Chainsaw Repair

I'm stumped.  I just returned a CS 400 to HD because after approx. 4 hours use the saw would act as if it were bogging down in a deep cut if I revved it even when not cutting.  Picked up a new saw, and just fired it up and it does exactly the same thing (right out of the box, no use at all) as the saw I returned.  I took off the bar and chain and the saw will rev fine, though with the bar and chain on it bogs, won't rev, and the chain barely spins.  Any ideas?  I do get an odd kind of rattle noise out of it.  Thanks for you thoughts.

P.S. - the chain break isn't on, there is plenty of bar oil coming out, and I can spin the chain manually, though there is a bit of resistance.  The sprocket, with the chain off, spins freely.  I've also backed off the chain tension to be sure it wasn't too tight.  It is about as loose as I can get it without it hanging down from the bar.  The only thing I can think of is a problem with the clutch, though I don't know how those things work.

If it was a problem with the clutch springs it would be a matter of them being too tight, right?  Not letting the clutch engage?  If that were the problem I would expect the engine to rev but to not get anything in the way of saw chain movement, but when I rev it it sounds like it bogs down, the chain tries to move, though does a pretty poor job of it. 

I would like to keep the saw, and if it were something I could fix I would, though as it stands looks like I will have to take this one back too.  And, according to the HD guy, they aren't getting anymore cs 400s in for awhile.  At least I got some wood in with the other one I guess.  I bought the Echo over the others because it was supposed to be reliable . . .

Doesn't seem to be a problem with the chain moving around the bar (no binding) except when I try to get the engine to do it.  Tip sprocket is good.

 You need to pull the limiter caps and adjust the carb richer both high and low, adjust the low so it accelerates good and the high open up about 1  1/2 turns then back in until it cuts the fastest in big wood..  The Cs400 is a really nice saw when adjusted right and really rips with a muff modd.   Steve

Just  to make sure open the high up 1 1/2 turns more than what it's set at and then back in until it cuts the fastest not revs the fastest.   Most time the high ends up at 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 out from the seat.   Steve

I think the 3000 ft in elevation is your real problem, saw is probably running way too rich, fuel/air mix.

If the tuning of the saw was set for sea level and you are at 3000 feet of elevation you definitely should ignore the manual and tune the saw for your elevation! The the fuel/air mix needs to be adjusted if your location elevation changes as little as 500ft sometimes even less! Once you hav it running right for your elevation then go back to what the manual and do what it says!

HD is a good place but an Echo dealer would have made sure the saw was tuned for your altitude!