How to Start a Chainsaw in Humid Weather

[tbrickner]

Hi Folks.

I live in MD where it can get real humid like it does in New Orleans.  I find that when I tune my saws up in the summer they tend to have a hard time starting or don't start on humid days.  other days they work just fine just as I tuned them for the summer.

Does anyone have any tips on how to start a tuned up chainsaw on a humid day?

Any help is appreciated.
Tom B.

[Stihlowner]

More air, less gas. Moist air is less dense than dry air.
Try starting without using the choke.
Now in the winter it is the other way, more gas,less air.
Cold air is very dense.
That is when the choke really helps out.

[tbrickner]

Thanks Stihlowner,

I'll try it without the choke.  Thanks for the help.  Do you recommending adjusting anything if it still doesn't start?

Tom B.

[Stihlowner]

I really don't think adjusting will help much.
I would just try starting without the choke closed.

[ladylake]

 The easiest way is to buy a Echo,  other than that as mentioned try it without the choke but put the choke on and then back to the run position to set the fast idle.  Steve

[Ianab]

Never really thought about humidity being a big problem, unless it's pushing 100% and you start getting dew forming on the spark plug.

Temperature and altitude I can see having an effect...  But I've started saws on cold foggy mornings with the humidity around 98%

[John Mc]

For piston aviation engines (non-turbo) we talk about the "three H's": Heat, Height, and Humidity. All three tend to rob an engine of power by limiting the amount of oxygen available for combustion.

I would not expect the "cold foggy morning" Ianab mentioned to be a problem, since the humidity is countered by the cold. Humidity also has less of an effect than heat and height (at least within the normal ranges of temp, altitude and humidity we experience around here.)

[DelawhereJoe]

I'm right over the line in Delaware and haven't had problems starting saws at any point during the year, what saws are you running. Perhaps you have an air leak starting and its throwing your mix off.