Chainsaws

Hi all. I'm going to add to the quite numerous posts regarding starting a Husqvarna chainsaw.

I bought the 562XP Autotune brand new in July 2014. I've had problems when trying to start it in the past but have always managed to get it going the number of times that I've needed it. Recently however I'm finding it impossible to start when cold. Here's what's happening:

I exactly follow the cold start procedure in the manual without success. I never hear the "puff" sound they say will come after a few pulls of the starter cord with the choke on but I do smell fuel, so I know I've flooded it. I try to clear the flooding by holding the throttle open whilst pulling the starter cord but can't get it started. I remove the spark plug and dry it off, reinstall it but no joy. (I even went so far as to install a new plug after setting the gap as per the manual. Still no joy.)

I keep trying to clear the flooding by holding full throttle whilst pulling the starter cord but no joy.

I washed the air filter in soapy water, rinsed it and dried it out. I took the plug out and let the saw sit in the kitchen where it's warmer hoping to dry it all out and perhaps warm the saw up a little. Put it all back together but still no go.

I took the saw to my dealer and his workshop guys got it started by clearing the flooding. They said one guy held the throttle open and the other guy pulled the starter cord until it fired. I was told not to follow the manual's cold starting procedure but to instead depress the decomp button, prime the bulb, set the choke, two pulls with choke on then choke off and it should start.

I took the saw home and it was by now cold, so I tried the guy's recommended cold start procedure. Couldn't get it started. It smells like it's flooded again. At the moment it's in the house again with the plug removed. I'm going to reinstall the plug tomorrow and try a complete cold start again using the dealer's procedure.

I'm using 95 octane fuel and Husqvarna 2-stroke oil at 50:1 as per the manual. (I was also told by the guys at the dealership to run it at 25:1 as the 50:1 is for European temperatures).

If I can't get it started tomorrow I'm going to take it back to the dealer on Monday without doing anything else and get them to show me their technique. I must say I'm very frustrated by all this as I have a smaller McCulloch 2316AV saw that starts every time cold or hot.

I have read various forums which describe recalls, problems with the saw's ignition system, carby system, autotune system and other issues relating to the clutch and crankshaft.

I'm wondering whether I made a good decision to buy this saw in the first place.

Hoping someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong! Thanks in advance. Cheers.

Just bought a brand new, in the box 550xp about 2 hours ago. Got it home, fueled up and won't start. Won't even turn over. Checked the manual 3 times to be sure I didn't miss anything special. Pulled it about 75 times and nothing. Now I've noticed what appears to be fuel leaking form the top of the muffler baffles. What's going on? Very close to just returning the whole thing and go buy a Stihl if a new Husqvarna won't start.

I have a Husqvarna 65 chainsaw that I bought new in the late 1970's? It still runs really strong. It came with an 18 inch chain bar made in Canada. I want to replace the chain bar with a Husqvarna brand bar but can't seem to find a match? The Husqvarna part number on the bar does not show up on any dealer's parts lists. Any ideas how to find a matching bar and chain that will work with the existing sprocket?

what should the compression be on a husqvarna 545 chain saw?