Solution To 13 Common Problems With Starting a Homelite Chainsaw

You use your trusty chainsaw to make firewood and clear storm debris. It’s annoying when it won’t turn on when you require it but you don’t use it very often. To help you narrow down the possible causes, I’ve compiled a list of things that could be preventing your Homelite from starting.

When spark, air, or gasoline are cut off to a Homelite Chainsaw, it will not start. There are many potential causes for this, including a dirty carburetor, a broken ignition coil, old fuel, or a clogged air filter, a faulty ignition coil, old fuel, or a clogged air filter.

You cut firewood and clean up storm debris with your dependable chainsaw. When it won’t turn on when you require it, even though you don’t use it much, it is annoying. I’ve developed a list of potential causes for your Homelite not to start to aid you in whittling down the possibilities.

A Homelite Chainsaw won’t start if the spark, air, or gasoline are shut off. A dirty carburetor, a blocked fuel filter, a clogged fuel line, a clogged spark arrestor, a broken ignition coil, old fuel, or a clogged air filter are just a few of the many probable causes for this.

It is essential that you cut off the spark plug’s electricity and follow any other safety instructions listed inside the Homelite owner’s manual before starting any repairs.

Before attempting any diagnosis, repairs, or use of the equipment, make sure you have read and understood all of the safety instructions included in the owner’s manual. If you don’t feel confident in your abilityto securely complete the repair due to a lack of experience, training, or health, it’s best to call in an expert.

Because of This, Homelite Chainsaw Won’t Start

On a Homelite Chainsaw, a bad switch or the incorrect choke setting

A chainsaw’ll have an on/off toggle which must be set to the proper position before use. To operate the saw, you must first flip the switch to the “on” or “run” position.

The Homelite chainsaw won’t start if the ignition switch is misaligned or damaged. Check for a faulty switch with a multimeter, and if one is found, replace it.

The choke is another part of the chainsaw that can prevent it from starting. To start a cold engine, turn on the choke and reduce the airflow into the engine.

A cold engine needs more fuel, but once it’s warmed up, the choke can be opened to let in more air.

Getting a Homelite chainsaw going from cold:

1. Ensure that the key is in the “on” or “run” position.
2. Please ensure the chain brake is disengaged and in the “run” position.
3. To get a cold engine going, you need to fully engage the choke.
4. About six-and-a-half times, press the primer bulb.
5. Multiple pulls on the rope should make the engine sound like it is starting. You risk flooding the engine if you use too much.
6. To start the engine, move the choke lever to the halfway role and pull the starter cord.
7. After 15 to 30 seconds of the engine running and warming up, switch the choke lever to the off/run position.
8. Let it run for another 30 seconds, and then blip the cruise control trigger to bring it back to idle.

Start at step 6 if you want to know how to start a warm engine.

A Homelite Chainsaw with Stale or Low-Quality Fuel

In a Homelite chainsaw, old gas can cause a variety of issues, including difficulty starting. Gas can become ineffective and begin to degrade as soon as 30 days after purchase.

Most gasoline contains ethanol, which can damage the small engine in a Homelite chainsaw. Moisture is attracted to ethanol, and the ethanol then leaves behind a varnish that clogs fuel filters and corrodes engine parts. The chainsaw may have trouble starting as a result.

This highlights the urgency of using up new gas within the first 30 days after purchase. If you don’t plan on using the fuel within that time frame, you should add a fuel stabilizer.

Stay away from gas with a lot of ethanol in it, like E15 and E85, which have up to 15% and 85% ethanol, respectively. Here you can learn more about the best fuel for your chainsaw.

If you’re having trouble getting the engine to start and you check the fuel and find that it’s old, you should refill the tank with new gas. You can clean the fuel system and lower the amount of moisture in it by using a fuel stabilizer like Sea Foam Motor Treatment or STA-BIL.

Once you’ve managed to start the chainsaw, you should let the fuel run through the machine and into the fuel system.

Incorrect Fuel in a 2- or 4-Cycle Chainsaw

The type of fuel you use in a Homelite chainsaw is something you don’t want to get wrong. Wrongly doing this can wreck an engine for good. A fuel mixture consisting of gas and 2-cycle oil is required for a chainsaw with a 2-cycle engine from Homelite.

Fuel Requirements for a 2-Cycle Homelite Chainsaw:

Any Homelite chainsaw powered by a 2-cycle engine will have a single fill harbour for a combination of gas and oil. Oil and gas are combined at a ratio of 50 to 1.

You can use gas with an octane rating of 87 or higher and up to 10% ethanol to make the gas and oil 50:1 mixture. Premium 2-cycle engine oil that has been certified as ISO-L-EGD and JASO M345 FD should be blended with the fuel.

DO NOT use unleaded gas in a Homelite chainsaw. It has a tendency to run extremely dry, which can lead to engine seizure if not addressed. If you make a mistake like that, you might have to buy a new chainsaw.

Ethanol-free fuel

Using a fuel without ethanol is preferable, but more expensive, because of the detrimental effects ethanol has on your chainsaw’s performance.

It’s more expensive, but having this on hand means you won’t have to make a special trip to the gas station just to have your fuel mixed. Pre-mixed, ethanol-free fuel cans are available at hardware stores and on the web.

Homelite Chainsaw with Clogged Air Filter

A chainsaw’s air filter prevents debris from entering the engine. In order to protect the engine from dirt, a filter is installed.

Air filters need to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis to prevent sawdust and dirt from clogging the filter and reducing the amount of air reaching the carburetor throat. When air is scarce, a chainsaw can be difficult to start and keep running.

In general, homeowners should clean or replace their air filter multiple times per season and replace it once per year. More frequent filter cleaning and replacement will be necessary if you plan on doing a lot of work with your chainsaw.

It’s important to check the air filter to make sure the engine doesn’t overheat and break down. It’s an extra precaution to make, I know, but checking the filter’s condition takes all of a minute and can save you from having to replace an expensive engine.

The filter should be changed if it becomes too clogged with debris or is broken. Always use an air filter when operating a chainsaw.

Here are the measures to clean the filter on your Homelite chainsaw:

• Take off the protective covering of the air filter.
• Clear the area around the filter of dust and sawdust with a wipe.
• The air filter needs to be taken out.
• Remove any lingering debris and dust from of the air filter housing by wiping it down.
• Warm soapy water, then cool water until the water runs clear: that’s how you clean the filter.
• Air dry the filter completely before using again.
• The sanitized filter should be re-inserted. If your current air filter is extremely dirty, torn, or has a gap through which dirt can pass, you should go out and get a new one and have it installed.
• Affix the filter cover back to the air intake.

Homelite Chainsaw with a Faulty Spark Plug

The spark plug is responsible for generating the spark that ignites the chainsaw and keeps it running. It is recommended that the typical homeowner replace their spark plug once a year because it is a wear item. More frequent spark plug replacement is warranted with increased Homelite use.

Problems with the engine’s performance can be caused by a spark plug that is dirty. If a spark plug is very dark in color, has a burnt anode, or the porcelain has broken, it needs to be replaced.

Check that the spark plug wire is properly attached and that the gap between the electrodes is as specified by the manufacturer. Start-up issues can also be brought on by these factors.

Homelite Chainsaw with a Bad Ignition Coil

If the spark plug has been tested with a spark plug tester and found to be in good working order, but you are still experiencing difficulties producing spark, the ignition coil may be at fault. Short circuits can occur when the ignition coil’s winding comes loose.

This prevents the necessary voltage from reaching the spark plug, preventing it from producing a spark. Your chainsaw will malfunction as a result of this.

With the help of an ohm meter, you can find a malfunctioning ignition coil. If you find a crack in the ignition coil, you’ll need to get a new one.

Homelite Chainsaw with Clogged Fuel Filter

The fuel filter serves to prevent foreign matter (such as dirt and debris) from entering the Homelite’s fuel system. The filter, which has the shape of a cylinder, is a component of the fuel tank that is kept inside the vehicle. You will find it connected to the fuel line.

Filters can become clogged from lack of maintenance or from allowing dirty fuel to be used, both of which reduce fuel flow. The saw may not start or run slowly as a result of this.

If you are a homeowner who only uses the saw occasionally or in an emergency, you should consider replacing the fuel filter. You may need to replace the saw as often as every three months if you use it frequently for cutting wood.

To change the fuel filter on a Homelite chainsaw:

• When taking off the fuel cap, be sure to wipe the area around it to prevent any debris from entering the tank.
• Taking off the fuel cap (permit the chainsaw to cool down first if you have been using it).
• With the help of a clean, bent wire, you can unhook the fuel filter from the tank and remove the fuel line.
• While keeping a firm grip on the fuel line, remove the filter from the fuel line. Stay tight on the gas line.
• Insert the male end of the new fuel filter into the fuel line and tighten it down until it is secure.
• To use, simply replace the fuel cap after inserting the filter into the fuel tank.

Homelite Chainsaw with a Faulty Primer Bulb.

If the primer bulb is cracked and won’t take fuel, the engine won’t be able to get gas to the carburetor. Throw out the old primer bulb and swap in a new one.

Repairing a Homelite Chainsaw’s Blocked or Burst Fuel Line

In the event that the fuel line can become clogged, there will be a restriction in the fuel supply. There’s a chance this will stop the chainsaw from starting. To unclog the carburetor, delete the clogged fuel line and spray some cleaner into the intake.

In order to get rid of it, you should blow compressed air through the line.

If you are unable to clear the fuel line or you discover that it is dry, cracked, or punctured, you will need to get a new fuel line.

Homelite Chainsaw with a Contaminated Carburetor.

Fuel and air are combusted in the cylinder, and the Homelite carburetor controls how much of each is introduced. Due to old fuel’s gumminess and clogging of the carburetor, it will no longer perform as intended. Your chainsaw might not start if you do this.

You should be able to clean your carburetor if you have a basic understanding of mechanics. Carburetor cleaning entails disassembling the device and spraying it with a special cleaner.

After cleaning, if the carburetor still doesn’t work, you may need to have it rebuilt or get a new one.

Homelite Chainsaw with Faulty Recoil Starter

The engine of a Homelite chainsaw is started with a recoil starter. Recoil systems can stop functioning due to faulty pulleys, missing or loosened springs, or damaged clips.

It’s possible to try changing the spring and restringing the recoil. The recoil assembly should be replaced if other parts, such as the clips or the pulley, are broken and the problem persists.

Homelite Chainsaw with a Blocked Spark Arrestor.

The spark arrestor is a small screen in the muffler that can get plugged with soot. A plugged spark arrestor will prevent airflow causing a chainsaw not to start.

Allow the muffler to cool. Remove the spark arrestor and clean it with a wire brush. Replace the mesh spark arrestor screen when you are not able to clean it sufficient or if it is damaged.

Never run a chainsaw without this screen or with a screen that has a hole in it. Without a screen, hot material can come out of the saw potentially starting a fire or causing burns.

Homelite Chainsaw With a Frozen Engine Due to Rain

If the choke is closed and the starter rope is pulled repeatedly, the engine may flood.

It can also occur if the primer bulb is pressed too many times while the switch is off, or if the starter rope is pulled repeatedly.

If the choke is closed and the starter rope is pulled repeatedly, the engine may flood.

Here are some things you can try to get your flooded chainsaw going:

Option 1: Fire Up a Soggy Homelite Chainsaw

• Put the choke in the open/run position and turn the key on.
• You need to repeatedly pull the starter rope and press the throttle trigger. Five to fifteen pulls may be required before it begins. First, the motor in your chainsaw will sputter. A further two or three pulls should do the trick.

Option 2: Fire Up That Soggy Homelite Chainsaw

• Turn the off switch completely off.
• The spark plug must be pulled.
• You need to pull the starter rope between six and eight times to get the engine started.
• Replace the spark plug with a fresh, dry one.
• Clog off and in the open/run position, start the chainsaw.

How to Fix Common Homelite Chainsaw Starting Issues (Quick Reference Chart)