Using propane to start a chainsaw?

Maybe, so long as the fuel lines etc. aren't clogged. Two strokes need their oil!

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The cheat for 2 strokes (that are otherwise in good condition) is to gently heat the cylinder head before you pull the starter cord the first time. Some of the heat will find its way to the carb, aiding vaporization greatly. Works for me, anyway!

--Winston

it does for me, along with a lawn mower that only gets used in the winter time (the desert is a strange place )

So does a squirt of WD-40

Gunner

"25 States allow anyone to buy a gun, strap it on, and walk down the street with no permit of any kind: some say it's crazy. However, 4 out of 5 US murders are committed in the other half of the country: so who is crazy?" -- Andrew Ford

That's an old trick I learned from my dad years ago. He was around when the first cars showed up on the streets and could always get our old tractor ( and other machines ) to start by pouring a kettle of hot water over the carb before cranking it. It still amazes people every time they see it done.

I can't see why it wouldn't if you just did it long enough to get the regular gas/2-stroke oil into the unit. I'll give propane a try some time.

What I learned from my father was to remove the spark plug and give a quick squeeze of cigarette lighter fluid (like what you use to fill a Zippo lighter) directly into the cylinder. Now, I use starter spray for cars all the time on 4 cycle and 2 cycle engines when they need "help" getting started.

--George

We have a propane fired car. Cheap to run but a serious hard starter. Talking to other folk running on propane, I find this is quite usual.

Go to an auto supply store and buy a spray can of starting fluid. The modern ones incorporate some lube as well as the ether. Give a shot in the air cleaner and pull the cord. Works on my ancient Remington.

Ted

I always use starting fluid on my chainsaw when it's cold (ether).

yes, but not because of propane fuel. it's because there is _no_ fuel at start up. not like a gasoline powered engine, so you have to actually be cranking for the evaporator to function and for the vacuum to draw in fuel. it takes a few seconds on a cold start because any gas has disappated overnight. --Loren

Aerosol WD40 is about the best "starting fluid" - particularly for 2 strokers as there is a tiny bit of lubrication included. I use it to start the leef blower and string trimmer first time every year. Saves a lot of pulling (which makes my old shoulders ache).

I generally just pull the plug, dip it in the gas tank, then quickly proceed to re-install it--the remainder of startup is per usual instructions.

I don't mean to rant here, but why are folks always asking about various makshift starting methods for small engines? As far as chainsaws (and other portable 2-stroke engines) go, after sitting for a while (considerably less than two years) the carb diaphragms go stiff. Most of the time you'll never get it running 100% without replacing them. A new kit's $4.00-11.00 depending on the carb type. The only time this doesn't work is when the compression's way down, but then your saw isn't long for the world then.

I've had maybe 30 chainsaws and never have failed to get one to start after a couple pulls with a little work. The parts that usually fail from disuse are the carb rubber, fuel lines, filter, and crank seals. Although the seals usually only go bad on a very well-used saw. Most common problem with four-strokes is condensation or crap in the carburator. A fuel tank flushing and carb kit/cleaning always takes care of that. My 40-year-old snowblower starts on the first pull.

2-strokes with diaphragm carbs move the fuel with a crankcase-vacuum-driven pump. You don't get any fuel into the carb or engine unless it's working. Repeated starting attempts with a fuel that doesn't have lubrication can put wear on the rings/piston and bearings.

GTO(John)

Yet another use for WD-40!

I thought my using it to get some more use out of a dried up printer ribbon was the ne plus ultra for this magic "Water Displacing" stuff.

I wonder if it's the WD-40 or the propellent which helps start the engine. A lot of aerosol propellants are flammable, IIRC they're just propane or butane. Remember James Bond (in the movie) dispatching a poisonous snake with flame thrower action from a spray can of some men's toiletry and a cigarette lighter.

Jeff

Ted Edwards wrote: (clip) Go to an auto supply store and buy a spray can of starting fluid. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That stuff really works! Let me tell you this story. I got a phone call from my wife that she couldn't start the car. I told her where to look in the garage for a spray can of "Instant Start." A while later she called me back to report success. She raised the hood, and then lined up, by eye, the thing that was behind the ignition switch. It was the electric windshield wiper motor. So she sprayed that, and the car started.

And lo, it came about, that on 30 Nov 2003 22:55:08 GMT in rec.crafts.metalworking , snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (GTO69RA4) was inspired to utter:

This I didn't know.

But seeing as how we use the chain saw in odd number decades ...

So does my 40 plus year old Onan generator if the float bowl is full of fresh gas and I don't dislocate my shoulder pulling the rope (no compression release). It can kick like a mule. A small shot of raw, volatile fuel in the intake ensures a start on the first spark event - making my shoulder feel SO much better.

My Remington Chain saw USUALLY starts first or second pull - even after sitting all year. When it doesn't, a whiff of WD40 is a whole lot easier on the arms than pulling 8 or 10 times. After initial start, it always starts first or second pull - but being a fairly high compression engine it has a pretty good kick to it too. Will not attempt to start it if I'm not firmly planted on Terra Firma.

Now my weed eater is a different story. Excellent compression, good spark, and freshly rebuilt pulse carb - but not being a sealed fuel tank like the chainsaw, 3 month old gas just will NOT fire. A little help goes a long way -and WD40 is less abusive to the engine than ether.

I'm curious, what do you mean by "not being a sealed fuel tank"? Most portable gas tools (including saws and string trimmers) use either check valves valves or some kind of slow leak (like the screw stuck in a tube as favored by European makers). Is yours one of the old ones with a wide open vent?

GTO(John)

My 20 year old Remington is easy to start as long as someone hasn't cut the extension cord. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

Hey Ted,

I've had both propane and CNG fueled vehicles, but each had "auxiliary" standard gasoline systems too. The propane was a conversion, but the CNG was OEM from Chrysler. And the advise I got for each was that both starting and shut-down should be done on the gasoline system, because there are additives to automotive gasoline fuels for specific and seasonal requirements, while the propane and natural gas have none.

Take care.

Brian Laws>pyotr filipivich wrote:

The tank does not pressurize like the chain saw tank does. The chain saw loses NOTHING to evaporation. Even on a hot day you can't smell gas if the saw is in the back of the van. The weed-eater - you smell. Weed-eater gas is stale com spring, where the saw gas generally is not.