Starting your chainsaw

Therrin

This poll also accepts multiple answers. Please use that only to answer for dropstarting as well.

newguy18

I drop start mine,with the brake off.Yes i'm wearing my flak jacket today.

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old schooler

Therrin

NG you only mentioned that you dropstart, you didnt mention how you have the chainbrake when you start it.

newguy18

see above post,brake off.I just grap the wrap handle and start it,except the 192t,i grab the top handle to start it.Its okay for pruning and smaller removals,then i go with the 141 and if required the 51,which isn't to bad for climbing or one handing.If a guy at another forum gets back to me,i'll be buying a 3120 with a 36" bar.

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old schooler

Therrin

I'm not sure if I knew that you could even get one started with the brake on... it sounds like a real bitch though.

So, OOMT, how long do you leave the brake on? You warm it up and revv it with the brake on too? How many pulls does it take to get it started that way?

Bruce Hopf

Problen is Ken, with this Pole, Not all Chain Saws have a Chain Brake. I have a few that don't. Bruce.

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McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Bruce Hopf

Sorry Ken, I reread the First Message that you replied to, so I have to vote No, I don't start my Chain Saws with the Chain Brake on.
Bruce.

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McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Therrin

I'm gonna have Ekka edit it.

yooper

I usually have my chain brake on, but always drop start...hell when it is -10F(-24C) and colder I usually have to drop start and hold the throttle open all the way. Its kinda like starting a "flooded" saw.

Therrin

you drop start with the throttle full open with the chain brake on though?

yooper

no, then I don't have the brake on. that's to hard on the clutch

treekiller

Smaller saws (361 with 20" bar and smaller) chain brake off/ drop start. Bigger saws, chain brake on, saw on ground with toe of boot inside back handle. The bigger saws can stay on the ground and warm up at idle for a while.

Eric Frei

Chain brake on, unless I forget.

Drop start? Who me?

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Roel

I thought with chain brake on, and normaly I do that. But my teacher, who gives the chainsaw course, said that's the wrong way. Without chain brake is better for the engine...... My first reaction was , but he was serious.

I dont like start a saw without chain brake. Is it so bad for the engine to start with chainbrake on?

Eric Frei

I would say that it is better for the saw with brake off, liken it to starting a car in gear.

As the saws start with throttle on (not idle) that means the first cold running is under considerable load with the brake preventing the drum from spinning.

For drop starters though it creates a safety issue with 25" of teeth spinning flat out, but I would say for ground starting with foot through rear handle then it's better for the saw to let the chain run (no brake).

It's about safety not what's best for the saw, them's the rules in most parts.

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newguy18

As long as you don't engage the throttle lock or hold the trigger down it won't hurt the saw if you start it with the brake on,it only hurts its when you try to start it with the throttle lock on and the brake on,then it has a tendency to smoke the clutch,needle bearing and sprocket,not to mention stall the engine.In theory it could also cause premature engine failure,mainly on the piston rings.

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old schooler

Bruce Hopf

I noticed while First Starting my Stihl Chain Saws, You have the Choke on, and it is pretty Much Full Throttle. I had the Chain Brake on, and it bogged the Engine down something awful, and Stalled again. I didn't realize that the Brake was on. I too feel, that it is too hard on the Engine, and everything else for that matter. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Therrin

Wow! I'm actually shocked at the numbers!

So can anyone start a 200T with the brake on?

newguy18

I don't know about a 200t,but i can do it with my 192t and my 51 no problem,i've done it on accident,never on purpose,to much wear on the engine.

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old schooler

TrevMcRev

Yes of course, everytime, no problems.

JohN Dee

+2

Every single one of our chainsaws start with the chain brake on. I always start any saw with the chain brake on.

Your saws not starting, or stalling with the chain brake on comes down to the bottom line of poor maintenance (Or maybe our aussie saws are superior? Eh? ).

But nah seriously, it's a maintenance thing.

Once started, I even check the chain brake is working:

Start saw>Chain brake off>Throttle to max>Check oil is spiting>Crack Chain brake on x 2

Yeah you all might say it's bad for the saw and components, I have no doubt either, but me cutting myself or anyone else is far more serious then a few bucks down the drain on maintenance over a mere object: Chainsaw.

--

Cold starts I like to start on the ground, foot thru rear. Warm starts usually a yo-yo start. And in the tree, it is perfectly fine to drop start your saw (chain brake on) as long as you hold it by the guide handle and not the throttle 200T included.

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dannyboysfc

#3 200T starts every time with the brake on.

I checked options 1,2,& 3 in the pole. I have no problem starting any saw with the brake on, and probably do so about half the time. I usually drop start the saws unless its the 660 or bigger.

Garry Brockley

with my huskys I cold start on the floor with the brake off, put it on then stand up with it do an oil test, then brake test, quick go over to see how it's running.
Warm start is rear handle between legs hold the front handle with my left hand and pull the start, 99% of the time the brake will be on. i find that forresters here dont use the chain brake at all which is fair enough i guess.

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treefeller

Drop start my saws with the chain break on, always have. Once they have started id take the break off rev it and then apply the break and leave it to warm up

newguy18

Why do you guys leave the brake on?Is that how you guys are taught in school over there?Standard maybe?I only do it on accident.

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old schooler

Garry Brockley

It's industry standard over here along with safety gear you have to have it to work.

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treefeller

Galbee's hit the nail on the head.

Jeff Darby

It's the same in Australia, during your pre start checks if something is not working properly it gets taged and bagged, this is why during the warm up phase we lock on the chainbrake twice during warmup at peak revs.

Only the 200T gets droped started while in the tree,with the chain brake on and the saw is punched away from the body in so minimising the chance of cutting a body part, while holding onto the top handle.

Safety first!...always!
JayD

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newguy18

Okay,glad its not standard over here,you guys go ahead and cause premature clutch wear.

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old schooler

Therrin

I still check the brake before I use the saw or climb with it, I just dont start it with it on. It seems to me that if you're using safe working practices then the bar should be in a safe direction/area when you start it anyhow. But I also dont start my saws on the ground with my foot through the rear handle either.