When it comes to starting a chainsaw, you may think that all makes and models regardless of their ages all start in the same way. This is incorrect! Different manufactures have different starting procedures and different instructions with regards mixing 2-stroke fuel and oil in the correct amounts. For instance, starting a Stihl chainsaw is different to starting a Husqvarna chainsaw. At World of Power we always recommend you read the starting instructions in the user manual to ensure the correct procedure is being used for your safety and to ensure there is no accidental damage or starting issues with the machine.
Pulling the recoil repeatedly with the choke on will NOT make the chainsaw start, this will cause the chainsaw to flood. Pulling the chainsaw more than 5/6 times can cause the machine to flood.
If you think you may have flooded your saw we have a handy video which can be accessed via our YouTube channel or watched above which will show you how to unflood your chainsaw;
How to Start a Husqvarna Chainsaw
Husqvarna have even put the starting procedure on a sticker on the back of your chainsaw for you which is very easy to follow! The first thing to consider is if you are doing a ‘warm’’ start or a ‘cold’ start, now this does not depend on the weather outside this depends on the temperature of the engine – if you have not used your chainsaw that day OR you have completely run out of fuel and just re-fuelled then you should do the cold start procedure. If you have been used the machine and put this down for a few minutes whilst you adjust your tools then you should perform a warm start.
Starting a Husqvarna Chainsaw from Cold
- Step one – Pull the choke out and move to the top position
- Step two – Push the primer bulb 6 times (or until full)
- Step three – Pull the starter rope 3 times until the machine coughs (the machine won’t start from this)
- Step four – push the choke down once
- Step five – pull the starter rope until the machine starts and rev the throttle
Starting a Husqvarna Chainsaw from Warm
As you can see from the images on the reverse of a Husqvarna chainsaw, you will see the warm start symbol advised you to do steps 1, 2, 4 and 5 as below;
- Step one – Pull the choke out and move to the top position
- Step two – Push the primer bulb 6 times (or until full)
- Step four – push the choke down once
- Step five – pull the starter rope until the machine starts and rev the throttle
Husqvarna chainsaws are manufactured with an emulate on the carb which in time will burn off, a carburettor adjustment may need to be made when this happens depending on the unleaded fuel and 2-stroke fuel you are using.
How to Start A Stihl Chainsaw
Starting a Stihl chainsaw is different to the starting procedure of Husqvarna and they do not have the handy guide on their chainsaws so please be sure to check your user manual for the correct starting procedure.
Starting a Stihl Chainsaw from Cold
- Step one – Hold trigger in and push the choke to the bottom position
- Step two – push the primer bulb 6 times or until full (please note on the C models have a primer)
- Step three – Pull the starter rope three times until the machine coughs (the machine will not start from this)
- Step four – push the choke up one
- Step Five – Pull the starter rope until the machine starts and rev the throttle
Starting a Stihl Chainsaw from warm
- Step one – Hold trigger in and push the choke to the bottom position
- Step two – push the primer bulb 6 times or until full (please note on the C models have a primer)
- Step four – push the choke up one
- Step Five – Pull the starter rope until the machine starts and rev the throttle
Using your chainsaw in cold weather
As the weather starts to get colder in the Autumn and Winter months, using your chainsaw in these colder temperatures can throw up some challenges. You should always follow the user manual’s instructions regarding the starting and use of chainsaws.
The correct PPE should always be worn when using a chainsaw, this includes a helmet with visor, gloves and we always recommend safety trousers / chaps to protect your legs. For those people chopping logs for the fire we would always recommend using a saw horse which will safely hold the logs whilst you chop them. The Husqvarna chainsaw protective kit is an excellent value for money item for those domestic users looking for protection.
With the hardness of winter, wood can be harder than normal meaning that you will need to ensure your chain is nice and sharp all the time, unfortunately in these months you may need to sharpen the chain more often than summer. Sharpening kits are available to fit most makes and models of chainsaws which are easy to use – Stihl even have a range of EasyFiles which are perfect for quick and easy sharpening! For those who would prefer not to sharpen the chainsaw chain themselves, World of Power offer a postal chain sharpening service where you can post your chain back to our Buxton showroom and we will do the work for you – for those local to us in Buxton simply pop your chain in and leave it with us to sharpen for you. We always recommend keeping at least 1 spare chain for your chainsaw which could be used should the one in use become damaged or need sharpening half way through work.
To keep yourself protect and warm during winter, Husqvarna offer winter gloves, under layers, fleece jackets and vests to keep the cold at bay. They also have a fantastic range of accessories including flasks and a food can allowing you to have a hot drink and food wherever you may be working!
