What causes a chainsaw not to start?

A spark plug might be defective and needs to be replaced.



If your chainsaw has a defective spark plug, it cannot create an electrical current to ignite the system. Remove the spark plug and inspect if it is dirty, cracked, eroded, or damaged. There may also be a heavy carbon buildup or a burned-up electrode.

How do you troubleshoot a chainsaw?





Take care of the chain and chain brake

  1. Sharpen. Sharpen the chain before each use and whenever it gets dull. …
  2. Lubricate. The oil you put in the gasoline lubricates the engine, but not the chain. …
  3. Adjust the tension. …
  4. Inspect the chain brake. …
  5. Air filter. …
  6. Muffler gasket and spark arrestor. …
  7. Fuel and fuel filter. …
  8. Spark plug.


How do I get my chainsaw to start?

Activate the choke by moving the lever to the full choke position and pull the starter rope 3 or 4 times to start the engine. If that doesn’t work, move the choke lever to half choke and pull the starter rope, 6 times maximum, to start the engine.

How do you start a chainsaw that has been sitting?

Just let the saw sit for 30 min and the excess gas will evaporate. Remove the spark plug, dry it, crank over the engine a few times to dry the cylinder. Now refit the plug and try again. Set the switch to “On”, set throttle to fully open, set choke to “Off” and crank over the engine.

How do I clean the carburetor on my chainsaw?





You can clean your chainsaw’s carburetor using the following five easy steps:

  1. ● Step 1: Clean the Air Filter.
  2. ● Step 2: Clean the Carburetor’s Intake Components.
  3. ● Step 3: Clean/Wash the Carburetor’s Needle Valves.
  4. ● Step 4: Work the Pull Cord.
  5. ● …
  6. ● Step 1: Blend the Cleaner With Gas.
  7. ● …

How do you check a spark on a chainsaw?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Just turn the little knob here counter-clockwise. Make sure your choke knob's at the bottom here and then just pull the cover. Off now what you need to do is remove the spark plug boot.

How do I know if my chainsaw is flooded?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: To start your spark plug. Cannot fire and ignite pure fuel in there it has to be a mixture of air and fuel for it to actually run too much fuel in there. That's what flooding means.

Why is my chainsaw not getting spark?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you don't have any spark then more than likely it is the ignition module failing on you you want to make sure first before you replace an ignition module.

Why does my chainsaw start and then stop?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Over time the arrestor can become clogged with soot which may cause the chainsaw engine to stall. You can try cleaning the arrestor with a wire brush. But you may need to replace it with a new one.

How long does a spark plug last in a chainsaw?

A poorly functioning engine in a Stihl chainsaw can mean more work for the operator and can even be dangerous. Consequently, Stihl recommends replacing the spark plug after every 100 service hours.

How do you clean a chainsaw motor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Step number two air filter remove the air filter cover. And then the air filter itself clean the filter with a wire brush. And then use compressed air to remove any leftover debris. Step.

How do you fix a chainsaw with old gas?



How to Replace Old Gas:

  1. Take off the gas tank lid.
  2. Put a few BBs inside the gas tank.
  3. Put on the gas tank lid.
  4. Shake chainsaw vigorously.
  5. Take off the gas tank lid.
  6. Pour out BBs and old gas.
  7. Flush out gas tank with cleaner.


How do I know if my chainsaw carburetor is bad?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Thing what I will do is start it up and you're going to notice that when I go to throttle up it's just going to bog.

How do you clean a carburetor without removing it?

A good way to clean the fuel tank is to start the engine and use a garden hose with a spray attachment to blow the oil out of the tank. Do this until there’s no more oil in the tank. Then, while the engine is running, pour some brake cleaner into the tank and use a rag to wipe the bottom.

How do you test a chainsaw carburetor?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And as you see now the fuel line is not leaking fuel. And I'll just reach in and plug your tester right on the carburetor that's installed on the chainsaw. And again I'm going to pump it up to 7 psi.

How do I know if my chainsaw carburetor is bad?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Thing what I will do is start it up and you're going to notice that when I go to throttle up it's just going to bog.

How do you know if your chainsaw is flooded?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: To start your spark plug. Cannot fire and ignite pure fuel in there it has to be a mixture of air and fuel for it to actually run too much fuel in there. That's what flooding means.

Why is my chainsaw not getting spark?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you don't have any spark then more than likely it is the ignition module failing on you you want to make sure first before you replace an ignition module.

How long does a spark plug last in a chainsaw?



A poorly functioning engine in a Stihl chainsaw can mean more work for the operator and can even be dangerous. Consequently, Stihl recommends replacing the spark plug after every 100 service hours.

How do I know if my chainsaw needs new spark plugs?

If it’s not producing any sparks at all, your chainsaw needs a new plug. If there are only a few sparks coming out of one side of the electrodes but none on the other side, it’s not bad enough for you to worry about, but it will affect your performance.

How do I know if my spark plugs need changing?

7 Signs You Need to Replace Your Spark Plugs

  1. The car is hard to start. …
  2. The engine misfires. …
  3. You’re heading to the gas station more often. …
  4. The engine idling is rough and noisy. …
  5. Your car struggles to accelerate. …
  6. The engine is really loud during normal driving. …
  7. Your ‘check engine’ light is on.


How do I know if my spark plugs are bad?

Common signs of faulty spark plugs include slow acceleration, loss of power, poor fuel economy, engine misfires, and difficulty starting the car.



  1. Slow acceleration. …
  2. Poor Fuel Economy. …
  3. Engine is Misfiring. …
  4. Engine Surging or Hesitating. …
  5. Rough Idle. …
  6. Hard to Start.


How do you check spark plugs without removing them?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: What you want to do is take your spark plug wire off just twist the counterclockwise clockwise. And just give it a little pull and yank it off you don't want to damage your spark plug. Wire.

What would cause spark plugs not to fire?

A spark plug won’t fire properly if its electrodes have been worn thin, if they are covered with combustion deposits or if they’re wet. If the plug has seen many hours of service, the electrodes may just be worn out, and replacing the plug will restore normal engine operation.