homelite chainsaw overheating

[omiakinbac]

I have an early 80's SXLAO that starts fine then seizes after awhile . It cools down then starts runs then stops again. Any clues? [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[CJDave]

[img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Oil-fuel mixture wrong??????? I know that's a little too simple, but I've learned to always try the 98-cent solution BEFORE I change the crankshaft. [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[jimbrown]

I agree with DAVE but would also suggest that there is dirt what ever in the cooling fins. Flush them with highe pressure water or air.

[Marc]

Check also your air filter. take it off and clean it with diesel or gas. make sure it is dry when you put it back on.

Marc

[jml755]

I have a Poulan that started doing that this summer. It would run for awhile then quit. Had to let it sit a bit, then restart. After draining and putting fresh gas/oil mixture, cleaning air filter, cleaned regapped plug, I finally sprayed carb cleaner into it several times and that seemed to clear it up.

[Pat]

Poulan, properly pronounced PULL-ON because you pull on it and pull on it and pull on it and pull on it and whether it starts, runs, or continues to run while doing work is a separate issue.

A friend of mine commented that he would have been better off taking the spark plug out so it was easier to pull the rope and he'd get more cutting done that way.

Now seriously, don't let the thing set about with fuel in it unless the fuel was treated with STABIL and then less than 6 months. Only use PURE gasoline with no alcohol (ethanol) in it. Do be careful to keep the fuel clean as it doesn't take much to foul a carb for such a small engine. If you are going to store the saw for more than a couple days it is a good idea to empty the tank and start the engine and let it die from fuel starvation. (Good policy for generators too. don't turn them off but instead turn off the fuel and let them run the carb dry. This prevents gum and deposits in the carb.

Pat

[jml755]

Pat, interesting comment. Over the years, I have had bad experiences with McCollough (sic?), Craftsman, Homelite and at least 1 other I can't remember. Mostly starting issues, as I recall. A friend had recommended the Poulan for a low-end, occasional-use saw from a big-box store. Gave me no problems with starting for a year or so, as long as starting routine was followed: prime 5-6 times, pull twice with choke on, set choke halfway in cold weather, off in warm, hold throttle open and pull couple more times. Once it was warmed up, restarts after shutdowns were just pull it a couple of times. I agree regarding the gas. Smaller the engine, more critical the fuel. I run my snowblower and lawn mower out at end of season, but the saw is a year round item, so doesn't get same "put-to-bed" treatment. Probably should do a periodic "run-out" and clean, as you suggest. Anyway, now that I'm doing more cutting, I'm getting a "serious" saw. Probably a Stihl MS 361. Looked at Dolmar but dealer support is an issue.

Clearing a barn site, cut down about 100 trees in the last month or so with the Poulan and as long as the chain was sharp, it worked fine.

Small engines are a pain. I tossed a relatively new Craftsman weed wacker to the curb some time ago because no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to stay running. Service Center diagnosis and repair would have cost more than a new trimmer.

Side-bar: BIL recently gave me his "seized-up" power washer with Honda 5.0 hp engine. Turned out the pump was shot, so I've got a beautifully running 5.0 hp, horizontal shaft Honda on a nice pneumatic wheeled cart to adapt to "something". Probably will be the "ag-pump" with old B & S on it. Wife is starting to complain that my stuff that occupies half of our 2-car garage (my side) is growing toward her side and she has drawn a line on the cement and is adamant that she will NOT park her car outside this winter. LOL. I recall that you are starting to have similar issues with your much larger storage spaces.

[Pat]

There are only a few widely available GOOD BRANDS of chain saws. Husqvarna, Stihl, and Johnserd are right up there at the top of the list. Homelite, Poulan, and Craftsman are way way down the list.

I have two little Macs a medium Husky and one serious saw, a 32 inch bar Husky with an engine like a small dirt bike. When you yank on its rope you know there is an engine attached to it. IT is a good new bad news story. the bad news is it is heavy and hard to work with very long, especially overhead. The good news is it doesn't take long to cut whatever you are cutting. I have been thinking of getting a shorter bar for it as I just don't encounter many trees big enough to challenge it and it would be a little easier getting through brush etc as well as lowering bar friction and upping useful power. (Yeah right, like it needs more power!)

I have a Remington that starts instantly in any weather and is pretty aggressive for its size but you do have to take a generator with you. [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Pat

[egon]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
have to take a generator with you

[/ QUOTE ]

How many pulls for the generator! [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]