Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - chainsaw

I have a Homelite chainsaw, XL12, 20 in. (red w/manual oiler) that I can't get to run. I bought it in the late 1970's and it has always been a very good saw. I had it to a repair shop and he got it running for awhile but he told me he couldn't get parts for it anymore. It has two small screws on the outside of the carburetor that I have adjusted a little and it ran for only about 5 seconds. Can you tell me how to adjust those screws, if you know where I can get parts, or if there is something else that I can do to get it running. When it runs it cuts very well and handles great. Thank you.

Tighten all the connection screws holding the carburetor to the engine. It is probably letting some air in around the gaskets.

It is truly difficult to let go of good things, right, Ernie? Check those screws Ken mentioned, and run those two screws down (not too tight) and back off the "L" about 1 1/2 turns and the "H" screw about the same. It should start, but may not run smoothly or transition from idle to high speed until you fiddle with the screw adjustments a little.

Thanks to both of you guys. It is hard to get rid of something that has been so good to me. I bought a new Poulan last fall and the darn chain loosens up about every five minutes of running time. That is frustrating! This Homelite has treated me very well but it just needs some fine tuning. I might buy a carb rebuilding kit; I'll know for sure Tuesday because right now I don't know which carb is on it. Thanks again.

If it is a Walbro or Zama carb you can for sure get rebuild kits for them. I have gotten many a small engine running just by rebuilding/cleaning the carb. That Homelite is an oldie but a goodie! The Homelites now a days are not made as well. These days the best saws are Stihl, Husqvarna and Jonsered. Poulan just plain suck IMO.

Can you tell me how to get new fuel lines to go through holes in tank of my chainsaw? Should I heat them up tand stretch them out? I have same problem with my weedeater (old fuel lines got brittle and crumbled) and I have learned not to store with gas in them, but that won't be an issue unless I can get new lines installed.

I have a Homelite chainsaw, XL12, 20 in. (red w/manual oiler) that I can't get to run. I bought it in the late 1970's and it has always been a very good saw. I had it to a repair shop and he got it running for awhile but he told me he couldn't get parts for it anymore. It has two small screws on the outside of the carburetor that I have adjusted a little and it ran for only about 5 seconds. Can you tell me how to adjust those screws, if you know where I can get parts, or if there is something else that I can do to get it running. When it runs it cuts very well and handles great. Thank you.

those little things just run and run. chances are, in my limited experience, that the exhaust may be stopped up or clogged. no exhaust; no run. cheap check and fix- been there and done that.

the fuel lines you asked about can be pulled through with a string attached to the end- just did that.

Scott, I've got an old Poulan 3600 countervibe with a bow on it. Can't even find them any more. Great for cutting up felled trees in short order, and no binding. It's been rode hard and put up wet, but keeps on cuttig. But, I agree with the newer saws, Poulan and the others, aren't matches for their predecessors.

Tolyn, I agree with you about the newer chainsaws. I bought a Poulan last fall because of the trouble I was having with the Homelite and every five minutes or so the chain jumps off the bar. That is very annoying and it's quite hard to cut anything with that lousy saw. Thanks for your input.