Stihl MS291 Chainsaw! HARD To Start! Bogs Down! No Power! Any Guesses? Let's Dive In Together! 

I am a small engine mechanic for many years. Wow I watched a few of your videos and a cannot believe how calm and well spoken you are. You remind me of my elementary school teachers back in the 80's. I really appreciate you taking the time to make these very well made and educational videos. I have not found one error on the way you work or tips you give to your viewer. Fantastic job! If there is one thing I can suggest to better your videos: You should do something about your mic because when you unscrew bar nuts and the saw bounces on your wood workbench or when you turn the saw around, you sometimes hit your mic and it sounds like an explosion in the audio. You should get a mic boom so you don't have to wear it all the time and put a mat on your table. ps: Always try to start the saw and replicate the problem if you can before you even do anything to it or the fuel. The carbon buildup could be due to using a low quality 2T oil or a 2T oil the wrong flashpoint temp. Does he own a boat? Ask him if he's using marine 2T oil in it. LoOl.

I've been a mechanic for over 50 years. Many of that small engine. You are a very good tech. I appreciate your methods.

Nice job walking through all the diagnostics. I like that you save the old parts and can explain why they need replacement. You actually do the work to arrive at a conclusion, not just firing the parts cannon. Well done!

Not only are you a master mechanic but more importantly you are a master teacher brava!!

One thing that I have found as a Stihl Technician, is that you need to make sure the cylinder has some fuel mixture in it. Just a small squirt will not flood it but lubricate it and prime it to start easier. Always hold the interlock and the throttle wide open and set to full choke if you are not prep-priming the cylinder under normal circumstances. you will notice that even though the choke is fully closed, the throttle is open somewhat. This reduces pulling tension needed to turn the engine over faster and with less difficulty. 1 to 3 pulls is all you need normally with full choke. If the saw "pops" then immediately, without touching the throttle, move the choke lever to half choke. If you have per-primed with a small shot of fuel into the cylinder for lubrication this is where the choke needs to be in this sequence. Now the throttle is still open but not fully choked. This makes it even easier to pull with both butterflies open. The saw will usually start very quickly with just a few more pulls. The engine RPM will race so be quick to pull the throttle to fully release the choke and lower the RPM as needed. As we work on these saws we learn the interlocks both at the throttle and in the linkages to help us start these powerful tools.

Just discovered your channel, you are very good at no nonsense explaining the things that 90 percent of home owner saw users do not know. Best wishes

Hello! I'm a Swedish guy who loves stihl chainsaws more than anything else but I have to praise you for your professionalism and knowledge in what you do and I love your videos😍so I'm looking forward to new videos there you fix your customers' chainsaws🙏 Mvh//Morgan from 🇸🇪

A pleasant demeanour and an expert touch, The show reminds me never to touch a carburetor, ever.

Excellent training video!! As a diy guy I watch a lot of how to videos on 2 stroke engines. This is one of the best! Thx

What a brilliant teacher, step by step old fashion fault finding procedure and then an apology for not checking the 'carby' well done and especially the fact it's from a 'woman' mechanic! Well done☆☆☆☆☆

It's very common for Stihl Ultra to carbon up the piston like that, especially the side of the piston. Have the customer run Echo Red Armor, it takes a while but the red armor will clean most (not all) of that carbon off. Nice video, you're teaching well.

Thank you so much for your instructional videos - they have been a tremendous help to me! I'm a Stihl Tech (several years) and can honestly say that you have taught me so much from just this one video. I feel like I've found a jewel - thank you and keep up the great work!

Stihl ultra. Carbon buildup after 1 tank! I can only imagine after 50!

A nice trick for keeping the spring from falling over while installing it is to put a drop of oil in the spring pocket. The surface tension of the oil works surprisingly well to hold that spring in place while reattaching the metering lever and arm. Thank you for sharing once again great and informative videos.

These are some of the most thorough explanations and tutorials that I have seen on RU-vid when it comes to small engine repairs but they are long. This video speaks to keeping your equipment clean with good fuel. Thanks!!

Carbon, oil residue below a good set of rings can come from a to rich mix. With the air filter as clogged as that one is it was starving for air and that made even a proper mix to rich. The engine running this rich will not get up to temp that would normally vaporize the oil in the crankcase and consume it. So it coats everything and it never tends to relieve it cause it can’t, it’s not hot enough! Short run times also does this especially in winter!

This is a fantastic vid! At 62min long, I didn't think I wanted to, until I did. It was very thorough, highly educational AND I see I need more tools, like the scope and the fuel filter device. All the pressure/vac tests and the fuel pump pulsing lever test were very helpful. That 62 min shot by. I'm saving this vid for future reference! Great vid & thank you for posting!!

Great job. Very clear and focused video. Thanks!

Thank you. I’m thoroughly addicted to your videos, and I’ve learned a ton! This one especially because I have an MS291!

Well done. Thanks. I learned a lot.

Wonderful video. Thank you for being so thorough with your diagnosis and repair.

When I was logging in the 1980s and early 90s my go to saw was my Stihl 084. Favourite saw ever. I did buy a brand new 090 just for one job with a 6ft bar lol. That thing ate that massive log. Good ole old growth trees

I really enjoyed digging into the MS291! What surprised me the most is the owner/operator! The MS291 is a beautiful saw and is expensive to replace. I was shocked at how poorly this saw was maintained and the lack of bar oil nearly knocked me off my stool! The fine dust you uncovered in every nook and cranny tells me this saw was operated in this condition for some time and not just one tank of fuel. Superb video once again! Thank you!

Your instruction is very easy to understand. I will be using your videos to guide me when working on my saws. Thank you!

REALLY appreciate your knowledge and ability to teach! THANKS

Love the thorough overview during the troubleshoot,great job.

Thank you my Chain Saw repair Friend 😊 I own a MS-291 😊 I can know keep my EYES on the most important part of preventive maintenance, for running my baby.

You do a great job of explaining what to do and what you are doing.

Thanks for sharing your valuable time and resources to present this well presented chain saw repair. May all your days start with sunshine and end with a smile.👍

Great video I am glad that that you don't have to work on mine chainsaw I have a good clean and work place habit that was a mess of a chainsaw wow but u always get it running and clean up a great job and video be safe and enjoy your free time from the saws

after the rebuild,helps to adjust thr idle and high speed jets. Screw in until closed, then set as required by stihl. Just takes a minuteand removes any tiny debris and makes certain that someone has not made a wrong set. graet video!

Your videos are always good and get better all the time. Thank you for explaining the impulse driven fuel pump and for getting the Depstech bore scope! 😊👍👍👍

I really appreciate the process and detail that you provide in analysis and subsequent resolution... nicely done.

Great videos, very well done please keep them coming. I have learned many good repair techniques from your channel.

Excellent video. A real masterclass in diagnostics and methodology. Great work. Paul. London, England

One of if not the best videos I’ve seen on diagnostic procedures! Thanks for all the work you put into this.

I’ve been servicing small engines for years but I still learned from you. Thanks.

That Saw probably never ran so good before you touched it! Fantastic video!! Very detailed. I loved every minute of it. I only get to use my chain saws once or twice a year if im lucky and have learned a bunch from ya!!

Excellent diagnosing skills and awesome fix ! Just perfect 👌

Glad I found your channel, very informative. I have two old Stihl 031 saws that I cut wood to sell. They both have some problems but I manage to keep cuttin firewood.

Your customers should greatly appreciate you! I appreciate you and I just found you on you tube. Thanks!

I don't like to bad-mouth someone behind their back, but it sure looks like this owner doesn't know the first thing about chainsaws. (Though they apparently did at least know about adding oil to the gas.) Part of your repair package should be a copy of the owner's manual. Love your videos! They're super clear and educational.

Excellent start to finish with only a small omission of the needle valve settings, and adjustment of idle and high speed screws using a tachometer. I would have liked that to be included, but otherwise, I think you have the absolute best videos helpful to viewers. Thank you so much.

Hi and Gday from sunny Queensland , Australia , top vid this one , thank you , cheers

Excellent info.....even sweeter knowing you're Canadian. Keep up the good work.❤

You MAM do an exceptional job at demonstrating multiple diagnstics.. Ive been a small engine tec for years and still I watch a lot of youtube videos. Your by far the best instructer ive watched on line...thank you for what you seem passionate about,such as instructing procedures. Keep up the great videos.

Great video. thanks for your work.

I learn so much! Thank you!

Luv the bore scope!

I own an MS291 and learned alot from this video. Nice job. Thank you.

What a fantastic channel, how I hadn’t found it til now is a mystery! VERY nice job diagnosing these saws and providing useful information to the average person. I am a “Stihl afficianado” myself and love to see all models come back to life when possible. Excellent presentation, watching is very easy as it all flows nicely. New sub from Wisconsin!

A#1 job! Thanks for the great tutorial...

Thanks for making these videos. Your diagnosis process and explanations make these video's great. Your explanation rebuilding the carb in this video helped me alot. I was able to redo my carb this weekend. Thanks.

Thank you very much for your video of the show how folks miss use a chain saw. Plus, go, girl, great show, thank you. Thank you for many hints, too. 🤗😊👍

Great video,camera ,glass jar,you explained fuel with dirt and water.also how important bar oil is.the tips on a dull chain are spot on the money.I don't think i could ever cut wood again without a sharp chain,I've also been guilty of letting my chain hit the dirt.Sometimes i even did it ON PURPOSE .to get roots.haha good going.

I’ve seen those deposits on the piston from the use of old fuel and/or poor oil quality. Great videos by the way. Clearly and logically presented and easy to follow. Cheers from Australia.

Much appreciate your videos. Very clear. Very precise. Presently running three saws. 2 50cc farm boss and one 75cc with a long chain bar. Nice to be reminded of why taking care of your machines is important. Like the new camera.

Thanks for this informative and educational episode.

Great video, thanks for sharing.

I am a fairly new subscriber and a small engine mechanic in central Ohio. I want thank you for your in depth videos. You explain everything thoroughly and show what you are doing. I have a bore scope on my wish list. They really help in figuring out what has happened to the equipment. I also watch Brea the Chickanic on her RU-vid channel using her scope. She also lists the tools she uses in the video description which lets others know what she uses and occasionally will do a tool tutorial to answer those questions before they're asked. She is an Echo dealer in Arkansas. Thanks again for all you do. Ray from Central Ohio.

Great helpful video. One extra thing I learned the hard way on my 20 year old saw was that I needed to remove the pull winder periodically to clean out dust/chips. They were collecting around the ignition coil and it needed replacement due to heat buildup.

I was definitely thinking carb rebuild when you first checked it out. When I saw the air filter, I was aghast at its condition and second guessing myself. That is, until I saw the diaphragm. But that carbon on the piston - oooh doggy! I don’t think I have ever seen that even on the old crap I work on!

Excellent job thank you so much!

Well done 🙂

Really enjoyed watching that video as I have an almost still new MS291. It has a ton of compression. But it usually starts right up on either 1st or 2nd pull after choke. You do a great job of diagnosing the problems with chainsaws brought to you. I am very impressed.

Brilliant content and presentation. Great tutorial.

Good job😊

Excellent Job Great Detailed Video I Like The New Bore Scope 😀👍🏼

great job with this one back to running like new and nice smile with your eyes at a few funny points 🙂

Hello from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Thank you for your video. Looking forward to seeing more.

Another excellent video. It's amazing how some people don't add bar oil. I swear by Amsoil 2-cycle oil in my chainsaw. No issues at all. John from MI

A trick I learnt is to put the metering screw in loosely then drop the needle in hook the metering balance under the needle. Then pop the spring in. Then you can slide the pin in from the side and tighten the screw

Excellent video. Very clear and complete. Often how to videos rush through the details or maybe what they consider to be mundane processes skipping over things I need to know.

I wish I had such a dedicated and competent technician near me. Great information video!

good job done

Hi, great video! thankyou for sharing your knowledge, you have taught me a lot. thank you.😀

Excellent video. I like your attention to detail and systematic approach to repair instruction. I have worked with the Scouting program for some years. My #1 safety tip is to always look to your non-dominant hand before taking action. Normally your dominate hand will be the focus of your attention and the one holding the tool. Whether it is a drill, hammer or chainsaw the hand at risk is your non-dominant one. A friend lost most of his hand in a chainsaw accident by ignoring this rule. Keep up the good work. There is too much garbage and not enough good instruction on the internet these days.

You do nice work 😉

Well done 👍

Great j ob. The best that I had seen. Wish you had shown collecting the tubes to the carb.

Thx for another excellent video …

Great job, thanks.

Saw repair is my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just excellent.

Just found your channel. Love your work. You are an excellent teacher. 5 stars.

Excellent.. More please..! !❤❤

i suspect stihl/ castrol oil is the problem amsoil dominator is a better choice of oils i have witnessed this oil in a burn down condition and upper cylinders were completely spared of scoring this sold me on this product

well done ...excellent job on the video......thumbs up !!

👍im a new follower and it help me a lot to understand small motor. i just start a course to repair small motor

I'm glad you started using a clear glass jar to assess gas. It's easier for us to see. :-) Thanks for all you do for the rest of us!

Excellent job explaining the why and wherefore. I have always used ethanol free gas but I never knew why. I would love to have heard what you said to the owner. There should be a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chainsaws

Absolute top class video & commentary. Tuning the carbs to Stihl specs : would like to see that process.

👍👍👍.Thanks

Excellent methodical troubleshooting!!! Have you thought about writing down the checklist steps and posting them? That would be very helpful to keep on my workbench. Thanks for your vids!!!

You can put rope into the spark plug hole if you don’t have the tool to stop the piston. When setting the coil, you can put a business card between the flywheel magnet and the coil if you don’t have a tool, and the magnet will hold it at the right position for tightening. I worked at a tool rental store and we had about 7 Stihl saws. They were great runners, but all of them were hard to start cold.

You’re an absolute star. Well done.

I have 291.Nice saw.Starts easy cuts fast

Excellent video, please demonstrate cleaning air filters and card tuning, thanks

I really like the way you do things. I wished you had a shop down here in San Antonio, Texas cause I would damn sure take my business to you

Excellent work once again. Those accelerate valves in the carb usually creates problems Not in this case! Actually i believe that they are not necessary at all