I'm using either Stihl or VP premixed fuel. Been thinking about some starting fluid but was a little hesitant. Thanks

I'm a Stihl certified Silver Level Tech and here is what I teach to a customer and especially if they are a first time customer of a Stihl (or any brand for that matter).

Make sure there is fresh or good pre-mix in the tank. If not dump it and put in some Motomix Stihl 93 octane gas. Assuming the pickup (fuel) filter is good the next step is the actual normal first step

PUT CHAIN LOCK ON push lever forward!!

1. Compress the top safety lever and squeeze the throttle trigger fully and hold it wide open and move the choke/start/stop lever to full choke position and hold it there then release your finger from the full throttle position and this will lock the full choke into position.

2. Pull the start pull cord 1 or 2 briskly or until you hear or feel a "pop" from the engine, the engine is now primed (more on this in a few), Even if the saw has a primer (bulb) the full choke ONE "pop" is all you need for priming.

3. Now put the start/stop/run lever into the secondary choke or partial choke position and pull the starter cord briskly and it should start and run at or around 5k rpm.

4. Let it run with the chain lock on until you can feel some warm exhaust coming out the muffler then blip the throttle, and it should idle on its own,

In short, lock it into full choke position, pull cord one or more times until you hear or feel a "pop". Put choke into the half or partial position, then pull starter.

Mike

I am fully aware of the official starting procedure, but lets be perfectly honest, 1 or 2 pulls never works, in fact 20 pulls don't work without some mechanical gymnastics or sorcery.

Then there's something wrong like a bad carburetor, coil etc., Just saying from my 60+ years of experience with 2-strokes, from 2-stroke motorcycles of 50cc to 550cc for a major manufacturer for 34-years as the technical manager and then on to a Stihl tech for the last 14-years. You don't know how many new and used chainsaws, trimmers, blowers, hedge trimmers, etc., I've started without doing anything but the procedure I described after being told "It won't start". At the most it ever takes is a new spark because it was soaked (fouled) because the previous person didn't use the correct starting procedure. Just saying I've done this for a living for decades. If I can't start a 2-stroke garden piece using this method then there is some adjust or mechanical issue. If it ran when you last used it then as long as the gas is good then it's the fuel has gummed up the fuel system or the spark plug is fouled.

If you think it might be a gummed-up carb and fuel system, then try some Stihl already mixed 93 octane ethanol free Motomix. What's best about it is the consistency of the perfect 50 to 1 ratio mix, premium gas 93 octane and ethanol free. Also there's VP Fix-It you can mix 50/50 with Motomix. Just trying to help.

Mike

We use to bring them into the house at night or put them in the passenger compartment in the log trucks for a little while to warm them up when it was below 50F outside

So it's only 2 years old.
Has it always been that hard to start?

I’ve had mine for probably 8 years now. I store it with stabil 360 in it and start it spring and fall if not used. It basically pops off like the one guy posted. Sure sounds like a carb issue.