Craftsman chainsaw help

[Blackriver]

I am working on a Craftsman chainsaw that belonged to my granddad, model # 358.353662, serial # B1953155. It has a Walbro carb. It has only one fuel line and no primer bulb, I assume pressure from the crankcase acts as a fuel pump? I cannot get fuel to draw up into the fuel line to the carb. I replaced the fuel line and filter today. It has fire and will hit and run for a second with a little gas in the spark plug hole. Last evening I took the carb off and inspected it, it looks pretty clean, and the diaphragms looked ok. It has a small black plastic elbow on the carb that the fuel line attaches to, and i tried to clean it out with a small piece of guitar string, I wasn't sure if it could be removed so I didn't put too much pressure on it. I tried to spray a little carb cleaner into the elbow but I thought the cleaner might eat the plastic. This chainsaw sat for a while so I figure something is gummed up or the diaphragms are bad, but I haven't worked on one of these before so I wondered if someone could tell me the proper way to clean the carb or give me an idea why it won't prime the fuel line?

[KE4AVB]

The best way to clean these carburetor is using an ultrasonic cleaner. Carburetor cleaner usually damages internal rubber parts are used in check valves.

You are correct that pressure and vacuum impulses from the crankcase operates the carburetor.

Since it has been sitting for a long time it will need most likely need a carburetor kit installed. Besides gumming up, the diaphragms harden and get stiff. There is actual two diaphragms in the carburetor. One operates that needle check valve and the other operates as a fuel pump.

Note: The metering lever the comes in the kit is not normally properly adjusted and will need set correctly for needle valve to work properly (too much movement = rich and flooding ; too little = lean and fuel starvation).

[Deere2me]

I generally always pull the muffler off any two stroke and check the exh. port for buildup, the cyl. and piston for scoring and check the ring/s to make sure they ain't stuck. If all that checks OK then get ya a new carb.

[KE4AVB]

I generally always pull the muffler off any two stroke and check the exh. port for buildup, the cyl. and piston for scoring and check the ring/s to make sure they ain't stuck. If all that checks OK then get ya a new carb.

That would be nice if this older Craftsman (Poulan) chainsaw carburetor was available but likely it is not. To know for sure if a new carburetor is available we would the model numbers of the Walbro carburetor. The IPL only list individual parts for the carburetor which most are not available. The carburetor per Sears is NLA.

The OP already has it running via fuel add to the cylinder so things should be fairly good shape internally. I don't know if he remove the top handle assembly when he replaced the fuel line; if he did probably will need a new gasket there as it is part of seal for the intake.

[creia]

I generally always pull the muffler off any two stroke and check the exh. port for buildup, the cyl. and piston for scoring and check the ring/s to make sure they ain't stuck. If all that checks OK then get ya a new carb.

I would try cleaning it and replacing the diaphram first before buying another carb. My son tried that last year on one of my old Homelite chainsaws that had not been run in over 30 yrs- got it running real nice!
Michael

[KE4AVB]

A little more info the Craftsman the carburetor PN 35181 (WT-20) which was a replacement for the WT-3. It was replaced by the WT-309 and WT-310 which both is no longer available and Walbro has no replacement listed for either. So a repair kit or used one is the only options when it come to carburetor.

[Arkie]

I did not research your Sears model number but if you will do a bing or google search about how to replace fuel lines on a craftsman chain saw and also how to install a carb kit or carb you will find several good you tube examples for different model chainsaws.

Some Polan saws also match the Sears craftsman chainsaws.


When looking at the Carb pay attention to your fuel line and if it's very old you might as well replace it now because it's going away and getting brittle. I've found the gas and oil lines are usually a kit for the Craftsmans and slightly different sizes for each and I've seen carb kits and carbs on flea bay very reasonable. I had real good luck installing the carb kits if you will go to a good lighted workbench and really keep a heads up when removing the old diaphrams from each side one at a time and then pick out the new MATCHING gasket or diaphragm from the kit. (the kits usually have several additional gaskets and diaphrams for other similar model carbs, so keep a heads up and lay your old parts aside and then match the new ones from the kit immediately.

You might also try this guy on flea bay too see if he has any parts for your saw or research flea bay for parts.
randysenginerepair

or here is a item he has listed so as to get his email or ask questions
120999546474
I've bought few hard to find parts from him and he ships fast and been real good at sending correct parts needed.

[creia]

Blackriver,
Two very informative posts right there by both KE4AVB and Arkie. I would follow their advice and approach your situation that way. By the way, we have bought from EBay seller randysenginerepair and he is first class and really knows his stuff. You can make this an interesting and educational project, and IF you get it running the feeling you will have will be priceless!! I still remember my son (and the look on his face) when he first got that old Homelite chainsaw of mine to roar to life!
Keep us posted on how its going.
Michael

[bgsengine]

By the way, we have bought from EBay seller randysenginerepair and he is first class and really knows his stuff.

and by the way, hopefully you may buy from trukfixer1 as well one of these days..

[creia]

By the way, we have bought from EBay seller randysenginerepair and he is first class and really knows his stuff.

and by the way, hopefully you may buy from trukfixer1 as well one of these days..

Brian,
I checked out that "trukfixer1" guy on Ebay- pretty impressive with 2,611 items currently listed! He also has a nice Ebay store that you can look for engine parts by specific brand. We will definitely keep trukfixer1 in mind for our future needs.
Michael