Two stroke Tuesday

Kinja'd!!! by "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
Published 10/10/2017 at 15:42

Tags: Husqvarna
STARS: 1


Meet a Husqvarna 236.

Kinja'd!!!

Cute, isn’t it? 1.4 kW of two stroke goodness at about 9,000 rpm. Husqvarna have been in business, though not under the same ownership, since 1689. That’s a long time in the corporate world. They started life as a weapons manufacturer in the Swedish town of the same name, although they’ve had a spelling reform in Sweden since and the town has transitioned to Huskvarna . Naturally much of their product line comes from somewhere much cheaper and further to the east than Huskvarna these days.

Anyway, we now come to the issue of starting your 236. Here’s how I did it.

-press primer slowly six times

-pull out choke

-ensure chain brake on

-haul cord several times. Nothing happens. Repeat priming and hauling several times

-give up in disgust

-come back several hours later

-press primer slowly six times

-haul out choke

-pull cord. Engine makes vaguely promising noise. Haul starter cord several more times to no effect

-repeat priming

-repeat pulling of cord

-repeat priming

-repeat pulling cord

-after several cycles of this we have a splutter

-push in choke

-haul cord again and again. This time we have ignition, for about a second

-repeat until engine actually runs

-squeeze throttle so fast idle disengages. Engine promptly stops

-pull out and push in choke so as to reset fast idle

-pull starter cord again until engine starts again. This time leave throttle alone for some time

-put saw down so as to release chain brake. Engine stops

-haul starter cord again and this time run engine for longer

-after all this we can now actually cut something


Replies (16)

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
10/10/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 2

How to start a Stihl: 1. Put throttle in choke position. Pull cord 2-3 times until you hear it cough. 2. Move throttle to wide open position. Pull cord once hear brapppppp!!!!. 3. Warm up and cut wood.

Kinja'd!!! "Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street." (demon-xanth)
10/10/2017 at 15:52, STARS: 1

Have a 2 stroke V8:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

They got it from a boat, put it in a Volvo Amazon.

Kinja'd!!! "cmill189 - sans Volvo" (cmill189)
10/10/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 0

Your chainsaw needs a tune up. Yesterday, my shitty Homelite saw started on the first go around after it sat for over a year. Fuel stabilizer is a must too.

Kinja'd!!! "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/10/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 1

That’s more or less the theory with Husqvarna too. Sadly, theory doesn’t seem to actually start a brand new saw.

Kinja'd!!! "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/10/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0

It’s brand new (or strictly speaking, bought about six months ago but not used until now). I don’t think leaving it sitting around with fuel in it is the ideal.

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
10/10/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 0

When I bought my Stihl, I was told that Husky saws used to be good saws, then they did a massive redesign and they all went to crap, either they worked great or didn’t run at all.

I ended up with a MS 290, it’s been a fantastic saw.

Kinja'd!!! "cmill189 - sans Volvo" (cmill189)
10/10/2017 at 16:00, STARS: 0

Well that’s not good. Old fuel is baaaad. It might be worth priming it more. If you aren’t getting a cough to begin with, you’re kinda already starting an uphill battle. Does it have a half-choke position? 

Kinja'd!!! "McMike" (mcmike)
10/10/2017 at 16:17, STARS: 1

450 Rancher checking in.

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!! "gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
10/10/2017 at 16:54, STARS: 0

They’re tuned rich for break-in. If you screw up the starting procedure by a little they flood. Sometimes I’ve had to hold the throttle open a couple times first thing in the day. Once it’s got eight hours or so on it take it back to get retuned. Should be good after that.

I think we’ve got an older 236 at work, it’s a nice small saw. Someone else has it out in the field now so I can’t confirm though. We also just picked up some 555's and they’re great.

Kinja'd!!! "Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
10/10/2017 at 17:12, STARS: 0

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!! "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/10/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0

Not as such. The choke seems to be either in or out from what I can make out. All going well it’ll be easier now that it’s actually been used.

Kinja'd!!! "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
10/10/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 0

They may not start any better!

Kinja'd!!! "gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
10/10/2017 at 18:36, STARS: 0

And by hold the throttle open I mean while I’m pulling the cord to start it. Make sure the chain brake is on, obviously. Big safety deal right there. If you’re not using it within three seconds or you’re walking more than three steps, chain brake goes back on.

Kinja'd!!! "Michael" (mhanczyc)
10/10/2017 at 19:18, STARS: 0

I don’t know what you’re up to, but I like the cut of your jib.

Kinja'd!!! "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
10/10/2017 at 21:26, STARS: 0

That’s quite the exhaust arrangement.

Kinja'd!!! "Pickup_man" (zekeh)
10/11/2017 at 09:32, STARS: 0

Sold Stihl for several years, if this doesn’t work all the time every time, it’s either flooded, or broken.