I Paid Too Much For A Saw To Act Like This!

My 661 is making me crazy!! Today I cut 10 rounds 16" long x 40" in diameter. I had to stop after each round was cut to break loose and move it with the tractor. This took as much as 5 to 7 minutes to do.

Each time I came back to start the 661, I depressed the trigger and set the switch to start and the fool thing started on the first pull every time. It's never done that! I could usually get 3 starts out of it before it refused to fire.

Every time but the last time that is.

Following Stihl's starting procedure again, to the letter, the blasted thing would not fire. I let it cool until I could touch engine parts and feel very little or no heat. Still nothing, not even a small pop. I bet tomorrow it fires on the second or third pull.

So what did I do different that I had not done in the past? It's a stock saw, just broken in, with no mods, except I added a pre-filter to the air filtet, like the type used on the 441. I removed that pre-filter last night because I read that it could cause the saw to bog down under load. Other than that, nothing. I've always, with maybe 4 exceptions, started the saw 'by the book'. I'm just one of those people.

So I'm hoping it won't start tomorrow so then I can take it to the shop really 'broken'. I'm really tird of an undependable expensive saw.

 

Flooded?
Spark?

 

The M-tronics should prevent flooding, so I can't say. I've checked for spark in the past and it looked fine, but I didn't check it this time. It's awful mot having much mechanical ability!

 

I can't like that, I can't help you but, I hope it don't start tomorrow, good luck

 

That saw sucks. Let me take it off your hands. I'll send a prepaid box. Pm your address. I'll send you a poulan pro from home depot.

 

Did you have gas in it?

Mine is probably my easiest starting saw.

 

Get rid of that pre-filter. Usually for me if I've ran it in the last 20 mins I don't even need to choke it - just pull the cord and go. Were you choking it every time?

 

I'm no mechanic but I'm under the impression that it doesn't have a choke like a 461. The manual says to pull the throttle and move the switch to the start position. The M-tronics 'know' what the saw needs to start. I've tried starting it without switching to the start position and it's about the same, sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't. Even the people at the dealership said to move the switch to start even when hot. I'm at a loss....

 

Start position is choke on m-tronic. They've notched the choke plate to provide just enough air to idle. It can be flooded.

 

Take it to the dealership, a 661 is like a 1200 dollar saw no exuse for it not to start. I have a 550xp thats a bit cranky on hot starts but it always will start. Could it be your 661 just needs updated software?

 

Vapor locked?

 

My 361 gives me fits, I think I have it adjusted right and the next time I use it(not)! I think I'd get with someone that has a 661 and see if maybe it's something you might be doing wrong (just a thought)...........

 

I talked to the service manager at the closest Stihl dealer today. He said he had heard of hot restart problems but has never had a saw in with that problem, "But then we don't see many saws that big here." Really?

He said with M-tronic saws the only way to get at the problem is bring the saw in and plug it into the computer. Makes perfect sense to me. He also verified that I am using the correct starting sequence.

 

I have used a few 661s that even after cooling down would not need to move the switch to start.

Have you tried leaving it on run?

 

Yep and I get tbe same results, a couple of 1 pull starts then nothing. Gotta be electrical or software.

 

Im betting its the solenoid on the carb.

 

I'm sure it's some stupid simple.

 

Chainsaw......updated software.........yup they screwed up another mechanical device