OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Chainsaws and Concrete Cutters Petrol Chainsaws and Concrete Cutters Stihl MS250C chain saw

A bloke dropped off this chainsaw this morning saying it starts ok but as soon as you touch the throttle it cuts out. I haven't looked at it yet but any pointers to look out for?

Probably the carby diaphragm has hardened, or could simply be a blockage. Try to kit it and clean it out, might then need to richen up the idle mixture a bit

Thanks Tyler, it was an easy fix, got it running on full choke and revving up and forced a rag down inside the air filter chamber, did this a few times and it finally cleared so all good

Thats one way Norm haha

The easiest way is often the best. Have got many sorted myself simply slamming the choke on

Maybe ask him how old the fuel is and if its E10 to avoid a return next week

Hi Tyler,
Please don't mention that E10 crap in my presence please, so sick of it can't remember how many I have had here recently, I'm going to have to order another stack of Chonda carbies but I think from now on if anybody brings one here I will just say it is $100 for me to repair it and hopefully they will walk away dragging their junk heap behind them

G'day Norm and Tyler,
can you explain the rag method a little more NormK? More choke effect?
My little old Laser runs well on E10. Pinging under load almost gone and that bit more sprightly.
Lucky it was an EFI one. A local petrol station sells it as much as 16¢ less than regular 91 and is usually on the cheapest end already.

MF, choke create suction to suck more fuel through jet (thats how we get the richer mixture to start the motor). Sometimes when you are lucky, you can slam to choke on a few times at full throttle (high speed to give more vacuum) and it will suck through whatever crud is clogging the jet

With regards to pinging, I am fairly sure they add ethanol to 91 octane, giving an octane boost of a few RON

I agree Norm - there were a few servos around here that were dodgy and added it a few years ago; never seen things clog like it.

Tell them its going to run $100 to repair, or its $120 for one of your used mowers (bit better returns)

When I had my 3800 Lexcen, E10 eliminated pinging altogether where 95 and 98 did not.

Hi Tyler,
I think I am attracting the lower end of humanity around here, I'm going to have to toughen up and tell people I'm not interested in repairing their rubbish, getting too much of these word of mouth repair jobs, cousins of brothers,of uncles mates etc. I will just fix my mowers and leave it at that

There's only so much you can take. You have to put your foot down at some point and not care about how others feel.
Some strange people out there hence the term strangers.

I had a couple of bloke here yesterday and I asked them if the had picked these mowers off hard rubbish and then they start jibbering in their language and then said yes. I will be telling them not to come back

NK I hate that. Very rude. Would you like people whispering in front of you, knowing it concerns you?

Norm, easiest way is to put you prices up. They see your prices are too cheap and those type will try to take advantage.

They won't understand don't come back - having to pay more will keep them away

When the undesirables rock up with their crap, tell them its worth $10 trade in on a mower. Work out a slightly staggered price list eg

Chonda 16in $90

Chonda 18in $100

Briggs 18in $120

Victa 2 stroke $120

Post in the ad a couple photos - 1 of painting or welding the deck so it is clear the work that has gone into it even just keep a generic green deck and grey deck photo - those seem to be your most common colours and saves effort of taking a different photo each time


Show you have not simply picked up a mower on the curb, sprayed carby clean down it and put it up for sale. Unlike most mower repairers (myself included) you have thoroughly sorted out the deck as well.

The deadbeats will get the cheap chondas and you get better quality customers buy the quality ones (who won't straight fuel)
Those who are reasonable know that $120 for a Victa 2 stroke that has has the deck welded, painted, carby reworked and fully serviced will know they are getting a good deal.


Look through gumtree with a 10km radius - you won't find a mower reseller in the area under $100, and or a mower with briggs or PT for pretty much under $120.

Also put at the beginning of the ad 'Don't bother with lowballs' or similar (which you do anyway)

those who are genuine don't mind and those who are timewasters will look elsewhere

Yes Tyler, I'm pretty much done with dealing with the public. And once when I got lowball offers I would go back and reply try your local tip shop but now I just delete them

Tyler is right with a higher price you get better customers.


When I got lowball offers like half price or stupid comments I would click on their user name and go
to their ads and offer half the price on items they were selling and give the same comment about
what they were selling Norm. For some reason they never responded back .

Cheers
Max.

I put the prices up and I don't care if I sell them or not completely sick of dealing with idiots

NK, I have noticed prices for PT mowers on ebay have risen over a couple of years ago. People are finally realising.
I love Tyler's suggestion of showing a couple of pics of what goes into fixing the base. People easily overlook that, only thinking if it runs or not, and the smarter ones will appreciate it.

Maxwestern, funny how so many can't take what they dish out.

Best way to go about it Norm - all these types understand is the $$$

By the way, respectfully, the way that gardenline 16in ad reads is that it was "used a few times and broke down" - sounds like its sold not running.

Perhaps add the bit like the sanli ad - "e10 clogged it up and now cleaned and serviced runs fine"

Yes Tyler I guess I shouldn't write some of those ads after I have had some clown piss me off

You just have to look on you boob tube to see some of the low intellect owners of mowers.