Stihl 261

[hopm]

261 less than year old. Has always been 3 pulls choke 1 pull fast idle and 1 pull to restart the rest of the day. Got hit with a limb and cracked the plastic cover and roughed a small section of air filter. I replaced the filter and it will start and run but not nearly as reliably as before. May start and run as before and then no start. Each time I let it sit awhile it will start almost like it was flooded. Any suggestion on what to look for to get back to the reliability before?
Thanks in advance!!

[sawguy21]

I would be looking for an air leak due to a crack behind the carburetor.

[DHansen]

Check the choke linkage.  Make sure it opens fully.  

[Keepfixin]

Does it have the m-tronic carb on it? If so your auto tuning carb could be acting up from the impact. Just a thought.

[hopm]

Does it have the m-tronic carb on it? If so your auto tuning carb could be acting up from the impact. Just a thought.

No sir

[Keepfixin]

Ah ok. Also a thought would be that maybe the impact stressed the ignition lead wire and could of made a bad connection where the torsion spring is inserted in the wire in the plug boot. Try replacing the spark plug too. Maybe an aftermarket carb could solve the problems if it's an internal carb issue.

[barbender]

 Why would you go to an aftermarket carb, especially if he doesn't even know what is actually wrong yet?

[hopm]

Took it to the man yesterday morning....i missed that saw bad yesterday.

[firefighter ontheside]

Interested to hear what they find.

[Magicman]

My MS261 is quickly becoming my favorite saw. 

Now to be honest, I did not actually "need" it, but I had read so much about it here that it became a "want".  The MS170 understandably was a bit under powered for my use so.....

[hopm]

I had a 250 I really liked and it gave great service but it kinda vanished. Bought the 261 as replacement...no comparison.....but....today 170 will be my limb saw

[Magicman]

The MS170 was/is a most excellent lightweight limbing saw.  A "one pull" cranker, but I was asking too much of it around the sawmill.

I had the MS261 humming today.    

[Keepfixin]

Any news on the 261? :-)