Poulan Chainsaw Woes

I borrowed a Poulan 2150LE chainsaw from a friend and I am having troubles with it. I want to return it in the same, if not better, condition as it was when I received it (it worked fine). I need some advice! The saw will start easily enough and then run well at first, but after a few minutes, it will die on me. Once this has happened, there is no starting it until the next day. It strikes me that the saw (engine) gets quite hot, but having never used any other chainsaw, I really cannot say for sure. I tried cleaning the airfilter and spark arrester (neither showed any grunge) - but that didn't help. Any suggestions on what I might try next? Is the carb starving? Are there jets that I can clean?
Thanks! -Superbugman

 

if you used the saw and it worked good..take a look at where the pull start rope is....there should be a screen around there for air to be sucked in...if this screen is plugged with sawdust your engine may start fine when cold and run for a bit...till the engine heat causes the gas to boil in the tank can cause a vapour lock...then the engine starves for gas wnd would not start till engine cools down again.....i am just giving you one reason that could be your problem

 

If this saw has a vented gas cap, it could be restricted also causing vapor lock. Try loosening the cap while holding the saw in such a manner so that the fuel will not spill, and see if it will continue to run, or start back up.

It's great that you want to return the saw in the same condition you borrowed it in. That's a less common occurrence these days.

 

I'm in agreement with cheese, furthermore the gas cap has a check valve in it that allows air to enter the fuel tank but does not allow anything to escape - by design. If you determine the cap is OK then it's time to check for spark at the moment it quits. You may be losing spark when the ignition coil heats up.

 

Did you mix 2-stroke oil in the gas? Typically a 40:1 mix--3.2oz. of oil per gallon of unleaded gas. If not--then you may have ruined the saw by running it on straight unleaded gas.

 

Thanks to all for the advice! I shall be sure to follow up on your suggestions this evening. Oh, and yes, I did use fresh gas and 2-stroke oil mix.