Chainsaw

[caterpillar guy]

I think I need a coil for my MS290 saw. I was sawing the other day and it died/ran out of fuel. It was out or close to it on fuel so filled it back up. Have not been able to start it since. Used the other saw to finish up that day. IT would not spark when I tried it so disconnected the kill wire from the tab on the coil. IT then would spark. Spark seemed even and regular not sporadic. Cleaned it up some pulled the plug and scrapped it off with a very small screw driver to clean any debris on the plug. After disassembly of the saw today and cleaning better cleaning all connections except behind the flywheel. Looking at the wires I did not find any bare or frayed wires. I now have good looking spark on a regular interval is a bright blue one has gas/fuel and seems to smell in the plug hole when checking for spark. Still no start. Thinking maybe the coil or plug is going bad or is bad.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

Plug may not be firing under compression. I would try a new plug.

 

[scootergmc]

Plug may not be firing under compression. I would try a new plug.

I agree. Try a different plug.

 

[caterpillar guy]

If it is not the plug, and I wind up getting a coil is there a difference in coils and which one is best for the money?

 

[Butch(OH)]

Trying to give good help without writing a book is difficult. A lot of such problems end up at my shop and start with easy checks and go to costly parts from there.
1. Check for spark, which you have done.
2. Make sure it's not totally flooded. Pull the plug and pull the rope briskly 10-15 times and watch for fuel out the plug hole
3. Put the plug back in and squirt some fuel on the air cleaner. If it trys to run that tells you where your problem is
4. If it doesn't pop then most lower end Stihls have the flywheel key cast into the flywheel and they are known problem area. You can either pull the flywheel or check timing with a timing light and some refderance marks for TDC, it should fire slightly before.
5. If all this checks out it's time to buy a coil. Yes I know it makes no sense but I've seen it happen several times after pulling my hair out. Coils are dirt cheap on Ebay

 

[Tony in SD]

That same thing happen to me with my Husqvarna. Filled it with gas. Would not start . Checked for spark. No spark. Replaced the coil. It was the coil. Cheap easy fix.

 

[SARG]

Getting a Magneto tester for spark saved me a lot of frustration.

 

[CraigWis]

I have a Husqvarna 445 that I use to Cut alot of Firewood and Brush with. I have to replace the coil every 2-3 years. It gets a Hot no spark condition. I have tried the after market coils and they would be junk out of the box or last a month. Get OEM from a Dealer

 

[johnlobb]

Next door neighbor had a Stihl that would not start. I drained his gas, put my new gas in it and it fired right up. How old is your fuel?

 

[caterpillar guy]

Fuel is the same stuff I was running on when it stopped figured due to out of fuel. It looked empty when I refilled it and the mix is only a few days old not like when it sets all summer from April till October in the saw. It has had several tanks through it this winter so not an old fuel problem beside 3 other saws are running and starting on the same fuel out of the same mixed jug. I mix 2.5 gallon at a time and use it up in a month or less in winter. I had been cutting every day that week. A couple or more buckets full plus cutting the trunk into.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Craig you are saying to just bite the bullet and go with an OEM coil and forget about all the aftermarket coils then?

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

If it is not the plug, and I wind up getting a coil is there a difference in coils and which one is best for the money?

All the cheap knock-offs on ebay are the same. So buy however you see fit there, or get a genuine coil from a dealer if you can.

Last time I went into a Stihl dealer they told me they didn't sell carb kits and I'd have to buy a $150 carburetor for my 026. I imagine if I went in asking for a coil, they'd tell me I needed a whole new saw.

 

[MM-TX]

Make sure your fuel line to the carburetor didn’t deteriorate. Has happened to me.

 

[kevinj54]

Make sure your fuel line to the carburetor didn’t deteriorate. Has happened to me.

He needs to test for spark under compression & then a full pressure vacuum test to be sure fuel lines and crank seals are good.

I would also dump the fuel and check for water, most any small engine I have serviced has water in the fuel tank for some reason.

I have rarely had water in my own stuff tho.

 

[CraigWis]

Craig you are saying to just bite the bullet and go with an OEM coil and forget about all the aftermarket coils then?

Yes I have tried the Aftermarket brand Coils and they did not work right out of the Box. Some would give me a miss at High RPM, Poor idle or within a month they would lose spark. And I had them gapped right. I am not sure why the OEM only last 2-3 Years. Maybe the Heat gets to them

 

[Butch(OH)]

Yes I have tried the Aftermarket brand Coils and they did not work right out of the Box. Some would give me a miss at High RPM, Poor idle or within a month they would lose spark. And I had them gapped right. I am not sure why the OEM only last 2-3 Years. Maybe the Heat gets to them

Possibly a unique to Husqvarna problem? They change coil perimeters at regular intervals. When my 550. Needed a coil they had to have the saw because it depended on when it was made and what updated tune was in it. On non-computer Sthils I have not had any troubles with eBay coils,, maybe a dozen out the running.

 

[kevinj54]

All the cheap knock-offs on ebay are the same. So buy however you see fit there, or get a genuine coil from a dealer if you can.

Last time I went into a Stihl dealer they told me they didn't sell carb kits and I'd have to buy a $150 carburetor for my 026. I imagine if I went in asking for a coil, they'd tell me I needed a whole new saw.

I went to the Stihl stealer to get a carb kit for my nephew & they had one.

A new carb was around 60.00 bucks & the kit was about 12.00 but when I got home the kit was from Stens.....

It has been about a year since I put it in and is well.

 

[Indiana Ken]

I think I need a coil for my MS290 saw. I was sawing the other day and it died/ran out of fuel. It was out or close to it on fuel so filled it back up. Have not been able to start it since. Used the other saw to finish up that day. IT would not spark when I tried it so disconnected the kill wire from the tab on the coil. IT then would spark. Spark seemed even and regular not sporadic. Cleaned it up some pulled the plug and scrapped it off with a very small screw driver to clean any debris on the plug. After disassembly of the saw today and cleaning better cleaning all connections except behind the flywheel. Looking at the wires I did not find any bare or frayed wires. I now have good looking spark on a regular interval is a bright blue one has gas/fuel and seems to smell in the plug hole when checking for spark. Still no start. Thinking maybe the coil or plug is going bad or is bad.

I had a cracked coil on a lawn boy mower that prevented it from starting. The spark looked fine with the spark plug removed from the engine. I found the problem by removing the various body work, allowing me a clear view to see the coil, plug wire etc. That evening with the lights out in the garage (spark plug installed) I could see a spark jump from the coil to ground as I attempted to start the engine. A closer look of the coil revealed the crack.

 

[scootergmc]

So did you swap for a new plug yet? Curiosity abounds...

 

[caterpillar guy]

Not yet will be in town later this week and will get one then. New coil from dealer is 78.00 or so I was told today. Not sure I want to pay that but this is the first coil I have needed in this saw since new 20 some years ago plug also. So not going to complain to much. Just seems like an awful big difference in price from aftermarket of around 15-20.00 versus almost 80.00 for a coil though. Will reply back with results on this.