Picked up a new Stihl MS311

[930dreamer]

But I can't get it to start, it was started by the salesperson and i returned to the shop. I did a cold start with full choke and no indication the saw even tried to run.
I pulled the plug and i grounded the plug a saw a very weak spark, not happy I had to work on the saw in the first 20 minutes of ownership.

 

[jonshonda]

The tried and true starting method is full choke until you hear it turn over once. Then half choke until it starts.

 

[930dreamer]

The tried and true starting method is full choke until you hear it turn over once. Then half choke until it starts.

It never even burped.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Choke OFF and Throttle Wide OPEN....... Pull a few times and hopefully it kicks over.

TIP! Use a piece of tape or wire to hold the throttle open.

 

[SlotlessMan]

Mine took a bit to get used to starting it as I kept on flooding it. I had to dry the plug out the first few times trying to start it lol. I eventually got the choke figured out but there was a learning curve for me.

 

[Copymutt]

X2 on the above. The procedure is in the op. Manual.
A quick way to dry out the flooded combustion chamber is remove the plug. Hold a match or torch to the plug hole and pull the cord. Likewise hold the plug tip to a flame for a second or two. Reinstall and begin again.

 

[johninct]

Did you pump the fuel primer bulb first? Also, easy start just pull the cord slowly.

 

[Sumboodie]

The tried and true starting method is full choke until you hear it turn over once. Then half choke until it starts.

There's no half choke.

It's choke and high idle.

 

[Davefr]

Is the plug wet? If so it's likely flooded. If it's bone dry you have a fuel delivery issue.

Try it without the decomp valve. The decomp often makes it hard to detect the first burp and then you can quickly flood it.

 

[930dreamer]

The store filled the fuel tank with Stihl fuel which is very clear, I cleaned the plug with carb cleaner and dried/reinstalled. No start, I'll look at it again when I'm finished watching the kids.

 

[ericm]

For my saws with regular carbs it's three pulls max on the choke, then to fast idle. Even if it didn't pop. The Stihl CM electronic carb saws prefer full choke until they start.
Don't use the choke when the saw is warm.

If you are new to chainsaws remember to get full safety gear: steel toe boots, chaps, gloves, glasses or face shield, hearing protection. Husqvarna makes a good helmet that has ear muffs and a face shield and is a hard hat (stuff can fall out of trees when you're cutting them). The Stihl manual has a pretty good tutorial on how to use a saw safely.

 

[purplezr2]

Did you read the direction, I know my Husky is finicky about starting if you don't follow the directions on the saw. It is a 562XP model with the Autotune carb.

 

[dzahm]

My jonsered is 10 pumps on the primer bulb-then full choke x 3 pulls then go to high idle- I didn't read that and tried to use it like my older husqvarna and flooded the sht out of it. If I follow the instructions it starts very easily- but if you pull it till it bumps (at full choke) it is way flooded-

 

[tarmy]

Is the plug wet? If so it's likely flooded. If it's bone dry you have a fuel delivery issue.

Try it without the decomp valve. The decomp often makes it hard to detect the first burp and then you can quickly flood it.

This...and make sure the chain brake is on it has one.

 

[thr3squared]

I had this problem with my 250, and I kept trying to start it with the full choke....all I did was severely flood it.

Talked with the dealer - no more than two pulls on full choke (it should "pop" which I don't always hear), then switch up to half choke and it fires right up.

Once its been running a while no need to use the choke to start it.

 

[Jazz1]

Sounds like those rental boat motors that vendor fires up on one pull then quits at the first bend in river never to fire again

 

[930dreamer]

I got the saw started this morning, all is good.

 

[SethB]

For my saws with regular carbs it's three pulls max on the choke, then to fast idle. Even if it didn't pop. The Stihl CM electronic carb saws prefer full choke until they start.
Don't use the choke when the saw is warm.

If you are new to chainsaws remember to get full safety gear: steel toe boots, chaps, gloves, glasses or face shield, hearing protection. Husqvarna makes a good helmet that has ear muffs and a face shield and is a hard hat (stuff can fall out of trees when you're cutting them). The Stihl manual has a pretty good tutorial on how to use a saw safely.

Same here for my 2 Stihls. 3 pulls on choke, then fast idle and they light up, no drama.

 

[Trapps]

Same here for my 2 Stihls. 3 pulls on choke, then fast idle and they light up, no drama.

Similar experience on a 180c and 311.

The dealer I bought mine from prepped both saws which included running then. I've had zero issues. I'm probably helped in that last year I converted to pre-mix. The saws both seem to love it.