Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Stihl => Topic started by: BlackhorseVet on October 19, 2013, 07:17:48 pm

Title: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: BlackhorseVet on October 19, 2013, 07:17:48 pm
I was recently given an older 041av that had been sitting in a friends garage unused for 15-20 years. Before ever pulling on the starter I removed the plug to check for spark, cleaned the carburetor and fuel system and removed the bar and chain and cleaned everything I could get to. I put it all back together, fueled it up and attempted to start it. There is so much compression
I can barely pull the starter handle. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: 660magnum on October 19, 2013, 07:22:06 pm
Make sure it has the larger size starter cord. Lawn mower cord will pull though itself on the starter pulley and be hard to pull and wear itself out in no time.

Also you can use a snow mobile or snow blower or rescue saw starter handle on the rope so you can wrap your whole hand around the handle.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: brokenbudget on October 19, 2013, 07:34:38 pm
you sure it isn't flooded? you said you 'cleaned the fuel system'. does that mean you also rebuilt the carb or just threw the old rubber bits back in?
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: BlackhorseVet on October 19, 2013, 07:45:10 pm
It has the correct starter rope and it's not flooded. I put a new carb kit in it but I wasn't even able to pull it enough to get the fuel to the carb. I should have mentioned that when I pulled the plug to check for spark the pull was normal with the plug out.
With the plug re-installed there is so much compression the pull is super hard. Thanks.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: Al Smith on October 19, 2013, 07:52:56 pm
Couple things .The starter rope as already stated could be binding on the rope drum .The drum itself could be binding on the shaft .

I've had them already where the bushing was defective in the rope drum causing them to bind up .One case it just happened to be a 2100 Husqvarna which is hard enough to pull over if everything is working properly .I couldn't hardly budge it with two hands on the pull rope .I made a brass bushing to replace the defective plastic one and that was that. 
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: BlackhorseVet on October 19, 2013, 08:31:58 pm
I just pulled the starter assembly and it appears to be working smoothly with no real wear apparent but the rope does look old
and could be slipping internally as you suggested so I will take your advice and replace it. I can actually turn the flywheel by hand a lot easier than I can with the pull start. Thanks for your help!!!
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: Fish on October 21, 2013, 10:23:28 am
Also pull the plug again and look for any traces of oil, oiler troubles could be "upping" the compression feel. 

     Also, excessive carbon deposits in the combustion chamber can be a problem as well, it doesn't take much to kick up the ratio.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: jockeydeuce on October 21, 2013, 12:48:58 pm
So how does it pull through with no spark plug in?????

I've never thought of an 041 as a compression monster.....Like others, I suspect you have something binding.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: BlackhorseVet on October 21, 2013, 03:53:12 pm
I took some time this morning and double-checked the rope starter and compared it to the starter on an old 029 FarmBoss that I've had for years and has about 60 cords under it's belt. The difference in side play between the two is night and day. I'm sure the bushing is shot just as Al Smith said. I was able to find a n.o.s. pulley assembly on ebay for $22 including shipping which I thought was a fair price. A couple of more questions while I'm here. Should the bushing on the new pulley be lubricated or installed dry? Assuming I get this saw running properly can anyone tell me a fair market value of an 042av super electronic with a 24" bar and chain? Thanks again for the input.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: Al Smith on October 22, 2013, 07:56:32 am
The problem if you oil them up is it will draw in fine sawdust making the situation worse in time .
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: Al Smith on October 22, 2013, 08:03:36 am
On that 042 that's a good question .They cut fine
 but parts are getting very rare for that model as well as it's big brother the 048 .

To put a true value on it would be a guessing game .They might try to get 300 on flea bay but a guy at work landed a nice clean 048 for about 100 .If I were to guess I'd say the 042 would be a little more rare than the 048 .
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: 660magnum on October 22, 2013, 09:09:07 am
A friend has a 042. it is his big saw and he only uses it a couple times a year. He bought it used with a new 404 chain for $150
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: BlackhorseVet on October 22, 2013, 12:17:05 pm
Sorry, that was a mistake on my part. I meant the value of an 041 av super. I guess I had 042 on the brain because that was the first Stihl chainsaw I ever bought almost 40 years ago. I remember their was a recall because of some bad crankshafts. That was a sweet saw and the first Stihl any of my friends had seen in action. It sure did convert a lot of Homelite and Mc Cullough owners. The coil went out on it about 25 years ago and parts through Stihl were already obsolete so I got rid of it. I sure wish ebay would have been around back then.
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: Al Smith on October 23, 2013, 07:33:16 pm
Not to skew off too far but the 042 came with two types of ignition that I am aware of .An SEM and a Bosc .You can buy an aftermarket SEM replacement now of days ,the Bosc I'm not certain .
Title: Re: 041 Hard Starter Pull
Post by: president on October 30, 2013, 08:41:27 pm
the old 041s get (hydrolocked) due to bar oil getting into the cylinder
you have to remove the oil pump by removing the snapring then pulling out
the pump and replacing the 0 ring in the bore of the pump mechanism
the pump is located in a little recess to the left of the dog , it is advisable to remove a screw from the starter
housing and inserting the screw into the space for it above the pump resses ,this facilitates the pump removal
get ahold of an ipl and it should make sense