So awhile back, maybe a year or two, I picked up a Home Depot rental 4300. Have not used it much and it seemed like some days it was just a little hard to get started. In fact I maybe touched up the chain once since I purchased it. Finally opened the muffler today to find this. I have to guess it was scored when I purchased it and my bad for not checking it at the store. Moving on, my question is whether I should put money in to it or just get what I can and move on. It's nice to have a smaller saw and still have an 026 that a member of OPE is going to check out for me. What do you feel my best move would be?
I think I’d look for an air leak before making the decision. Maybe the OPE member can help with that. Score seems to be concentrated on the exhaust which I would think is a lean fuel problem. If no air leaks, could be a carb issue ( rebuild or adjustment).
I took it and my 365 in for tuning since I am running 36 to 1 mix now. Thought I would gut the cat on the 4300 when I found it. Left it with him to look at. Not sure how bad the cylinder may be but should find out later this week. Run the same mix in all my saws so I know it was not straight gassed by me, but being a rental in it's past life who knows.
Cylinder should clean up fine. Like Bud suggested, put a new ring on the piston after scuffing off the high spots and tune it a bit richer. Looks like it just started scoring
Going to get the saw back, maybe next weekend. Pull it down and take a look. Maybe do some searching for a ring and gasket if the cylinder looks okay. Will post pictures when the time comes. Any ideas for replacement parts? Thanks for all the advice. Edit, looks like Parts Warehouse should have them so see how it looks when I get it back. Worst that happens, is I tear it down and let it sit forever.
The base gasket may be re-usable. Depends on the material and if it can be picked or scraped off cleanly. If it's a metal gasket, I always use a sealant on both sides along with it. I believe it was your 066 that leaked around the metal base gasket while pressure/vacuum testing it. Motoseal fixed it. Caber makes a ring for it as well, which is a good AM replacement.
Here's the ring. $3.25 shipping Piston Ring for MAKITA CL430 DCS4300 DCS4301 EA4300 EA4301 MDE430 MDE435 MEA4300 | DLA Engine Parts
Thanks, have a parcel coming from Athens. Guy said he did another compression test this morning and it passed. Let him know that I ordered a ring and following the advice here. Will try and keep everyone posted.
I bought an EA4300F in Makita blue just a week or so ago and I really like it, seems a high quality saw.
Glad you like it and I'm sure it will treat you well. This one seemed to run well, when it would run, but now I'm sure it had problems when I purchased it. Reviews I've heard/read people say it's a great running saw. This one will run again.
Got the saw back today from the mechanic. He said he has it running pretty well but don't plan on using it until I get the ring and tear in to it, whenever that may be. Also picked up my 365sp that he tuned up and dropped off my $40 tiller to check out as it hasn't been ran in 3+ years with old gas in it.
