I am a 20+ year STIHL Master Whench Service Tech in the Northeast U.S. The MS250 is an amazing chainsaw, the power to weight ratio is amazing. HOWEVER they have more pull resistance than any other saw in the line up. It will start in the same amount of pulls as any BUT you have to pull it like you are mad at it. I had a meeting with all of our counter guys and made sure that they pass that info onto the unsuspecting customer who is purchasing the saw. We have had hundreds of these come back for hard starting, meanwhile there is literally nothing wrong with them per se other than the customers not pulling hard enough. I own a MS250 and I love it. It’s my go to, my favorite.

I have rarely used a chainsaw. I watched this video because it seemed interesting. This person was very engaging, knowledgeable, and interesting to watch. In the end, she placed the responsibility for not checking "the small things first" directly on her shoulders. I live in South America where it is shameful for a person to admit they did something other than perfection. I love people who are strong enough emotionally to understand that we can't all be perfect all the time. Great job, and if I had a chainsaw that needed servicing, I would hope to find someone like you to work on it.

One thing that I have found as a Stihl Technician, is that you need to make sure the cylinder has some fuel mixture in it. Just a small squirt will not flood it but lubricate it and prime it to start easier. Always hold the interlock and the throttle wide open and set to full choke if you are not prep-priming the cylinder under normal circumstances. you will notice that even though the choke is fully closed, the throttle is open somewhat. This reduces pulling tension needed to turn the engine over faster and with less difficulty. 1 to 3 pulls is all you need normally with full choke. If the saw "pops" then immediately, without touching the throttle, move the choke lever to half choke. If you have per-primed with a small shot of fuel into the cylinder for lubrication this is where the choke needs to be in this sequence. Now the throttle is still open but not fully choked. This makes it even easier to pull with both butterflies open. The saw will usually start very quickly with just a few more pulls. The engine RPM will race so be quick to pull the throttle to fully release the choke and lower the RPM as needed. As we work on these saws we learn the interlocks both at the throttle and in the linkages to help us start these powerful tools.

Not on you! I worked in the service field for motorcycles, lawn and garden equipment, generators, etc. What I learned and it saved me a lot of time was while I was writing up the ticket and talking to the customer was, "what did you do to try and fix it?" 9 out of 10 that was where the problem was. Great vid. Excellent presentation. Very methodical. Just remember a lot of times is if we're not making errors, we're not learning. Thank you and keep up the great work.

Good Lord! I've never saw a more methodical fix that the lady does! Absolutely fantastic job!

I worked on a Stihl 046 and it also was a hard starter. I am 73 yrs old and it would try to pull my arm off. I rebuilt it a couple of times, replaced the crankshaft, piston and cylinder. It is one of those saws that wants to pull your arm off. So I made an electric saw started . I took a 1/2 hp electric motor that can run both forward and reverse. I machined an adapter that matches the flywheel pull starter. (you have to remove the pull starter housing.) I engage the motor/adapter to the chainsaw and I have the electric motor plugged in. I have a foot switch that has a momentary contact switch installed. You engage the motor and saw, step on the momentary foot switch and the electric motor starts the chainsaw with very little effort. It sure beats letting the chainsaw beat me to death. When the chain saw starts it automatically disengages the chainsaw. I use this tool on saws that are hard to start. It lets me figure out problems without wearing me out.

I like your no BS methodical approach to resolve the problem. Nicely done

I'm 82 years old and had to give my 14 year old MS250 to my 32 year old grandson. The saw was hard to pull from day one but I lived with it till last year. No problem starting...just hard to pull (no decompression valve) which is a common complaint with the MS 250 when looking around the net. Replaced it with a MS250 C-BC Z/18" bar easy start system. Now its a pleasure to use.

My MS250 is a great little saw. It’s the first saw I grab when I need to do a quick cutting job. Thank you for showing us through the trouble shooting process. I’ll remember it when its needed🙂

When you had taken the saw out without the bar and chain, you can hear the drag on the throttle response. I always hit the carb first when I see ready mix fuel. As for the special tool for the piston, use a pull rope this way your not messing around with a flashlight. You are spot on talking about the compression on that saw. It will rip your arm off if you don't find the sweet spot.

11:52 You are basically fishing around in the dark, trying not to put your tool in the wrong hole.”

I have had a husky 142 for 15 years. Used lightly for pruning and firewood. It became hard to start and wouldn't run. I was really puzzled, dismantled the carb. All looked good, but no dice. Finally I tried adjusting the H jet, and yeah it now works like new! So happy that I figured it out, and fixed my baby. A chainsaw is like a dog! Cheers from New Zealand😊

Great video on the breakdown of a Stihl chainsaw. Quite informative. However, as a 76 y/o DIYer, and regardless of customer complaint, my first target in any small engine repair is the carburetor; mostly due to ethanol fuel. Small engines operate in the absolute worst air environments. Disassembly, inspection, and thorough carb cleaning usually is the correct fix. 😊

Starting my chainsaw, I use to put my foot through the hole where the hand to operate it normally goes. The Chainsaw doesn't jump around then when you pull the starter cord.Easier too.

Excellent demonstration of problem solving and methodical approach to a service. Go Canucks, you're awesome.

Excellent repair vid! I love that you guys keep things simple and clear without a lot of annoying music and frivolity. Thank you Erica for taking us along on this learning experience. I love working on chainsaws and have been doing it for quite a few years and I learned something today watching you troubleshoot this 250. Another job well done. Good work lady❤❤

Good advice right there "try not to put your tool in the wrong hole"

Great video, thank you . I have a MS 250 and it runs great with no complaints. I pull it over on choke slowly the 1st time then the 2nd pull with the choke still on I do it full speed and it fires up with out riping the recoil rope out of my hand.

I have a 42-year-old, Stihl 028 Super that I first used for commercial timber thinning, running it very hard for 10 hours a day, seven days a week, for three years. It is now relegated to brush clearing around my property and other light duty. It has never had a rebuild, but occasionally becomes hard starting. A simple, quick carburetor clean and overhaul has always solved the problem and makes it run like new. New to your channel and this was very informative, especially pressure testing the fuel system, which I didn't know about.

I have a Ms 250 and I hadn't have any issues yet but thanks for the help and I hope you have a wonderful week I had learned something new today

Like how neat your shop is, how professional and knowledgeable you are, and how well you narrate and edit. And you look beautiful with your hair down, a nice touch at the end of the video.

Brilliant! It is always a surprise to me that these 'simple' 2 stroke engines can be such hard work to fault find and get running well!

Thanks for the tutorial, I have two MS 250's that do this when they sit awhile and when they do start they smoke, I'm a older guy and I'm almost afraid to start these arm breakers, I just ordered a new Echo just so I have a saw that does't try to hurt me.

Thanks for doing your videos very informative

Thank you! You are a good instructor. I have one of these saws and now I have some idea of what to check.

Excellent presentation! The MS 250 will be my next chainsaw. Thank you. 👍

That grin was priceless when talking about installing the piston stop tool

I’ve always kept my tool from dropping in the wrong hole. Thanks for reminding me nonetheless.

There's no need to appoligize. This is what I consider learning. Thank you for the awesome detailed work. You taught this lawnmower owner quite a bit for chainsaw motor repair.

You know i just found this channel and found it very helpful. Im a disabled vet whos recently started working on 2 cycle stuff, chainsaws, weedeaters etc.. we are a stihl dealer and i got my bronze but no where near silver. I get very disappointed in myself when i cant diagnose something right off the bat,i realize i overthink things way to much. Im pretty much on my own i have no one to talk to regarding whats next scenarios so i really get frustrated. Thank you for your time in doing these and please take care.

I have two of these and love them - when they start, that is. I gave up on that aggravation and got an 80 volt electric from Harbor Freight. GREAT decision. Cuts great and battery lasts a long time.

Nice work. Excellent presentation. I now know a lot more about my Stihl saws.

I'll be watching lots of your videos! Excellent clear explanations. I which I lived close enough to bring my saws to you for tune ups. I hope young folks are watching to see this would be an interesting career and they recognize this is a level of professionalism to strive to reach.

When putting your piston stop tool in the spark plug hole, you can remove the exhaust muffler and look into the exhaust port and make sure that the tool does not protrude the exhaust port. Keep up the good work.

I also have a Stihl battery saw and it always starts very easily, has no fuel issues, etc. My go to saw for firewood. My sawing technique got better as this saw does not like to be forced at all. It will do the job on its own just fine. I can carry it in the car for blowdowns on the driveway and the roads.

I bought my MS250 from my local JD Dealer, Last one in stock before they put out the new ones with bulb - I have a pre bulb MS250 and it ran sweet for many years, always started always ready to go. In last couple years it started running and stopping after 5 min. then progressively in same day in next 4 to 5 starts would run less time each time till just would not start. Took to shop and replaced coil. sweet again but after about 10 min. it did same thing, I opened it up and realized if they had put a new coil in it, it should be a little cleaner than it was for only making about 15 rounds cuts on 10" trees. I purchased a coil and replaced coil - it could be slightly out but close enough and should not die as it had been like plastic housing warming up and wires disconnecting in coil - only thing left is carb. shops around here are so un-trust worthy - want new gaskets etc. - iam a difficult customer i hear now. still possibly need a carb . I have done shelf fuel, and Non Ethanol mixed with Stihl synthetic mix small bottles 1. gal. mixtures. 2 new air filters, 3 plugs, 2 fuel filters - all on top of what originally i had in it when problems arose. ( Plus new fuel lines, electrical came with coil i put in. Iam about 50 bucks away from having spent what a new one would have cost. I actually bought a new one at ACE and it would not start a second time when they were pre fuel and starting it for sales so I ended up cancelling that CC transaction and re done because of warranty's then they had another and purchased that one, seemed all good, left- picked up mini excavator and headed for little property 45 miles away - saw would never start, it popped once and that was it. needless to say i took it back-manager would not except it so i left it on counter with papers and said CC will be stopped payment and never been back in last year. This brings me up to my age and hand- finger size- unable to put a carb on and stuck with finding a good shop, I even have 5 carbide chains and 2 extra roller bars , been using a HF chain sharpener so about 4 years ago I bought an Oregon sharpener and am quite good, I have a few guys whom are fire wood cutters ask me to sharpen their chains- usaly 8 or 10 at a time a year- I feel honored and the 8 bucks a chain is good - Iam retired disabled vet. i have a lot of free time but not a lot of time.

Well done video. It's now in my MS250 tool box. Thanks!

Well presented, thank you.

I have run mine wide open since I got it. Never failed to start once! About 8 yrs old. Never changed the plug. Use only Stihl mix period. Have changed the rope once. Been throught 10+ chains. Fine saw for me. But I only cutup trees that have been blown down. Lot of that here. Cuts them up great!😊

very good tutorial. you're spot on about arm/shoulder ache from some of these machines and if you ever hurt your shoulder like I did pulling on a stubborn saw it's months before it heals properly.

Just stumbled onto this channel … very informative and thx for posting… I appreciated your systematic analysis.. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that the issue was the carb.

Very organized shop. You seem knowledgeable on 2 and 4 cycle equipment. Helpful content enjoy watching you're channel.

Very nice video ! Bought a Stihl chainsaw with easy start , smooth running chain saw .

I bought one of these a couple years ago and it was impossible to start. I returned it immediately.

Most Excellent work. Well done young lady, well done. Thanks for the lesson. 😊

As a Stihl technician and owner of an MS 250 I can tell you they are a very hard to pull saw. I sold a lot of them but always cautioned the customer that most women, elderly or folks with a bad shoulder should consider a different model. If you don’t pull it like you mean it it will jerk starter handle out of your hand. I always thought that a larger diameter rope pulley would help this.

Sometimes when you can't find your sunglasses... check above your brow before leading a search party. Have been there many times myself. Good or bad days.. it is always great to be alive. Thanks for sharing Erica. 👍

Thankyou for such a great video. You are humble and honest and informative, three aspects i need to watch a video to teach me about my saw. Bravo!

I have a Stihl 032 that had been giving me same problem. Ran well but took two arms to start. (I made a starting board to hold it down with two feet while starting.) I hadn't considered the coil, so cleaned and gaped it yesterday. Wow, I'm 79 with a shoulder replacement. It started like it was brand new. Thank you for the informative video. The saw is about 44 years old and I heat the house with wood so it gets a great workout in southeast Michigan.

This is by far the best demo/instructions video about checking the chainsaw without any BS! Amazing, keep up the good work!

Just goes to show every day is a learning day. Carburetor seems to be the most common problem. With chainsaws. These videos are fantastic can't thank you enough for showing them keep up the great work.

Excellent video. I will service my saw based on what I’ve seen. Thank you.

Always, always check the carburetor(s) first. Good for you Erica for doing the full check down, though you did forget the carburetor, but, you got there in the end. Good post.

I am digging your channel!! great work great tutorials exactly what people need

Down here in my àrea of the U S the Sthil ms 250 is a popular chainsaw so I clicked to your vid & paid attention 😊

Enjoying these Stihl videos, just rebuilt two 036 Pro saws and they are just awesome tools. Great video!

Greetings from SC As a former small engine mechanic and fixer of most things gas, I appreciate how you went straight to that flywheel key. Put about a million of em in push mowers that found big rocks hiding in tall grass over the years. But never have seen a saw get the ignition timing knocked off by an abrupt stopping of the engine. If the flywheel nut was loose I suppose it could happen but then you would have noticed that as soon as you pulled the starter. Just wondering how a bad fuel/air mixture made that Stihl kick back through the starter rope!😊

You do an excellent informative video....Thanks

Good information and well explained. Yes I have a 250 and yes they are a hard pull , but its a great Chainsaw and a beast cutting a whole tree with ease .

When I heard the symptoms my first thought was flywheel key. Good perseverance to get it fixed.

My 1st time ever seeing you and your videos, your awesome I subscribed!

Absolutely brilliant and very informative video 👍

Learnt so much from you, very methodological and well explained, thank you😊

I bought a brand new Stihl cutoff saw about 10 years ago. A month after owning it we couldn’t start it. Brought it back to the dealer. They put a new carburetor on it. Didn’t have a problem after that

great instructional vid, cheers.

I'm subscribing to this channel. Great video. Love the small engine shop videos. Nice walk thru explanation on this video. Thank you

Great video. Thanks!

Memorizing the way you take them machines apart and put them back together good stuff

Watching your video is a good example of why I don't loan out my chainsaw. Borrowers don't take care of equipment. I remember my neighbor telling me a story about loaning out his chainsaw out to somebody , guy returned his saw but didn't tell him he had burned raw gas in it !

He should have mentioned the carburetor. He needed that carburetor! You are teaching me a lot! Just found you! Thanks!

Really thorough well made and inspirational video! Your cool personality makes all the difference. Greetings from Sweden

I'll be watching all the chain saw videos. That's for sure.

Thank you. I learned something today. I was guessing flywheel key as well, and when you first said carb, I thought NAH!. But, as others have mentioned, excess fuel will raise the compression level. Damn - I've thrown away a few small 2-stroke engines because of this being the likely issue, and putting it down to maybe a bent crankshaft, or whatever. Carbs. Basic, but problematic. Good one, and thank you from NZ again.

Excellent video. Thank you.

Nice job repairing the saw. I just found your channel and enjoy watching your videos.

By the time you spent that much labor and parts, I’m betting the bill was as much or more than the saw is worth. I have two 250s that have the same trouble, one especially bad! One was given to me by my brother who gave up on it, and the other I bought at a yard sale for $10! Both are great little homeowner saws. I’ve found that when it kicks, it’s saying “I’m ready, take the choke off”. Couple pulls and it’s running! I have several other saws, all Stihl, but my very favorite is a little 023 that has several hundred hours on it… worn out, very little compression, but still starts easy, runs good! Enjoy your videos, well done! Thanks for sharing!

Very through, thankyou for your detailed examination and repair

Top job on this vid , thank you , cheers

I bought one last year not realising the potential starting issues.... However its been awesome, powerful little saw and has started easily so far, from cold choke till burp usually 2 pulls, then chock off max 2 pulls. Even when flooded its not bad to clear and start so far. So light and powerful its a keeper.

Cool video. I have 2 MS250's along with a MS362. I keep 2 with one being a back-up for the other, in case of issues. I'm in North Idaho and my dealer had to consolidate repairs to their main warehouse in Spokane, Washington last year (staffing-no one wants to work on saws or work for that matter). Turn around now takes over a week to two weeks, so I bought a back-up, since I use it all Spring and Summer. After you bringing up the hard start, explains a lot. It's still a hard working saw.

WOW! My old climbing saw 009L can pull my arm off if it will even pull. All systems EXCEPT the carb are fine. Thx for the tip. Even the MS261 without the comp release pushed in pulls easier than the 009. Now onto the carb thx to your work. I had to go with a gift Husky 338XPT for a tiny saw. Excellent job.

This is the most awesome video I have ever seen on KZfaq. I just love shows like this and a mechanic chick.

Great video. As a mechanic also just a tip lol leave your wedding rings home so they stay clean 😊. Keep up the good work

Absolutely awesome video, am in the process of buying my first second hand chain saw for light use whilst camping and just doing some research. I use to run a business and I would regularly ask this question and shut up for 10 seconds. "What is it that it is fair to say you know that I need to know at this stage? " This is always at the bottom of a quote also. The 10 seconds rule (who speaks first will lose) 10 seconds is a long time for someone that is trying to hide something. Then it is easier (legally) to invoice accordingly . Thank you very much for your video, Wish you well from Lismore NSW Australia

I had the same problem with an 064 model years ago. I also replaced the coil & carb. Didn’t help. I continued to use the saw by tying the pull cord around the center of a 1” diameter wooden dowel rod about 6” long. No more sore fingers. I also used heavy leather gloves. Once cranked, the saw ran and idled great. I Eventually replaced the head with a decompression button head which was not available when I bought the saw. Still runs but have recently replaced it with a MS661C. Very easy to crank.

Great job 👍

Great job! love the channel.

What a good video Mrs ,really thorough and helpful! I collect saws and love working on them and all the different vlogers on saws have different tips it's a great community ❤️🙂

I have had 15-20 of these and some have the problem and others do not. I have suspected that some of mine have had crank bearings that might have been in not so great condition.

You did a great video, thank you.

This is interesting information because I bought a new MS250 and at the time the dealer said it was a model that has high compression and this model doesn’t have a de-compression release ! It seemed to me that in the first year the compression increased a little ( I had to work at it sometimes). Only one time I couldn’t pull it through ? Wow that’s compression so I waited 10 minutes and tried it again , it started , other than high compression I’ve had no troubles, it’s reliable and dependable and cuts very well during a days work ! My opinion after several years now , a de-compression release would be a plus for this model !

Everything I see gets a dry and wet compression test and an Endoscope viewing. Good find on the carb issue. Also, I feel your pain with customers not revealing the true history.

thanks , young lady... you do good work

I have a mid-1990's 025 and it's the same way, these are high-compression saws and casual owners coming from box store Poulan and Craftsman chainsaws always complain about starting a Stihl. I also have a MS391 and with its decomp valve it's probably a little easier to pull over vs my 025.

Love to see a skilled Lady in Traditional Labor trades ❤🎉❤

First time here. Very informative. You've taught me some things to look for. Thanks. Sub'ed.

I thought it was the flywheel key also. Thanks for the tip on keeping my tool out of the wrong hole, that will keep a guy from getting into alot of truoble!

I still own a MS250 I bought back in 2004. It's always been a pigs ear to start and your right, it doesn't do your shoulder any favours. I should have purchased the 'C' model as that has a decompression valve fitted.😢

Where were you 20 years ago I thik I'm love(.lol )had my own lawn mower shop many many years ago and I remember the first ones I worked on you had to adjust the points on them underneath the flywheel anyway you're doing a hell of a job young lady and your shop looks good and clean thank you for the instructions

Like you said, this is very common with the MS250's. The compression can get very high after breaking in. This happened to mine. The dealer could not do anything to improve on it either. I put an elasto start rope on it and it helps if you pull it one click out before pulling hard on it. The first click is the one that jerks your arm the most. Lots of info about this problem online.