For the first time ever, my Stihl pole saw failed to start today. If it didn't cost so much I'd get out my shotgun and put it out of my misery.

Rant over. Carry on.

Mine took quite a few pulls on Saturday to get it started. Maybe needs a new spark plug?

pulled my poulan out the other day. started on the second pull.

Thanks Bob. That makes me feel so much better.

Stihl's flood easily it seems especially when sitting for a while. Usually have to pull the plug, blow out the cylinder until dry, same with plug and start over.

sorry, couldn't resist.

An electric usually fails to start because of operator error. Did you put gas in it before you tried to start it?

Bought a 40 volt pole saw a couple weeks ago. Love it.

Mine ran hard for 20+ years...finally had to replace the plug...now work on its next 20 years

Ok. I took your advice and it started on the second pull. All this aggravation because the wife wants one dang limb cut off.

My yard guy's works every time.

We had one chainsaw hard to start, found the exhaust had worked a little loose. Tightened it up and it started right up.
No comment on electric, I don't think anyone up here uses one, well maybe the college kids from down south.

Did you leave ethanol added gasoline setting up in it's carb for a long time?

I only use the premixed stuff nowadays. I just used that saw to cut up some BBQ wood right before the 4th. so the gas should be good. Its running ok now but there's a thunderstorm in the area so I'm done for the day
Thanks for all the help.

When was the last time you started it?

That stuff is worth its weight in gold.

Well...Geez...you guys reminded me that I need to fire up the Stihl and cut up a downed tree and fix the fence line it fell on. Tomorrow, maybe.

Have used stihl many years. Love it , except when it wont start. Every time took it to get fixed, it was carb. The last time I took it, was a week before week long vacation. Planned on using it a lot. Called after a week, they never looked at it. Bigger problems. All over Everyone said at least a week. So my last stop a light bulb went off. I bought a new carb and replaced it with old carb. 30 min I had a new stihl. Never goes in shop again. Plus using the stihl gas from now on. New carb cost 30 bucks. Deal for me.

You guys have heard me gripe about my Echo pole saw. Even after being fixed it would only run steady if the saw was held upward, which of course is how you’d normally hold em anyway. Point it down and it would die. Well, was putting gas it in the other day and I saw that the fuel line pickup was situated high in the back of the gas tank. It was sucking air if pointed down. No wonder it wasn’t running right. I moved the pickup point down into the tank and all is well. I guess now I’ll have to quit cussing that thing.

My new Stihl MS250 has flooded a couple of times. I seem to have the hang of starting it now though.

My policy is to run them dry if they will be sitting up for a while.
Two cycle engines no likey ethanol.