My MS270 is having problems
- hard starting
- doesn't idle
- power seems OK

Seems to be pretty good after it warms up -- 15 minutes or more.

Fuel filter looks good
Cleaned air filter as best I could ( cloth filter -- hard to clean)
Changed plug -- old one didn't look especially bad.
Just mixed some new gas and filled it -- although the gas was from last fall( yes it's 89 octane)

Will probably try the idle adjustments next. Curious as to why they would change. Any other thoughts?

Wish I still had my 026. But, I wrecked it and I'm too embarassed to admit how

 

New plug and new gas and should be easier to start.

 

I'm gonna suspect varnish in/on the carb & fuel system; new gas + a bit of BG 44K might
clear it up.

BTW I'd be interesting in hearing how you wrecked your 026, I might learn what NOT
to do.

 

OK ctu.... what is BG44K?

And I'll answer the question. Thankfully, I got around 15 years on it before I wrecked it. Scrubbed the air filter too hard. Took off the flocking ( didn't notice it under the dust, etc). Crap got into the cylinder and ruined it.

Shop said that the crankshaft might be ruined as well. In any event, they told me that it was scrap. I still have it. Someday I might work up the courage to see just what a mess it is.

 

If I am not mistaken the ms270 has a rubber gas line that is s shaped like my 390, that hose has about a 2 to 4 year life expectancy, I end up changing mine every couple years here in the desert because it is so dry and they rot fast. the symptoms you described is exactly what 3 of my saws do when that hose cracks

 

what do you know, I opened my desk drawer and here is a hose, just a spare laying around. the long part goes in the tank and the short end hooks to the carb. they break in the (S) turn.

<a href="http://s527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/mrhelifixer/?action=view&current=IMGP4284.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc359/mrhelifixer/IMGP4284.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

Not quite as dry here in MN, but ya never know.

 

It's effectively a fuel system cleaner, NAPA sells it (and I suspect others):

BG Company

 

After its running , open the low speed screw a 1/2 turn ,sometimes it will clean itself out ,maybe some fuel from this year ....,next ,clean the carb...

 

rebuild that o26, it's worth it

 

Had an 026 melted in a fire, great saw and worth the rebuild. Traded it toward an 025, before I got my 390.

 

On the 026; do a compression check first off. 2 strokes need about 100 to start on their own and at least 70 to start with a little squirt of carb cleaner. With all the trimmers and blowers I've worked on that had been run for years without an air filter, I haven't seen that many ruined because of it. In fact, one of my own personal saws, a Homelite XL925 which I bought 2nd hand in 1978, has such a poor air filter design that I usually blow as much sawdust out from under the filter as above when I service it I heated primarily with wood for 20 years and that was my only saw back then. I still prefer it over the 044 I have now except in the area of vibration. My hands can't take it like they used too Anyways, back to your 026. If the compression is low and dirt was the cause, it may have only ruined the rings which are cheap and fairly easy to replace. Once you have checked the compression and verified that it is low, pull the muffler off and look in at the cylinder walls. Turn the engine over and look at the piston. If there are significant score marks or the cylinder walls are dull looking instead of nice and shiny, then you probably need a cylinder too. Now, you're looking at a couple of hundred $ so it may not be worth it. At that point, I'd start calling around to saw shops and logging outfits to see if anybody had an 026 that had been run over or dropped out of a tree. Usually, that ruins the case and/or the block but the cylinder/piston.

 

Took it into a Stihl dealer after I fooled with it a bit more. Had gotten to the point that it wouldn't pop at all -- new gas and plug. Checked and could not find any spark (with or w/o plug).

Dealer changed the ignition module and plug. Only cost me $19 -- they said that the ignition module was under warranty. I never brought it up to them, and I didn't buy it there. I've had other pleasant experiences at this place.

 

Screw the Stihl, you need the iSaw:

http://usbchainsaw.com/

 

I'll wait for the wifi version