#150

[@johnmcnally8906]

When blowing saw dust off of the saw, be sure to keep the carburetor open. This will help in eliminating more saw dust getting on the work bench! Less clean up and possible less fuel used when attempting to start the saw, since it won't start, therefore saving on fuel, chain wear and noise pollution.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Interesting!

[@jamesevans20]

LOL

[@farmmarketgrower4088]

Pull up the tip of the bar when you tighten the chain.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Good tip! Thanks for adding that.

[@dmalloy96]

So what you are saying read all your instructions 👍 good video

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That is correct. :) Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@joelongrid7625]

I'm with you, never knew this about winter mode. Great info on maintenance, everybody should be doing these few simple steps.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@Living-The-Dream]

Great info.....many folks don’t read the instructions ......hehe. One thing if I may....to point out. I wouldn’t blow that compressed air around that uncovered carb. Might want to stuff a cover over the carb inlet first. Good video, thanks 👍❄️☃️ Deer running in the background at 14:05 🦌 Lmao....16:05 deer running around behind the woodpile as you rev the ms 290 👍👏🪵🔥

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Good tip! Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes - the deer are always around. :)

[@Living-The-Dream]

@@PurpleCollarLife I thought you might want to check out an awesome channel I found......Around The Shop. Give it a look when you have time.....everything you could need to know about your saws and more.....✔️

[@garygrunauer734]

I like watching the deer in the background

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! We love seeing them come in to visit too.

[@gibbsadventures12]

Learn something all the time, never knew they had a winter mode.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I can't believe it took me so long to realize it. If I had read the manual 18 years ago. . . :)

[@samb4678]

Goodmorning, good thing you figured it out

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Good morning! Thanks, Sam. It only took me 18 years. 😂

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Chad...excellent demonstration. I somehow learned about winter/summer settings a long time ago. But, I must confess, our temps bounce around so much... I only change to winter mode in the deepest part of the winter. Here are a couple of points you can add... When blowing out the saw... put your thumb over the carb intake. You might get by with just closing the choke. But, it doesn’t take much sawdust to screw it up permanently. It only takes one kerf to burn up your bar, if it is dry. When cleaning up the bar/chain surfaces keep sawdust and dirt out of the bar oil port of the saw. You’ll never have a better chance to clean and inspect it than when the bar is removed. Oh... and the official name of the tool is “scrench”... short for screw-wrench. As I said, nice job showing the conversion!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! I couldn't remember the tool name while I was making the video. About 5 minutes later it came to me. Chalk it up to stage fright. :)

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

@@PurpleCollarLife I don’t really get stage fright anymore.... now, amnesia bordering on early onset of dementia... I’m there!

[@loggerjohn01]

I had a MS290 a few years back, they are a great saw, I did know this about the winter mode, I had to tell my Stihl dealer all about this! He didn't know any of this. LOL Thanks for sharing

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thank you. You must have read the manual when you got the saw. :)

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Hello John !!! 😉👍

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Great information! I wish I had a sunshine and snowflake mode 😂

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@watkinstreefarm6880]

Good info. I will have to check my saw out.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! We appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@markstrain9429]

Crikey , never too late to learn anything. thanks for the great video. now to adjust mine.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad to help!

[@victorriceroni8455]

I didn't know that either. Guilty of not reeding the manual, I am.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

It turns out that there are quite a few of us! :)

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I actually bought a new chainsaw yesterday and read about this in the owners manual. I still didn’t see the second part next to the spark plug but previous to that I did not know about the air intake being reversible

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Brock. Congrats on the new saw. What did you buy?

[@treborterb]

Very good video...another recommendation is to lift up on the end of the chainsaw bar and hold it in that position as you tighten the nuts on the chainsaw bar which is more easily done with the saw resting on the ground or bench.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great tip!

[@RicardoGomez-fh4nx]

Great video thank you, just a tip I think it’s best to hold the bar up holding slack when tightening the chain.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Good tip! Thanks for watching

[@geronimopascuale9208]

Great video , Thankyou for taking the time to do it and explain very slow and and in not rush like others. I learn that from you as I am a bit lazy to read the manual haha. Cheers

[@PurpleCollarLife]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@donaldwhite2744]

Have a MS251 with same slide as your MS271 and saw that in the manual back when it was new. Thanks for the explanation of this anyway, always enjoy listening about chain saws!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for sharing. We appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@peacefulwarrior4078]

Have the very same model as well and I guess that we're both guilty of not fully reading the saws manual 😂 Learned something new today thanks for the new found and usable knowledge beings it's just about time to start cutting firewood for the winter months 👍

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad to help!

[@TS-sx3rf]

Good review for saw owners. Also never to late to learn something new. As you I did not know about the warm air outlet. Thanks for your knowledge and sharing with the rest of us.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hartleyhomesteadmichigan6041]

Good information! Thanks for sharing!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@wilsontenrreiro4125]

I have both the 271 and 290 and didn't know about the openings to allow the engine heat in. I usually get all my cutting done before winter. Great video

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for sharing! I am amazed at how many of us have the same saw combo - the 290 and the 271. We appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@markheidema3699]

I always wondered what that black plastic piece was for...tks for sharing!

[@russroberto9373]

I replied with this to a comment but everyone needs to understand the shutter is for very specific operating conditions which the average user and infact most professional users will never encounter. It is for below 50* air temperature with condensing humidity. its purpose is to let engine heat warm the carb and intake to prevent moisture in the air from condensing and freezing in the carb. Keeping the shutter open in the wrong conditions will cause poor running from vapor lock and fuel vaporising in the lines and carb, to engine overheating and major failure (seizing or scoring of the piston/cylinder) which is many saws is fatal (cost to repair vs replace). Read your operators manual. I am a small engine/power equipment technician and Stihl Gold certified tech (among others).

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Russ. I don't know about condensing humidity - but there are definitely times here in northwest PA (the snow belt below Lake Erie) that we're well below 50 degrees (Farenheit) throughout the winter. Switching to winter mode makes warmup of the saw much easier. I agree though that you need to keep an eye out on the temperatures and not forget to switch the machine back to summer mode when appropriate. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@GlockPunisher1]

So below 50° switch it to snowflake mode, but over 50° have it on sun mode is what you are saying. Just clarifying

[@JohnAmes]

Some great information my friend big 👍

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for the visit

[@xdude2x]

I’m dumbfounded, thanks for the info. I’m not sure that it’s been a big deal since it ran fine without doing that all these years but will start doing it now. Thank you again

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I think it's really only necessary if you're in a pretty cold climate.

[@artvandelay1159]

I came here to see the baffle or "pre-filter" position as he calls it. Well at least it's in the first 4 minutes. Thanks!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching. Glad we could help.

[@NLINE7]

I didn't know about the summer/winter mode until couple days ago myself. Although I have a excuse lol, bought my MS290 from a friend of mine few years back and I didn't get a owners manual with the deal. Ha, ha that's no excuse we have the internet for that. Good video, great saws the Stihl chainsaws are.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

It seems to be a well-kept secret. :). Thanks for watching!

[@planeanddirtsimple]

Well I didn't know that either. I have a 290. Will have to check it out. Thanks for the information! Great video! Also the deer didn't like the 290 at 15:50.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Yes, usually the deer don't mind the machinery, but the chainsaw must have been a little too loud for them. They just stayed in the edge of the woods and came back out only minutes later.

[@digger413]

Thank you didn't know either I've got a ms290 also never to old to learn thank you 🙏

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching and commenting. It's good to know I'm not the only one who didn't know this about a saw that I've owned for many years. Have a great weekend!

[@treborterb]

I have seen where it was suggested, that whatever tool you use to clean the track on the chain bar, be pushed (or pulled ) through the track so that the gunk in the track is moved away from the sprocket on the end of the bar to prevent that gunk and debris from getting into the end sprocket.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Another great tip!!

[@davessmallenginerevival2847]

WOW I have the same ms 290. I've only owned it a few years but I had no idea it had a winter mode. I really love that saw , it's heavy but it really works good

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Good choice! It is a great, reliable saw. I like the MS271 too, but the 290 is still my favorite.

[@ricktanner765]

Shouldn't you let the saw warm up at low rpm to prevent Cold Seizure?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great tip! I do typically let it idle to warm up for a minute or two.

[@outandaboutsciencewithmr.g]

Thanks for sharing...Gives purpose to making these videos...Thanks!!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad you like them!

[@hayesoutdoorsandtractors3278]

Great info and I had no idea lol will check mine now

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Let me know! thanks for watching and commenting. Like you said, we love reading down through the comments.

[@jimv.661]

I certainly didn't know. Thank you.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad to see I wasn't the only one. :)

[@ScrewdriverTUNING]

Great information glad to see knowledge being spread. Great work brother. 💪🏻🪓⚡️ Kindness and love

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Much appreciated

[@davida.p.9911]

Good demonstration. I'm assuming all saws have summer winter modes. I'll check my Homelite.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks. I’d be interested to know if the other brands do. Let us know.

[@matthewsnydershorts8837]

Cool video thanks for the tips

[@PurpleCollarLife]

No problem 👍. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@treeguyable]

Saws I bought 30 yrs ago had this winter summer baffle. Its in the owners manual, plus usually has the sun/ snowflake mark on it. Most saws have this feature.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for the info! I always knew about the sun/snowflake mark on the baffle. I didn't know about the square/slot that allowed the engine heat to enter the air intake.

[@victormanuelfeliz2454]

Excelent video, very usefull. Thanks

[@garydbenfield8867]

never knew about winter mode

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@karlmadsen3179]

Excellent video. Nice job.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Karl. I appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@outsideinmichigan]

That was some good information Chad. Enjoyed the video bud. Take care.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, you too!

[@SwiftOutdoors]

Never had a manual for my ms290... so obviously didn't know lol

[@PurpleCollarLife]

At least you have an excuse (no manual). :)

[@darrellepickering8433]

Another thing, when starting don't rev it up, let it sit & idle. Less chance of cold seizing.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great tip - I do typically let it sit and idle before I start cutting anything. I do wonder though if you’re supposed to let it sit and idle with the chain brake on or off.

[@bhavadasaacbsp3274]

Great video. And thanks for all the resources in the description-really helpful! Thumbs-up and Subscribed.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Awesome, thank you! We always hope that our videos are helpful. It's great to hear from you that you enjoyed it.

[@gabreilnall5423]

I didnt know about that rubber on the 290. I just rebuilt my 290. So ill be excited to use it and get it in winter mode.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

It's a great reliable saw!

[@derevenskayazhizn]

Приветствую вас , вот сразу видно что хороший хозяин за инструментами ухаживаете 👍

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thank you, Victor. I do try to keep my tools in nice shape. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@PheasantLaneFarm]

Good to know. I love the videos. Keep up the great work

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks 👍

[@treborterb]

Wouldn't squeezing the trigger and placing the choke in the fully on position, close the choke and prevent dust and dirt from entering the carb when blowing it out?

[@livingrural7980]

Nice!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@kostasfrangos3354]

Nice video well explained! But winter mode it doesn’t help the chainsaw to start easier! Only after the engine is warmed up allows warm air to go to warm the intake area!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for the info! I was under the impression that even before the engine starts, some heat generated as you pull the cord and create that compression does benefit the engine warm up by circulating through the intake. Even if it only creates a few degrees of heat, it should help a little.

[@stephenneill2621]

The winter mode is designed to stop the carburettor icing in extreme cold conditions by allowing warm air from the engine to circulate around the carb area hope this helps.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good morning Sir ! Yes great winter tips for that little air valve ( sun/snow ) Sir 👍😉 Next time, when you blow air toward the carburetor close your choke valve so no dirt will go into you carburetor 👍😮 Sir pleaaaaaase, take the time to grease that little cylinders bearing in the clutch itself !!! 🙏🙏🙏🤣 THEY ALL ARE TALKING TO ME THAT IT NEED GREASE 🤣🤣🤣 I know Sir, I'm a madness cleaning man,,, 🥴🤣 These are great chainsaw's 👍 Nice deer's in the wood Sir at 14:00 👌🧐 Sir, we all in the learning path 👌😉 Great video Cheers !!!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

All great points. How do you grease the cylinder bearing in the clutch? Thanks again for all your great comments! We love reading them and learning.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

@@PurpleCollarLife Thank you very kindly Sir for your very very nice words👍😉 To answer your question Sir, Since a video is worth many thousand words ( base on a picture ! )😂🧐 Look at this video for pretty much all Stihl models at 18:27 ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5OkpYWQhNuUlZY ) I promise that I will be better Sir at commentaire regularly 🙏👍😉 and Thank you very kindly and keep up the great family works both of you Cheers !!!

[@WoodsTreeFarm]

haha. I know I said carb earlier, but this was just what I was thinking. LOL. Doesn't get cold enough here to bother with it.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Hey Phil - thanks for watching and commenting. I've noticed that once the saw is warm, it doesn't make much of a difference. But it does seem to warm up a little faster.

[@junkerjason7637]

I had no idea about winter mode. I have a sthil, it's about 30 years old, next time I go out in the shop I will have to look and see if it has that feature, maybe I should read the manual lol

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching. Which Stihl model do you have?

[@kevinhoffman8214]

I new about it and forgot !

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@OGAOutdoors]

Good explanation Chad, pretty dirty made me laugh.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@HowardGrant-oc5kf]

In case no one mentioned it before, or if they did, it bears repeating, if you're going to clean around the carburetor area with compressed air, block the air inlet so debris doesn't enter the carb and cause problems later on.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

excellent tip! thank you for that.

[@jonathansabo6431]

I just learned about this the other day too. Did you see the whitetails take off when you started the ms271

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I did see those deer. They’re often around the house. I can’t believe I didn’t know about that winter mode “setting” all these years. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Billster1955]

I also just recently learned about the Winter/Summer modes UGH. Great video. I also have an old MS290 and I am wondering if there's a mod available to add a decompression valve?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Hello - thanks for watching. The summer/winter mode "switch" seems to be new information to a lot of people. Glad this video helped! I've never read about a decompression valve for the MS290. I think the smallest Stihl saw that I've seen with the decompression valve is the MS261 (pro model).

[@br54991000]

My MS 290 is 19 years old and never had that pre filter.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Interesting!

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Thankyou sir

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad it was helpful!

[@miltonmilner7089]

Switching to winter mode does NOT help the engine warm-up as you said repeatedly. Rather, it helps prevent ice forming in the throat of the carburetor (called carb icing , which causes rough running).

[@WorldsOkayestFarmer]

*Interesting never knew. Learn something new every day!* #WorldsOkayestFarmer

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Glad to know it wasn't just me. ;)

[@darrellepickering8433]

When the 029 came out this was never really explained. Rarely was there a problem of icing. Most of the people in this area have wood set back for 2 or so years. Another thing there's more than 1 air filter & cover for the 290/310/390.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and sharing. The MS290 was my very first Stihl saw. Prior to that, I had other brands that weren’t nearly the quality - Craftsman, Poulan, etc.

[@artvandelay1159]

Just started watching. I sure hope it doesn't take 17 minutes to show me which side up is winter and summer. I am just not sure which area on the saw you are trying to "block off" with the solid baffle or slotted baffle. LOL?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad we got to what you were looking for in the first 4 minutes. Hope you still enjoyed the rest of the video.

[@sharpshooter012345]

Took me awhile too that 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. LOl

[@PurpleCollarLife]

:)

[@tractorrookie]

🌟👍 Good job! I have learned a few things by researching to make videos. Cool beans! 🌲🪚

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@woodchuck2397]

Not to be a dick..but everytime i take my air filter off i put saw on full choke as to prevent as much debris going into the carb.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great tip!

[@bestillandknowthatuaregod]

does stihl chainsaw ms290 has an adjustable oiler? thanks

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Yes it does - but I've always left mine set on E (Stihl's E-Matic setting)

[@bestillandknowthatuaregod]

@@PurpleCollarLife can you please tell me where is it located? I just don't see it

[@PurpleCollarLife]

@@bestillandknowthatuaregod bottom of the case, in the black section. Then also make sure that the hole isn’t plugged where the oil goes into the bar.

[@bestillandknowthatuaregod]

@@PurpleCollarLife thanks a lot man!

[@bluetrue6062]

I didn't know either, but I do know I am not the only one that does not read the damn manual 😅.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaeljensen1346]

The warm air from the engine only prevents the carb from icing up. Has nothing to do with engine warm up.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

According to Stihl's website - switching to winter mode "activates the carburetor pre-heater system". So yes, it does prevent icing - but it also pre-heats the carb for easier operation in cold weather - if I understand what they're stating. www.stihlusa.com/guides-projects/a/working-winter-wonderland/

[@woofy548]

cold weather mode has absolutely nothing to do with starting. There's no airflow going over the engine when its starting

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Hi Top Dog - you're right that on the initial pulls for starting, it isn't doing anything. But what it is designed to do is let the engine warm faster. That slot being opened lets some heat from around the cylinder/cooling fins (once the saw is started and running), travel through the channel into the air intake where it gets pulled into the carburetor. So what it's doing is allowing the engine to warm up a little faster, and keep the carburetor warmer during winter time operation. Thanks for bringing up a good point that when the engine is cold, it's not doing anything to help with starting on those initial pulls.

[@explorepikespeak]

I found out about this just a short time ago too -- always used my 290 (19 years old now) in the summer mode -- but it never seemed to balk. I must say the Stihl owner's manual does a really lousy job of explaining this feature. Almost like the manual writer's first language was not English.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I was really surprised to learn this too. I think maybe when I bought the chainsaw, they might have mentioned it to me - but it got lost in the excitement of my first Stihl chainsaw!

[@pureblood324]

Must have bought it used cuz it didn't come with a manual

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Bought it new - and put the manual in with the receipt in my filing cabinet. All these years later, I forgot it was there until I was cleaning out that filing cabinet!

[@troyhayes7967]

Since I read the manual when I bought the saw, I knew about switching the rubber shutter. I did have a bit of trouble interpreting the diagrams showing the correct position of the pre-filter in the two modes. Since your video didn't really show a close up of the pre-filter in each of the modes, it wasn't helpful to me. Also, you didn't discuss the temperature at which switching modes should occur. Reading the manual carefully, above 70 degrees F the summer mode should be used. Below 14 degrees F the winter mode should be used. Between 14 and 70 one can infer that either mode is OK. So most users can just leave the saw in the summer mode all the time.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Hi Troy! Great info. Admittedly, I didn't read the manual when I got the saw - it took me until just before this video to actually read through it. I'm sorry we didn't show a good picture of the pre-filter in each mode. I thought you could see the snowflake or the sunshine facing upwards. Thanks for watching!

[@troyhayes7967]

@@PurpleCollarLife You video did cause me to FINALLY get to the source of my confusion: p36, upper left diagram - it's really an abstract representation of the prefilter that could be in either summer or winter mode. The two diagrams on the right are the ONLY ones that should be looked at. Also, now understanding that between 14 and 70 degrees either mode is OK, I'm just going to leave mine in summer mode all the time.

[@russroberto9373]

NO! winter shutter should only be set when the saw will be used below 50* WITH condensing humidity. The shutter is there to allow some engine heat to warm the carb. Air moving through the venturi at speed drops in temperature allowing moisture to condense (bad) and then possibly freeze (worse). Using a saw with the winter shutter open when conditions are not appropriate WILL cause overheating and engine failure. Initial symptoms may be vapor lock or fuel vaporizing in the lines giving poor running, but if you are not so lucky, or persist operation you will destroy the engine. honestly the best thing you can do is forget the shutter exists - its not likely you will be using it in those conditions ever in it's lifetime. I'm a multi manufacturer trained small engine/2 cycle tech... Stihl certified being one of them.

[@geronimo563]

Read the manual Manuel.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Always great advice, Greg. :)

[@gkbwiixtreme1677]

But cold air make more power…

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Yes - but on these small engines, it's probably not much more. And in the cold of winter here, it can be hard to start them. Thanks for watching!

[@odredbosna6506]

Pelet u vrecama slozen.Ali ipak stihl je tu.Za nedaj boze.

[@vc8160]

18minues to tell me this? Really? Talk about milking the 10 minute plus for KZbin coin!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

It look me 18 years to learn this - only took you 18 minutes. :)

[@darrinmcgann]

Are you being invaded by deer? 😳

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Sometimes. Right now we’re enjoying seeing 3 nice buck each night before bed, along with plenty of doe, raccoons, some turkeys, bear, and even a coyote and fisher cat once in a while.