Stihl MS271 won't start

[LarryK]

I purchase a used MS271 on eBay and when it arrived there was some minor damage from shipment but it will not start. I spoke with the seller and he says it was working great and I could return it. IMHO, it was dropped in shipment and something minor/major happened. I would rather fix it than go through the trouble of sending it back and buying another one. When I pull the cord, it only comes out about 10" then stops - another 9" then stops - so on. When I pull the cord without the spark plug installed the cord pulls smoothly. Any ideas?

 

[LarryK]

Never mind...a little starter fluid and a hard pulled started it right up. I was being wimpy by trying not to break something.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

No saw in running condition should require starter fluid to cold start- if it does, then something is wrong.
With a used 271- that could be any one of the main things required to make a saw run- electrical as in ignition faults, low compression, incorrect timing or incorrect/insufficient/excessive fuel air vapour to the combustion chamber.