Pioneer P 51

first shirt · January 17, 2009, 07:54:00 AM

It is very difficult at times to pull the rope on my saw, it seems to have tremendous amounts of compression and will not start. I checked the gap, it is correct on both the flywheel and spark plug. When I remove the sparkplug and attempt to start the saw I am getting a small spark. No internal parts are broken. I am stumped!

timber tramp · January 17, 2009, 08:15:03 AM

Have you checked the spark arrester screen? Had a similar problem once with a homelite, and after checking out everything else, it turned out that the screen was full of carbon. I use a propane torch to clean these, fastest method I've found yet.

What color is the "small spark" at the plug?
TT

pineywoods · January 17, 2009, 10:18:26 AM

First shirt, I'd bet the upper cylinder and exhaust ports are all carboned up. Pull the muffler off and look at the ports. Older saws could be pretty bad about this, plus the thinking that some oil is good, so more oil is better.I had an old homelite that called for 30 to 1 gas oil mix, DanG thing would plug up with carbon on a regular basis. Running ourboard motor oil instead of more modern 2 stroke oil will make it worse...

first shirt · January 17, 2009, 10:40:20 AM

Quote from: timber tramp on January 17, 2009, 08:15:03 AM
Have you checked the spark arrester screen? Had a similar problem once with a homelite, and after checking out everything else, it turned out that the screen was full of carbon. I use a propane torch to clean these, fastest method I've found yet.

What color is the "small spark" at the plug?
TT

the "small spark" is blue. screen was clear.

logwalker · January 17, 2009, 09:37:20 PM

Does it pull easily when the plug is out? Joe

first shirt · January 18, 2009, 07:48:30 AM

Quote from: logwalker on January 17, 2009, 09:37:20 PM
Does it pull easily when the plug is out? Joe

Yes, when the plug is removed their is no resistance.

shtickhead · January 18, 2009, 09:23:22 PM

If I remember right and it's the same saw, it has a decompression
button. Have you had the saw long?

first shirt · January 19, 2009, 07:36:45 AM

Quote from: shtickhead on January 18, 2009, 09:23:22 PM
If I remember right and it's the same saw, it has a decompression
button. Have you had the saw long?

My dad bought it new about 30 years ago. It has been in his shop under a tarp for about 25 of those years. Their is a green button just below the on/off switch. I am not sure what it is for and if it is supposed to be in the out or in position when starting the saw. Unfortunately the manual was lost many years ago.

shtickhead · January 19, 2009, 08:13:03 PM

If you got that saw started from cold with out pushing that button in
you done good. If it's on the compression stroke you'll just about break the rope
before it turns over. The end of the crank shaft twisted off in the flywheel in the one we had. I may still have it in a box somewhere if someone has a crank or needs parts.