Chainsaws

 The Husqvarna 440, should not be hard to pull over to start, so there maybe a problem. Here is what I would try, first check that the mechanics  of the engine are moving freely. 

1. First, Remove the Spark Plug, and leave it off to the side for now. Add about a teaspoon of  engine oil, or fuel additive oil that you use with your gas mix into the spark plug hole.  With the spark plug still removed pull over the starter, and make sure it pulls very easily. (You should be able to pull it over with just one finger on the starter cord handle, If it takes alot more than there is something wrong.) The little bit of oil will lubricate the piston, cylinder, and bearings inside the engine while doing this, you can pull it over a few times. If there is any resistance or its hard to pull, then remove the four screws in the starter, and remove the starter.

2. Second, with the starter in your hand, pull the starter cord it should pull real easily, again like with one finger around the starter handle. If it takes alot more than there is something wrong with the starter spring mechanism, and you may need to get a new spring, take the starter apart, clean and lubricate it, make sure nothing wrapped itself around and inside your starter.

3. Third, If the starter works fine, then put it off to the side, Check that the flywheel pawls are working, they should have springs on them, and they will move easily, I always give them a little squirt of WD-40, just to lubricate them. Now, use the flywheel as a handle,  and turn the flywheel in a counter clockwise direction (CCW), Is the engine still difficult to turn over ? If it is remove the clutch/ brake cover, and remove the bar and chain. Make sure there is nothing that has wrapped itself around the clutch, like a piece of a tree vine or something, make sure the clutch area is clean and not all caked up with sawdust and wood chips. I use a tooth brush, and a spray bottle of "Purple Power cleaner" which is a good de-greaser and cleaner, and will Not effect the plastics, if you have access to an air compressor, you can use air also to clean the clutch area. Again by turning the Flywheel CCW, Is it still difficult to turn over ? If the engine is still difficult to turnover, then you may have an internal engine problem which could be a number of problems, like scored piston, bearing problem, etc. So If this is difficult I would re-install all the parts, and take it to an engine repair shop for there assessment.

Finally, If all of the above steps don't uncover why its difficult to pull over, or It only does it when everything is back together, Than there is one more possibility, and that is the Carburetor. If the Carburetor is leaking fuel into the cylinder, or when you Pull start it you have to pull more than once or twice to get it started. Then what happens is the engine starts to flood, and once you get too much fuel into the engine, the engine will be difficult to start. and the fuel inside the engine will make it very difficult to pull on the starter cord, because a partially flooded engine, you cannot compress liquid. The compression cycle should only be compressing gas fumes. ( Note: I hope that makes sense for you). If the excess compression occurs because of too much liquid fuel in the engine, then your carburetor is at fault, and will need to be fixed to stop the engine from getting flooded, usually its the metering lever, needle, or metering diaphram that is the culprit inside the carburetor. If the Engine always starts in one or two pulls, then your engine is probably not flooding, Do Not continuously pull on the starter cord, more than a couple of times either since this will also pump fuel into the engine and flood the engine, find out why your engine is not starting in one or two pulls.

I hope the above Information helps, and sorry for being so wordy. But I have a couple of Model 435's and just 5 cc's less than the Model 440. and I am very familiar with these engines.

Karla

PS. I am Not a Husqvarna Representative or a Repair Service, Just an experimental chainsaw person. If I can be of further assistance just reply here, and let me know.