harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 (edited) Went to my McCulloch chain saw yesterday and the flippin thing wont start. It worked about 2 weeks ago and seamed fine. I have checked the plug and there is a spark but I don't know if its good enough as I cant find my feeler gauges to check the gap. It has plenty of 2 stroke fuel in, in fact when I have tried to start it pulling a dozen times (till exhausted) fuel drips out of the exhaust. Do spark plugs just pack up? Any ideas anyone??:hmm: edited to say I have not touched the plug before or serviced it in 3 or 4 years but it only gets used for about 6 hours a year max, its not a work tool as you might say. Edited March 27, 2010 by harrycatcat1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 (edited) Plugs can be a problem.I wee rub with sand paper and either close/open to get a decent spark.If petrol is coming out its getting flooded,so try pulling without choke for a while.Another thing to try,is when its all dried out,pour a little bit of petrol in the plug hole,screw back in and a decent spark should kick her in to life. Edited March 27, 2010 by sako751sg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Have you checked the air filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Plugs can be a problem.I wee rub with sand paper and either close/open to get a decent spark.If petrol is coming out its getting flooded,so try pulling without choke for a while.Another thing to try,is when its all dried out,pour a little bit of petrol in the plug hole,screw back in and a decent spark should kick her in to life. I have done that mate - nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Have you checked the air filter? No I have not done that, is it easy? would it be on the top somewhere, cant be far away but just where do you start stripping down?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 i think it will be on the starter cord side two screws maybe and the outer cover comes off to reveal the filter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Thanks chaps I will look at the air filter in the morning as I have just washed my hands and put plasters on the blisters that the thing has caused with trying to start the flippin thing. Also took the skin off my first two knuckles catching on the plastic vents on the side. Thanks again I will let you know how I get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 How fresh is the petrol?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Thanks chaps I will look at the air filter in the morning as I have just washed my hands and put plasters on the blisters that the thing has caused with trying to start the flippin thing. Also took the skin off my first two knuckles catching on the plastic vents on the side. Thanks again I will let you know how I get on. I think the filter will be behind the knuckle skinning vents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 How fresh is the petrol?? I only mixed it a month or so ago but if the air filter bit fails I will get fresh petrol and oil to be doubly sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksheep Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 New plug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyr8 Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 take the plug out and pull it over half a dozen times to dry the bore out.clean the plug,even a tiny bit of carbon will mess the spark up.put the plug back and try again.if that doesn,t work repeat the prosses but put a drop of petrol in the bore as said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 I think the filter will be behind the knuckle skinning vents Cheers, I will take great pleasure in taking that blessed thing off and torturing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 (edited) Cheers, I will take great pleasure in taking that blessed thing off and torturing it HAHAHAHAHA i know because i have an old Mcolloch Edited March 27, 2010 by BSA-airgunner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 take the plug out and pull it over half a dozen times to dry the bore out.clean the plug,even a tiny bit of carbon will mess the spark up.put the plug back and try again.if that doesn,t work repeat the prosses but put a drop of petrol in the bore as said. I have done that mate and no luck, I am putting all my chips on the air filter being blocked/needs cleaning. I have just thought, will it be one that you can wash out or a paper one? Does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 My stihl wouldnt start because the piston rings had gone, but check the fuel filter, you will need ta get a long thin peice of wire and bend a hook on it and then you go fishing for the filter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted March 27, 2010 Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Should of bought a husky or a Stihl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 Should of bought a husky or a Stihl Why didn't you tell me that at the time??:hmm:? Saying that its not been bad up to now, apart from the blisters and knuckles that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2010 My stihl wouldnt start because the piston rings had gone, but check the fuel filter, you will need ta get a long thin peice of wire and bend a hook on it and then you go fishing for the filter It seems to have a good compression as when the plug was out I put my thumb over the hole and pulled the starter and it was hard to pull the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 I always check air filter first then fuel filter then spark plug (replace?) then take it to brian if It wont work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambhat Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 (edited) Sounds like you just flooded it. Were you pulling it with the choke closed all the time? When you're starting it from cold, set it to the start position with the choke closed; then as soon as you hear it almost start, open the choke and give it another pull or two. Edited March 28, 2010 by lambhat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted March 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 This morning I have cleaned the air filter, drained the fuel been to garage and got fresh petrol and oil mix, fetched new plug from B&Q, tried to start it with choke open choke closed I have even tried offering it money but it still wont start. Plan B is to contact someone who pm'd me in my area said they would have a look for me, top man eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 Sounds like you just flooded it. Were you pulling it with the choke closed all the time? When you're starting it from cold, set it to the start position with the choke closed; then as soon as you hear it almost start, open the choke and give it another pull or two. a lot of people make that mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartshot Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 I dont know too much about McCullock saws but being a tree surgeon the amount of people who ask me about repairing there saws that theyve brought from B&Q screwfix etc. The trouble is they arent designed to be servicable, the reason theyre cheap is that theyre meant to be used for a few years then thrown away and a new one brought. I recommend up grading to a cheap stihl. You can pick up a fairly decent one for just under £200. My boss still got his stihl 181 from about 6 years ago. He only uses it for **** timber that he doesnt want to wreck his good saw on but its still down some hard work and parts are dirt cheap. Dont ever buy a cheap Husky, the quality is shocking on the cheap ones. If you are going to try to repair the one youve got then the advice from everyone on here is pretty much spot on. 1) Check filters, air and petrol. Petrol filter will most likely be on short hose inside tank. Switch saw on, dont use choke or primer if fitted, give it about 30 odd pulls, then try using half choke (if not fitted use full choke), only try about 5/6 pulls, dont want to make the problem worse. If none of that works: 2) Clean spark plug up or replace, pretty cheap part and may sort the problem out. If this doesnt work then I would replace, you will end up wasting too much time/money on it. Hope you get her going Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted March 28, 2010 Report Share Posted March 28, 2010 a lot of people make that mistake Remove plug and pop a lit spill into the plug'ole to ignite the excess fuel* when you have put out the burning hair on the back of your hands (ok I know some of PW have it on the palms as well ) replace the plug having first got it good and hot on the gas stove ring then give it a whirl. btw I managed to trap the lead against chassis which does a really good job of earthing it while still giving a weak spark * always a good idea to wear gloves when doing this as the flash goes a long way and for petes sake keep your face away to the side unless you want to look the same complexion as Dale Winton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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