OT chainsaw

[550Doug]

I was using a 16 inch poulan chainsaw today and it worked fine for the first hour. Then after shutting it off for 10 minutes, I started it and it would run maybe 10 seconds then quit. It continued to do this and I could never get it to idle very long and as soon as I applied throttle it would stall as though is was starving for fuel. I cleaned the air filter, refilled with fuel and tried a carb adjustment. But NO LUCK. It's still seems to be starving for fuel. The fuel is about 6 months old, but then why was it working fine for the first hour? Maybe I've guked up the carb? Maybe seafoam will help?
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[37 chief]

Every time I have a 2 stroke acting up it is usually the carb. The kits for these things are under 10.00 I think that would be my first choice. You might try a sight called two cycle hobby talk. I have got some good info from that sight.Good luck Stan

 

[RobMD]

is there a spark arrestor on the exhaust system? if so, take it off.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Their is a fuel filter on the end of the gas line (in the gas tank). Most people don't know about this but it should be relaced periodically. You'll need to fish around in the tank to find it. I use a bent coat hanger or other such wire with a hook bent on the end to snag it. Dave.

 

[Tim B from MA]

Ditto on the spark arrestor - these get clogged, which means the exhaust is clogged. That will cause the sypmtoms you describe.

 

[mbk499]

I have a Husqvarna and I had a problem with the fuel line getting a hole worn in it causing it not to run.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I had a saw run like that and I just put in a
new plug and it took care of the problem, but a
blocked spark arrestor screen is a good guess too.

 

[550Doug]

SUCCESS!!
Thanks for the comments and ideas. After poking around I discovered that I do NOT have a spark arrestor but I did have a filter inside the fuel tank that I never knew about. It was tucked away in a corner and I found it when I emptied the fuel. The reason it was disconnected from the fuel line was because the fuel line itself was DISINTEGRATING and as soon as I touched it, pieces started falling off of it.
So now its off to get a replacement fuel line and maybe a new fuel filter.

Thanks again folks!!

 

[Anonymous-0]

You should take your carb apart and clean it. Without the gas filter it will suck up all the junk in the tank. Hopefully there is a screen in your carb. This is probably whats causing it to run like that.