Author Topic: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540  (Read 1141 times)

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Offline rayvil01

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Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« on: January 15, 2013, 08:23:16 pm »
Hello.  I'm new in here.  Lots of great information on this site.  Thanks. 
One of my saws is a Dolmar 540.  It is the sweetest-running saw.  It's been great.  I bought it off of eBay about five years ago, changed out all the vibration mounts, new bar, etc, etc, and it's been great.

It starts on the second pull at worst.  But, my goodness, it'll rip your wrist out of joint when it goes to the top of compression.  Just crazy.  I thought it had gotten worse.  The first thought was that it had skipped time.  The flywheel key threw me at first because it's a small steel key and the flywheel has a visible insert in the keyway.  I thought it must have been a single unit that separated.  But, the replacement key is that small woodruff and so jumping time is out the window.  The engine turns great with no plug.  It still starts on the second pull and runs super.  I was just hoping to make pulling on it a bit easier.   I thought maybe the muffler was getting clogged.  But, I pulled it and it makes no difference on a dry pull. 

It sure would be nice to be able to put a compression release on it.  But, I'm assuming that's out of the question.

So, any ideas out there other than a bigger handle?  Thanks

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Offline 660magnum

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2013, 09:00:20 pm »
Make sure if you replaced the pull cord that it is as big as the original (Probably 4mm) or the cord will pull within itself and be hard to pull and wear out fast.
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Offline rayvil01

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2013, 05:34:37 am »
I haven't replaced that cord.  But, the saw wasn't new and looking this morning, it may be small.  I'll go a little bigger and see if that helps.  Thanks.

Offline brokenbudget

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2013, 09:39:26 am »
a split pulley will cause this also. keep an eye out on the inside of it while checking out the cord.
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Offline rayvil01

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2013, 03:54:44 pm »
Had not thought of that.  Thanks.  I'll check it out when I change the cord this weekend.
Ray

Offline Al Smith

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2013, 09:48:13 am »
I'm not familiar with the saw .However a worn bushing on the starter pulley will give you fits .On several older saws I've replaced the worn bushing with a brass bushing I turned on the lathe .

If it's not binding up you can get some relief using a Stihl 460 rescue saw d-handle which is about a 5 dollar item .

Another thing that will give you fits is the recoil wound too tight ,It only needs about one turn of the spring more than it takes to fully rewind the rope .

Offline rayvil01

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2013, 07:53:30 am »
I'll check on those items.  Thank you.

Offline rayvil01

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2013, 08:32:05 am »
Well, I looked at all of the above.  The cord pulley is fine.  The bushing is good.  I tried to up the size of the cord, but the anchor hole in the pulley wouldn't take anything bigger than what's in it.  And, I slacked the tension to not much more than it needs to fully rewind.

It pulls fine with no plug in.  But, it is a bear with it in.  Thank goodness it starts on the second pull!   :)

I'm going to put a bigger handle on it.  That D handle looks to be too much.  It's a little saw and I'm afraid that thing is going to flop around. 

Thanks for the help with this. 

Offline Cut4fun .

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2013, 08:49:50 pm »

I'm going to put a bigger handle on it.  That D handle looks to be too much.  It's a little saw and I'm afraid that thing is going to flop around. 



My dad had me put a D handle =  stihl 460 rescue handles are what I use on his little poulan 3300


Offline Al Smith

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Re: Hard Pulling Dolmar 540
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2013, 08:58:26 pm »
A D-handle doesn't flop around if you have the drum wound tight enough .

 

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