361 hard to start

[wscott]

new 361 hard to start been to dearer twice found nothing. will start there avertime @ dearer. my question has any one tried a hotter sparkplug and hi oct. gas.

have 028 that is over 20 years old starts every time in  6 pulls are less after setting @ leases 7 days

thanks
w scott

[Radar67]

WDH had a problem with his similar to this. Check https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,31999.msg462399.html#msg462399

[WDH]

I heard reading other posts that the MS 361 was hard to start  . 

I found it hard to start   smiley_confused. 

Now you, wscott, find it hard to start  .

Maybe it is hard to start   .

[sawmilllawyer]

Check starting procedure as per Stihl instructions. Also, I had a problem with the coil on my new 361, dealer warranty repair. Saw would start at dealer but when I ran it out in the field it would'nt start, dealer finaly figured it out.

[WDH]

Sometimes the procedures do not act like the book says . 

[beenthere]

Similar experience when new.
Used higher octane gas, and after 3-4 tankfuls and since, much much easier to start.

Great saw...but sure wasn't convinced it was better than my 30 year old Stihl 041 when the 361 was new.

[olyman]

Similar experience when new.
Used higher octane gas, and after 3-4 tankfuls and since, much much easier to start.

Great saw...but sure wasn't convinced it was better than my 30 year old Stihl 041 when the 361 was new.

the dealers like to tell you new is better--i dont buy it--esp since they are coming out with cats on them---NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beenthere]

olyman
I wouldn't buy anything but new when it comes to a chainsaw. 

[joe_indi]

The carb on the MS361 has  an accelerator pump, which mean every time you blip the throttle  a very fine quantity of fuel is ejected into the engine.This is for smoother progressive acceleration.
This feature can be used to make a cold start easier.
Blip the throttle a couple of times before you move the control switch to choke.
Do not do this too many times  you might make the mixture over-rich
The engine should now fire at the first pull on the starter.Once this happens, move the switch to 'Off', keep the throttle wide open and the decompression valve pressed down, and pull on the starter very slowly twice.This will clear the spark plug of any excess fuel.
Now move the control switch to the 'Start' position. (Not the 'On' position, the one just above the 'Choke' position.My apology in advance  if you already know this :'()
The saw should start at the first pull on the starter now.

Joe

[beenthere]

joe
I've not heard of it, but will give it a test try.

I'm assuming this procedure is just for a cold start.

A warm start is just to switch to "on" and pull starter rope (maybe try the blip on the throttle once before first pull).

I don't use the compression release, as the saw seems to not start any faster and is just one more step to getting the saw running.  May have to if using your procedure, as it will likely release when firing on the first pull.

Will follow up on how it works for me.  Thanks.

[joe_indi]

w scott,
You are right, the procedure I mentioned is for cold start.
For warm start within 3 minutes after stopping, don't blip.
After 3 - 5 minutes blip it once.
Above that but below 10 minutes 2 blips and move the control to 'Start'.
After 10 - 15 minutes move the control to 'Choke' and pull out the starter slowly twice and then move the switch to 'Start'.
What you save by using these methods is a lot of elbow energy and starter component's life.
Joe