Stihl MS 180 won't start.

[RegB]

I've been given this saw by a decent fellow who said "It does not start". He was right.

 

It says "2007" on it and it's a plain MS 180 with a 14" guide bar, and looks as if it's been dry for a long while. Not even damp with petrol in the fuel tank.

I had the carb off and looked in it. Seems clean. There's a good-looking spark at the plug. The exhaust isn't bunged up. The air filter is pretty clean. The only thing I've seen which I don't like is pick-up marks on the thrust face of the piston, exhaust side, when looking through the exhaust port (there is compression though). After fuelling/trying to start, a dozen or so pulls, the piston crown and plug are wet with fuel. It seems - perhaps, not sure - to just about catch occasionally, but it's not the normal "couple of firing strokes, silence" you get before switching starting position on the lever.

 

Other than that, it all looks good, the guide bar's paint is quite scraped up, but the chain looks pretty new/sharp and the depth gauges don't look as if they've been touched.

Any ideas what else I could look at? "Please sir, help a n00b!" Any helpful suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Ollie_M]

Check you got spark,and don’t spend money on a 180

[pleasant]

When you say 'there is compression though' what psi is it showing?

 

(don't trust the 'Irish' compression tester method)

Edited May 7 by pleasant

[spudulike]

Yes, there is "compression" and ....."compression"...one is a perceived value, the other is between 150-200psi. Share a pic of the piston through the exhaust port...that should do it. 

[Stubby]

17 hours ago, RegB said:

I've been given this saw by a decent fellow who said "It does not start". He was right.

 

It says "2007" on it and it's a plain MS 180 with a 14" guide bar, and looks as if it's been dry for a long while. Not even damp with petrol in the fuel tank.

I had the carb off and looked in it. Seems clean. There's a good-looking spark at the plug. The exhaust isn't bunged up. The air filter is pretty clean. The only thing I've seen which I don't like is pick-up marks on the thrust face of the piston, exhaust side, when looking through the exhaust port (there is compression though). After fuelling/trying to start, a dozen or so pulls, the piston crown and plug are wet with fuel. It seems - perhaps, not sure - to just about catch occasionally, but it's not the normal "couple of firing strokes, silence" you get before switching starting position on the lever.

 

Other than that, it all looks good, the guide bar's paint is quite scraped up, but the chain looks pretty new/sharp and the depth gauges don't look as if they've been touched.

Any ideas what else I could look at? "Please sir, help a n00b!" Any helpful suggestions greatly appreciated.

Apart from what Spud has said check to see if the flywheel key has sheared or not putt it out of time .

[NJA]

15 hours ago, Ollie_M said:

Check you got spark,and don’t spend money on a 180

I'm a stihl fan and love the 260 & 361 but seriously should be a law against the 180 and 181, I got a 181 as a cheap lightweight saw for pruning once.  Hardly used it the amount of time spent with it on the workbench just isn't worth it, they'll never be a good saw however much you chuck at them.  So I'll add to your comment 'dont spend time either'

[pleasant]

1 hour ago, NJA said:

I'm a stihl fan and love the 260 & 361 but seriously should be a law against the 180 and 181, I got a 181 as a cheap lightweight saw for pruning once.  Hardly used it the amount of time spent with it on the workbench just isn't worth it, they'll never be a good saw however much you chuck at them.  So I'll add to your comment 'dont spend time either'

Like any piece of equipment, if maintained correctly, not abused and used for the purpose intended, then I have never had issues with the stihl home owner range........when sold to home owners and being used occasionally for that is what they are intended for. Bit of pruning and some firewood cutting once or twice a year when seasons dictate.

 

However, when there are issues from my experience is when pro users buy them because they are 'cheap' and 'light" but expect the performance and quality of a pro spec saw...simply because it says stihl on the side of it. The worse culprits are people that travel who wont buy a proper topping saw and buy a 180 or 181 and use it one handed up a tree because they are light. 

[Muddy42]

I've had a few. I seem to get 5 years out of them before a non economic repair comes along.  I'm in two minds - yes I like keeping 'professional' saws going but, when new they cost five times as much and after 5 years start needing money spent on parts.  Yet you can get a basic Stihl for £150.

[Steven P]

I am a home user I guess - an occasional bigger tree or larger logs, and the 181 does me fine - still going well 10 years later - but as above and like all machines you need to keep on top of the routine stuff - cleaned (wiped down at least) every chain sharpen, decent oils (home user, for what it costs every so often, this one always gets Stihl stuff), spark plugs as and when and air filters, and it gets started at least once a month even if it has no use... I think where the ebay and similar stuff falls down is never had the routine stuff done (why would you if it is a few logs twice a year), petrol left in the tank evaporating or going stale in the petrol can and the carb left dry for a long time but it is expected to start 2nd pull.

 

For what it is it is a good little saw. But got to appreciate what it is.

 

Having said that, for a home user I think I would suggest a battery saw, a lot more pick up and play. Probably wouldn't recommend a cheap supermarket one though.

 

 

For the OP I'd be checking the spark plug, is there a spark. If the piston is a little worn or scored it should still go but just be down on power? Are you using new fuel?

[RegB]

On 07/05/2024 at 19:00, spudulike said:

Yes, there is "compression" and ....."compression"...one is a perceived value, the other is between 150-200psi. Share a pic of the piston through the exhaust port...that should do it. 

A couple of pictures. Does not look very nice. Does the bore have a liner or is it plated (e.g. Nikosil)?

 

FWI, the rings are free in their grooves.I would guess that some herbert has run it on plain petrol.