Why Does My Chainsaw Keep Flooding

Why Does My Chainsaw Keep Flooding?

While chainsaws might look like a robust machine with extreme power and the ability to cut through anything, these machines are still machines at the end of the day. Like all electronic devices and machinery out there, a chainsaw requires utmost maintenance and care from its owner.

Are you having trouble with your chainsaw flooding?

The most common reason for chainsaw flooding is the imbalance of oil and petrol fed to the machine. However, there can be other possible root causes too including spark plug issues and cranking troubles.

This article will discuss all the reasons as to why it might be flooding and how you can solve it.

Why Does My Chainsaw Keep Flooding

Common Reasons Why Your Chainsaw Might Be Flooding

The issue of incorrect oil and petrol ratio

The first and foremost reason for chainsaw flooding is the incorrect amount of oil and petrol present. For your machine to function correctly, you need to maintain the correct ratio of oil to petrol.

How to identify this problem?

If your machine isn’t starting up, we suggest you look at the liquid present inside. If you spot a mixture of oil and petrol that is too lean, it is clear that the amount of oil is lower than petrol. As a result of this, the engine of the chainsaw can seize. Why would it seize? Obviously, with the lack of oil in the system, there will be inadequate lubrication that would hold the engine.

However, if the mixture in the machine looks too rich, there is likely too much oil in there. This excess amount of oil can be responsible for creating a smoky exhaust in the system. This exhaust will then move on and reside in the spark plug and closer to the cylinder and combustion chamber. As a result of this exhaust, you might face many problems with the ignition and other damages.

How to rectify the error

For all those of you who are unaware of the petrol to oil ratio, the best tip from us is to refer to your user manual. There will be details outlined in there about the percentage of both the liquids. If you are mixing it yourself, make sure that you don’t do it inside the tank. Do it beforehand, and then pour it into the oil tank. Lastly, while this should be a no-brainer, ensure that the mixture you are running into your tank isn’t old. The older the oil is, the more chances there are of your chainsaw malfunctioning.

Other Reasons Why Your Chainsaw Might Be Flooding

Do you feel like the oil to petrol ratio in your chainsaw is fine? Maybe that’s not what’s causing all the trouble. Cranking the chainsaw incorrectly, troubles with the carburetor, and faulty/web spark plugs are other common reasons for defective chainsaws. Down below, we have elaborated on each of these to help you understand what to do in each case.

1. Spark Plug Troubles

Once you have thoroughly inspected the ratio of oil and petrol, we suggest you move on to examine the spark plug—the two most common troubles with it. First off, it could be faulty and hence causing hindrance in starting. Secondly, the spark plug could be wet.

Let’s take a look at this in detail. First of all, check whether the chainsaw is creating sparks or not. If you don’t find any sparks when starting it, the fuel mixture has likely built up inside to such an extent that it has begun overflooding. Any leakage coming from the exhaust pipe can be trouble. To check it for yourself, disassemble it, pull on the starter cord, dry and reassemble it and then try starting it again.

A chainsaw with a faulty spark plug would not restart at all. The most common solution for this is to purchase a plug that can work as its replacement. You can either do it yourself or get your repairmen to do it.

2. Carburation

The next issue with your chainsaw flooding is related to carburation. Make sure that the carburetor of the chainsaw has been appropriately adjusted. If it has been improperly carbureted, you will most definitely have trouble with flooding.

Keep an eye on the speed of the revolutions. If it is too high, there are high chances of the engine melting off. To stabilize it, the easiest solution is to lower the output of the power a bit. You can do this by adjusting the screws of the engine and reduce the speed yourself. Moreover, always keep an eye on the rate at which it has been kept idle. Try to ensure that the speed at idle doesn’t get more than the starting speed throughout the time it is functioning. Once that is done, restart it.

3. Cranking Troubles

Another reason why your machine might be flooding is that there is improper cranking carried out. This is a problem that usually beginners face. To make sure that you are cranking it properly, start with the throttle. Turn it up and move to the switch. Turn this to the on position and then begin pulling on the cord used for starting purpose. You will need to draw on it at least three to four times. Stop the moment you hear a sound resembling a ‘pop.’

Now, go back to the throttle, move it off, and repeat the pulling process for the cord. This should be done three to four times again until the chainsaw starts properly.

Cranking a chainsaw in the wrong way can be a reason why it’s flooding. Make sure that you are patient in this process. If it doesn’t start up on the first try, do it again. DO NOT over-activate the throttle. It is advised not to choke the throttle. These two can lead to flooding of the engine.

While it might seem like a chainsaw is complex to navigate, it is not the case if you learn to follow the steps mentioned above carefully. Crank it properly, ensure that it is not out of use and rusting, and not be impatient. With regular maintenance, your chainsaw can be as good as new even after an extended period.

 

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