How do you "tune up" a hard-to-start Craftsman 18" chainsaw

[Bob Villa]

I just fixed the wife's 31 yr old Kitchenaid dishwasher (motor bearing and seal kit). You can't buy 'em as good anymore. Hobart made a fine machine.

[Hachiroku]

Nah! The cars were cool!

Blame it on Lucas, the Prince of Darkness.

[Jules Richardson]

I've owned a few 70's British cars over the years and to be honest never had much problem with Lucas - no worse than electrics in other cars. Moisture seems to be the main killer, not quality issues with the parts themselves.

cheers

Jules

[notbob]

I agree. I've owned a few Limey cars and lotsa Brit bikes. I know the older bikes blew bulbs cuz of the bizarre fluctuations of their weird zenier diode based electrical system, but no more than the sealed head lamps of my body-numbing vibrator HD Sportster. I never had a prob with Lucas lights/electrics on any of the cars I had.

I think that whole myth is jes something perpetuated by dolts with no experience with Lucas and who just like saying the phrase.

"Du-uh... Lucas, prince of darkness. heh heh...." [drool]

nb

[krw]

You must be the only one. A friend basically had to redesign the entire electrical system himself. The Lucas didn't like the Tucson heat at all. He had to hike home more than once.

[Scott Dorsey]

Lucas made some good parts and they also made some junk. MG decided to use the junk.

Whoever the hell it was that decided running 25A into the dashboard switch to avoid using a headlight relay... that was an MG employee, not a Lucas one.

Yes, a complete electrical redesign is in order on these cars, but I don't think Lucas is really to blame for the horrors that MG perpetrated.

--scott

[notbob]

That explains a lot. I only had Austin Healeys and Triumphs. Never had any problems with Lucas on either of them. Don't recall ever changing a light bulb, front or back. Some of the tail light lens designs sucked donkey dick. Those stupid out-there tail light lenses on the Spitefire were always getting whacked by cars, bicycles, baby strollers, stray cats, gentle summer breezes.... ;)

nb

[SF Man]

As an update, I stopped by a small engine shop and the mechanic, an old school buddy whom I trust, said they make a special tool to adjust the Low and High carbeurator 'pins'.

He didn't have it for the Craftsman (he worked only on Husqvarna) but he said they exist for each brand.

Does anyone know where to get the California adjustment tool for the Poulan? I called Poulan customer support 866-802-6383 but all they said was that it's illegal for an owner to adjust his carbeurator in California.

So, do you know where I can get those adjustment tools for the Poulan carb screws?

[SF Man]

I called another number, 1.800.554.6723 and Poulan customer support said it's illegal for them to sell a California carbeurator adjustment tool (P/N

530035560) to the public, but, (here's the catch), I can go to any authorized dealer and they CAN sell the California carbeurator adjustment tool to me.

Laws are weird.

Poulan customer service gave me a list of dealers but once I realized I can get the Poulan carburetor adjustment tool, I simply googled for "Poulan

530035560 Splined Carburetor Adjustment Tool" and will buy it off the web if I can't get it locally at the Poulan authorized dealers.

[SF Man]

I'm curious. Is a "spline" what those California carburator adjustment "pins" are?

[SF Man]

I found a good video for tuning the Poulan Craftsman chain saw carburator:

I ordered the splined carburator adjustment tool so that I can adjust the non-adjustable California 'pins' for the Low and High settings. It's important to note that we need 92 psi in order for a 2-stroke engine to run according to the dealer I spoke with today so I'll also check the compression (I need to change the fitting on my compression tester which was for 70's model car spark plugs with a different thread than this chain saw).

Anything else you suggest?

[Oren]

Follow the steps in the video -- that was good. He tuned it by ear. I do this with all my small engines.

He suggested removing the muffler to check for scoring on the rings and piston. Unless you have piston, rings, cylinder damage -- chances are your compression is _good_. This is not an old unit.

Cross the state line into Nevada and adjust the carb, so you don't break the law .

[Roy]

=3D=3D Following this thread is like following an action-packed soap opera. Will SF Man ever get his chainsaw to work?...stay tuned for the next episode.

Just kidding...keep at it. =3D=3D

[Bob Villa]

I'm wondering if this isn't a small Torx tool. With them calling it a spline.

[SF Man]

I'm close to the Pacific ocean. I wonder how far I have to go out to be governed my international law. :)

I can't wait for my "splined" tool to arrive. The "pins" on the L and H carburator screws seem to be smooth but we'll see when the tool arrives.

It was a good suggestion to remove the muffler to check the rings; and the

92 PSI is a good idea to test compression also (although the Craftsman chainsaw is only 1 year old with only a few hours on it).

I'm beginning to hate Craftsman / Poulan ... by the way ... but I'll save the rant for another day.

[Hank]

No, it is not torx. They make a couple different sizes of these splined tools. They are like a nut driver, but splined. I have one. It is an absolute necessity when adjusting carbs.

Hank

[Bob Villa]

How many teeth to the spline...could you use a torx deck screw and make one? ;)

[Stormin Mormon]

I'm also following. Good luck, SF man.

[Jules Richardson]

Let us know what you eventually find out...

cheers

Jules

[Oren]

I'm betting you could use a dremel tool and cut a slot in the heads of the screws. Then use a standard screwdriver. No?