How To Start A Husqvarna Chainsaw

Whether it’s new or old, knowing how to start a Husqvarna chainsaw is something you’ll need to understand.

Even the best brands, like Husqvarna, can have issues when you go to get them up and running.

Fortunately, there’s always a solution for any problem you may have. 

So when you go out to get your firewood cut and your Husqvarna chainsaw won’t start, what do you do?

You’ll start by diagnosing the problem and running through the basics of starting your chainsaw.

This should help you figure out exactly what's going on and more importantly, how to fix it.

Safety Checks Before You Get Started

Before you start, there are some basic levels of safety that you want to make sure you’re checking off the list. 

First off, make sure you’re ready.

That means wearing all of the safety equipment you’ll wear during your cutting and that you’re mentally prepared to start cutting.

You won’t start the chainsaw and then walk away for a while. 

Next, pay attention to the safety features of the saw.

Mostly, you need to ensure that the chain brake is engaged until you are ready to start cutting.

This is an easy way to prevent any accidental injuries from occurring during the starting process. 

Finally, make sure that the area you’re in is safe.

Check to see if people are around, if you’re in a good spot to start the chainsaw, and that there's no other potential hazards lying around. 

Only once you’ve completed your safety checks should you start your Husqvarna chainsaw.

How To Start A Husqvarna Chainsaw - Step by Step Guide

If this is your first time owning a Husqvarna chainsaw, it’s always a good idea to start in the owner’s manual.

You may have operated thousands of different models before, but it’s always possible that the next one is different.

Get to know your new (or old) Husqvarna chainsaw inside and out.

This will make diagnosing any potential issue much easier in the future. 

This guide will target starting a cold engine, meaning your chainsaw hasn’t been running recently.

We’ll also point out the spots where things would be different if you’ve been out cutting firewood all day long and the engine is already hot.

Check The Fuel

First things first, you need to make sure you’re all set with enough fuel.

This is an easy mistake to make and many of us have been there before. 

Don’t go through all of the following steps just to realize you don't have any gas in the tank.

Engage The Chain Brake

Before cranking on anything, ensure that the chain brake is engaged.

This will prevent the chain from spinning while you start the chainsaw. 

This helps you stay safe, and it will make starting the motor that much easier because all of your energy goes directly there, rather than spinning the chain idly. 

You can now also remove the bar cover if you haven’t already.

Press The Decompression Control

If your chainsaw has a decompression control, press it now.

This releases some of the pressure from the combustion chamber and makes turning the engine over much easier.

How To Start A Husqvarna Chainsaw - Activate The Choke

Next up, activate the choke.

The choke is a butterfly valve that reduces the amount of air coming into the engine.

This creates a fuel-rich environment that helps start a cold engine.

If you have an air purge bubble, press it several times until the fuel is visible.

This signifies that fuel has entered the carburetor.

You don’t need to overdo it, that will only make things more challenging if you flood it.

Start Your Saw On The Ground

Place your chainsaw on the ground.

It makes getting the right leverage easy and allows the chainsaw to stay stable, rather than flying around wildly in the air. 

Put your right foot inside the rear handle and hold it firmly in place.

Your left hand (if you’re right-handed) will hold firmly onto the front handle. 

Before you move forward, make sure everyone that’s with you is out of the way, ensuring safety at all costs. 

Now grab onto the starter handle and get ready to pull.

Brace your left arm so it is fully straight and locked out.

This helps give you more support to move on to the next step.

Pull The Starter Handle

Pull on the starter handle, hard.

Keep pulling the cord out hard and fast until you start to hear the engine turn over.

The first time the chainsaw fires, it will likely quit on you.

This is just getting you closer to having the chainsaw up and running entirely.

Choke At Half-Throttle

Once the engine is firing, move the choke over to half-throttle and pull on the starter cord until the engine turns over.

This time it should continue running. 

On your Husqvarna, you can press the throttle trigger and the saw will automatically switch to the idle mode.

If it doesn’t, or it’s an older model, you may need to switch the master control over to idle manually.

Release The Chain Brake

Now your engine is fully running and ready to operate.

Once you’re in position, release the chain brake and start cutting!

How To Start A Husqvarna Chainsaw - Warm Engine

If you’ve already been working and your engine is warm, the process is mostly the same, but you don’t need to engage the choke at all. 

That being said, there are sometimes exceptions.

If you struggle to get your warm engine to start without the choke engaged, move it to half throttle and work from there.

If that doesn’t work, just start the chainsaw as if it were cold.

What If Your Husqvarna Chainsaw Won't Start?

If you’ve gone through all these steps and your Husqvarna chainsaw still won’t start, you may be looking at another issue other than you. 

This is where the diagnosing comes into play and you’ll get to learn a lot more about your chainsaw.

Check your owner’s manual for any common issues, but you can also check our article all about what to do if your Husqvarna chainsaw will not start.

About the Author

Nick Greenway

Obsessed with firewood, Nick is behind over 350+ of Firewood For Life's articles, as well as countless reviews, guides and YouTube videos to help readers like you reduce heating costs and create the perfect fire.