Dad killed his Stihl 170 cutting roots in a trench...

Hey guys, just a funny story and a question. My father killed (disabled?) his little Stihl 170 chainsaw cutting tree roots in a trench last year. I meant to take a look at it and try to get it running. If I recall, it would still start, but would bog and die as soon as you blipped the throttle.

He was working down in mostly clay type soil. Is it possible a clean up will get it back to normal? Is it more possible the carb is full of clay dust, and needs a rebuild?

Should I confirm the piston isn't scored, then muffler mod/drop the rakers .10 and put an adjustable carb on?

Seriously though, is clay dust hard to clear from a carb?

 

No gross pics to share, as I typed the post and walked out the door to blast it with the air comp. But it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I think dad must have had a go at it and forgot. So I'll make sure tomorrow that it doesn't run before I pull the carb.

 

If it has clay dust in the carb it has a scored piston to some degree. Clay dust is not a lubricant!!!

Probably just a coincidence maybe?

 

The air filter was too clean for him not to have blown it out. I'm sure I popped the top when he first had problems, and wondered if I should vacuum before blowing it off lol. In any event, I'll see if it will run, and if not, carb rebuild or swap. I think there are a few adjustable carbs that work on the ms170, someone told me on another forum.

I hope the piston isn't scored, he bought it off the neighbor with very little use. In fact, I used it more than him before I bought my own saw.

 

I have heard the 025/250 carb will work. I had a guy try and buy the one I had for a 170 mod. But I had sold it already.

 

The inlet needle sticking when you hit the throtle

pull the throtle slow and see if it do the same ( bogging and die )

 

.

 

If you want to muff mod it a walboro 215 is fully adjustable and fits with minimum effort.

I love my cordless Sawzall for roots/stump removal. Just sayin'

 

Well that's just what the doctor ordered. Thank you.

 

I was thinking low idle as well. But thought you might want to look else ware but I bet any damage to the piston cylinder is probably minimal if there and it will still run

 

First thing I'd check is the spark arrestor screen if it has one. Clean or toss it. If clean and still does it, Flush the tank out and check the filter for debris. Still the same? Pull the carb and tear down and clean. Take not of the stock settings by screwing in and writing down(needle turns) Reassemble and see what happens with fresh gas. How old of a saw?

 

Dad pulled the screen out when he got it. Must be an old guy thing? I'm just out the door to confirm it runs like it did. I don't think the saw is that old (couple or three years). It doesn't have any user adjustable L or H screws from the outside, idle speed only on this one.

 

I think the dad do the best and pull this screen out.
Generally if a saw can start easy and iddling for long time without problem this mean that the saw is in good contition without leaks and with good compression

 

i find this in very reasonably price , what you guys think ??

 

I never found a photograph of a dozer helpful in removal of stumps and roots.

 

So...I had gave the saw a quick air compressor clean yesterday, and took it out to diagnose the problem today. Starts, idles, and runs fine. Seems a little pokey of the line to rev up, and not as high top end rpm compared to my mighty mouse Husky 240, but seems to run fine so I'm confused.

The oiler does need addressing though, as the bar has weird blue marks at intervals, and the oiler won't throw oil off the bar. Odd to say the least.

 

Maybe is from the coil , if all others are good , a bad coil can start and iddling the saw but can not give you the max rpms

 

Here's a dealer trick for the oiler. Take the bar and chain off. Take an air nozzle hooked to an air compressor and put the nozzle on the sprocket teeth till it spins it in REVERSE at full speed. Then go forward. This will sometimes dislodge a blockage to get full pumping again. Sometimes it takes several sessions.

You'd be surprised how many people have paid a "hour" labor charge for this.

So cleaning did make a difference or not? You may still have some stuff in there.