Makita Essential Starting Instructions for Chainsaws DCS 430, 431, 520, 520i, 540, 5200, and 5200i

Starting the engine

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DCS 431

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Move at least 10 feet (3 m) away from the place where you fuelled the saw.

Make sure you have a good footing, and place the saw on the ground in such a way that the chain is not touching anything. Engage the chain brake (lock).

Hold the tubular handle tightly with one hand and press the chain saw to the ground.

Steady the rear handle by standing in the hand guard.

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Cold-starting the DCS 430, 431, DCS 520, DCS 540:

The carburetors of these saws have a choke valve for cold starting (mixture enrichment).

To make it easier to start, the chain saw DCS 431 is equipped with a semi-automatic starting valve (B/5). Pushing this valve in reduces the amount of compression effort needed, so that it is easier to bring the engine up to starting speed when pulling the starter cable. The high pressure increase in the combustion chamber that results from the first ignitions will automatically close the starting valve (button pops back out).

Model DCS 430, DCS 520 do not have a starting valve. Starting and carburetor adjustment are as for model DCS 431 except without the instruction "Push the starting valve".

-Put the short-circuit ignition switch in the "I" position (B/1).

-Pull out the choke (B/2).

-Depress the half-throttle lock button (B/3) half-way and hold.

-Depress the throttle (B/4) and half-throttle lock button (B/3) all the way. Release the throttle - it will now be held at half-throttle by the lock button.

-Push the starting valve (B/5) (only DCS 431).

-Slowly pull out the starter cable until you notice resistance (the piston is positioned before the top dead center).

-Now pull the starter cable with a fast and forceful movement until you hear the first ignition.

CAUTION: Do not pull out the starter cable more than approx. 50 cm, and lead it back by hand.

-When you hear the first ignition, push the choke (B/2) in. Push the starting valve again (only DCS 431) and pull the starter cable. As soon as the engine is running, press the throttle (B/4) to release the half-throttle lock (B/3), allowing the engine to idle.

CAUTION: As soon as the engine is started it must be put in idle to prevent the chain brake from being damaged.

-Now release the chain brake.

Cold-starting the DCS 520i and DCS 5200i:

The carburetors of these saws have a fuel-injection system (injection carburetor) for cold starting (mixture enrichment). These two cold-starting systems work differently.

-Put the short-circuit ignition switch in the "I" position (B/1).

-Pull out the choke (B/2) (opens the injection valve).

-Depress the half-throttle lock button (B/3) half-way and hold.

-Depress the throttle (B/4) and half-throttle lock button (B/3) all the way. Release the throttle - it will now be held at half-throttle by the lock button.

Note: If the temperature is below -15° C (5° F) start at full throttle.

-Slowly pull out the starter cable until you notice resistance (the piston is positioned before the top dead center).

-Now pull the starter cable with a fast and forceful movement until you hear the first ignition.

CAUTION: Do not pull out the starter cable more than approx. 50 cm, and lead it back by hand.

-Push in the choke (B/2) when the engine starts, or after the first audible ignitions.

-If the engine has not yet started, keep pulling the starter cable until it does.

-As soon as the engine is running, press the throttle (B/4) to release the half-throttle lock (B/3), allowing the engine to idle.

CAUTION: As soon as the engine is started it must be put in idle to prevent the chain brake from being damaged.

-Now release the chain brake.

Warm starting (all models):

-As described above for cold starting, but without using the choke (B/2). Keep the choke in.

Starting under special conditions

(MAKITA DCS 520i and DCS 5200i only):

In conditions of high ambient temperature and when the engine has been stopped for only a short period following full-load operation, if a fuel with a low boiling point is used (winter fuel), and at high altitudes especially, the heat could prevent the engine from starting immediately. If this happens, proceed as follows:

-Pull out the choke (B/2) and start the engine at half-throttle, as described for cold starting.

-When the engine has started, release the chain brake immediately and gun the engine all the way several times until it runs smoothly.

-Now push in the choke (B/2).

If the engine won’t start:

If the engine refuses to start even after a number of tries, check the spark plug (see the section on "Replacing the spark plug").

Stopping the engine STOP

-Put the short-circuiting switch (B/1) in position "O" (STOP).

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