Scott sounds like you are not a serious saw user. 1st ensure to use only properly stabilized fresh fuel . You are most likely using ethanol fuel which causes all kinds of issues with these small carbureted units. If you do not use your saw regularly once evey few weeks , then fuel with conditioner is very important . Otherwise hard starting or cutting out will be the norm. A little $$ goes a long way within prevention. 1st buy some new fuel and mix with premium oil for chainsaws not outboards or lawnmowers etc. I use Amsoil Sabre , but Stilh or Klotz or any other premium , preferably synthetic will give you great performance and protection . Ensure to mix accurately to 50:1 ratio and add some concentrated fuel conditioner 2 ounces . Let your saw run for approx. 20 minutes with full choke or 1/2 choke to maintain fast idle . Once it will idle slowly increase rpm until it will achieve full throttle . If cleaner does not work then check your fuel filter for restriction , you should be able to blow through it . Next if clear, spray some carb cleaner through carb venturi and remove jets and spray some there and inset tag wire if they seem gummed up as a last resort . Ensure to record the number of turns out 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 is the norm from gentley seated. Again I cannot stress enough the importance of proper saw and fuel maint. I have owned and repaired saws for over 40 yrs and this new ethanol fuels are wreaking havoc with all small engine leaf blowers , weed wackers and chainsaws. A little use of stabil , sea foam , marvel mystery oil or my choice of Star*tron during fuel usage and storage solves these problems before they ocurr . Let us know how you make out Dude !

I second the importance of proper saw and fuel maintenance. I am a female who cut my own firewood back in the '70's on the farm. Had several Stihls and that is the only one I would buy. If you treat them right they will be good for you. Now retired and living in town but still have a Stihl saw as well as a tiller. And still cut my own firewood.

Stihl now has premixed bottles of gas for sale and that might be a good thing for this guy to buy, expensive but he will get the right mixture every time. I use Stabil when I put my saws away for a while.

I am not a dealer or investor or play one on tv. But I like the Stihl line. Like most everything in life you get out what you put in.

gardener: Great Point , A little time in prep goes a long way Girl !

P.S. As for proper chain tension , rule of thumb as follows . Solid Bar configuration chain deflection at half bar point 3/16 to 1/4 " Roller Tip configuration measure chain deflection at mid bar to expose 3/4 tooth when saw is lifted from rest postion by chain at midpoint of Bar. Also use winter grade premium bar oil at all temps . You may use a little more oil but will never starve your bar or chain with thinner oil viscosity bar oil , which also better flushs out residual wood chips and debris and reduces clogging.... etc !

Scott,

Your description is a bit unclear. How long have you had your saw? How long ago did Home Depot clean it and what exactly did they do?

Old gas is an absolute no-no for your saw IF it contains ethanol. Even one-month old 87 was not good to put in it. Take a look at the list of gas stations on the website pure-gas.org to find one nearby you or on your way somewhere that you can get some ethanol-free gas. I'm using that now in all my small engines to keep from having to rebuild the carbs if I have to let them sit unexpectedly.

I do have a suggestion for your issue that hasn't been mentioned: how is the air filter? This needs to be kept clean because the engine will stall out if it is not getting enough air. Check the fuel filter and lines to make sure they haven't cracked, Your manual should be able to help you with this things.

Regards,

Jay

Jay the ops concerns are almost a mth old , has not sent an additional info , most likely has saw up and running . P.S. As for Air Filter , this is routine saw issue that is done during the Home Depot Servicing , along with fuel filter and installation of a New Spark Plug . If Home Depot are on top of things they also fill the fuel up prior to final tuning and Billing . I suspect that they may not have added fuel conditioner , which the owner left for prolonged duration which caused the carb fouling. Even non e-fuel will cause issues after a few mths . P.S. Good point on the fuel lines , over looked by most users until they leak lol. P.S.S. Jay also if you treat your Ethanol Fuel with a New Generation Treatment Eg : Startron your fuel will be good for 2 yrs storage . I would think there are other additives , but Startron has solved all my E-fuel ssues , although I try not to use it personally on my own equipment for obvious reasons.

I just bought a second hand stihl 260 chainsaw. The guy I bought it from said it had not been ran in 6 months. He put new fuel in it pull it twice fired right up. I used it for two days and it fired up distribution pull every time and on the third day it started giving me problems. It would die out once I let off throttle and become a lot harder to crank and then not crank at all until I let it sit for a while. Cleaned spark plug because I noticed it looked flooded and wet around exaust . Help!

hi, what do you mean by "distribution pull". do you have a spark tester.

here's something else to look at

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkU3wNtDNnQ

Good information post , however with the original ops post services tech would have inspected and repaired or replaced defective air filter choke mechanizium . These choke assemblies caused yrs of problems until redesigned .