Stihl chainsaw - good rpm, bad power

[control]

I have a Stihl 028 Super AV chainsaw that I inherited from my Dad. It starts okay and spins the blade real good, but has absolutely no torque. A piece of styrofoam can stop the chain from turning!

From what I'm reading these older Stihl's are worth keeping around.

Also have the same problem with a 14" McCollough chainsaw.

Any suggestions?

 

[D'Animal]

Does it rev up and sound strong at full RPM? Or does it rev up and sound like the choke is coming on?

The most common problem is the choke spring inside the air filter. To verify this is the problem, take your air filter cover of and start the saw. Look at the choke engagement lever comming out of the bottom right hand corner of the aif filter. As you rev the saw up, make sure that does not move of "flutter". If in doubt, take a small screw driver and lightly push down on it so it stays in place. If it solves you problem, you need a new choke lever return spring. It is very common for a person to tweak the tension out of the spring and/or bend the spring when they are cleaning the air filter.

 

[control]

It has good rpm at full throttle and sounds like its running smooth, but I will check the choke as you described just in case. Plus I want to learn more about the chainsaw.

Does the clutch (or something else) engage only when it is put under a load?

... But first must get some fresh 90(1) octane.

 

[D'Animal]

Also check the spark arrestor/fire screen in the muffler cover.

 

[skully3]

these things are bad for the gas line dry rotting, take off the air cleaner cover and look below the spark plug, they do that when they suck air, runs fine when you have no load. I may be late on this but GL

 

[prado t]

I had a similar problem with my Stihl 023 a couple of years ago ; When the saw was up to operating temp and no load it would rev up nice like it should, but when under load it would start bogging.

For my Stihl it was the winter flap in the air filter , took the plastic out and fitted it into the holder on the cover and voila it cuts like an ECHO lol.


I wish I had a picture.

 

[D'Animal]

The 023 and the 028 have a completely different choke mechanism from each other.

The 028 does not have a selectable winter shutter.

 

[prado t]

I know , I was just commenting

 

[bdm1222]

Carb setting wrong left side of saw 3 adjustmets take them back to factory.Turn H scew clockwise all the way,then back off 3/4 turn.Turn L screw all the way clockwise backoff 1/4 turn.Start saw let it warm up if chain spins without giving it gass turn LA screw counterclockwise till chain doesnt turn on its own. PS do this at correct chain tennsion.Good luck,let me know how you make out.