Why My Stihl Chainsaw Won’t Start After Refueling?

Many issues can disturb the Stihl chainsaw working. Those problems vary significantly in intricacy and cost. But why my Stihl Chainsaw won’t start after refueling?

Different reasons are responsible for it. Maybe the carburetor is clogged, and you have to clean it. A chainsaw carburetor combines fuel and air to start an internal combustion motor. 

If fuel is left in your motor for a long time, it can get stuck and clog your carburetor. It disturbs the starting operation. If the blockage is small, clean your carburetor.

Like that ignition spark, plugs and other parts may cause a faulty start. So, read till the end and find out more about it.

Why My Stihl Chainsaw Won't Start After Refueling

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Why My Stihl Chainsaw Won’t Start After Refueling: Reasons & Solutions

You will face some problems if you have a Stihl Chainsaw. Sometimes Stihl Chainsaw won’t start after Refueling. It’s a common problem. 

But don’t worry! I will share some problems that I have faced and what I have done at that moment. It can help you to solve the problem.

Problem 1: Bad Gas

We think oily parts of the machine mainly cause several problems. But stale gas can be the issue. Gas goes off before 30 days. 

So you may get surprised after seeing that situation. When gas loses Oomph, stalling, no starts, surging, and lack of power can happen.

Nowadays, ethanol is the primary raw material of lots of gas. This fuel causes trouble by attracting moisture. Using a Gas stabilizer in the machine can be a good option because it prevents some bad situations like gas going stale. 

Hard starting is a common problem caused by harmful gas. Gas goes off while sitting on the machine idle. Customers always complain about a lazy start, but it’s lousy gas most of the time. 

If you filled gas more than one month ago, you should empty the tank and refill new gas. It’s an easy task. If that doesn’t work, you can try our next suggestion.

Solution

When you refuel your tank, but your problem remains, you can try shooting a gas through the carburetor as it needs some help to flush. After removing the air filter, you can take a cap filled with fresh gas. Then it would be best if you dropped the cap into the carburetor intake. 

Now you can start the saw usually. The chainsaw gives three outcomes:

  • If the Stihl chainsaw usually starts and continuously keeps running, you are fortunate.
  • If the saw stays running, it stalls two or three times; you must clean the carburetor. 
  • When the saw stops working, it may be an ignition system fault.

Problem 2: Clogged Carburetor

We need to repair our Stihl Chainsaw. Most probably, stale gas remains in the carburetor and blocks the passing way. Removing the carburetor is common, and it may need a good repair. 

Carb kits come with gaskets and gas needles valves. You can replace all of these carburetor parts and reuse the elements. The carburetor parts are not so expensive. 

So buying a new carburetor is another good option. You will get a well-tested and tuned carburetor with a guarantee. When the carburetor stops working, buying a new one is recommended. 

Most chainsaws install carburetors easily. But sometimes, it is tough to remove the carburetor from some saws. The parts are pretty small. You have to take some patience or pass the repairment.

Solution

Some saws require special tools to adjust the carbs, but otherwise, just a set of sockets, carburetor cleaning tools, and carb cleaner are excellent tools. An extra gas stabilizer is enough to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

You should choose the right type of carburetor because there are many models. The carburetor is mainly needed for the power of your chainsaw. So while the carbohydrate family may look the same, it is different. 

Few manufacturers make carburetors on their own. But most of them build their product by a third party. Every carburetor has a unique model number. 

So after removing the carburetor, you need to model sealed on the carburetor. After installing a new carburetor, you should clean the gas tank and install a new fuel filter inside the tank.

Problem 3: Plug Fault

Plugs mainly remain in harsh environments. The plug is the center of all the activity, and the hot cylinder sticks next to a hot muffler. It is the third reason for problems. 

The build quality of a plug is outstanding. They can operate for years without wasting a minute.

You can replace the plug when a new season starts. 

Most homeowners usually won’t change the plug until it becomes damaged. Plugs are different in thickness and length. 

So you have to choose the right one according to the model and read about the manufacturers’ manual book. A valid spark plug number can be good information for buying a new plug. Check out the solution.

Solution

While checking the ignition system, a spark plug can be the best test tool. You can check the spark without test tools if you don’t have a sparking tool. 

First, remove the plug and then reattach the wire. A jump lead is helpful for a good connection. 

So putting the plug body on the ground is needed. Then turn on the chainsaw by the switch and pull the chainsaw. Lastly, supervise the spark plug for the spark.

You will find two outcomes. One is you may get a spark, and another is no spark. No sparking is a minor problem. So you don’t have to worry. 

There will be a gap between the electrode and the tip in the plug. You need to buy a new one if the gap is not found. 

Oil and carbon are harmful to the plug and a wire brush can be a good option. You can swap the spark plug, which is known as a suitable donor test plug. You may need to check the armature if there is no spark.

Problem 4: Flooded Engine

In the engine, the combustion chamber contains a massive amount of gas. Without using the spark plug, the excess gas stops the spark. When the engine is continuously cranked over, it causes flooding.

Some underlying problems occur unexpectedly, like lousy gas, a faulty carburetor, a damaged spark plug, etc. So maintaining a saw is good to save from flooding. Check out the solution.

Solution

After sitting the saw for half an hour, the excess gas will go out of the tank. Then disconnect the spark plug and take a while to dry it. Before refitting the plug, you should Crank over the chainsaw for some time. 

Then try again. Turn the switch “On,” and the throttle will be open. But the choke will remain off. You may need to pull the chainsaw for the second or third time to start the engine.

Problem 5: Faulty Armature

Armature failure is a widespread failure. High voltage occurs by the armature needs the spark plug to fire. When the machine becomes hot, it will stop its work. So wait until the machine becomes cold.

Solution

For testing the ignition system, a proper tool is recommended. Any weakness can come forward when loading up the armature. But we always give the best suggestions.

Armature testing is easy. You can try it yourself. Steps are given:

First, remove the four screwed assembly cover. Then remove the coil control wire. Pull off assembly and check spark. 

Final Verdict

Finally, you have got all your answers regarding “why my Stihl Chainsaw won’t start after refueling” with possible solutions. If you have any more problems, you can contact us directly.

Remember that Stihl chainsaws include cartridges that facilitate cold starts, but you must use them correctly. The carburetor injects extra fuel into the combustion compartment when you close the choke as the starter pulls. 

The air-fuel mixture will become rich in fuel if the engine does not start in the first 3/4 pulls. If you keep pulling the starter with the closed choke, there will be much fuel for ignition, and the engine will overflow. So, drain the engine easily as soon as you can.

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