Found at Boro Recycle Center

[Gene O. Carpenter]

While walking my dog today I stopped by our Recycle Center,no telling what someone will throw out and have found some nice items there in the past, I looked into one of the 55 gal trash drums and there sat a Stihl chainsaw minus the air cleaner cover, chain,bar and bar cover... I grabbed the start rope and gave it a pull and it wouldn't budge! I figgured it was stuck and started to put it back but something told me to lug it home and I'm glad that I did !
I pulled the plug and it pulls thru with a nice whupwhupwhup,so it's deffinately not stuck! The gas tank is empty and doesn't smell like gummy gas tanks usually do... I held the spark plug in my hand and gave the rope a pull expecting a but no spark..The plug is nice and clean,no heavy oil film like 2 ~'s usually have.
Removed flywheel cover and will need a special tool to pull the wheel but BEFORE I go thru all that I'd like to ask someone who's familiar with these newer saws,does it have solid state ignition if it say's "fast electronicQuick STOP"?
Is there solid state module under this flywheel?Cannot see any wires going under neath it,just the coil mounted to the right side of the wheel...
There's a small decal on the bottom strop of it's handgrip that say's "Stihl 311y" On the top shroud it has printed in black letters "028AV--Super Electronic Quick Stop"..
Don't know if there's any other numbers letters hidden under the coating of oiley sawdust or not.
Any advice will be appreciated!

Gene

[David C]

Hello Gene,
There is no module under the flywheel. The only parts in the ignition system is the coil (sometimes called the module), plug and the magnets in the flywheel. The Stihl 028 is a commercial grade saw. Make sure the small wire that goes from the coil to the kill switch is not grounded. I have picked up several basket cases at auctions and garage sales and have good luck piecing them back together from parts off of eBay. The coil is a pricey part from Stihl and that is probably why it ended up in the trash. If you do want to pull the flywheel for some other reason, you can get a AC hub puller from a local parts store that will work fine. Get one for a later model vehicle.

David

[Gene O. Carpenter]

David,
Thanks for answering ! I don't know if it would have any effect on it or not but I found 1 leg of the coil about .004 from the magnet surface and the other leg about .055, that's quite a difference..There doesn't appear ro be any short in that small black kill wire,the coil itself looks surprisingly clean.
Is there anyway to test this coil? I have it off and am looking at it right now..The numbers on it are BOSCH 2 204 222 094 and down to left 544 down on bottom under "Made in Germany is 085 inside an oval ... Thanks again.
Gene

[David C]

Gene,
There may be a way to check the resistance, but I don't have any factory manuals to look at for the specs. I would think .004" to .006" air gap would produce a spark if the coil is good. I would check to see if there is any slop in the bearings before you set the air gap on the coil. Don't get discouraged and chunk the saw like someone else did. The Stihls are nice saws.

David

[Kevin Beitz]

Try baking the coil in an oven at 200 deg for an hour and then remount it. I have tryed that and it worked. It may work for you. 50/50 shot. Nothing to loose!!!

[Gene O. Carpenter]

Kevin,
Shortly after the last msg my 17 yr old grandson came over and we were looking at some of my "Junque" , he picked it up asking what was wrong with it,when I said no spark he pulled the plug wire,gave it a pull,yelped out loud saying it's hot! We added some fuel,HE gave it a pull,started right up for him BUT when I tried it she wouldn't do anything at all! We came to the conclusion that it was a higher powered saw,has higher compression and the old man don't have the strength to pull it fast enough to start it!
So I put it on eBay,got 14 bids and sold for $125... Not bad for a thrown away chain saw! Would like to find a couple a month like it,could buy more toy's !
But thanks for the reply..
Gene

[Andrew Mackey]

Most of the new saws, and mowers for that matter, need to turn at least 6 to 700 RPM to get spark. Most older people have a hard time getting the engine to turn that fast, therefore no spark. the solution - electric start mowers. As for the saws, I have yet to see an electric start chain saw!
Andrew

[GADavis]

McCulloch made electric starting chainsaws in the early 70's. Complete with battery pack and alternator. weighed in about 8-10 lbs. they weren't popular as people didn't want to pay the price.