Makita / dolmar DCS500 starting problems and chain tensioner

[dansound]

I took a punt on a DCS500 on a well known auction site...

 

It's a bit of a pain in the backside to start, about 50+ pulls of the cord.

I'm sweating buckets before i've even lifted it!

Where to start with improving that?

 

The chain tensioner screw just seems to spin, with nothing in the background happening - is that an easy fix? I've got the owners manual, but it doesn't go in to any detail about that part.

 

If these are not DIY jobs, any recommendations for someone to take a look in west Lothian or in close proximity?

 

Thanks

Danny

[Rich2484]

Ok. The starting could be either low compression. Hold it by the pull cord and see how long it takes to drop.

 

Could be a fuel issue, so blocked up carb, blocked tank filter or tank vent.

 

Could also be weak or no spark.

 

The tensioner sounds like a worn thread on tHe screw. Take it apart and check the tensioner, a worn thread will be easy to spot.

 

Remove the spark plug and hold it against the cylinder while pulling over, see if the spark is nice and strong, also look at what colours the plug has on the electrodes.

Also after pulling over and removing the plug is it wet with fuel. This will let you know if its getting fuel ok.

 

Also remove the exhaust and look into the port into the cylinder and check the piston isn't scored badly. Get a pic up of this if you can.

[dansound]

thank you.

 

I'll take a look tonight.

 

Might be potential for a refund... but if not, i'll need to get this bugger working

 

Dan

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

coil problems on those I believe...

[dansound]

Ok, had a look tonight in a bit more detail.

 

If I pick it up by the pull cord, first drop is instant.

Second drop takes 4/5 seconds. Either another 5 seconds for the third drop, or just hangs.

Is that good or bad?

 

Took the spark plug out and it was black and glossy with fuel.

 

Pulled the cord with the ply on the case, small blue spark.

 

Look in the plug hole and the top of the cylinder looks like there are even circles decreasing in size, from the circumference of the cylinder to the centre.

 

The chain tensioner is weird, well, to me

The tensioner screw goes down in to the case and there is another running at 90degrees to it. When I turn the tensioner screw, 90 degree screw moves.... But I can't see how that would tension the chain? There is nothing moving, other than the two screws.

The second screw just slots in to a plastic static clip that slots in to a grove in the case.

I would have though something would have had to move along or off the second screw?

 

Thoughts?

 

Cheers

Dan

[dansound]

More pics

[dansound]

More pics of bits

[Daniël Bos]

Looks like there's a part missing on your tensioner. There is normally a nut with a sticky up pawl that fits in the hole in the bar.

[Rich2484]

Ok. So by the sound of the "drop test"( very technical that) the comp sonde low. It should take roughly 10 seconds for the saw to drop down the pull cord. So next step is a comp tester. Find a local friendly garage and ask if you could plug there's into it. 5 to 6 pulls on the tester is normally enough.

 

The adjuster sounds like there is a bit missing. Below is a picture from google of an assembly. In the picture of yours looks like the locating stud that runs on the thread that locates into bar hole isn't there, unless you have removed it and its not in the picture.

[Rich2484]

Ok so for the piston. Remove the exhaust so you can see the cylinder. Look into the exhaust port and move the piston up or down so you can see the side of the piston and the rings. Get a pic of this part up and we will be able to tell you. But there should be no scoring or black lines, so it shouldn't look like a bar code on the side of the piston.