Poulan PP4218AVX Chainsaw sudden no-start issue after weeks of regular use

[shanker]

I've got a PP4218AVX chainsaw that was given to me by someone who was moving away. I took it apart, cleaned it, put new fuel lines, filter, and spark plug (NGK) on it (which was a PITA) and have been using it regularly at least once a week cleaning up brush at the ranch and it's been a great saw that even started Christmas Day when it was 20*. Last weekend I was trimming a tree, set the saw on my tailgate to move my truck, then 5 minutes later the saw wouldn't kick off. It acted like it had no-spark. I brought it home and found that it did have spark, so I took the carburetor apart and found a bit of debris in the screen in the carburetor so I went thru it and cleaned it up with still a no-start situation. I run VP 2-Stroke Oil with an added ounce of MMO in the fuel.

Not sure where to check next. All the YouTube video's and google search results have been very helpful. I'm a pretty mechanically inclined person, but at this point not starting isn't making sense to me.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

put some fuel mix in the spark plug hole and see if it will fire.

 

[shanker]

put some fuel mix in the spark plug hole and see if it will fire.

tried that too.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

tried that too.

What happened?

 

[StarTech]

Pull the muffler and check for cylindler/ piston damage. When not properly tuned these saws will lean out and toast the PNC. Air head carburetors tune differently than other cubes. Plus using the saw when it was for much warmer air temp would cause it to lean out at 20 degree as the air is much denser.

You could also do compression test. If the starting compression is below 100 psi it is also toast.

 

[shanker]

Pull the muffler and check for cylindler/ piston damage. When not properly tuned these saws will lean out and toast the PNC. Air head carburetors tune differently than other cubes. Plus using the saw when it was for much warmer air temp would cause it to lean out at 20 degree as the air is much denser.

You could also do compression test. If the starting compression is below 100 psi it is also toast.

I'm guessing it leaned out and smoked the piston, or at least that's what it looked like when I tore it apart...all the scoring was on the exhaust side and the ring was stuck there. at least a replacement kit is cheap on Amazon.

 

[shanker]

I got the replacement cylinder kit from Amazon installed today and it kicked right off. I'm going to run a bit more 2 stroke oil to get between 25:1 and 32:1 (I'm tempted to switch over to Stihl or Echo oil now)

I haven't adjusted the carb yet, but is there a way to specifically increase the fuel, or just go about tuning it like any other 2 stroke weed eater?

 

[rogerbenoit76]

Go to amazon and buy this kit to be able to adjust the carburator
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XG2L2N...g-sBiYYbOuDMnrFQs&qid=1737818671&sr=8-1-spons
B07XG2L2NT

 

[StarTech]

The Poulan fuel mix is 40:1 but if use a good multimix synthetic fuel oil they can easily be ran on 50:1 mix.

This saw uses a scavenger carb setup. To properly tune them does require tuning while cutting wood to load the engine properly. Can be a little tricky to get right hence need of cutting wood and adjust for best performance.

 

[ILENGINE]

Poulan Pro went to a 50:1 mix about 3 years ago. Don't know exactly when the change took place but all the new items come with a bottle of 50:1 mix in the box. The Poulan Pro canned gas mentions both the 40:1 and 50:1 on the can.