Getting varnish out of a chainsaw?
 

What would you use to get varnish out of a chainsaw that has been sitting for about a year with gas in it? I've heard people say acetone works well.

What's the process? Should I clean out the tank first and then take the plug out and pull the starter a few times or what?

http://users.rcn.com/kochc/moto/carb/carb.html

Great article on carb cleaning...

If you dont want to get too involved, I would dump out the gas that's in there, fill the tank with 1:1 seafoam and fresh, non ethonol, oil mixed gas, and try to start it. After a few pulls, just let it sit, come back in a few hours and try to start it again... Should run after that. May not run right, but, it should clean itself up fairly well after a bit of running. If not, just dissassemble the carb, scrub it with carb cleaner, and put it back together. Try not to loose anything:D

~Nate

If my memory serves me correctly it was Tom Walgamuth who wrote of putting laquer thinner in engines in this condition and running it for a while to clean out the carb.

I'd drain the old gas out of it first, and refill with fresh. Than wire brush off the plug, hit the carb with some carb cleaner and see if she fires.

Uhhh,,, chain saws are 2 cycle engines and depend on oil in the gas to survive. Running it with straight gas or anything will bring things to a screeching halt pretty quick.:eek: Might be a good idea to just tear it apart and clean it piece by piece.:D

i wanna know why there is varnish in it.

Pete, I was looking for the easy answer here. I like things that involve putting various fluids into the tank, waiting around, and then having it start right up on the first pull . . .

Your way sounds as though it would require various screw drivers, wrenches, and whutnot . . . not to mention my hands would get all dirty.

I decided to refinish it last year, but just never really liked the look.

\\


drain a re fill with fresh gas oil mix add some Seafoam 1/2 ounce in the small tank its a very good fuel system cleaner Acetone is a one ounce to 5 gallons / 10 gallons Cat cars for better fuel mileage and lower emissions
2 stroke should fire and go with no issues

Gas dries out with time and leaves a nasty residue behind. On automotive carbs it likes to block idle passages for example.

Also todays regular gas tends to go bad or rotten in a fairly short time frame compared to earlier years product. Use gas stabiliser to extend the gas storage period.

Today's gas forumulas produce nasty byproducts. I had some old gas in a Travco motorhome I owned and it caused most of the intake valves to stick which in turn bent many pushrods. Took a 2x4 being wacked with a sledgehammer to loosen them up.

Thanks for all of your input. I'll have that bad boy back in action by Saturday!

heh

try a hand-rubbed linseed oil finish.

There's something inherently funny about someone named "Stumpy" posting on a thread about chainsaws. Dontcha think?

Crap. I just realized your screen name is "Stimpy," not "Stumpy," dammit! Would you mind changing it to make my point?