361 dies in wood

Interesting thread. I have 3 Stihl's, an 028 I bought new decades ago, an 075 I also bought new way back when and an MS 260 and I don't use them all that much because I don't heat with chunk wood. I run them all on e-gas, always have but when I'm not using them for a length of time, I drain the gas and run them dry (choke on to get it all), and on the shelf in the shop they go.

I do run Stihl pre mix oil (with the fuel stabilizer in it) and all the mufflers have been opened up (especially the MS). All run excellent and the 075 has square tooth chipper chain on it and I keep at least 2 loops for each saw and flip the bars, when I change out the chains for sharpening.

When I look at my old saws and compare them to the MS, it's amazing how much plastic has replaced alloy on the newer ones.

My favorite is the 028 actually, it's a screamer and it's loud and I like loud anyway.

The 075 sounds like a motocross bike when it idles and you never try starting it without the comp release or it will stretch your fingers real quick.

 

Both? Haha not sure I guess.

 

Do you use the decomp valve? Little "button" on top of saw? Do as Chud said as well. I use to always start my saw like that.

 

I haven’t. Can u still hear the saw pop when cold?

 

Yes. All newer pro model Stihl saws have the decomp. I seldom use it on my 361 IIRC. Never on my 261. It does make a difference in starting though.

 

I occasionally use the decomp on my 084 and nothing else.

 

There's no shame in using it. Just use it.

 

I use it on all mine that have it because of 4 neck surgeries. I've had to sell / give away saws because starting them wasn't worth what I would go through after. And as a bonus, it's easier on the starting mechanisms to use a decomp if that matters to anyone.

 

I think its funny that some view using the decomp as turning in their man card. I've seen it called the sissy button ect. Lol. I know a fella that tore his shoulder up from not using the sissy button. He's has to now. It's that way with a lot of things. My nephew is 30. Has bone on bone in one knee from working concrete without knee pads. Pussy pads he called them. Now he's trying not to have a knee replacement at that age.

 

I thought they were there, so women could start saws too.







just joking fellas simmer down

 

Well yeah, there is that too. Lol

 

I thought they were there to keep you from breaking your pull rope so often...which my 660 tends to do all too often if the decomp is skipped. Plus I hate how bad it hurts my hand to have the starter handle ripped from it if the saw decides to cough, and I didn't use the decomp...screw all that, I use it!

 

My recently acquired ms362 has a decomp. My 029 super did not have one. My 362 starts a lot easier than my former saw and I am happy it has it. My 362 with a decomp starts easier than my 192t. I must be getting

 

Hopefully you are using your primer bulb on the 192t! That helps those start easier for sure.

 

I use it on the 400 and up. Maybe not all the time but usually a cold start.

 

The top handles can be trickier to start so its not old age...yet!

 

The only time I don't use the primer bulb on my 192t is when the saw is warmed up. Starts easy then.

 

See my old 029 super was not hard to start at all compared to my 361. The 361 just seems to be harder to pull the starter rope.

dumb question: does the decomp valve have to be pushed in every time u pull the rope?

 

Yes. It releases pressure when starting and pops back out.

 

I remember back in the day (decades ago) when I owned a Yamaha 250 dual sport bike, I installed a compression release in the second spark plug hole in the head. It was amazing how well it worked as an an engine brake as 2 strokes have little to no compression braking. Wish I still had that bike. I presently have a Kawasaki KLR 650 ADV bike. It's nothing compared to the Yamaha other than it makes a better road bike and gets exceptional fuel mileage (70-80 mpg) which is a plus today.