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Service & Maintenance Question

    Mark E
    Husqvarna 435 Chain Saw - Very difficult to start....Answeredescalated
    Service & Maintenance Question posted October 31, 2011 by Mark E, last edited February 10, 2012 
    52180 Views, 33 Comments
    Question:
    Husqvarna 435 Chain Saw - Very difficult to start.


    Hello,
    I have a Husqvarna 435 Chain Saw that I purchased from Lowes about a year ago and I have only used it a couple of times.

    The problem I have is it is extremely difficult to start. I had to use it yesterday to try and clean up some tree limbs after they got knocked down during a storm. After 30 minutes trying to start it and unable to, I gave up and went to the hand saw.

    This should start so easily but it does not. I believe I have the proper fuel mixture and I follow the instructions in the manual but still no luck.

    I read somewhere that someone mentioned needing to adjust the low idle scree 1/4 turn but I did not see any details on how to get to it. Sounds like you have to fabricate some special tool just to turn the screw.

    Does anyone have good advice on how to adjust this so it will start?

    Also, the pull rope seems to stick from time to time. Any idea's on that would be most appreciated as well.

    At this point I would be hard pressed to recommend any Husqvarna product but I guess I'll reserve final judgement until I get to the bottom of the issues.

    Thanks,
    Mark
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    Best Answer

    Greg P.

    Hi Mark,

    Thank you for contacting Husqvarna. What has probably happened according to your story is that the saw has probably sat around with last years gas. While you may have changed it out, the carburetor itself has been affected by this and you will need to get your saw to an authorized dealer. The carburetor will need to be cleaned, adjusted and possibly replaced. I'm sure they can take a look at your pull start while it is there. As far as the carburetor adjusting tools these are only available to authorized service centers. EPA mandates prevent this tool from being sold to the direct public. There are heavy fines for anyone caught using these tools or adjusting carburetors.

     

    "Carburetor adjustments with tamper resistant screws or limiter caps must be conducted by Authorized Emission Certified Servicing Dealers ONLY. The dealer must supply the unit to the customer in the original configuration, using manufacturer’s carburetor adjustment procedure, which includes having if equipped the limiter caps in place before the unit is put into service. Knowingly removing or rendering inoperative a device, element, or design installed on or in a non-road engine which is in compliance with E.P.A. or C.A.R.B. regulations is classified as TAMPERING. TAMPERING is a violation of FEDERAL LAW, resulting in significant civil penalties (fines) of up to $25,000 for each violation per day. This is the reason the tools are not sold to the public sector." Hope this helps and thank you for using our products.

     

    Answer

    • Greg P.

      Hi Mark,

      Thank you for contacting Husqvarna. What has probably happened according to your story is that the saw has probably sat around with last years gas. While you may have changed it out, the carburetor itself has been affected by this and you will need to get your saw to an authorized dealer. The carburetor will need to be cleaned, adjusted and possibly replaced. I'm sure they can take a look at your pull start while it is there. As far as the carburetor adjusting tools these are only available to authorized service centers. EPA mandates prevent this tool from being sold to the direct public. There are heavy fines for anyone caught using these tools or adjusting carburetors.

       

      "Carburetor adjustments with tamper resistant screws or limiter caps must be conducted by Authorized Emission Certified Servicing Dealers ONLY. The dealer must supply the unit to the customer in the original configuration, using manufacturer’s carburetor adjustment procedure, which includes having if equipped the limiter caps in place before the unit is put into service. Knowingly removing or rendering inoperative a device, element, or design installed on or in a non-road engine which is in compliance with E.P.A. or C.A.R.B. regulations is classified as TAMPERING. TAMPERING is a violation of FEDERAL LAW, resulting in significant civil penalties (fines) of up to $25,000 for each violation per day. This is the reason the tools are not sold to the public sector." Hope this helps and thank you for using our products.

       

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      • Susan Modeski

        There should also be a federal law making companies pay hefty fines for selling almost new chainsaws that won't start.

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    • Gregory Davis

      The same thing happened to my  chainsaw, a 455 Rancher. Dealer took carb apart and found black debris clogging the carb screen inside. Cleaned it out and that allowed fuel to flow again. Now it flows too much and the carb floods after it is used and has sat for several minutes. New thread for that though.

      The only item in the fuel path for for this chainsaw that is black is the fuel hose from the tank to the carb. I venture to guess that the ethanol fuel has ate up the hose on the inside and caused the hose particles to clog the screen.

      Husqvarna should review the ratings of their fuel lines and ensure they are using fuel lines that will not be degraded by ethanol.

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      • Ronald Abbott

        MY 340 has been difficult to start since day one. I bought about 8 years ago. Last fall I drain the tank and ran the gas out.

        Last week I put in the $8.00 premixed gas, changed air filter, plug and fuel filter. It would not start, I took to my dealer

        and he said it needed a new  Carb and fuel line. After $126.00, I get it home and it will not start. I'm taking this thing to the dump and going to buy a quality machine.

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    • Frank Francisco

      Hello Mark,

      Forget these so called experts who answer ignorantly then give themselves checks for giving the best answer.  If you go through this forum, the only answer these morons know is "you will need to get your saw to an authorized dealer".  Forget getting any technical support here.

      This is what I suggest:  When starting cold, make sure the compression valve is pushed in and the choke on.  Prime the bulb a few times.  Give it a couple of pulls until the saw seems like it wants to start and the compression valve opens.  Then push the compression valve back in, prime the bulb again, pull the choke out, and be sure to push it back in, then give it a pull or two, and it should start.

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    • David Robertson

      Pretty sure the "Experts" are robots with auto response of "Take it to a dealer." If I wanted to do that I wouldn't waste my time on this worthless sight.

      Signed:

      Tired of being "escalated"

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    • Larrie Loehr

       

       
       
      My chainsaw model 340 is very difficult to start.   About twice out of 50 attempts.  Serial no. is 2HVXS.0414 AA - about 8 years old.  Hasn't been used for last two years,  Is 1/2 full of fuel with stabilizer compound.
       
      I added fresh gas-oil mixture (did not throw out the old gas), pulled the starter, rested, tried again, and after several pulls, finally started.  Ran for about 5 miinutes, then I shut it off. Started again ok, and ran it a few minutes then shut it off.  
       
      Tried again next day and it would not start after many attempts.  So, Studied the operations manual, cleaned air filter, checked sparkplug, blew it clean.  Couldn't find the fuel filter.
       
      I then called the support line and it worked!  Their suggestion:  Ethanol in the gas rots the rubber fuel hoses over many months of non-use.  Damages the fuel and/or air filter too.  Solution:  Buy "40 Fuel," - a type of gas with no or little ethanol and does not require mixing oil ino it.  
       
      In general, for about ten years, I too have found the Husvarna chain saws very difficult to start.  They need to innovate; perhaps visit Honda to see how Honda gets it machines started after two pulls.  Every time.  
       
      Opportunity for a new startup anyone?!  Meanwhile, I'm on the way to the dealer for repair.
       
       
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    • bob waddingham

      Have a 435 x torq with the same starting issues. Tried adjusting the carb and thought i may have messed it up. Bought new carb.  Same results. Changed the lines the filter, plug, gas? Still no positive results. Thought i was buying a quality product. Guess it is time to look for a better name brand product. Walmart needs to make room for a other sloppy product

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    • paul wesson

      buy a stilt . i have a 20 year old stilt chainsaw and it starts and run like the first day i purchased it .take that husgvara crap and throw it in the trash.

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    • Don Atchison

      i just bought a factory reburbished 435 and it terrible to start.  i got it to start once.  i just spent an hour trying to start it.  it would be less work to use a hand saw.  i owned a husqvarna that was stolen.  i have the right fuel, right mixture and i know how to use it.  wish i would have bought a stihl

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    • Juergen Ludwig

      Pump gas 5-6 times ,set on choke , pull 3-4 times ,it will attempt to start ,put choke back to normal ,1-2 more pulls will get you running . Works for me ,even if the saw has not been used in 7-8-9momth. Do not ,however pull the gas trigger , then you will have to pull till your arms falls out of the socket . If you did do so , wait for 15 minutes , maybe even take the sparkplug out to clean /dry etc , and then follow my directions . it will work .

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    • JP

      you can buy the tools on ebay... i would like to see the EPA prove anything.. and they are worried about chainsaws? when they have hundreds of millions of cars on the roads pumping crap in the air??

       

      comical... i love the "canned answers" that husqvarna posts on this site... I am a hard core husqvarna guy but this site is a joke.. and the people that "run it" are nothing short of mouth breathers.

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    • Jared Cuneo

      Haha, amen brothers....here is my story:

       

      I realize that this is a very old thread, but I just have to vent and give this guy some empathy.

       

      Everything this company does is a freaking disaster. What kind of professional equipment company has no email contact? Its obvious that the phone 'support' consists of rude idiots who essentially are paid to get you to the point where you just give up trying to get your problem resolved. I suppose that its cheaper to get rid of people than to actually help them. Fantastic way to run a company.

      I had the same experience. They let anyone that can fog a mirror become a dealer, dont require them to have training or quality control, or even the right tools! I brought a brand new 550xp saw to repair a factory defective oiler and they had no scan tool. Now, when I went to open the season and inspect the saw, I just noticed that they broke off a cooling fin and did not tell me. I have no hope whatsoever of getting this fixed,  but more importantly, the saw fouls plugs! Its brand new! They told me to run 9 tanks of gas though it.....LOL

       

      At the same time, I bought a computerized Stihl. It starts on the first pull everytime and plug looks perfect after a season of extremely heavy use. Also, they have an email address! Imagine that.

       

      I go back to, what company uses their customers to fix other customers products. All sorts of crappy advise exist on this forum....its really insane.

       

      So, we are in it dude, sitting here with defective, expensive saws (mine leaks oil after running for like 2 days too, dont feel bad) like a bunch of suckers.

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    • Tom Boedecker

      I have  a NEW 450 that is hard, no, impossible to start, after the first start and use. No matter what I do, choke, no choke;

      compression button in, then out: prime no prime. The piece of junk refuses to start unless I let it sit for hours, or better yet,

      over night or for day(s). Forget what the company  rep or dealer says about the gas destroying the saw or making it hard

      to start. How can that be the case when the saw is  new out of box and has less than 3 hours of runtime?

       

      The issue with my saw is not the gas or the gas line failing. The failure is right out of the factory. I will give the dealer

      one chance to repair this piece of crap. If I get it back and it does the same thing, I'm putting it in a box and sending it

      Corp for my money and the cost of S&H plus insurance.

       

      I would have better off buying two Echos for the price of one Husky 450. At least I would have a back up.

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    • Scott Gordon

      Husqvarna 445 chainsaw I had a few years with no problems, now has an issue. Hasn't been used that much, no ethanol, and run gas out after putting up. Saw runs good with power but after about 5- 8 minutes of use, will not restart. Let it cool off, saw will start and run a few more minutes. I have replaced spark plug, fuel filter, and cleaned air filter. Also opened up the low speed jet, but no change. Spark arrestor is not clogged. Possible solutions?

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    • Al For

      Sadly, I have to agree with complaints about Husqvarna chainsaws.  I have a Husqvarna 450 that has never started reliably.  My mistake was not returning it and getting a different brand during warranty period.  Even in the first year, I probably wasted as much time trying start it as using it.  This is not an old gas problem but rather poor design.  I wonder if a Stihl chainsaw would be more reliable?  Service has accomplished nothing but incurring more costs.

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      • Al For

        Just a positive followup on my Husqvarna 450 problem on starting.  After torturing myself for a couple of years with a chainsaw that would not reliably start, I finally resolved this problem:  I took the chainsaw to several service centers to no avail, and finally took it to one that sent the chainsaw back to Husqvarna. Even though the warranty period had ended, Husqvarna did some "work" on it and returned at no charge to the dealer. The dealer had no idea what they did nor did I.  Happily, the chainsaw now starts easily usually within 3 pulls.  I even left it with gas in the line over the winter inadvertently, but the chainsaw started right up in the Spring. Husqvarna probably knows what the problem is but maybe they don't want to tell the end-user?

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    • Olivia Fair

      Always was a big Husqvarna fan. Have lots of their equipment. After this reviews diceded to get one more .The 455 is a home owner saw, supposedly not designed for extended hard use day in day work like a pro saw would experience. I have to say mine got a lot of time and never missed a beat, excellent saw. I ran one for a Farm saw a few years. Had to tweek the low speed carb adjuster to make it start easy and idle in cold weather....found out it liked a richer setting year around. Another way to interp that is they are lean from the factory! The construction / design of a 455 is radically different than a 555 or 365. 455 isessentially a plastic  case construction ...the 365 and 555 are built from their pro level counter parts in the product line to compete with other mid level saws..most of which are built up home owner saws. Hard to beat the price/performance/construction quality of either the 365 or 555, Can't think of any other saw(s) in the price range with as good a package at the price levels.

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