RussellS

Thanks for that, I've just ordered a replacement plate. Thanks Spudulike, as I said I do check the chain and adjust if necessary but maybe I'm not doing it often enough. I've ordered a replacement plate so from now on I shall check the chain more regularly and hopefully stop the new plate from getting so badly worn. Thanks everyone for your advice.

So nothing I should be worried about then. Does this mean that I'm not keeping the chain tight enough. I do regularly check the chain and keep it at the tension that I thoughht was good but maybe I need to keep it just that little bit tighter. What do you think.

Yeah, the chain has come of at least once (today actually) and possibly one other occasion as well.

Hi, I have a Husqvarna 236 which is only about 2 months old but today I have found some sear on the bar mounting plate and I don't know why. Here is a picture showing what I mean, As you can see there are two places where it has worn, the bottom one looks as though the metal has been worn away completely and the upper one the metal has been deeply scored. I really don't understand how this has hapenned. I continually check the chain tension and adjust as necessary and when the bar and chain are mounted and the bolts tightened the chain is a good distance away from the metal plate as shown in this photo: So I am struggling to understand how this has hapenned. I someone could shed any light on the subject I would be grateful. Many thanks Russell

Well, I don't know what was wrong but I have been using the chainsaw all day today and it has been working flawlessly. Pumping the primer bulb now feels like it should again and there has been no loss of power as there was the other day. I'll be doing a full day with it again tomorrow so I'll keep my eye on it. Very strange.

No, there is definitely something wrong. Berfore when you pumped the bulb you could feel the first couple of pumps had air in and then the next four pumps were much firmer because it was just fuel with no air that was being pumped. Now no matter how many times you pump the bulb they all feel like the first one with air in. As it is only a few weeks old I'll take it back to the dealer. It is just annoying as I had a loty of wok to do with it this weekend. I may have to go back to my old electric chainsaw until it is fixed.

Hi and thanks for the reply. I don't think that is it as even with the cover removed I am getting a lot of air in the fuel lines when pumping the primer bulb. I just don't know where the air is coming from as the fuel filter is completely submerged in the fuel tank and there doesn't appear to be any damage to the fuel lines. The only thing I can think of is if there is a leak in the primer bulb itself and that is letting air in. However there is no sign of fuel leaking out from it. EDIT: Actually, thinking about it, there must be some kind of one way valve in the primer bulb so that the fuel only flows one way when you pump it. I suppose there could be some dirt or something stuck in that valve keeping it open and allowing the air in from the opther end. I'll check it out tomorrow.

Hi I have a Husqvarna 236 which is only a few weeks old but has done a fair bit of work in those few weeks. Everything has been fine until today when it started playing up. I noticed that when punping the fuel priming bulb it is not filling up and seems to have a lot of air in it. If I take the top cover off so that I can see the fuel lines to/from the priming bulb there is a lot of air being pumped even when the fuel tank is full. I cannot see any damage to the fuel lines at all and there is no leak as far as I can see. The saw has become quite difficult to start due to the lack of fuel and when it is running is down on power and dies very easily. Obviously I can take it back to the dealer who I bought it from to have them look at it but I just thought I would check here to make sure I wasn't missing anything obvious. Cheers

I just thought I would post this picture of the label on the top of my Husqvarna 236 which I purchased a week ago. ...showing that it is actually made in China. So I don't necessarily agree with your statement that "China and quality should not be used in the same sentence". They are capable of making good quality equipment if that is what they are tasked to do. They will basically make whatever they are asked to at whatever price point they are asked to and obviously the quality is directly proportional to the price paid.

I've just started it again after leaving it for a few hours and it started fine. So I think I was previously pulling too many times with the choke out waiting for that first fire. Just giving it 2 pulls with the choke out and then pushing it in half way and another couple of pulls and it fired up fine. I have also purchased relevant PPE (Chainsaw trousers, gloves & helmet/visor).

Thank you Dan, that did the trick. Did exactly as you said and it did start but then stopped again quickly afterwards. This happened twice. I think this is because the starting idle speed was fast enough to engage the clutch but with the chain brake on it was stalling the engine. So on the third attempt as soon as it started I blipped the throttle to set the slow idle speed and it was fine after that. So as long as I never turn it off again I'll be fine I have to say though, my right arm doesn't half hurt and my right bycep it twice the size it was yesterday. At least now I know it was me and not a problem with the machine itself. Once I've started it a few times I'll get the technique right. Thanks for everyones help and advice. It is much appreciated.

It is just the fuel already in the machine from the dealer so I would hope it was 2 stroke fuel. However, I have now mixed up some more just in case there wasn't enough fuel in it. I still canot get any signs of life out of it though. As Spudulike suggested, I took the spark plug out and left it over night after draining out what was in the cylinder (nothing came out though). This morning, I've put the plug back and followed your recommended starting procedures. Gave 3 pulls with choke out, pushed choke in and then pulled again. It did actually fire but didn't start. I got it to fire a couple of times but still it didn't burst into life. Now I'm back to nothing again presumably because it is now flooded again. This is really starting to frustrate me. I've run enough 2 stroke engines over the years but I don't recall having this much problem starting them. What is the best way to drain the fuel tank, just unscrew the filler cap and tip it out or disconnect one of the pipes to drain.

When you say put the choke in, do you mean all the way in or just to the half way point. Yeah, don't worry. My day job is a service engineer in the printing industry so I'm used to constant risk assesment and making sure I wear the relevent PPE stuff.

Hi guys, yes I'm standing on the handle and holding the top handle with my left hand. I am fast pulling and not pulling the full rope length. I have tried it with the choke in as well and still nothing. It's dark outside now so I will have another go in the morning. I'll put some more fuel in it as well just in case there isn't enough although, as I said earlier, the priming bulb is filled up and pumping round. Thanks for that, I'll give it a go. I'll report back tomorrow on progress.

I'm still not quite there yet. I can't get the bleeding thing started for love or money. The chap at the dealer started it up while I was there so I know it works ok. However, I cannot get it to produce the initial fire with the choke fully out. At the moment there is only the fuel in it that the shop put in to test which isn't a lot but the primer bulb fills up when I pump it so there should be enough to start. I've checked the spark plug but it wasn't sopping wet or anything but I've cleaned it anyway. I've got the front handle pushed forward to engage the chain brake. I've pulled the blue choke lever fully out and the on/off switch is up but it doesn't seem to show any signs of firing. Is there something I'm missing. If anyone has any advice I would be grateful.

Well I found a local-ish dealer who had the Husqvarna 236 in stock and I have just gone and picked it up. I would like to take this opertunity to thank everyone for their valuable advice and for educating me and steering me clear of the other inferior models I initially shortlisted. Russell

Thanks very much to all of you for the advice. I have now modified my shortlist to just two models, the McCulloch CS360T and the Husqvarna 236. On paper there doesn't appear to be much to choose between them and, as Eddie said, they are practically the same saw. However, what about spares availability for the McCulloch, is it as easily serviced as the Husqvarna. The only reason I ask this is because I can get the McCulloch locally whereas I cannot find anywhere that has the Husqvarna and so would have to purchase online. I wasn't aware that Ryobi were rubbish, I always thought they were a respected manufacturer. You live and learn.

Hi, this is my first post here. I registered in the hope of getting some advice and recommendations about a chainsaw purchase. I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about posting here as this is a forum for proffesional arborists while I'm just a home owner who wants to fell a few trees and cut up logs for the wood burner and was affraid I would just get tutted at for not wanting to spend umpteen hundred pounds on a STIHL or Husqvarna model. Don't get me wrong, I'm not after cheap'n'nasty but good value for money. Obviously, value for money means different things to different poeple and depends on what uses the tool is going to be put to. None of my power tools are high end and most are shop own brand or 'no-name' brands (table saw - B&Q, concrete breaker - Screwfix, sliding mitre saw - Aldi, Petrol strimmer/brushcutter - eBay/chinese) but they have all served me extremely well and have renovated two family homes and generally done a lot of work and are still going strong. This is probably because I look after them and they stay in one place and not bouncing around in the back of a van etc. Therefore I consider most of my tools to have been good value for money, However I know nothing about chainsaws. I currently own a Black and Decker electric chainsaw that has seen better days and won't be up to what I want to do. So I am looking for a petrol chainsaw to innitially cut down about 31 Leylandii trees that have become overgrown and then just very occasional garden use. I would think a 40cm bar would be best but please correct me if I'm wrong. I have been looking at the following models and would like your opinions please. Mountfield MC3616 40cm 1.6hp Petrol Chainsaw | Screwfix.com Einhell BG-PC 4040 Petrol Chainsaw (40cm Guide Bar) BGPC4040 40cm Petrol Chainsaw with 40cc Engine - Machine Mart Ryobi RCS4040CB 40cc Petrol Chainsaw - Machine Mart Ryobi 42cc Power XT™ Series Petrol Chainsaw, 4892210819956 It would appear from the pictures & model numbers that the Einhell & the Machine Mart own brand one are the same model. As you can see I am looking around the £150 mark (some a bit less, some a bit more) and I have ignored the cheapy eBay ones after reading these forums. There is also the McCulloch CS360T but I didn't know if the shorter bar would be a problem. Perhaps you could give me the pros and cons of each model so that I can make an educated decision or even suggest another make/model that I haven't considered. Many thanks for any help. Russell