Thread: Stihl 024 not starting

Tip out old fuel.
Put a couple of RAW (yes raw) petrol in the tank and let it sit there for half an hour swishing occasionally.
Tip out and try freshly made mix.

If that doesn't work try taking the carby off and washing that in raw petrol.

Does it actually have spark?

If that doesn't work it could have lost its crankcase pressure holding capability.
That is quite a big job to fix.

Hi Kidbee,
Yes, Exactly what BobL has said.

If it has spark and fuel. Have a look at the spark arester in the muffler (if it has one). They glog up and the engine cant breath.

My 024 was near impossible to start when I inherited it and I had to replace all the fuel lines and the pickup etc as they had hardened and loosened and were leaking air all over the place - worth looking at It had been sitting for 3 or 4 years without use - could be the same deal

Its a big mistake to leave the petrol we are being dished up these days in machinery. There are so many additives, waxes, bios and other unknown crap in the mix the stuff nearly turns to glue while you watch it! As BobL said, drain tank and clean the carbi. While your at it, check the air cleaner.

chainsaws need 3 things to run, spark, fuel and compresion.

spark - pull plug out, connect to plug wire, touch bottom or thred onto metal of saw, if you cant get to metal, place screwdriver angleways accross plug hole
(not to far in) and rest plug on that, pull starter rope, you should see a blue/white spark, if its red or non existent your maggie and flywheel need cleaning.

fuel - leave saw off, choke, pull cord a few times, maybe 5, pull plug out, it should be almost dripping with fuel. if not chec fuel lines, filter not blocked (never seen one that was) if lines and filter ok then it needs a carby kit, (this is the most common probelm with 2 strokes when they get old.) about $12 at you local chainsaw shop.

compression - slowly pull over with the plug in, can you feel it come on and off compression with each revolution, from memory the 024av had really high compression, if no compression you need new rings. not a big job either.

Originally Posted by Kidbee

It is about 30 years old and not used often. Would not start so fitted new plug. Still won't go. Guess a service by a professional would not go astray but is there a further step I could take myself?

Have a check that a hornet or some other insect has not built a mud plug in the exhaust. Pretty common problem..

Originally Posted by RELVEL

Have a check that a hornet or some other insect has not built a mud plug in the exhaust. Pretty common problem..

always worth checking i ve been caught out a few times with that happening

to check the compression/spark pour a tiny bit (1/4 cap full) of fresh fuel (mix) down the carby throat, try to start it without choke but throttle in start position. Or even better hold the rear handle in your left hand, trigger fully depressed and yank away. This is a good starting method but you have to be confident in handling the saw

I tried most of the suggestions. In the end I put a new carburettor kit in and it now goes. Without a manual the hardest part was trying to get the throttle wire back on. Found out that there was a pin in the handle/trigger that I could knock out. Removing 30 years of oily wood dust around the carby was also a challenge.
Thanks for all the contributions.