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Need 2nd on my Stihl 034 on if its crank bearings or something else. Been having issues with pulling the rope on a cold start. Its hard to pull unless I stick my foot in the opening where the trigger is to brace it. When its being pulled is makes a cracking sound. Then after 5-6 times it pulls normal. I took recoil starter off and it pulls out fine when off of saw. I can turn the flywheel by hand but its tight at first like something is sticking. I described this same issue to friend thats been in the business longer than I have and he saying its crank bearings need replaced.

If you try taking off the recoil and the spark plug then turning by hand you should be able to feel bad crankshaft bearings -- at least if they're really bad. Anything that's not smooth isn't good

That's a good saw... I hope this works out.

Two-Stroke said:

If you try taking off the recoil and the spark plug then turning by hand you should be able to feel bad crankshaft bearings -- at least if they're really bad. Anything that's not smooth isn't good

That's a good saw... I hope this works out.

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Everything turns smooth when doing that.

My best guess is some issue with how the recoil is fitting onto the powerhead.

There is a Stihl forum on this website. Someone there probably knows a lot more than I do. :ashamed:

Two-Stroke said:

...There is a Stihl forum on this website. Someone there probably knows a lot more than I do. :ashamed:

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I moved your thread to the Stihl forum. :smile:

I know it only does it when pulling the rope all the way out when trying to start it. If I only pull rope out 4-6in to bump it over it doesnt do the cracking sound or hard to pull.

Looked at this issue. Flywheel will turn freely by hand. I finally got it to hang up in the recoil while recoil was off when pulling string out and letting it back in. Now it I hear something rubbing on the starter pulley. It sounds like someone ran there finger nails down chalk board.

Just a Note Stihl recommends a 30:1 mix in these saw just a side note :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Kodie's Lawn an Tree said:

Just a Note Stihl recommends a 30:1 mix in these saw just a side note :thumbsup::thumbsup:

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NO, Its Stihl is 50:1.

davbell22602 said:

NO, Its Stihl is 50:1.

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No older Stihls saws run 32:1 my grandfather has an old 088 that is 32:1 (in the Manual) Now the newer ones have 50:1

Kodie's Lawn an Tree said:

No older Stihls saws run 32:1 my grandfather has an old 088 that is 32:1 (in the Manual) Now the newer ones have 50:1

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Stihl mix is 50:1 now. My 034 manual says to use 50:1 mix.

So.. The noise is in the recoil when it's off the saw? Then I suggest maybe the central post of the cover is worn so the rope pulley isn't always pulling true, binding it against the side cover and spring, making it screech.

MRCo. said:

So.. The noise is in the recoil when it's off the saw? Then I suggest maybe the central post of the cover is worn so the rope pulley isn't always pulling true, binding it against the side cover and spring, making it screech.

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Thats correct. I got it to bind up after removing it. Now its sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard when pulling and letting go of the rope. Thinking on replacing whole recoil assy.

If what I suggested IS the issue, then a new side cover is the only cure. Good luck with it.

I took apart the recoil. Cleaned the housing pulley and spring. Pulley has about 16th of a inch wobble to it. Spring was really dirty. Also found that when I cut the rope it didnt retract around the pulley like the others I replaced.

davbell22602 said:

I took apart the recoil. Cleaned the housing pulley and spring. Pulley has about 16th of a inch wobble to it. Spring was really dirty. Also found that when I cut the rope it didnt retract around the pulley like the others I replaced.

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That sounds like a problem but that doesn't mean that there aren't other problems.

Those recoil assemblies look the same on a lot of Stihl saws -- so they could be interchangeable -- which could make it easier to find a replacement.

Good luck.

Plus the recoil jumps at times too. The recoil starter interchanges with 034, 036, MS340 and MS360.

So what if I just replace the recoil spring and pulley?