MS261C will not start

[PhillH]

1 hour ago, spudulike said:

So, has the machine run with the old coil on it?  Has it run at all in your ownership? 

Sometimes you get some pretty weird issues when a saw has passed through less able hands and had someone else do some less educated repairs on it. I have seen machines have the wrong coil AND flywheel on them...that was a really interesting one!!

I would check the coil black wire goes to earth and the red wire has continuity to the solenoid. If that red wire is broken, you will get some strange running issues.

Yes, my dad has owned this saw for the last 6 years and never had a problem until now. It does not get abused and only really gets used in the winter. 
 

Thank you for the wiring tips, I will check on those 

[Stubby]

11 hours ago, PhillH said:

Yes, my dad has owned this saw for the last 6 years and never had a problem until now. It does not get abused and only really gets used in the winter. 
 

Thank you for the wiring tips, I will check on those 

When you say " only gets used in the winter " does it sit for months with the same fuel in ? I know you said you have tried fresh fuel but the carb could be gumed up from stale fuel , even have water in the float bowel as happens with ethanol additive in modern pump petrol .

[PhillH]

2 hours ago, Stubby said:

When you say " only gets used in the winter " does it sit for months with the same fuel in ? I know you said you have tried fresh fuel but the carb could be gumed up from stale fuel , even have water in the float bowel as happens with ethanol additive in modern pump petrol .

It probably gets used once/twice a month through the summer. It’s been in use a couple of times a week since September with no problems.
 

I would have thought if it was a fuel or carb issue then it would have attempted to fire from fuel going directly into the plug hole or brake cleaner through the air intake. Spud also mentioned that too.

 

Thanks everyone for your help, have a Merry Christmas