Stihl 034 Chainsaw Troubleshooting and fix when not starting or bogging down

Walkthrough of the process to troubleshoot a Stihl 034 Chainsaw that's not starting or is bogging down under load. Common problems are plugged exhaust ports, fuel lines, air filters or carburetors.
In this case it was a plugged carburetor that was fixed with carb cleaner and compressed air.
Once started, the L fuel adjustment and idle screws should be reset. Start by turning the L screw completely clockwise until it stops and then back it off (counter clockwise) one full turn. If it's not getting enough power, continue to turn it counterclockwise in quarter or half turn increments.

[@darrellarnold68]

Thanks for this Shane. I'm restoring one of these that belong to my late father-in-law. There's an issue with the starter not engaging when the cord is pulled. The pull action works fine (pulls and retracts fine) but it's not engaging the crankshaft (?). Any advice on what to check first? Thanks again for taking the time to post this video.

[@shaneperche-fixed-it]

Thanks for the feedback. I had a similar problem in the past and it was a chipped starter pawl. Have you checked the starter pawls for chips or damage. That's a pretty common problem with these saws. So when you remove the starter cover do you see any chips in those plastic pawls? Or any debris in there that might be preventing them from engaging properly? The other common problem is a broken spring that is returns the pawls back into position. Make sure the is not damaged and that it's working properly. While you have that starter cover off, double check the flywheel for any cracks or debris that might prevent the pawls from engaging.

[@darrellarnold68]

@@shaneperche-fixed-it I plan to do that this weekend while I'm over there. I'll check all those items. Thank you very much for the quick reply and info. I'll let you know what I find. Take care and be safe.