Anyone looking for a Poulan 5400 countervibe?

[fearofpavement]

I hit up a flea market and some pawn shops today. The usual disposable stuff or boat anchors. I did run across a very used Echo 3000 for $129 (way to much for its condition) A Echo CS440 for $249 which isn't in as good of condition as the CS4400 I have listed in the classifieds for $150. However, of interest perhaps, I saw a tired looking Poulan 5400 countervibe. This saw has a horrible cobble job on the muffler. Guess they must've opened it to punch it out as it had some kind of side pipe added and then welded the front back on and a poor job of it. Anyway, the saw looks intact and has a 20" bar. It shows signs of heavy use. I didn't try to start it or even pull the rope. I assume it runs since the pawn shop has $199.95 on it. Everything in that pawn shop is about twice the street price so it may be only worth half that. I have no desire to own one of these but didn't know if they were desirable to any of you guys out there in AS land. This saw is heavy so shipping would be a lot but if anyone wants me to drop them an offer on it let me know. We also have 7% sales tax here in this part of Georgia. If anyone is local I would be happy to give you the contact info. I have no dog in the fight.

 

[Jacob J.]

The 5400 is a cool saw. I'm sure one of the Poulan enthusiasts here will go after it. The 8500 to me is the coolest saw of that line-up though.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Myself and a few others would be interested in it, but would need more info to drop that much on it. Parts are hard to come by and are not really cheap when you do find them.

 

[fearofpavement]

Well, if someone told me what to look for, I could maybe pursue it further. This pawn shop is about 17 miles from me but I usually get to that area about once a week.

I could maybe check compression, and look at whatever else? As I stated previously, the saw seemed to be intact. ie, no missing or broken off parts. There is a lot of wear on the saw. (from use, not abuse) So my guess would be this thing has a lot of hours on it. That makes sense with a 30 year old saw I suppose because this isn't the type of saw someone would buy for a weekend camp out. So if someone tells me what would make the saw have some value, I can further investigate. (I doubt it'll move fast but one never knows). There seemed to be a foam wrap over the top handle but that was badly deteriorated. The bar looked ok, nothing special. 20". I realize my info is pretty vague, but that is as much as I know about it. I could maybe shoot some photos of it if someone is hot on it. Not sure how soon I'd have time to do that. If a saw like that runs, what is the least it could be worth? Again, this isn't my saw, I don't have a relationship with the pawn shop, just trying to spread the magnesium...

 

[zogger]

That's 85 CCs

Seems to be worth picking up if you could get them down on the price and it isn't all tore up with a scored p/c etc. If the muffler looks weird, tell them you need to pull it to check things out.

Pawnshops are strange, they mostly don't know jack about saws I have found. They might see a saw running and that's it, give a loan or buy it cheap, but they don't really check them out, you can get an alleged runner from a shop and it might start but it is so whipped it won't cut, or the oiler is broken, etc. And their prices are always completely out to lunch, but you can always negotiate down as well. Usually anyway.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Yes, only 2 screws will pull the diffuser out of the front of the muffler to inspect it. If scored its not worth anywhere near that as P/C are made of unobtainium.

 

[Chris J.]

$199.00 for a well-used 5400? I'd say some serious negotiating was in order.

Would the PS let you take some photos?

 

[zogger]

Can you downgrade one?

Yes, only 2 screws will pull the diffuser out of the front of the muffler to inspect it. If scored its not worth anywhere near that as P/C are made of unobtainium.

Just theoretically, if the p/c are no good, can you downgrade in size (or upgrade?) with a bolt on some other model p/c that might not be made of unobtanium?

 

[Modifiedmark]

Just theoretically, if the p/c are no good, can you downgrade in size (or upgrade?) with a bolt on some other model p/c that might not be made of unobtanium?

Yes you could go down, but those parts are just as hard to find....

 

[fearofpavement]

So is what I'm hearing that if the piston/cyl is bad the saw is pretty worthless and if it's good (from a peek) then it may have some value? What about the metal on the saw? covers, etc. any value in those? I guess I am looking for a "what is the least it could be worth" if it runs. And what is the least it could be worth if it doesn't run?
Keep in mind that I don't desire this saw myself, I only would buy it to either A. make money on or B. help out an AS member. I would not be interested in selling it a piece at a time on eBay.

It doesn't seem to be one of those can't pass it up deals at any rate...

 

[Modifiedmark]

It doesn't seem to be one of those can't pass it up deals at any rate...

Kinda hard to say without more info. Yes it has value for parts but at $200 and shipping, is it worth it for parts? Maybe, maybe not.

Pictures and a better description would help.

 

[fearofpavement]

I don't see this saw being worth $200 even if it ran. But then it's not something appealing to me. I think it could be had for considerably less. I have made purchases from this pawn shop before and I make them an offer on something. If they can sell it and still make a profit they do. If not, we part ways. So I would offer them considerably less. Like maybe half. So how many of the parts would have to be good for $100? I am just visualizing some fool bringing that saw in and wanting to sell it. How much do you want for it? Oh, I'm hoping to get $300 for it... Uh, for that old thing? Best we could do is $40. Ok, I'll take $40. I have heard dozens of similar conversations in pawn shops. I know they can't have much in it and I think their chances of moving it are low. At least at that price. If I get back by there maybe I'll bring a camera and snap a photo.

 

[fearofpavement]

Ok, stopped back by the pawn shop today and they of course still had the saw. Noticed the recoil was broken off of it though. So apparently someone was messing with it some.

I snapped some photos and will try to upload a couple (I have more)

I offered the owner $60 as is and he didn't seem the least bit interested in that price. He said he could get the recoil repaired for $25 and indicated he would do that and then I could come check out the saw. He said they wouldn't have taken it in if it didn't run at the time.

so I don't really know any more about the saw than I did before other than it really isn't as bad cosmetically than my first impression.View attachment 207827View attachment 207828View attachment 207831

I tried but couldn't get the photos embedded, they are left side, right side and bottom.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Look what some nitwit went and done to that muffler. :msp_mad:

Makes it hard to get off now..

 

[Chris J.]

I hope this works. The saw looks pretty rough to me, but it's best to let one of the true Poulan guys give an idea re price.

Edit--I'd be willing to bet that the pawn shop didn't loan/pay very much for it.

 

[StihlyinEly]

If scored its not worth anywhere near that as P/C are made of unobtainium.

That there just made me smile.

If I was going to start collecting, I'd start with the old Poulan stuff. I did a lot of cutting up in the mountains with this series of Poulans back in the late '80s when I worked for a woodcutter. Got a soft spot in my heart for them.