Hello,

I have a Craftsman 20" chainsaw that is about 4 years old (Model
358350200). Saturday I was using it and it was running weak, last years
gas I assumed. It ran out so I put in some fresh gas. The engine would
only run fast for a few seconds, with the choke on. Well after a few
minutes of trying the engine wouldn't even pop at all.

I pulled the plug and laid it on the engine and gave the rope a pull and
there is no spark. I disconnected the kill wires from the ignition module
and tried it again with the same results. New plug-same results.

The exploded view shows this engine has no contacts of any kind that I can
see. Just three magnets on the flywheel that pass the coil to create a
spark. Reading on the web I found it was probably the ignition module that
was bad. The gap was +-.027. I bought a new ignition module and there
still is no spark.

I am stumped.

The kill switch grounds the coil. I unhooked it so even a bad switch
wouldn't matter.

On mowers there is a flywheel key that needs replaced after hitting
something with the blade. Without the contacts/points, the saw should
still produce a spark.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

SteveSch wrote:
Hello,

I have a Craftsman 20" chainsaw that is about 4 years old (Model
358350200). Saturday I was using it and it was running weak, last years
gas I assumed. It ran out so I put in some fresh gas. The engine would
only run fast for a few seconds, with the choke on. Well after a few
minutes of trying the engine wouldn't even pop at all.

I pulled the plug and laid it on the engine and gave the rope a pull and
there is no spark. I disconnected the kill wires from the ignition module
and tried it again with the same results. New plug-same results.

The exploded view shows this engine has no contacts of any kind that I can
see. Just three magnets on the flywheel that pass the coil to create a
spark. Reading on the web I found it was probably the ignition module that
was bad. The gap was +-.027. I bought a new ignition module and there
still is no spark.

I am stumped.

The kill switch grounds the coil. I unhooked it so even a bad switch
wouldn't matter.

On mowers there is a flywheel key that needs replaced after hitting
something with the blade. Without the contacts/points, the saw should
still produce a spark.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Steve


My first question - where on earth(pardon the pun) did you find enough
metal on a 4 year old Poulan(Craftsman) chain saw to get a verified
engine ground for your spark plug?

Try your spark test again with a physical jumper to engine ground -
alligator clip or such.

This sounds more like a carb issue so far.

Rob

"SteveSch" wrote in message
news
Hello,

I have a Craftsman 20" chainsaw that is about 4 years old (Model
358350200). Saturday I was using it and it was running weak, last years
gas I assumed. It ran out so I put in some fresh gas.

Did you mix the gas with oil first?

Steve

On Fri, 04 May 2007 08:16:17 -0700, Steve B wrote:

Did you mix the gas with oil first?

Yes.

Steve

On Fri, 04 May 2007 08:42:56 -0400, trainfan1 wrote:

My first question - where on earth(pardon the pun) did you find enough
metal on a 4 year old Poulan(Craftsman) chain saw to get a verified engine
ground for your spark plug?

Ok, long story short. I checked where I had the plug grounded and it was
metal. I checked it with an ohm meter. It was the cylinder head. My wife
says the saw is closer to 8 years old. Sorry. It only has maybe 40-50
hours on it.

I do have it running now. After your reply I remembered that years ago I
would use starting fluid to bypass a fuel system so I did that with this
saw and it ran a short burst. If I had remembered that earlier I would
have saved myself $40 for a new coil. Oh well........

About the no spark. On an old lawnmower you just had to spin, slower
than normal pull, the engine to check for a spark. It seems on a chainsaw
without points you really have to spin the engine. I yanked it and did
finally see a spark. And yes I feel like a dummy.;-)

I took the carb off, disassembled and cleaned it with some spray and it
works great. Fired right up. It now idles great, which it only did for the
first month when it was new. I was going to get around to looking at that.

Thank you very much for your help.

Steve

On Fri, 04 May 2007 00:54:56 -0400, Meat Plow wrote:

Flywheel changed position throwing it out of time? Coil is bad? Only two
things I can think of that remain. With that kind of engine just a small
deviation in timing (flywheel position) can toss your spark out the
window. Does the flywheel have a sheer key that is worn?

Thanks. Not like a mower with points, turns out you really need to
yank the starter to see a spark. That's why there was none.

It was the carb. I cleaned it and all is well.

Thanks again,
Steve

If you can get it use optimal synthic oil in your two cycle
no smokei ,cleany plug ,and no needy for addy I been using it for years and
love it
"SteveSch" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 04 May 2007 08:16:17 -0700, Steve B wrote:

Did you mix the gas with oil first?

Yes.

Steve

On Sat, 05 May 2007 00:53:53 +0000, Larry and a Cat named Dub wrote:

If you can get it use optimal synthic oil in your two cycle no smokei
,cleany plug ,and no needy for addy I been using it for years and love it

I actually use Amsoil synthetic. Have for years, only because I
bought a bottle and at 100:1 it lasts for years. ;-)

Steve