A little perspective on what EPA 300 is and does. Does it certify anything? I am not sure it does anything other than regulate emissions standards. Something similar to the new gas mileage bill signed where cars have to average 35mpg by 2016 or something like that. Just because the car meets that standard does not mean it is a better built car. It means it complies with the regulations for a certain standards level. What do you give up or gain for that compliance. This thread although a few years old, gives some good detail on the regs, what they mean and how they affect the equipment. I think it is dangerous to use the EPA 300 hour rating as a measure of quality. I think more factors should be used in a purchase decision.

I want to share my story. I know this is an old thread, but it is a good one with a lot of helpful tips. After today, I have more to add. After reading all of this, I was itching to pull out my very hard to start backpack blower and try some things I read. I bought my pb602 used from a guy for $150 about 2 1/2 years ago. He was some kind of small contractor that was downsizing and just didn't need it anymore. Pretty sure he bought it used from somebody else. He said it was always hard to start, especially cold. Don't think he ever used it much because of that. When he showed it to me, it must have taken him almost 10 minutes and 30+ pulls to get it started. Every once in awhile it would pop, but not start. Once it did start, it ran like a champ. It was worn and used, but not abused or in horrible shape so I gave him his money and just figured it was old gas or some easy fix. Got it home and only used a couple of times that first year just because I didn't have much of need for it AND it was hard to start. Got it out last spring, couldn't get it to start, even with mostly fresh gas. I mix Stabil in with my 2-cycle gas cans, just because sometimes it sits around without being used for months. Had to replace the primer bulb then, too. Fooled with it a couple of times, got lucky and got it started a few times. Only really used it once or twice because it was so hard to get started. It would flood in no time. I would pull the spark plug and see it was soaking wet with gas. Sometimes gas would even start dripping out the muffler. So I would pull the starter rope a few times with the plug out, choke off, to help dry it out. There were a few times that I never could get it to start at all and just put it away in disgust. I am actually a pretty good mechanic and have worked on all kinds of equipment. A few years ago I was even the full time maintenance mechanic for a landscape/mowing company. Anyways, this blower was really starting to get the better of me. I was figuring I would have to tear it apart this spring and do all kinds of work to it or just sell it to someone and be done with it. I downloaded a copy of the Echo manual for my blower right before I found this article, just so I could read the proper cold start instructions. Anyways, after reading both the manual and this article, I got out the blower to see what I could do with it. It was getting late and I really didn't have much more than 10 minutes to fool with it. Here is where it gets interesting. I haven't done anything with it in 4-5 months. Checked the gas, had a little bit left in it from last summer, enough to try it. I didn't really have time to drain it and refill it with "fresh" gas. TRIED to push the primer bulb, but it was pretty chilly today- maybe 45- 50°. That aftermarket (Arnold) primer bulb I put on last year just would not move. It is difficult to reach in the first place and is very hard to squeeze even in warm weather. I picked up the blower and saw there was gas in the primer bulb, so I thought what the heck, just skip trying to prime it. I opened the throttle about 3/4 of the way to full throttle. I know from having had it run before, that position pretty much wide open. Which, IS NOT, what the manual says to do. The manual says open the throttle to the start/idle position, which is about the lowest throttle setting. Anyways, closed the choke. Gave it two weak pulls to build up some compression. Third pull was a good yank. It started right up. It has never started that easily. I moved the throttle down a little and let it run a while. Gradually started to open the choke as it warmed up, but I did it too fast and it shut off. So, I closed the choke again and opened the throttle back to 3/4. Gave it one firm pull and it started right up! It has never done that either. I let it warm up 2-3 minutes then shut it off. Tomorrow I am going to fill the tank and see if this new trick works again. Maybe actually do some clean up with it. What I learned about cold starting mine (but I could be wrong). Most of this is almost the opposite of the manual: 1) Don't use the primer bulb unless necessary. Only if you run it out of gas or otherwise know there is no gas in the carburetor. Using the primer bulb unnecessarily MAY contribute to flooding. If you see gas in the bulb, that probably is good enough. As long as there is gas in the carburetor, that should be enough. 2) Open the throttle to a wide open position, NOT idle/start, as the manual says. The more air flowing though the machine, the better. Less likely to flood. 3) Give it one or two weak pulls before really trying to start it. Helps to fill the combustion chamber with enough fuel vapor and build up compression. Besides not using the primer bulb at all, the two things I did different was to open up the throttle wide and give it two weak pulls before really trying to start it. Hopefully I won't have to deal with it flooding anymore

Lok: Yeah the 361 is very lean on starting . I re-jetted mine . As for the Older Stihl Models and Ethanol Fuel , get some Star*tron from Walmart . I was advised of it for consideration from a fellow forum member and it has worked very well within my Daughters Snowblower which is ethanol fueled . I also bought some for my Diesel and have found increased fuel savings . If all is fine with Compression and the Ignition Modules a simple fuel circuit cleaning should solve your issues with the older saws .

Hey, bushleague, I also have a 70's Homelite 16", it's great, tho chain tensioner screw gettin crabby. Best tool is the one that suits you. I have a 1.3 acre suburban jungle of mimosas, privet, thorny pear, wild rose, etc (first house!) AAAAAnd a couple kids-- the 2 yr old and the wife take naps. Can't fire up the saw anytime I like. Or the chipper, or the gas hedge trimmer, or the gas blower, Or the mower, dang these babies really had me jonesing for powertools and the weed trees were growing...so. I got that dang toy electric chainsaw from Black and Decker. My dad 'bout cut me out of the will, but with 2 jobs, 2 kids, 1 car, and this lot, it's the only guaranteed tool I can grab, knock down some stuff and get back to telecommuting from my home office. Macho it's not, but nothing else works. Will someone please make a better cordless chainsaw, oh my sweet Lord. One day soon, no more napping, and my eldest w/be big enuf to strap 'im onto the riding mower.