brand new MS250 won't start

[njitgrad]

I don't get it. I bought a brand new MS250 chainsaw just before Sandy came through NJ. I went through four full tanks of gas and used up nearly two bottles of chain oil cleaning up the storm carnage. I didn't run the saw at really high throttle until the break-in period of three full tanks. It worked beautifully for all four tanks of gas.

Two days later (this past Saturday) I wanted to run the gas tank dry before putting it in the shed. for the life of me I couldn't start it! The air temp was in the mid 40s so after reading the manual I realized I had to flip the element near the air filter. This did nothing to improve my situation.

Any suggestions? I really don't feel like making an unnecessary trip back to where I bought it because of the current gas shortage situation that is currently going on here in NJ.

 

[thse]

I had an ms250 do the same thing just the other day. The customer ran it one tank of fuel of fuel then wouldnt start. he brought it back and i just handed him a new one, it was only two days old. I would go talk to he stihl deaer you bought it from

 

[stayinalive]

I don't get it. I bought a brand new MS250 chainsaw just before Sandy came through NJ. I went through four full tanks of gas and used up nearly two bottles of chain oil cleaning up the storm carnage. I didn't run the saw at really high throttle until the break-in period of three full tanks. It worked beautifully for all four tanks of gas.

Two days later (this past Saturday) I wanted to run the gas tank dry before putting it in the shed. for the life of me I couldn't start it! The air temp was in the mid 40s so after reading the manual I realized I had to flip the element near the air filter. This did nothing to improve my situation.

Any suggestions? I really don't feel like making an unnecessary trip back to where I bought it because of the current gas shortage situation that is currently going on here in NJ.

"Hate This Easy Start Feature" Well 1st Pull Plug See If Wet--If So Spray Start'g Fluid On Plug & Let Dry--Just A Dash In Cyl & Re Install Plug--DO NOT CHOKE !! Put Chain Brake On-- Lever In Idle/Run Position It Will Take Few Pulls --Should Start If U Found Wet Plug. Here Is The Way I Start Mine (3 pulls Max) Put Chain Brake On--Lever/Handle FULL CHOKE Pull Till You Hear The 1st X Tries To Fire--Then Move Lever 2nd Notch Up 1/2 Choke Position She'll Take Off So Pull Brake To Run Position Then Trigger To Idle---Mine 'Bout 5YO--2+Yrs Ago Another Guy Told Me This (secret) To Get/Avoid Pulling Till To Shot To Cut Any Thing + Felt Like Chucking It Few X's My Self---This Method Works Yet Found My Inst. Man UseleFor This Method--Pls Ck Gap Also . Hope Works/Solves "The Puzzle"BTW NJ My Self !!

 

[Exmark fan]

Sounds like it might have been flooded. And Most dealers don't just swap out saws with new ones. Just because they don't start. Check your basics before you take it back.

 

[Bomba]

This guy is correct. I bought an MS 250 a month ago and would not start. After days of trying in vain, I disregarded what the manual said and went on you tube. There is an English guy on there who did exactly what this gentleman said to do... One pull on full choke then two on half choke. Low and behold it worked!! And it's worked since! Initially I flooded the engine. I took out the spark plug and dried it off. Waited a few mins and started it up. Been ok since then.

"Hate This Easy Start Feature" Well 1st Pull Plug See If Wet--If So Spray Start'g Fluid On Plug & Let Dry--Just A Dash In Cyl & Re Install Plug--DO NOT CHOKE !! Put Chain Brake On-- Lever In Idle/Run Position It Will Take Few Pulls --Should Start If U Found Wet Plug. Here Is The Way I Start Mine (3 pulls Max) Put Chain Brake On--Lever/Handle FULL CHOKE Pull Till You Hear The 1st X Tries To Fire--Then Move Lever 2nd Notch Up 1/2 Choke Position She'll Take Off So Pull Brake To Run Position Then Trigger To Idle---Mine 'Bout 5YO--2+Yrs Ago Another Guy Told Me This (secret) To Get/Avoid Pulling Till To Shot To Cut Any Thing + Felt Like Chucking It Few X's My Self---This Method Works Yet Found My Inst. Man UseleFor This Method--Pls Ck Gap Also . Hope Works/Solves "The Puzzle"BTW NJ My Self !!

 

[jakesmurray]

This guy is correct. I bought an MS 250 a month ago and would not start. After days of trying in vain, I disregarded what the manual said and went on you tube. There is an English guy on there who did exactly what this gentleman said to do... One pull on full choke then two on half choke. Low and behold it worked!! And it's worked since! Initially I flooded the engine. I took out the spark plug and dried it off. Waited a few mins and started it up. Been ok since then.

Yes, it was probably flooded.
Don't yank more than a few times with the choke on. It may not ever sputter, but after about 3 pulls, flip the choke off and it should fire up. If you keep pulling with the choke on, you will just flood it and it will never start.

 

[Bomba]

Yes, it was probably flooded.
Don't yank more than a few times with the choke on. It may not ever sputter, but after about 3 pulls, flip the choke off and it should fire up. If you keep pulling with the choke on, you will just flood it and it will never start.

Yes my ms250 did the same thing. That English guy on you tube fixed it for me. I did exactly as he did and it worked and has since. Stihl should put a warning on the front page of the manual about flooding the engine. Seems like every new owner has done it! I probably should have bought the 250 with the easy start on it for an extra $50 it may have been worth it. How often do you guys sharpen? Or do you just buy a new chain?

 

[jakesmurray]

Yes my ms250 did the same thing. That English guy on you tube fixed it for me. I did exactly as he did and it worked and has since. Stihl should put a warning on the front page of the manual about flooding the engine. Seems like every new owner has done it! I probably should have bought the 250 with the easy start on it for an extra $50 it may have been worth it. How often do you guys sharpen? Or do you just buy a new chain?

What English guy are you referring to?
Do you know his user name?

 

[bwdbrn1]

I think this is it.

stihl ms250 chainsaw cold start - YouTube

Here's what he said to do.

Published on May 10, 2012
The stihl ms250 chainsaw can be tricky to start if you do not follow the advised routine - there is no fuel bubble and over priming/flooding can lock it up causing some hard hydraulic lock to pull through. The way to start from cold is 2 pulls full choke , 1 at half then start on I setting (run setting). Hope this helps you. This is not the quick start version. The wood in vid was cut previous day.

 

[jakesmurray]

Have you guys ever watched donyboys vids?
They are great repair videos.