Chainsaw Repair

This one Stihl FS55R had been running "funny" with the mixture being unstable. I suspected a old stiff metering valve diaphragm

Monday of last week I went to start this Stihl FS55R weed whacker. With the choke on and second pull it sputtered. Flipped the choke off and from then on it was flooded. Then I noticed gas pouring out the air filter. So the metering valve is stuck open?

I was going to get a diaphragm kit for it but worked on a couple others instead.

I got to thinking that I had a bad one of these carbs that I had put new diaphragms in several years ago so I found it and stole the metering valve diaphragm. I didn't take the carb  off the FS55R, I just changed the metering diaphragm with the carburetor mounted on the weed whacker. The prize FS55R started right up but soon I noticed the clutch wouldn't release. It's a chore to get to the clutch! I shut the Stihl down and turned the cutter head. It wasn't stuck so bad that it would turn the engine through compression. I turned the cutter the other way and the piece of sand, or whatever it was, fell out and the clutch worked perfect again. Thank goodness.

I then did my weed whacking, cleaned it up and put everything away.