Summer and winter setting on chainsaw?

[Whitetail20]

Hi, just curious how important the winter setting is on a chainsaw. Do most people use it, or is it not necessary? I would be cutting anywhere from 0 to 32 degrees in the wintertime. 

[DHansen]

My dealer told me to just leave the vents in the summer mode so the saw would run cooler.  But I was out two weekends ago at -17° F and moved the 2511P to the winter mode.  There is a difference in throttle response.  

[lxskllr]

I use if I remember to set it and/or the saw quits working. I don't think not using will cause any permanent damage, but the carb can ice up and the saw won't run. It also might run poorly, so you'd be leaving performance on the table. Might as well set it to winter mode before you start so you don't have to fool with it with cold fingers.

[Ianab]

Summer setting is to bring cool air into the carb, should run slightly cooler and make slightly more power. Winter is to suck in warm air to prevent the carb freezing up. I'd suggest around freezing 32f / 0c as a sensible changeover? Depends on the actual conditions ( humidity and temp). 

Older cars had a flap on the air cleaner to choose between fresh cool air and warmer air from above the exhaust manifold. Same reason, but on modern cars it's usually automatic.

[thecfarm]

I have never done anything to any of my saws. I use to cut all day long too. Well, I say all day, the chainsaw would be out in the cold all day. Maybe only 4 hours of run time?  Yes, probably I should have, but I never had any problems with the saw.
Now it's just firewood and maybe only a couple hours of run time when I sawing,2 days a week.

[DHansen]

As the air speeds up through the venturi of the carburetor it causes a drop in pressure and a drop in temperature.  So even at 40°F if there is moisture (dampness) in the air it can freeze on the throttle blade.  On a car it would lead to a stall out or loading up (rich condition) Flooding.  Some carburetor base gaskets have electric heating elements to prevent this icing, I have seem these elements on cars and chainsaws.   Even some intakes have passageways under the carburetor that exhaust gas was routed through to warm the base of the carburetor.  As engine temp reached operating temp this exhaust flow was closed off or the electric grid shut off.   I have not had a problem with cold weather chainsaw operation.  But I could tell the difference on throttle up with that small Echo.

[ehp]

the big thing with the winter setting is a heat for the carb but the big thing is snow , If your in deep snow cutting and your vents are in summer mode it will fill the air box up with snow and that will ruin your day fast lol , 

[Whitetail20]

Any more opinions on winter chainsaw setting?

[Tacotodd]

Don't make the mistake of putting it on the winter setting thinking that you'll get  more/cooler air that way. I've made that mistake before I knew better. Expensive lesson.

[weimedog]

And in addition to the snow and freezing issues there is this...:
Air Temperature and the effect on tuning Chainsaw Carburetors - A demonstration - YouTube

[Al_Smith]

In my old age I'm kind of a wuss and don't do much cutting in dead of winter. I've about ran out of split wood this winter because I didn't prepare for the cold .The good thing is it's above 40 so that about ends the woodstove for this year .

[pwrwagontom]

Its funny you bring this up.  I've always wondered myself, but left it in the summer position perpetually with seemingly no ill effects.

A few weeks ago it was about -15 with wind chill, and I was cutting and bucking in the woods.  The type of day where your beard freezes solid.  I thought- hell...no time like the present!
I took off the cover...only to find my MS261C didn't have it  :D :

[tawilson]

Its funny you bring this up.  I've always wondered myself, but left it in the summer position perpetually with seemingly no ill effects.

A few weeks ago it was about -15 with wind chill, and I was cutting and bucking in the woods.  The type of day where your beard freezes solid.  I thought- hell...no time like the present!
I took off the cover...only to find my MS261C didn't have it  :D :

If you mean you are missing the slider with the opening I believe that means you are always in winter mode.

[PoginyHill]

I took off the cover...only to find my MS261C didn't have it 

Meaning the sliding piece was missing? If it's missing, then you are running the winder setting and allowing warm air into the intake. The 261 should have an orange plate on the right side of the carb near the top of the housing.

[pwrwagontom]

I took off the cover...only to find my MS261C didn't have it  

Meaning the sliding piece was missing? If it's missing, then you are running the winder setting and allowing warm air into the intake. The 261 should have an orange plate on the right side of the carb near the top of the housing.

Yes sir!