why won't my chainsaw idle after it's started and what are the propper fuel/air mixture screw adjusments?

-- matt from WI. (tea@dotnet.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

To begin with turn both mixture screws in all the way and then back them out 1 1/2 turn. This should get you close and a lot of times will start. Start your engine and adjust the low idle screw until it sounds about right. Next full throttle the engine and adjust the high mixture screw until the engine is smooth. Then let it idle again and adjust the low mixture screw again. Once again full throttle the engine and adjust the high mixture screw. After repeating twice it should be about the best it will get. If it still is not working right you may have to clean the carb and maybe even put in a kit.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 07, 2002.

Another thing, always use fresh gas. Nothing more than two weeks old.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 07, 2002.

Matt, All the above is good. However, there are three screw adjustments on the Homelite. The third is the idle screw. About two inches to the left of the hi mixture and the low mixture screws. Poke for it in good light. Adjust to your liking. ( I hope it is still there. Sometimes it gets too loose and is lost.) JR

-- JR (jr3star@earthlink.net), February 07, 2002.

And while you're doing all that, take the muffler off and bounce all the carbon, rust and other crud out of it. In fact, that's always a good thing to do along with other general, routine maintenance.

-- Hank in Oklahoma (hbaker@ipa.net), March 21, 2002.