Bringing a chainsaw back to life.

[SteveM]

I have a consumer grade. Echo that was used for one season and has sat idle for 2-3 years. I need to get it running. I bought some Stihl premixed fuel and will thoroughly clean the fuel system and plug and lube the chain before attempting a restart. Anything else I should do?

[stoinkythepig]

Nope, it should fire right up. Might even do so without all that work, especially if it has a primer bulb. Two stroke oil seems to really help old E10 gas not wreck carbs as badly as it does alone. I'd dump the old gas out, put the new gas in, prime it (if applicable) and give it a go. I "fixed" two saws this way in the last three weeks. Good luck.

[snwbrdr435]

If it doesnt fire up check the hoses for cracks

[Stromper]

Clean plug carb or
brake cleaner

Because it has a pump carb and oil in the gas they live on a shelf a long time

I might give a shot of starting fluid to make it easier. Yes blah blah no oil disaster , there is oil enough for a squirt.

and of course sea foam. I have it in ALL little motors in my life... happy happy, dont know or care what it is but it makes motors happy

[butcher bergs]

Like Stoinky says, pour in fresh fuel mix and bar/chain oil.

If it fires up, throw some wood at it and see if there are any power issues.

If anything, you might need to replace the diaphragm in the carb as they can get stiff from sitting, albeit dry, but you'll know if it's needed when you can't tune around it.


Just fired my 455 yesterday after sitting for 7 months. Started burning fuel with nothing more than 8 bulb primes and two pulls on full choke. Hoping it will be that easy for you.

[SteveM]

Emptied the chain oil and old gas. Pulled the air filter and hit the carb with some gumout. Added fresh oil and the fresh Stihl premixed fuel.

Four pumps of the bubble, open choke, second pull!

Ran like a champ did a bunch of limbing, cut up some 10" diameter oak doubled the chip pile in about an hour.

[stoinkythepig]

Emptied the chain oil and old gas. Pulled the air filter and hit the carb with some gumout. Added fresh oil and the fresh Stihl premixed fuel.

Four pumps of the bubble, open choke, second pull!

Ran like a champ did a bunch of limbing, cut up some 10" diameter oak doubled the chip pile in about an hour.

Coulda skipped the new chain oil; it does not have a "use by" date. Glad it ran well.

[SteveM]

I didn't buy chain oil, I just emptied what was in there and refilled with what was in the bottle.

But I probably could have just left it, it came out looking just like the stuff I put in.

The gas, not so much...