5 Reasons Why Your Chainsaw Won't Start & How to Fix?
If you are someone who works in heavy industries as a contractor who loves to work on cutting and chopping up things, a lumberjack that has to fell ginormous trees, or if you are just a gardener and landscaper that requires big branches and bushes, then you might have come across or already own a chainsaw.
While these devices are mostly meant for professional use, many are available in less powerful and moderately sized packages as well which are far easier to handle. If you are not familiar, chainsaws are portable saws that might be either gas, battery, or electric powered. These work by cutting with the aid of sets of teeth. These are then hooked onto a rotating chain that is wrapped along a guide bar.
There are a ton of uses of the mighty chainsaw and if you are someone who has their livelihood depends on this machine, you have to know how to maintain it as well. If you have a gas or battery-powered device there is way more to look out for as compared to electric devices. So, today’s article is going to be all about 5 reasons why your chainsaw might be facing difficulties starting up.
Let’s take a deeper look at why your chainsaw won’t start.
Normally, when you start up your device, you should go through these steps. The first thing to do is always check whether you have gas or fuel and that they are mixed in the correct sort of ratio. Then, when everything seems to be in order, you can simply turn the switch on. Next, bring the choke lever to the option that says Full.
There might be a primer bulb, if there is one simply press it a few times. If not, move onto the next step which is to sharply tug at the starter cord. The important thing here is that you need to apply a good amount of force when pulling at the cord or the chainsaw won’t startup. This must also be done while keeping the chainsaw away from your face in case it starts up unexpectedly.
Usually, it will take around 2 to 3 tries to get one to start up, but if you feel like after 6 or 7 attempts you haven’t been successful then there is some issue. Most likely there is a problem with the fuel or gas. The cylinder might be flooded with gas. If you also smell gas, then it is likely this is the problem. This can easily be fixed as all you have to do is let the gas drain out and use it again in a while.
However, there might be some serious issues if that doesn’t work and these are the main things to look out for:
A fault in the plug
A key component in any chainsaw is its plug. These generally are a crucial element as well as they are in the midst of all the things that can go wrong. This is probably because they are situated in a hot chamber close to an equally hot muffler. That is why it is no big surprise they are one of the main causes of the inability of the chainsaw to start. When you work directly on one, you will discover that plugs are seriously sturdy and they can last for a long time without any issues.
However, maintenance is key as a plug ought to be changed toward the beginning of each new season. Since this is generally pretty expensive, most owners will not commit to this and that’s why problems like this arise.\
On the off chance that you are getting your saw a replacement plug, make certain to get the correct one because that will make a lot of difference. This can be done by checking up on the make and model of your chainsaw for the correct spark plug part number. However, you can also fix the issue yourself, or with the aid of a professional since buying a new one can be pricey.
An easy way to do this is to check the spark
Most people will make use of a spark plug test tool to check the ignition system. The tool works by placing an amount of stress on the ignition system and this also lets the user know that there is an issue or not. If you cannot invest in one, however, there is another way to sort this issue out.
First, you always remove the plug and then bring the metal body of the saw and the plug body together to get a good enough connection. Then, you simply turn the switch on and pull start the saw. This is when you want to look out for any sparks. If you see them, problem sorted! If not, don’t worry just yet as there might not be a serious issue. But, here’s what you can do.
Take a good look at the plug, and you will find an obvious area between the tip and the electrode. If the gap is shut, it has to be manually opened up with the aid of forceps or a screwdriver. The plug also might be clogged up so it should be cleaned if there is any oil and carbon. This can be done with a wire brush.
Presently test again for the presence of a spark.
A flooded engine
It’s not working because the engine might be flooded. We have probably heard this a thousand times but what does it mean? It's fundamentally an excessive amount of gas in the motor primarily within the combustion chamber. Rather than the sparkle plug lighting the gas, the overabundance of gas just smothers the spark out. With this, the chainsaw just won’t start.
So for what reason does it occur? Flooding regularly happens when the motor is tried to be ignited but it never starts up. The chainsaw system will release gas thinking it is needed but due to it never starting, the gas floods the motor. Why the chainsaw never started is because of a more serious underlying issue such as using bad gas, a bad ratio of fuel, or even a fault carburetor.
You have to keep in mind that with the great power that gas chainsaws provide, they also need the same amount of maintenance. If your saw is not well maintained, issues such as flooding will arise. Of course, there are easy ways to overcome this.
A simple way is to allow the saw to be unused for half an hour so that the excess of gas has time to clear out. If that doesn’t work, users can always detach the spark plug from the main body, let it dry and then restart the engine multiple times so it dries out too. This is when you should reattach the plug.
However, if again, this doesn’t work, then you might want to look at the quality of the gas or fuel being used.
Check to see if the gas is bad.
Because we expect the worst, bad gas gets overlooked as a possible cause. In reality, it is probably an easier fix than we thought. If you don’t change it every so often, the gas can go bad in as little time as a month. It is no longer potent and the result will be an inability of the machine to start, flooding, and a smell.
If the gas you are using is made from ethanol that can also be the main issue since ethanol will undoubtedly attract moisture. Another easy way to figure this issue out is by simply taking a good whiff of your chainsaw and if you smell gas then there’s your problem!
If you routinely let the chainsaw sit for a while and open it so that the gas can escape, then for most devices, this might be sufficient to get the saw back in action. However if not, then you might want to think about getting a gas shot done. This is done by shooting gas right into the carburetor. This helps flush out the bad gas from within.
The last way to fix this is by working on the airlock.
The last method to invest in is to test and fix the airlock. Simply remove the spark plug and make sure it is in working condition. If the plug is dry, this means your internal working is air locked. If it is a wet plug this means that there is an ignition problem.
To fix these issues, simply take out your air filter and add a shot of gas into the carburetor. This should be mixed. Then just restart your machine and it should work after an attempt or two. You just have to change your air filter if the issue persists and you are good to go!
