 saws with the same problem. Information came back from the factory, they had metal filings in the assembly process. They thought it was a gasoline problem also.
Looks like you have a good apprentice there. I own a small engine shop, and while I can find young guys who are eager to learn, they are also prideful, and don’t seem to want to take my advice. I can train them, but it just takes that much longer. Having someone humble would be far better. Looks like you got a good one.
Don, thank you for the video. My question to you, and you may not be willing to answer, is what next? I have these types of issues walk into my shop periodically. I tell the customer that their saw is trashed, and they need a new piston, ring, and possibly new cylinder as well. On these newer saws, especially something like that MS 261, aftermarket parts can be difficult to find. What to tell the customer? I guess they really don’t have any choice but to buy new OEM parts or put their saw in the dumpster.
he's a good one for sure, very hard to find!
Thanks for the kind words! I am passionate about small engines and mechanics in general, so naturally learning from the master was an easy decision! I'm a lucky guy!
I don't work on small engines, let alone any engines at all. But I had a strong first hunch on the fuel mix from the beginning
I had rebuilt a ms290 and yes like you said it is a pain in the ass I’m only 15 and I love doing this stuff the saw runs great I just need to port it and it would run better but still runs like new neighbor put straight gas in it didn’t tell me that’s the first thing I looked at because it had almost no compression but I figured it out and got her back up and running that’s all that matters
Well done vid, and to your apprentice I wish the best of fortune. He seems to have the right ingredients to do well. As they say, never take anything for granted.
Thanks Dave!!!
Dave is a good listener. Good listener=excellent student. He is like a sponge! Nice work Dave! (Oh, and Don too! LOL)
Thanks!!!
It is the same diagnosis as you do for any chainsaw - compression, spark, fuel. I add air flow to it. In other words muffler blocked. Blue gas is Stihl Moto Mix.
Blue? You mean green?
@@fillslawncare yea, it is green. It ain’t black, like Stihl Ultra gas. My gas is red - Echo Red Armor at 50:1 with PNE gas. The las green gas I used was StaMix, a professional two cycle oil from 30 years ago. I don’t buy canned gas. I roll my own. All my saws eat the same food.
I worked on motorcycles and atvs for 20 years. I have seen customers do some absolutely insane things to try to cover their tracks! Especially when its under warranty and they wanted to get it fixed for free! One customer put his new oil filter in backwards and crushed it and almost roasted his top end when he cranked it up. To try to get us to check it over for free he put his old oil filter back in backwards to crush it on purpose and told us that’s the way it came out so that’s why he put his new one in that way and we did the first service so he was just doing it the way we did! I informed him that he wouldn’t have made it to the end of our driveway before his head would have roAsted. The filter in backwards would have blocked all oil from going to the top end. I also informed him I’m not an idiot and he could have tried a little harder to come up with a better story!