Will start but will not stay running poulan 2000 just changed spark plug thought it might help also have a 2300 will not take gas to carb just changed the fule line

Put gas is the carb. and see if it runs for a short time if so then you have a fuel delivery problem. Hope this helps.

Gotta take the Bowl off the carburetor and see if the Jet is Plugged up.
Today's Ethanol gas ills carburetors. New gas wont help a gummed up carb from leftover old gas.

check your fuel lines for cracks, could be sucking air or could be your carb needs cleaning, make sure you clean the screen inside the carb, if you run it with the choke on partially does it smooth out and quit surging, if so it is definitely a fuel problem. Hope I helped you. 2StrokeJim

Had the same thing, clean the hole on the gas cap.

Do a tune up. It is easy. Just take out the carb and clean with any commercial carb cleaner nad change the spark plug.

Most likely you have flooded the cylinder with oil. You can try this and see if it helps you out.

Remove the spark plug, clean and dry it with carb cleaner, let dry, spray carb cleaner in the spark plug hole and thoroughly flush it out. Let is sit this way for about 20 minutes. Reinstall your spark plug and see if it will start up for you. If it does you are done if not go to an auto parts store and buy some starter fluid. Spray the fluid with just short burst into the air cleaner. Try to start it. Repeat and it should stay running in a couple of tries.

Try to squirt a little gas in the carb and see if it pops or tries to run for a short time. The diaphram in the carb is probably old and hard. That would be the first place I would look.

its probably not getting any gas from the tank try putting your finger on the hole on the carberator and pull your finger should be wet if not take fuel line of the carburator and thenblow then take off the gas cap and blow through the hole on the gas tank it should flow freely throgh teh line to the carburator

Carb is most likely clogged from when the gas you had in it before gummed up. Take some carb cleaner and clean the heck out of the carb and everything will work just fine after that. I also recommend letting the carb cleaner sit for about 30 minutes before trying to start the machine

If you have a compression gauge, check the compression. Anything under 90psi is too low.

Check your flywheel key. If it is broken the flywheel will move and not fire at the correct time.

Note: if it does not sputter with carb cleaner then it's not your carb.

Next:
Remove your exhaust manifold. Look into the cylinder with a flash light. You are looking for scratches. Anything larger then a light fingernail is definite proof you need a new cylinder/piston assy.

If it passes that test do the following:

Pour mixed fuel straight into your cylinder until 1/4 full. Slowly pull your saw over while looking into the cylinder. If you see bubbles after the ring/rings go by then you need a new cylinder/piston assy. On rare occasions if no scratches are present on the cylinder wall or piston, you may be able to change just the rings.