Old McCulloch need advise

[chrisco_c2]

Thanks for any advice you can give. I'm new to the forum and my intro was on the timber framing forum a few weeks ago. In my quest to raise my small work shop I decided I would try my best to harvest most of my own timber. I bought a old mac timber bear from a small engine mech I found on Facebook. I'll lay out a list of issues and I'm hoping some may be fixable. 

-Chain gets real loose or real tight depending on if I'm cutting on the top or the bottom of the bar. I've tried really cranking down the nuts on the bar to hold it in place but it still doesn't hold the tension i set

-she only starts when she wants. I'm not a pro with carburetors but I'm not new either. This thing just isn't consistent with how it wants to start. It's really frustrating at times. There is no priming bulb so is that just the nature of this saw? I may crank it 20 times to get it turned over and some days just 2 times. 

- it leaks gas when turn it on it left side. I'm just wondering if that's normal. 

-It dies when I turn it on it's right side. This is super annoying when I'm felling timber. If I'm going on the throttle it'll stay running but when I go to check my holding wood  on the other side and leave it idle she dies. 

The one good thing about the saw is it's power. It's at least got a lil bit of juice even though it's 30 years old. 

Is this saw a lost cause?

[sawguy21]

Welcome aboard! Remove the chain and have a look at the drive sprocket, it likely has a groove worn in it. The chain rides up on it then drops back. Oregon should be able to supply a replacement. The idle problem and hard starting indicate an air leak which can be hard to pinpoint without the proper tools. With the bar, chain and rewind removed check for side play in the crank bearings. Also debris in the clutch side seal.

[donbj]

Sounds like the fuel pick up in the tank may not be doing its job. If you tip it on its side and it dies it may be  sucking air in there. They get eaten up by the fuel over time and it may have fallen apart or something. Good first step to look at.

Your tank vent is probably defective if its leaking on its side