Need help with Stihl MS180

Peter_in_RI

Peter_in_RI

Location
Rhode Island
Yes, I know it's a low end homeowner saw. Save your mocking for Daniel Murphy.
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Anyway, here's the story. Saw wouldn't start. I take it to the local saw shop to get that fixed and get it upgraded to a 16" bar. They fix it and get it working again. The plug was fouled and I had put what I thought was good gas in it, but it turned out to be bad. So they send me on my way.

So I get it home, put fresh fuel in it, and I have the same problem - it won't start. Arrgh! Since I love tinkering with anything mechanical, I decide to try to fix it myself. I took off the carb and cleaned it, replaced the air filter, checked the muffler screen, checked for spark, checked for fuel vapor with the plug removed and everything seems to be ok (granted, I'm not a trained mechanic). I put everything back together and it still won't start. I've narrowed the problem down to lack of compression, or a bad ignition coil. It provides spark, but it might not be enough. It floods very quickly, I've noticed.

I've got $120 into this between the service and new parts I bought for it today, and about 4 hours of tinkering with it. Should I cut my losses and trash this thing, and upgrade? I hate being part of the throw away society, but this saw only cost $229 brand new. Any ideas on what could be the problem with this? I'm pretty frustrated right now.
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But I'd like to fix this and keep it running if at all possible.
 
So it starts but quickly stalls?

Assuming the carb is adjusted correctly I'd check the impulse line.

I'm not sure exactly how it's set up on the 180 but if you google ms180 impulse line it should get you somewhere.
 
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I would bring it back to where it was serviced and tell them do fix it right. Don't leave the shop till you see them cut some wood with it.

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X2. You paid for a repair you didn't get. Don't let them get away with it.
 
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So it starts but quickly stalls?

Assuming the carb is adjusted correctly I'd check the impulse line.

I'm not sure exactly how it's set up on the 180 but if you google ms180 impulse line it should get you somewhere.

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It just plain won't start at all.

I'll check the impulse line. However, at this point I'm thinking about buying a Husquavarna or Echo product in protest.
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I've been a pretty die hard Stihl guy so far with a power pruner, several string trimmers, several chainsaws, and an electric hedger trimmer (which is awesome, by the way.) Although I did cheat once and buy an Echo backpack blower (from a real saw shop, not HD.)
 
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I would bring it back to where it was serviced and tell them do fix it right. Don't leave the shop till you see them cut some wood with it.

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Normally I would do just that, but the place has a two week back log of work. They pretty much just did my repair as a favor since it was going to be fast. Also, they only charged me $20 to install a new plug and put a new bar and chain on, so I'm really not concerned about the $20 repair cost right now, just getting this saw to run again.
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Update - the neighbor behind me took the fence down between our property and I got to know the back three neighbors. Turns out one of them is a small engine repair guy and he discovered that the carb was not adjusted correctly, causing the saw to flood far too quickly. He adjusted it a bit and got it screaming again. :)
 
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