The caps are installed so that you can't change the factory settings. You will have to remove them before changing the mixture. Some saws have the same style cap with a boss on the side,allowing you to make a slight adjustment. (less than a turn) Since these saws are considered ~DIRTY~ by emissions standards, they're factory set to comply. The caps just snap on.

It was a little tricky to get the old caps off, had to line up the tabs with the slot and pull with a screw. I haven't seen the new ones yet. I might try heating up a small flat screwdriver and melting a slot in the caps. I looked at a parts diagram the screws under the caps have slots in the but might not have tension springs to hold them in place . Steve

Must be missing something. I removed the
starter rope mechanism and still cannot get
close to the plastic caps. Tried prying them
off with no luck.

Use a long drywall screw to pop the caps off. There wont be any springs on those jets so the trick is to cut the stopper tabs off the caps with a pair of diagonal cutters or a razor knife and then put them back on. This will allow you to turn the jets with the caps on and keep them snug so vibration doesnt adjust them for you.

I really dont understand this. Why would the EPA demand that a manufacturer place these stopper tabs on these screws? Who wants an engine that they cannot adjust? Reminds me of the old carb screws on a Qjet 4 bbl...

Main jet is always closest to the cylinder on a diaphragm carb,
Best wishes,
Bob

"old carb screws on a Qjet 4 bbl" In the day (in MY mine) being an old quadrajunk carb master. I really disliked the choke pull off adjustment Bending the rod to get the reqired 1/8" pull-off gap was a pain. a bit too closed and it ran like crap until it warmed up, a bit too wide and it would stall out untill it was warm. Didn't have a problem with idle curcuit or jets.

FORD really had a better idea Back in the day at rod threaded with a nut for fine tuning and the thermostatic adjustable housing that nobody new you had a winter setting and a summer setting on. The ford 2100 and 4100 IMO was the easiest carb to clean and adjust if you knew what you were doing. Did you know FORD put quadrajets on some engines???? Which ones????

Why the EPA limits. it's there prime purpose if life to make things diffcult and they are doing and OUTSTANDING JOB IMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!