How to Start a Stihl Chainsaw: My Step-by-Step Guide

I remember the first time I tried to fire up my Stihl chainsaw. It was a crisp Saturday morning in October, and a heavy oak branch had come down in the driveway. I felt ready to work. I had my chaps on, my safety glasses tight, and a brand-new saw in my hands.

I pulled the cord. Nothing. I pulled again. Still nothing. Ten minutes later, I was sweating, my arm was sore, and the saw was silent. I felt pretty silly.

It turns out, I had flooded the engine because I didn’t know the “secret handshake” Stihl saws require. Once I learned the proper steps, it became easy. Now, my saw starts on the second or third pull every time.

If you are struggling to get your orange beast running, don’t worry. I have been there. Here is the exact routine I use to get cutting quickly.

Before You Pull the Cord

Safety comes first for me. Before I even think about starting the engine, I check a few things.

First, I engage the chain brake. I push the black handguard in front of the top handle forward. You will hear a loud click. This locks the chain so it won’t spin when the engine starts. It saves me from a nasty surprise.

If your model has a decompression valve (a button on top of the engine), press it down. I love this feature. It lets some pressure out of the cylinder, so you don’t have to pull as hard.

Finally, if you have a primer bulb, press it about three to five times. You can’t flood the saw doing this. It just moves fresh fuel to the carburetor.

The Cold Start Routine

Most of the time, you will be doing a “cold start.” This means the saw hasn’t run in a while. This is where the Master Control Lever comes in. That is the black switch on the left side of the rear handle.

1. Set to Full Choke

To move the lever, I have to squeeze the throttle trigger first. While holding the trigger, I push the Master Control Lever all the way down to the bottom. This is the Full Choke position. It looks like a line with ends on it.

2. The Critical “Burp”

This is the most important part. I place the saw on flat ground. I put my right toe through the rear handle and hold the top bar with my left hand.

I pull the starter rope firmly. I listen closely. Usually, after three or four pulls, the engine will fire once. It makes a “cough” or “burp” sound and then dies immediately.

Stop pulling!

If you keep pulling in this position after the burp, you will flood the engine. I learned this the hard way that Saturday morning.

3. Half Choke and Start

Once I hear that burp, I move the lever up one click. This is the Warm Start or “Half Choke” setting.

Now, I pull the rope again. The saw usually starts right up. It will run fast.

4. Blip the Throttle

As soon as the engine is running, I give the throttle trigger a quick squeeze and let go. This is called “blipping” the throttle. You will see the Master Control Lever snap automatically to the normal Run position (labeled I). The engine will settle into a smooth idle.

Now I am ready to cut.

What If It Is Already Warm?

If I just turned the saw off to move a log or take a water break, I don’t need the choke. The engine is already hot.

I just make sure the switch is set to Run (I) and give it a pull. It should start instantly. If it doesn’t, I try the Half Choke setting, but I never go back to the bottom Full Choke position on a warm saw.

Quick Reference Guide

Here is a simple table to keep the steps straight.

Step	Action	Lever Position
1	Lock chain brake & press valve	N/A
2	Pull rope until “burp”	Full Choke (Bottom)
3	Pull rope until running	Half Choke (Middle)
4	Squeeze throttle to idle	Run (Top/I)

Troubleshooting a Flooded Saw

If you pull and pull but hear nothing, you likely missed the burp. The engine is flooded with too much gas. It happens to the best of us.

Here is how I fix it:

1. Move the lever to the normal Run (I) position.
2. Hold the throttle trigger wide open (use your knee to hold the saw if needed).
3. Pull the rope fast and hard.
4. It might take 10 or 20 pulls. The saw will sputter, smoke a little, and then roar to life.

Starting a Stihl chainsaw isn’t hard once you know the rhythm. Listen for the burp, switch the lever, and you will be making sawdust in no time.

FAQs – How to Start a Stihl Chainsaw