Well I had my doubts about him, but this fiasco has let me know for sure he won't be using any of my tools. I hate to have to tell Scott the owner of the saw the bad news. I've kept him up to date on everything, but was really hoping the carb kit and new fuel lines ect. would fix it.
With a flooded saw you can take the plug out and pull the engine over several times. It will blow all the excess fuel out of the plug hole. Then turn the saw upside down and pull it over. Once it stops spewing, dry the plug off as best you can and reinstall it. Set the choke/ignition to the high idle position (all the way down, then 1 up) and pull 'till she fires. Saw will fire within 5-6 yanks 99% of the time.
And with the 025 and like saws, I'd do all the pulling/spewing with the air filter off to avoid it getting soaked with pre-mix.
Now I just have to get the idle adjusted. It will run fine but once you let off the gas it won't stay idling for long.
Never lend a saw or gun out or anything for that matter,and if in doubt on a saw and problems,take it to a saw shop.A person can do more damage trying to save a dime than one thinks coming from a guy that used a chain saw his whole life for a living.My sons best buddy is the Sthil dealer here and talk about basket cases people bring in......Dang.....
Matt from everything you described it sounds like you have a carb issue, been through it 2 times now. Bite the bullet and replace the carb, you'll be saving yourself the headache that will most likely still keep coming if you don't. Replaced a Honda string trimmer carb and a cub cadet (Kawasaki) carb, both run great now. A good small engine mechanic should tell you to not waste your time cleaning and repairing these small carbs, it's the ethanol causing most of these problems. The one carb was "fixed" and the other I told them to replace after the Honda carb still kept giving me fits, so both are now replaced and run and service like new. Most new carbs are about 60-90 bucks.
Got it running now. If you read back I did rebuild the carb.
From everything I've gathered problem was caused by a not only bad ration fuel mixture but also debris in the fuel. Replaced spark plug, fuel lines filters rebuilt carb and replaced air filter. Also reset the ignition coil to within spec.
Got the idle adjusted and the saw is running like a champ, like it always did before 'mikey' borrowed it.
Scott the owner of the saw is a very good friend that has been there for me in more ways than I can count. To be able to fix this problem for him did way more good for me than it did for him.
