contact the sears service center
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- Posts: 11470
- Joined: July 11, 2006, 11:28 am
- Location: Dove Creek, Co. elevation 6842
contact the sears service center
so last fall i bought a craftsman chain saw.
dinky little 16" p.o.s.
poulan makes them.
i abused it over the fall and winter doing way more than one should with the little thing but when i got it was on sale and fit the tiny budget.
the other day it just started running bad and would not stay idling then died. i pulled on it for a while with no results, i dont have much patience for pull start tools that dont cooperate after a few pulls.
today i decided to check out all the reasons why it would not operate
cleaned the whole thing off
cleaned the air filter
checked the muffler screen
checked the plug and spark.
poured out the gas, checked the filter and refilled the gas.
pulled
pulled
went in the house and found the manual
found out the procedure for adjusting the carburetor is "contact sears service center"
WTF
must be a joke
well it was.
the low and high idle mix screws were not screws but just little knurled knobs with threads
guess they dont want you to mess with the carb.
i had other ideas
so i took a little file with a knife edge and proceeded to file some slots. finished them off with a hacksaw blade, nice little slots for a proper screwdiver.
turned the low idle screw all the way in, then backed it out the standard 1.5 turns.
pulled the rope and it spit.
turned it out a hair more and it fired up.
spent a few minutes getting it where i wanted it and now it starts up, stays running and sounds better than the day i took it out of the box.
and now i can adjust it with a screwdriver the way your suppposed to.
dinky little 16" p.o.s.
poulan makes them.
i abused it over the fall and winter doing way more than one should with the little thing but when i got it was on sale and fit the tiny budget.
the other day it just started running bad and would not stay idling then died. i pulled on it for a while with no results, i dont have much patience for pull start tools that dont cooperate after a few pulls.
today i decided to check out all the reasons why it would not operate
cleaned the whole thing off
cleaned the air filter
checked the muffler screen
checked the plug and spark.
poured out the gas, checked the filter and refilled the gas.
pulled
pulled
went in the house and found the manual
found out the procedure for adjusting the carburetor is "contact sears service center"
WTF
must be a joke
well it was.
the low and high idle mix screws were not screws but just little knurled knobs with threads
guess they dont want you to mess with the carb.
i had other ideas
so i took a little file with a knife edge and proceeded to file some slots. finished them off with a hacksaw blade, nice little slots for a proper screwdiver.
turned the low idle screw all the way in, then backed it out the standard 1.5 turns.
pulled the rope and it spit.
turned it out a hair more and it fired up.
spent a few minutes getting it where i wanted it and now it starts up, stays running and sounds better than the day i took it out of the box.
and now i can adjust it with a screwdriver the way your suppposed to.
1966 F250 4x4
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
Re: contact the sears service center
I have the same model, I think. thanks for the tip.
FYI, I almost never buy at SEARS for this very reason.
FYI, I almost never buy at SEARS for this very reason.
Re: contact the sears service center
A nice thin dremel cutoff wheel makes those slots easier.. and the first thing that goes is the diaphragm in the carb..pretty easy to swap that out..
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- Location: Ohio
Re: contact the sears service center
My old trusty McCullough (SP?) died a few years back. The ethanol in the new gas ate all the gaskets, fuel line.... I replaced it with an electric. Not quite as fast nor powerful, but I'm no lumberjack and it always starts.
- unibody madness
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- Joined: December 4, 2008, 4:33 pm
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Re: contact the sears service center
I feel you Brian.
I found out the hard way that you can not premix more fuel than immediately needed, unless you ad some form of stablizing compound to it.
I also drain all gas from the tank and run the motor dry before putting tools away. What ever has been added to the newer fuels makes it break down in under a month, and causes all forms of
John
I found out the hard way that you can not premix more fuel than immediately needed, unless you ad some form of stablizing compound to it.
I also drain all gas from the tank and run the motor dry before putting tools away. What ever has been added to the newer fuels makes it break down in under a month, and causes all forms of
John
Turk build thread at:
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=18944
It does not matter what you think, it only matters what you do about it!
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=18944
It does not matter what you think, it only matters what you do about it!
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- Posts: 11470
- Joined: July 11, 2006, 11:28 am
- Location: Dove Creek, Co. elevation 6842
Re: contact the sears service center
i used to mix 5 gal at a time now i only do 1.
gas station is a lot closer now and wood consumption down here is less than 50% of Alaska winter.
been using the same additive in the saw gas as the truck and car.
big thing that kicks me is although my big husqvarna saw was old i never should have sold it before moving.
gas station is a lot closer now and wood consumption down here is less than 50% of Alaska winter.
been using the same additive in the saw gas as the truck and car.
big thing that kicks me is although my big husqvarna saw was old i never should have sold it before moving.
1966 F250 4x4
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
Re: contact the sears service center
StaBil works good for that kind of gas, too. I have been using it a couple years without problems. I do try to buy the gas without alky in it (not always an option depending on where you live) but StaBil also has an additive for the alcohol "enhanced" fuels.
SPark
SPark
1932 Ford 5 window coupe. 302/C4
1962 8V-390/C6 Unibody Short Bed Soon to be Big Window - The Lincoln that never was
2013 F150 Super Crew Eco Boost 4x4
2015 Ford Edge for the little lady, because she said so!
2007 Mustang GT, 4.6-3V/5 Speed. Only 8680 miles on the clock.
More toys, I need more toys!!!
1962 8V-390/C6 Unibody Short Bed Soon to be Big Window - The Lincoln that never was
2013 F150 Super Crew Eco Boost 4x4
2015 Ford Edge for the little lady, because she said so!
2007 Mustang GT, 4.6-3V/5 Speed. Only 8680 miles on the clock.
More toys, I need more toys!!!
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- Posts: 21
- Joined: December 22, 2006, 3:50 pm
- Location: Goldston, NC
Re: contact the sears service center
If you don't want to modify the screws you can always buy one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Poulan-We ... B000P8GKO2
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- Posts: 11470
- Joined: July 11, 2006, 11:28 am
- Location: Dove Creek, Co. elevation 6842
Re: contact the sears service center
$16.50 for a tool to turn 2 screws on 1 piece of machinery vs. 15 min. with a file and old hacksaw blade and any small thin screwdiver will work
1966 F250 4x4
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
-
- Posts: 21
- Joined: December 22, 2006, 3:50 pm
- Location: Goldston, NC
Re: contact the sears service center
I actually have a Poulan chainsaw and a mantis type tiller that both utilize that carb. Plus I like new tools
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- Posts: 11470
- Joined: July 11, 2006, 11:28 am
- Location: Dove Creek, Co. elevation 6842
Re: contact the sears service center
i knew there was a special tool but it was not nearby when i needed it.
such is the case out in the sticks.
and the screws are still able to be turned with that tool if it shows up someday.
i like tools too but its a bit annoying that they dont tell you when you buy the saw, hey youll need this fancy tool to adjust it.
another thing is
the screws for the top cover are torx
the throttle adjustment screw is phillips head.
spark plug is 3\4"
so now stored in the case besides the chain file theres already those 3 plus now the thin flat blade screwdriver.
used to be i had a scrench for the majority of needs, now i need a plethora of tools.
such is the case out in the sticks.
and the screws are still able to be turned with that tool if it shows up someday.
i like tools too but its a bit annoying that they dont tell you when you buy the saw, hey youll need this fancy tool to adjust it.
another thing is
the screws for the top cover are torx
the throttle adjustment screw is phillips head.
spark plug is 3\4"
so now stored in the case besides the chain file theres already those 3 plus now the thin flat blade screwdriver.
used to be i had a scrench for the majority of needs, now i need a plethora of tools.
1966 F250 4x4
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
-
- Posts: 21
- Joined: December 22, 2006, 3:50 pm
- Location: Goldston, NC
Re: contact the sears service center
What is really bad is that the manufacturers do not want you to have this tool....Several places I looked when buying mine would only sell to "manufacturer certified mechanics". That made me more determined to get one.
Re: contact the sears service center
I got one of these. works good so far. starts everytime I pull the trigger. only downside is the cord. seems like every branch I cut falls on it.
https://www.worx.com/en-US/16-chainsaw-wg303-1.aspx
https://www.worx.com/en-US/16-chainsaw-wg303-1.aspx
1963 uni PATINA BLUE
1965 short bed
1965 short bed
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- Posts: 11470
- Joined: July 11, 2006, 11:28 am
- Location: Dove Creek, Co. elevation 6842
Re: contact the sears service center
Kenny thats a good deal
too bad the USFS and BLM dont have plugs every few feet out in the forests.
too bad the USFS and BLM dont have plugs every few feet out in the forests.
1966 F250 4x4
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton
1964 Rambler Ambassador 990
Rest in peace departed Slick family members
Cam Milam
Lesley Ferguson
Steve Lopes
John Sutton