How to Start a Flooded Chainsaw in 10 Easy Steps [2024]

Richard McMann

Knowledge Based

Experiencing the problem of a flooded chainsaw is common, even if you are an occasional or frequent user of the chainsaw. That is why it is crucial to find how to start a flooded chainsaw.

When the fuel overloads and fills the combustion chamber beyond its capacity, it fails to start. It is called a flooded chainsaw. The combustion chamber is responsible for igniting the spark.

But when fuel becomes excessive in the chamber, it leaves no place for oxygen in it.

Therefore, the chainsaw fails to start and becomes flooded. A way to prevent this problem from happening is to clean the chamber regularly.

But if still, this problem happens, will a flooded chainsaw fix itself? The answer is no. So, we are going to walk you through the steps to start a flooded chainsaw.

How to Start a Flooded Chainsaw in 10 Easy Steps? 

You do not need to worry much if you are encountering the trouble of a flooded chainsaw. It only takes five to ten minutes to start a flooded chainsaw. You need to pull the rope to start the chainsaw. If it fails to start, check the spark plug and clean or replace the air filter.

The gas chainsaw, which does not start even after all this, is flooded. To solve this problem, you should follow the steps we are mentioning below.

Step 1:

First of all, put your chainsaw on a clean and flat surface. It will make sure that the chainsaw remains clean and does not slip away while fixing. Then, you should look for the top cover and remove it. The chainsaw has a control lever that adjusts the position of the top cover. You should move it lower to remove the cover.

The position of the lever may vary with different brands and models. So, always go through the manual to read the instructions carefully.

Step 2:

After removing the top cover, you should check the spark plug and its cap. Every engine in a chainsaw has a spark plug that is responsible for ignition. Locate the exact position of the spark plug using the manual as it is different for different types of chainsaws including electric, battery-powered, mini, and milling tools.

Step 3:

You will see that there is a spark plug cap on the spark plug. It is a high voltage cap associated with the plug. You should pull this cap gently so that the wiring does not break. Because pulling off the wire along with the cap will be problematic.

Step 4:

There is a special wrench called scrench which is a combination wrench, and it comes with the chainsaw. You need to untighten the spark plug very carefully with the help of this combination wrench. The spark plug is quite tight, and you should apply a steady force in rotating the wrench anti-clockwise.

It will untighten the spark plug, and you should unscrew the rest with your hand. After removing the spark plug, locate the choke control lever and press it. It will deactivate the chainsaw choke.

You can use the manual to know how to start a flooded chainsaw.

Step 5:

After unscrewing the spark plug, dry the wet electrode to remove the excess fuel. The next step is pulling the starter cord and depressing the lever fully.

Step 6:

The tip of the spark plug also has a little fuel on it. You should dip the tip in gasoline and light it with fire. There are other ways of drying the tip that include using a paper towel or an air compressor to blow simply. You should avoid the fire method so that the electrode does not catch fire. Because there may be micro cracks in the ceramic insulation on the electrode.

Step 7:

The next step is to remove any excess fuel from the combustion chamber. Move the saw to the off position of the lever to the exact off position. It makes sure that vapors do not catch the spark.

Now, keep your foot on the saw and start pulling the rope. Pull the starter rope thrice. It makes the space for oxygen in the combustion chamber.

Step 8:

Now put the chainsaw cylinder down position and plug the spark plug into the hole. Use a napkin while doing this step to absorb the excess fuel. Take the wrench and start tightening the spark plug.

Step 9:

Now put the top cover at its position and reinstall it.

Step 10:

Start the chainsaw by pulling the rope. Keep the choke lever at the full-open position and slide it back to the half-open. When the chainsaw finally starts, then move the choke lever to the off position.

Have a look at this video tutorial on cleaning the engine of a flooded chainsaw for a regular ignition:

Signs of a Flooded Chainsaw

The signs of a flooded chainsaw include the smell of gasoline coming from the muffler. This pungent gasoline smell and trouble in starting is a clear sign that you should look for how to start a flooded chainsaw engine.

Different Types of Chainsaws

The most commonly used chainsaws are Stihl, Remington, and Husqvarna. They are more or less of the same structure and built. But they may differ in the location of the spark plug and lever etc. The Husqvarna chainsaw keeps flooding itself, and the same is the case with the Stihl chainsaw.

So if you are wondering about how to fix a flooded chainsaw, the aforementioned steps apply to all types of chainsaws.

FAQs:

What causes the flooding of a chainsaw?

There can be various reasons behind the flooding of a chainsaw. The incorrect mixing of fuel, improper carburation, or a spark plug wet with fuel may cause flooding of the chainsaw.

How much time does a flooded chainsaw need to start?

There is no rocket science behind starting a chainsaw. If you follow all the guidelines skillfully, it will not take longer than five minutes to start a chainsaw.

Can you start a chainsaw with a drill?

If you are an older DIYer, then this method can work for you. But this is effective only for a normal chainsaw. The drill does not work for a flooded chainsaw. A flooded chainsaw requires all the steps to follow. The use of drill will start it, but the chainsaw will stop again.

Final Takeaways

A flooded chainsaw is a frequent problem faced, but it is not difficult to solve if you know how to start a flooded chainsaw by fixing it. You need gloves, a wrench, and a rag to fix a flooded chainsaw. By following the above-mentioned steps, and reading the manual carefully, you can fix the chainsaw.

Richard McMann
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