Having a hard time starting my Stihl Farm boss chain saw, I plunked down $250 for the easy start model (MS170/180). It started quite easily, but after a couple months died, would not start. Verdict from the dealer was that the cylinder was chewed up badly, the result of a manufacturing problem. The motor was replaced at no cost to me under the warranty.
Saw started easily again for another two months and then again died.
Verdict from dealer was that the cylinder again was chewed up badly, but this time it was deemed the result of not putting oil in the fuel and attributed to my mismanagement!!!! (The Farm Boss saw had no such problem and still runs fine on the same fuel to which I have always conscientiously added oil.)
So I'm out my $250 for a saw that should never have been on the market.
Strongly advise not to go for Stihl's easy start chain saw.
Hmm... I've had two Stihl MS250 saws for well over a decade and they get heavy use. One is the standard version and one the easy-start version. I use these so much I've worn out a bucket of chains and bars.
I always mix 100% gasoline (no ethanol) with the Stihl oil 50:1 as recommended. I start the saw with the two-step method in the manual after pressing the fuel bulb on the C model and they almost always start on the first try. I use these so often year around the gas can't get stale so I don't use stabilizer. (I usually take both in case I need to cut one out of a jam.) I replace the plug every 4-5 years. It's hard to imagine what could be wrong with yours.
Oh, wait, I just remembered something. On my newer and much larger Stihl (a 360 or 390, can't remember) I had to remove the Stihl fuel mixture stop which came on the saw. This is a little plastic cylinder device on the mixture control screw that prevents the saw from running rich enough to be healthy. This, I understand, was mandated by government bureaucracy for emissions reasons.
What I read: If the saw runs too lean it will burn up eventually. If it runs richer, as originally designed, it will have more power and the cylinder will be flooded with more cooling and lubricating oil/gas mixture.
Reports of heavily used saws destroying themselves made me research and make this modification. Perhaps the saws you had needed this mod.
I haven't done this mod to my 250 saws. Maybe they don't need it.
I have owned the easy start 250 for about 4 years with no problems. I don't use it a ton like John Jordan, but starts easy and runs well every time I need it. Hope you get some resolution.
In case it's relevant, I recently had my Sthil in the shop and the guy servicing it said I should be using high octane gas. He mentioned that it's required by the warranty of new saws. The ethanol is also an issue with small motors so be sure to use Stabil or other fuel stabilizer.
>>I recently had my Sthil in the shop and the guy servicing it said I should be using high octane gas.
I forgot to mention that, but I too always use high-octane gas in my small engines. In fact, the ethanol-free gasoline here is all high-octane, at least in the places I've found.
We had a Stihl rep speak to our guild a few years back. Two lessons learned. Use HiTest , I use 91, and use Stihl oil. It has stabilizer built in. I have a MS 270 with compression release. 3 pulls and move the choke up when it burps and it starts. I never drain the tank but only mix up 4 litres of gas at a time so it is reasonably fresh. If you can afford $10 a can you can buy premixed Stihl fuel. My first Stihl lasted about ten years and cylinder scored. At the time used Reg gas and any old 2 cycle oil.
