Chainsaw Repair

I think your first analysis was correct. All big box store supply saws with very lean setting. I use stand gas which is 10 percent ethanol and the oil mix supplied with the saw that came from Sears and the spec amount 3.2 ounces per gal at 40 to 1. The first saw lasted for about 6 hours of cutting and I think it was because I started in on trimming the small branches from the top and worked my way back to the trunk. The saw had time to break in. Later, when I was cutting sections from the 18 to 20 inch trunk it got hot and gave out. The other saws crapped out because I started right in on 12 and 14 inch trunks with the saw wide open. It cut about 5 or 6 slices before freezing up. I have done a lot of reading and talked to a fellow at a local small engine shop. He agreed with you that because of EPA emission rules the saw are initially set as lean as possible and will rapidly burn if they are not broken in slowly.  I am going to to tune my next one as rich as I can while still getting good revs and operation. The specs in the manual say you can run it on 10 percent ethanol but the fellow at the store said I should run it on non-ethanol. Sears and other places sell quarts of regular premixed gas at $5.35 a can. That's 24 bucks a gallon. Where do you set your high jet to? I appreciate your reply's.
I also read that the EPA makes it illegal for us home fellows to even own the tools for setting the jets. As you know, here are 4 sizes. A Spiral, a Pac-Man, a 'D' and a 'Double D". Craftsman, Poulan Husvarna and Remington are all Spirals.