Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Husqvarna => Topic started by: JGABlueRidge on July 02, 2012, 11:00:59 pm

Title: 575xp starting issues
Post by: JGABlueRidge on July 02, 2012, 11:00:59 pm
I used my 575xp on Friday night for about an hour and then again on saturday for about 15 minutes and had to turn it off.  would not start back up.  I have new fuel, and have also replaced the spark plug.  Not sure if it is getting fire.  saw has started fine each time before.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: 575xp starting issues
Post by: nmurph on July 03, 2012, 07:53:43 am
J, your description leaves a littany of items that could cause the symptoms. The problem could be something as simple as the saw being flooded, in the best case scenario, to a toasted piston/cylinder, as a worst-case scenario. Start by pulling the plug, grounding it against the cylinder, puller the starter rope and checking for spark. If you have spark and the plug looks wet, pull the starter rope 30x's with the plug removed. Then try to start it. If you do not get spark, pull the ground wire from the stop switch and check for spark again. Did you replace the plug after the problem started or before? You can try a different plug bc sometimes you see what appears to be good spark, but under the pressure of compression, the plug doesn't fire.
If the saw isn't flooded and you have checked for good spark. I would pull the muffler and have a look at the condition of the cylinder and piston. If the piston is smooth with no vertical scoring, then the problem is likely in the carb/fuel delivery system, or less likely in the coil/ignition system.
Check for flooding and piston condition, and report back. We will get it going for you.
Title: Re: 575xp starting issues
Post by: JGABlueRidge on July 03, 2012, 09:10:34 pm
nmurph, Problem solved!  I tried your suggestions to the letter. New plug was getting good fire. pulled the starter 30 times without plug and checked the wires.  Started on first pull. I went ahead and checked the condition of the rest of the saw, carb, cylinder flywheel etc.  All looked great.

What fuel ratio do you recommend?  I have 93 octane gas but with ethanol.  I have read that 93 without ethanol is best and to run fuel at 100:1.  What are you thoughts here?

I am on the east coast and the storm damage is significant, so the saw will get some work tomorrow and through the weekend. Thanks for your response, I appreciate your interest in helping get my saw up an running.
Title: Re: 575xp starting issues
Post by: 660magnum on July 03, 2012, 09:17:49 pm
I run regular 10% ethanol gasoline and Pennzoil Air Cooled oil at 32:1 ratio.

100:1 ratio with any oil including Amsoil will burn up your chainsaw.

Many people use Stihl Ultra synthetic oil at 40 or 50:1

The little silver 2.6 oz bottle of Stihl Ultra Synthetic mixed with 1 gallon of gas is 49:1 ratio which would work out fine for you.

Title: Re: 575xp starting issues
Post by: nmurph on July 03, 2012, 11:11:14 pm
I don't worry about ethanol. I run it mixed at 50:1 with Stihl Ultra.
Title: Re: 575xp starting issues
Post by: SawTroll on July 04, 2012, 05:29:50 pm
I don't worry about ethanol. I run it mixed at 50:1 with Stihl Ultra.

I understand that ethanol eats up fuel lines etc, specially on older saws that weren't designed for it - and maybe some newer ones as well?    :-\

Anyway, it isn't an issue to me, as I use only Alkylate fuel.