Common Problems with the Stihl MS 361 Chainsaw – What You Need to Know!

Although Stihl is one of those brands that have a pronounced reputation in the market for manufacturing products that are reliable and specifically made to cater to the needs of the users, there is a chance that you will have to face Stihl Ms 361 problems.

Problems are inevitable. No matter how maintained or serviced you keep your equipment, an issue will arise at the end of the day.

Therefore, you may not further contemplate your worry because we assure you, you are not the only victim. There are many others too sailing in the same boat as you.

To bring you consolation and assurance for our claim, we bring you an article containing the most typical Stihl Ms 361 problems for you, along with trying to propose possible solutions to these flaws. 

Stihl Ms 361 Problems 

The reason for the problems arising from the Stihl Ms 361 is their age. As the case is with humans, it is similar for products. With time, just like our bones weaken and cannot deliver their function, this also happens with machinery, whereby their internal components call for replacement as they wear out. 

Another common reason behind Stihl problems is the dirt that develops within the chainsaw. You might not realize, but the wood carvings or other wood might start to store themselves in various internal parts of the machine. 

If you own a Stihl Ms 361 chainsaw or are planning to purchase one for your wood-cutting needs, then you must know what issues can cause the inconveniences to materialize shortly. 

Problem: Delivering a Mediocre Running Capacity  

Often, when you put your chainsaw to use, you may notice the machine making weird rumbling sounds and simultaneously impacting its functioning ability, immediately bringing the efficiency to a mediocre level.

With such a running of the device, it is unlikely to bring you the desired results. The primary reason for the occurring condition is that decay or dirt may accumulate within the machine’s internal components, due to which the chainsaw is kept away from its optimal performance. 

A significant area that would have been clogged and is hence profoundly deriving the machine from its operation is the carburetor, air filter, or spark plug. Another reason could be that these components have grown old and have worn out. 

Solution

To restore your Stihl Ms 361 to its optimal functioning, consider replacing the elements you might have unintentionally damaged due to continuous use of the chainsaw. An alternative to this solution is to undertake a deep cleansing of the carburetor or the air filter and ensure no dirt is left in any corner of these parts. 

Also, keep in mind that after detaching or replacing these parts, fit them in accurately, else the machine will keep making sounds and providing you with mediocre running that you want to flee. 

Problem: Shutting Down After a Few Minutes 

For your chainsaw to start up and to run and then die out while you are almost about to slash, the piece of wood is not an uncommon phenomenon to occur. However, this scenario is a cause of nuisance that hampers progress and postpones the work process. 

Users complain that Stihl saw starts quickly. Still, while they are halfway through the work or, in other instances, after a few minutes of delivering its operation, the machine stops working, instantly coming to a halt. 

This happens because the fuel supply is triggered by something. When the fuel is not reaching the engine uninterrupted and is interrupted by a pollutant stuck inside the carburetor or the air filter, the chainsaw is likely to stop after some time. 

Solution

Therefore, to avoid inconsistent and nuisance-causing activity with your Stihl MS 361, replace the fuel filter or the fuel line with a brand-new one. Also, remember to check if the air filter is clogged.

Supposedly, if the filter is clogged, clean it and try testing your chainsaw for performance before purchasing new spare parts for the equipment. 

Problem: Fluctuating Run Under Increased Load 

Sometimes, you might observe that while attempting to cut a thicker wood log, the chainsaw’s speed starts fluctuating. While it would run perfectly for a few minutes, it will shift to running problematically, forming a constant loop with this shift. 

This usually happens when an issue arises in the engine, causing it to rev back and forth while working at an increased RPM. If your chainsaw is new, the problem will not materialize, but with an old Stihl ms 361, definitely! 

The origin of this Stihl Ms 361 problem is the carburetor that has yet to be maintained. An adequate fuel supply that must be delivered to the chamber of combustion is not being reached in the demanded amount.

When insufficient fuel for the chainsaw to function, it is likely to lapse its function in the middle of your work. 

Solution

Getting rid of this problem is convenient. Fuel not going to the chamber is because there is a build-up of dirt in some part of your Stihl MS 361 chainsaw. The easiest solution is to clean the air, fuel filter, or fuel lines. 

Also, try re-adjusting your carburetor, especially the screw well dedicated to high speed. Lastly, do maintain your chainsaw. Remember, it is now old and calls for maintenance more than ever! 

Problem: Difficulty in Starting 

Pulling the starting rope of the chainsaw repeatedly is no activity to undertake for fun. Instead, it is relatively irritating. Imagine you are all set and motivated to be at work but have to indulge yourself multiple times, pulling on the cord and hoping for your Stihl ms 361 to pick up the pace to operate. 

This certainly is a demotivator and will adversely affect your level of productivity. No one wants to be a part of this situation in the early morning and at the start of their work day. 

Probably, your filthy carburetor or the low-quality fuel that you refilled the tank with is causing the chainsaw not to start. Remember the concept of a spark plug here because it is also responsible for delivering a power source to the equipment. 

Solution:

An immediate relief from this issue is cleaning the dirt-covered parts of your chainsaw or getting a new spark plug right away. However, to avoid this problem from emerging again, you must always take a mental note to use high-quality fuel to source your chainsaw and never resort to low-quality fuel. 

Problem: Issues Within Carburetor 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the processing activity of your Stihl Ms 361 chainsaw is unstable? Unstable in a sense whereby it either keeps coming to a stop automatically or is not delivering a smooth operation?

When this happens, the problem is in the carburetor installed within the chainsaw. Other symptoms of this issue are that the machine will have trouble running at an increased rpm, performance deteriorates, and the throttle response is average. 

All these issues are appearing because of the dirt that has housed itself in the carburetor of your chainsaw, not temporarily but permanently. The build of filth is so rigid and stiff that it now causes a severe inconvenience to your machine and hinders your work. 

Solution

In such situations, cleaning the carburetor will not work because no matter how much you wash it or scrub each part of the component, the dirt will not entirely go away. Hence, take the available shortcut and replace the carburetor! 

Conclusion 

We have shortlisted all the Stihl Ms 361 problems that typically occur with the discussed product. You might have noticed that most issues that appear have roots in build-ups in several areas of the chainsaw. 

Therefore, an additional tip for the current or future use of the Stihl Ms 361 chainsaw is to keep the machine’s internal parts clean. If you cannot clean them all the time, try removing the dirt from the most prominent ones after every use. With this, remember to service your machine!