Why Your Troy-Bilt Chainsaw Won’t Start and How to Fix It

Getting a Troy-Bilt chainsaw for your wood-cutting needs was a smart move. But now you’re having issues where your chainsaw won’t start. In this article, I will discuss a number of potential factors that are contributing to your starting difficulties.

Failure to provide adequate air, gasoline, and spark will prevent starting of a Troy-Bilt chainsaw.

The choke may be set too high, the gasoline may be old, the air filter may be clogged, the ignition coil may be defective, the spark plug may be worn out, the fuel filter may be clogged, the carburetor may be unclean, or the spark arrestor may be blocked.

When the ignition switch is broken or the engine is flooded, it may not turn over either. Always remove the spark plug boot before making any repairs. Please observe all of the security measures outlined in your Troy-Bilt’s manual.

Issues With Starting Your Troy-Bilt Chainsaw

A Troy-Bilt chainsaw with a faulty switch or incorrect choke setting

When not in use, the on/off switch on a Troy-Bilt chainsaw ensures the device is in a safe position. Before you try to turn on the saw, make sure the switch is in the “ON” position.

To start a cold engine, you need to draw out the choke knob as well as have the switch in the correct position. Choke engines require less air and more fuel to get going.

A cold engine won’t start without this. When the engine has reached operating temperature, the choke can be pushed in to release air pressure and allow the engine to run normally.

The answer is to make sure the power switch is on. A chainsaw that won’t start may also have a broken switch or a corroded ground wire.

Troy-Bilt chainsaw running on stale gas

The chainsaw may have trouble starting if the gas is old. In as little as 30 days, the effectiveness and safety of a gas tank might begin to decline.

Many modern fuels have the alternative fuel ethanol added to them. This plant-based alternative makes gasoline and diesel somewhat less harmful to the environment.

Ethanol may be used without worry in most modern automobiles, but it should be avoided in small engines like those found in chainsaws. Water will condense in the fuel system if ethanol is used.

A varnish-like residue is left behind by this water-ethanol mixture, which might clog the fuel system. Because of these limitations, the chainsaw may no longer be able to start.

To get the most out of your gas, use it within 30 days of purchase. Add a gasoline stabilizer to the gas tank if you won’t be using it up that fast.

While certain gasoline stabilizers can prolong the fuel’s stability, others are not as effective.

Unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise, you should never presume that the stability aid you are using will last longer than 30 days.

In particular, you should stay away from E15 and E85 gas, which have up to 15% and 85% ethanol concentration, respectively. Here you can find information specific to your chainsaw model regarding the fuel and oil it requires.

If you’re having trouble starting and you check the fuel and find that it’s old, the solution is to drain the tank and refill it with new gas.

To help remove moisture and clean the gasoline system, you can use an additive like Sea Foam Motor Treatment or STA-BIL.

Once the fuel system is primed and the chainsaw is started, the oil will begin to circulate through the entire machine.

Misusing the wrong fuel with a Troy-Bilt chainsaw

A common mistake is using the wrong kind of fuel in your Troy-Bilt chainsaw. If you get this wrong, you could end up destroying your engine.

For a two-cycle Troy-Bilt chainsaw, the ideal ratio of gas to oil is 40:1. Put in 40 parts of unleaded gas that has an octane value of 89 or above and no more than 10% ethanol.

Two-cycle oil of the highest quality should be mixed in at a ratio of one part to everything else. Avoid using normal motor oil.

A Troy-Bilt chainsaw should never be operated with unleaded gas. It has an extremely low level of lubrication and, as a result, can cause engine seizure. If you make a mistake like that, you might have to buy a new chainsaw.

Gasoline blends without ethanol

Using a fuel without ethanol is preferable, although more expensive, because it improves your chainsaw’s performance.

Even though it’s more expensive, having pre-mixed fuel on hand eliminates the need to visit the gas station. This fuel comes in canisters and may be found at any hardware shop.

In the event that you discover you have put in the incorrect gas-to-oil ratio, the solution is to drain the fuel tank and refuel properly. Try to get the chainsaw going.

In cases where the engine won’t start or is running poorly, a small engine mechanic can identify the extent of the damage caused by using the incorrect gasoline.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with a Clogged Air Filter

When using a chainsaw, dust and dirt are thrown into the air. An air filter is used to filter out dust before it can enter the engine’s cylinders and cause premature wear.

Sawdust and dirt can clog up the air filter and prevent enough air from reaching the carburetor if the filter isn’t cleaned or replaced regularly.

It can be difficult to start and maintain the engine speed of a Troy-Bilt chainsaw if adequate airflow is not provided.

A typical household should clean or replace their air filter many times per season and once per year. More frequent maintenance, cleaning, and even replacement will be required if you use your chainsaw more frequently than this.

You should check the air filter to make sure the engine doesn’t overheat and break down. It’s an extra step, I know, but a quick inspection of the filter should reveal any problems.

If the air filter appears to be unclean, the solution is to take it out and clean it. The filter should be changed if it becomes too clogged with debris or is broken. Always use an air filter when operating a chainsaw.

Troy-Bilt chainsaw with a faulty spark plug

The spark plug is what gets a Troy-Bilt chainsaw going and keeps it going. The spark plug is a consumable and should be replaced once per year by the average user.

Misfiring from a spark plug due to dirt or damage can be a major source of engine trouble.

Check the spark plug’s condition and clean it with a wire brush if it’s only slightly filthy. Spark plugs should be replaced if they seem particularly dark in color, have a burnt electrode, or have shattered porcelain.

Make sure the spark plug wire is properly attached and the space is as the manufacturer specifies. A failure to start may also be caused by these factors.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with a Bad Ignition Coil

Once you’ve confirmed that the spark plug is in fine working order, you should go on to the ignition coil. A short can occur if the ignition coil’s winding comes loose.

This prevents the necessary voltage from reaching the spark plug, preventing it from igniting. Because of this, your chainsaw will malfunction.

Checking for a lack of continuity is the KEY to figuring out if an ignition coil is malfunctioning. If you detect a crack in your Troy-Bilt ignition coil, you should substitute it.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with Clogged Fuel Filter

To prevent foreign particles like dirt and debris from entering the gasoline system, a fuel filter is installed. A cylindrical filter sits within the gasoline tank. It’s connected to the gas pipe.

The filter can become clogged, preventing enough fuel from passing through it, if it isn’t replaced frequently enough or if unclean fuel has been used. Saw may not start or run slowly as a result of this.

REMEDY: Swap out the clogged fuel filter.

Instructions for changing the fuel filter on a Troy-Bilt chainsaw:

• Clean the area surrounding the fuel cap before removing it to prevent dirt from entering the tank.
  
• Taking off the gas cap (If you’ve been using the chainsaw for a while, stop and let it cool down first)
  
• Hook the fuel line with a clean, bent wire, then remove the fuel filter from the tank.
  
• Maintain a firm grip on the fuel line and remove the filter from the line. Hold tight to the fuel line.
  
• Insert the male end of the new Troy-Bilt fuel filter into the fuel line and tighten it down until it is secure.
  
• After installing the filter, replace the gasoline tank’s cap.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with a Burnt-Out Primer Bulb

If the priming bulb is cracked and won’t take fuel, the carburetor won’t be fueled.

Get a new priming bulb, that’s the answer.

Fuel Line Blocked or Punctured on a Troy-Bilt Chainsaw

If the gasoline line becomes clogged, it can cause a fuel restriction. If this happens, the chainsaw may not start.

To fix this, disconnect the gasoline line and spray some carburetor cleaning on it to break up the clog. Shoot a stream of compressed air through the pipe to get rid of it.

If the blockage cannot be removed or if the fuel line is dry, damaged, or pierced, a new fuel line must be installed.

A Troy-Bilt Chainsaw With a Filthy Carburetor

Controlling the ratio of fuel to air for combustion in the cylinder is the job of the carburetor. As the carburetor becomes gummed up with old fuel, it can no longer perform as intended. Because of this, your chainsaw may not start.

Clean your carburetor yourself if you’re at all mechanically inclined. In order to thoroughly clean the carburetor, it must be disassembled and cleaned using special carburetor cleaner.

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

A Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with a Faulty Recoil Starter

A chainsaw’s motor is kicked into gear by means of a recoil. A malfunctioning pulley, a missing or loose spring, or damaged clips can prevent the recoil from functioning.

The answer is to try to change the spring and restring the recoil mechanism. If the pulley or clips in your recoil are broken, the whole assembly should be replaced rather than trying to fix it.

A Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with a Clogged Spark Arrestor

In the muffler, there is a tiny screen called a spark arrestor that can become clogged with soot. If the chainsaw’s spark arrestor is clogged, it won’t get enough air to ignite.

A wire brush and some spark arrestor removal could be the answer. In cases where the mesh spark arrestor screen cannot be cleaned properly or has been damaged, a replacement must be installed.

This screen must always be present when operating a chainsaw, and a damaged screen must never be used. Saw dust can cause burns or even a fire if it escapes the saw without a screen.

Troy-Bilt Chainsaw with a Submerged Motor

In the event that the choke was left closed and the starter rope was pulled repeatedly, the engine could become flooded.

Even with the power off, repeatedly pulling the starter rope or pressing the priming bulb can cause this.

The Troy-Bilt Chainsaw Engine Drowned; How to Fix It

• Choke off (by pushing it in) and open (or operate) the engine by turning on the switch.
  
• Keep drawing the starter rope and pressing the throttle trigger. It can take 5–15 attempts to get this going. Start with a sputtering chainsaw engine. If you keep pulling, it should turn over after another pull or two.

How to Fix Common Starting Issues with a Troy-Bilt Chainsaw