Chainsaw Repair

I apologize in advance, this will be a long post.  I do not want to leave out any info that might help.  A little over 10 years ago I bought a CS 4400.  It has been great and gave no problems until now.  It did have a quirk in that when it had set off season the easiest way to get it to start was to pull the plug and give the rope a few pulls to get some gas into the carb and combustion chamber.  After that put the plug back and it would fire right up.  I only mention this because my father in law said it sounded like it might have a valve hanging up.

It had been setting in it's case in the basement for 4 or 5 years and I needed to get it going.  I took the chain in to get sharpened and put fresh gas in it.  I use Echo brand 2 cycle oil mixed just a little more oil per gallon than the instuctions say. I pulled the spark plug out then pulled the rope and the rope did not retract.  I ordered a replacement recoil spring, installed it and a new rope.

I give it a few pulls with the spark plug out then put the plug in.   It is much harder to pull than it used to be.  I had my wife try it incase it is just that I am that much weaker than I was.  She agreed it was much harder than it used to be.  I took off the bar,chain, chain brake and muffler.  The piston and cylinder look smooth and shiney.  The spark arrestor was not plugged,neither was the muffler.  The exhaust port was black but had no carbon build up.  I poured some Marvel Mystery Oil down the plug hole and in the exusat port and let it set a few minutes.  I then pulled the rope a half dozen times.   It pulls smooth and easy with the plug out.  With the plug in it is very hard to pull.

I actually managed to get it to start and run before I pulled the muffler.  I let it run about 10 minutes and then tried to restart it and it was just as hard to pull. After about a dozen pulls it fired back up.

It used to be easier to pull and it used to start on the second pull.  It ran and worked fine when I finally got it started.  I have been all over the internet  and followed all the advice I could find.  I found an exploded parts diagram online.  The only valve I can find is a check valve in the oil tank.  I don't think that is what my father in law was talking about. 

Can anyone here tell me what I should try next?

Thanks

I think you are on the right track by replacing the rope.

As far as the valve is concerned 2 stroke engines that are used in chainsaws have no valves of any kind.   The intake and exhaust is controlled by porting in the cylinder walls.    Some older saws did use reed valves but only on the intake.    I do not believe your saw has reed valves.

The manual says to use 3.5mm (.14") rope Echo part # 99944400045 wich has been superseded by part # 99944445000.
The #4.5 I put on it is a little thinner than what was on it.

If I can't get anything from the dealer I may get this.  It says it is 9/64" that comes out to . 140625".
I suspect the dealer in town will have a roll of this, they seem to use Stens parts instead of Echo.
https://www.amazon.com/Stens-146-915-True-Starter-100-Feet/dp/B004HSBKJQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1503771427&sr=1-1&keywords=starter+rope+3.5mm

I assume #4.5 does not equal 4.5mm?  This says it is #4.5 like the Koch Industries stuff did but it list an actual size unlike the Koch stuff.

I was talking in mm above.

Been trying to find a mm and # comparison chart. Haven't found a good one yet.

Good job on finding that Kevin.