Bought a new Poulan Pro 5020 to see what there about

[joecool85]

...seems to me that poulan has upped the ante and have made a great saw, dollar for dollar hard to beat.

Bingo. And I'd be willing to bet that now that McCulloch is under the same parent company, we will see another 5020 clone soon.

 

[spike60]

One of these saws came into the shop this week, so I thought I'd bring this thread back up and a add a few comments now that I've had a chance to get a closer look at one.

1st comment, getting right to the point is: This thing is garbage. Might be the heaviest 50cc saw money can buy, despite all of the plastic that these things have.

Customer brought it in and said the clutch came off and it probably needs a new one. He was on the right track, but the only thing wrong with the clutch was that the end of the crankshaft snapped off was still in it. (Not exactly a large diameter crank for a saw that comes with a 20" 3/8 bar.)

I wouldn't recommend this saw to anyone. :msp_thumbdn:

 

[joecool85]

One of these saws came into the shop this week, so I thought I'd bring this thread back up and a add a few comments now that I've had a chance to get a closer look at one.

1st comment, getting right to the point is: This thing is garbage. Might be the heaviest 50cc saw money can buy, despite all of the plastic that these things have.

Customer brought it in and said the clutch came off and it probably needs a new one. He was on the right track, but the only thing wrong with the clutch was that the end of the crankshaft snapped off was still in it. (Not exactly a large diameter crank for a saw that comes with a 20" 3/8 bar.)

I wouldn't recommend this saw to anyone. :msp_thumbdn:

Spike, quit beating around the bush and tell us how you really think! j/k

As far as plastic, I don't think it has any more or less than a Husky or Stihl really...it even has a metal chainbrake cover...which is more than I can say for my 339XP. As for the weight, you're probably right. The crank...not sure what happened there, I'd think if anyone was going to break it, someone here would have since we're all pretty hard on the equipment around here. Maybe it was a manufacturing defect.

 

[zogger]

One of these saws came into the shop this week, so I thought I'd bring this thread back up and a add a few comments now that I've had a chance to get a closer look at one.

1st comment, getting right to the point is: This thing is garbage. Might be the heaviest 50cc saw money can buy, despite all of the plastic that these things have.

Customer brought it in and said the clutch came off and it probably needs a new one. He was on the right track, but the only thing wrong with the clutch was that the end of the crankshaft snapped off was still in it. (Not exactly a large diameter crank for a saw that comes with a 20" 3/8 bar.)

I wouldn't recommend this saw to anyone. :msp_thumbdn:

Well, that sucks. What did he say he was doing when it broke? How about the AV does it look all torn up, and is the bar bent as well?

 

[OhioGregg]

I should probably just keep my mouth shut, as I don't have a "dog in this fight". Never had my hands on one of these saws, and most likely won't. I seem to recall seeing adds all the time for cranks etc. for all kinds of saws, Stihl, Husky, Poulan, whatever, both selling and people wanting.

So I'm almost certain that the Poulan 5020 isn't the first saw that ever needed a new crank, for whatever reason. I'm sure there are good ones out there that will last a person a lifetime, and some that will have problems. Its the nature of the inexpensive beast.

I think like most things that go bad, the dealer or serving shop doesn't see the saw till something goes south on it. Obviously some have a dealer service every little thing on em, and some will never see a dealer again.

I guess you just take your chances, and how much you spend taking that chance. Being that is a new model saw, the 5020, I would think it would be covered by manufactures warranty yet. Maybe not.

Just my 2 cents.


Gregg,

 

[Modifiedmark]

One of these saws came into the shop this week, so I thought I'd bring this thread back up and a add a few comments now that I've had a chance to get a closer look at one.

1st comment, getting right to the point is: This thing is garbage. Might be the heaviest 50cc saw money can buy, despite all of the plastic that these things have.

Customer brought it in and said the clutch came off and it probably needs a new one. He was on the right track, but the only thing wrong with the clutch was that the end of the crankshaft snapped off was still in it. (Not exactly a large diameter crank for a saw that comes with a 20" 3/8 bar.)

I wouldn't recommend this saw to anyone. :msp_thumbdn:

Interesting Post Spike.

You sound surprised by the weight, I posted the real world PHO weight in the second post of this thread so you shouldnt be surprised.

I also pointed out the small cranshaft dia on the PTO side and wasnt impressed by that either. Please follow up on your post though. Why do you think the crank broke? What did the owner say?

Do you think it just broke under normal use or do you think any abuse was involved?

Maybe it is garbage, but I would like to hear more of the story. Its not like this is the first brand of saw that ever had a crank break off there.

I dont think these have been out for over 2 years yet so I would assume it would still be under warranty. You posted that you can order these for sale through your shop, does that mean your a Poulan warranty service center too? If so are you fixing it for the owner? If not did you direct them to a shop that would fix it?


Just looking for some more info.

 

[Captain CaveMan]

got mine today, haven't even opened the box, was in the dark tweaking a homelite ut10580, geez if there ever was a garbage saw, that one takes the trophy home........
I am excited to take the craftsman out and put it through its paces, a pro saw it isn't, but I definitely think it will be worth the money for its use

 

[rms61moparman]

Well I'm looking for one if anyone happens to see one for cheap.
Sure wish they would start hitting Craigslist or something.


Mike

 

[Captain CaveMan]

ebay had a 5020 new go for 150 shipped yesterday, keep your eyes open deals to be had on occasion

 

[Chris J.]

Well I'm looking for one if anyone happens to see one for cheap.
Sure wish they would start hitting Craigslist or something.


Mike

Mike, I'm hoping to hit a "blowout sale" later this AM. The way the ad reads it makes it sound like one of those returned products, overstock, etc. grab bag deals. I'm hoping to find some PP5020s and/ or some rebadged as Craftsman 358.5098.

 

[spike60]

Interesting Post Spike.

You sound surprised by the weight, I posted the real world PHO weight in the second post of this thread so you shouldnt be surprised.

I also pointed out the small cranshaft dia on the PTO side and wasnt impressed by that either. Please follow up on your post though. Why do you think the crank broke? What did the owner say?

Do you think it just broke under normal use or do you think any abuse was involved?

Maybe it is garbage, but I would like to hear more of the story. Its not like this is the first brand of saw that ever had a crank break off there.

I dont think these have been out for over 2 years yet so I would assume it would still be under warranty. You posted that you can order these for sale through your shop, does that mean your a Poulan warranty service center too? If so are you fixing it for the owner? If not did you direct them to a shop that would fix it?


Just looking for some more info.

I did a little more homework Mark and I'll try and answer some of the questions you, Zogger and a few others had. Keep in mind I was curious about maybe selling them myself, as I can order them from Husky. I'm not taking shots at someone elses brand. But after a closer look, no way they are going to find their way onto my shelf.

The saw is not abused or beat up. Mounts are not stretched or bent at all. Saw is on it's second chain, and the bar is not yet showing any burring. The chain is in good shape with no indication that it caught anything that would cause any trama.

Regarding the weight, I don't look at the numbers as much as how the saw feels, and it feels heavy and awkward. It seems fat to me. If the 56cc 455 rancher misses the target on power to weight, this thing misses the whole shooting range.

I measured the crank and compared it to a few other saws. We both noticed it, and our instincts are right. At the clutch point, it is only a 6mm diameter. Even the Husky 445 has an 8mm crank. The only Husky with that small a crank is the 435. Bottom line: IMO this crank is a weak point, particularly in this application pulling a 3/8 20" bar.

Another thing I noticed is that the clip holding the airfilter on doesn't keep it very tight, and there was plenty of sawdust inside of the filter.

I'm not a Poulan warranty center, and don't have a desire to become one if I'm not going to sell the product. But a crank replacement might be costly enough that a new saw would be granted, however I'm just guessing on that.

I just think this saw is posing as more saw than it actually is. Every company has some cheap small saws, but a cheap big saw? Kind of a hard target to hit IMO. Granted, there will be guys that run them for years with no trouble, and I hope you guys that have bought them fall into that category. I'm not saying they're all gonna break. But that can be the case with any cheap saw. There's guys that come in the store with things that we both joke, "Is that thing still running?"

I jumped in here because this thread has painted what I now think is an overly rosy picture of this saw. A lot of people read this stuff and make purchase decisions based on our comments. I just don't think it's that good a saw, and I would neither recommend it nor consider selling it in my store. I'm fully aware that many guys need a good deal on a saw, and the price and specs of this saw are certainly attractive. I also believe that it's often a lot harder for that customer to come up with $150-$200 for something like this than it is for us CAD infected guys to spend $800 on one more saw that we don't need. That customer needs a saw that's going to last; not one that will likely need to be replaced in a few years.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Spike, thanks for giving your impression after a better look.

I tried to be objective in my posting on this saw. If you missed it, go back and read that I pointed out the clip holding the air filter and commented on that point. That part alone didnt bother me because it wouldnt take much to correct that.


I was curious being a Poluan fan from way back. If it seems a little rosey around here, it might just be at that but I dont think it was me painting that color. I did say it should be a decent consumer saw for that price and this one failure so far dont change my mind about it yet, but if it becomes a common issue I of course would change my mind.

I still say the main point of this saw is the selling price for its intended market, the surbuban do it yourselfer etc. The same crowd that would be buying Wildthings and the China Homelites. Yes I know that some, like you say should be buying something better that may last longer, but we both know that price will decide what they end up buying. For alot of them if they spent $600 for a Husqvarna or Stihl would still have it furbar'd in about the same time anyway.


Like several of us here have said, this saw wasnt intended for most of us at this forum and now I see threads where they posted videos of comparisons to there Stihl's.:bang: Like the weight of it, that kind of stuff completly misses the point of this 5020.

Being in the business your in and from what I understand your selling, I wouldnt see the point of you selling them and if I were in your shoes I doubt I would either.

Like you said and I pointed out, that small crank dia, might be a cause of concern, but then again like you said they might not be that big of a problem. I guess time will tell as I'm betting there will be a bunch of these sold.

The one other selling point of this 5020 is the 2 year warranty and it seems your customer has a valid claim to have it warrantied. My local shop is a Poulan repair center and they and some others I have talked to have no complaints about dealing with Poulan and there warranty. They say they fix em and Poulan pays all the time with no problems, so I hope your customer persues getting it fixed under warranty.

 

[zogger]

I did a little more homework Mark and I'll try and answer some of the questions you, Zogger and a few others had. Keep in mind I was curious about maybe selling them myself, as I can order them from Husky. I'm not taking shots at someone elses brand. But after a closer look, no way they are going to find their way onto my shelf.

The saw is not abused or beat up. Mounts are not stretched or bent at all. Saw is on it's second chain, and the bar is not yet showing any burring. The chain is in good shape with no indication that it caught anything that would cause any trama.

Regarding the weight, I don't look at the numbers as much as how the saw feels, and it feels heavy and awkward. It seems fat to me. If the 56cc 455 rancher misses the target on power to weight, this thing misses the whole shooting range.

I measured the crank and compared it to a few other saws. We both noticed it, and our instincts are right. At the clutch point, it is only a 6mm diameter. Even the Husky 445 has an 8mm crank. The only Husky with that small a crank is the 435. Bottom line: IMO this crank is a weak point, particularly in this application pulling a 3/8 20" bar.

Another thing I noticed is that the clip holding the airfilter on doesn't keep it very tight, and there was plenty of sawdust inside of the filter.

I'm not a Poulan warranty center, and don't have a desire to become one if I'm not going to sell the product. But a crank replacement might be costly enough that a new saw would be granted, however I'm just guessing on that.

I just think this saw is posing as more saw than it actually is. Every company has some cheap small saws, but a cheap big saw? Kind of a hard target to hit IMO. Granted, there will be guys that run them for years with no trouble, and I hope you guys that have bought them fall into that category. I'm not saying they're all gonna break. But that can be the case with any cheap saw. There's guys that come in the store with things that we both joke, "Is that thing still running?"

I jumped in here because this thread has painted what I now think is an overly rosy picture of this saw. A lot of people read this stuff and make purchase decisions based on our comments. I just don't think it's that good a saw, and I would neither recommend it nor consider selling it in my store. I'm fully aware that many guys need a good deal on a saw, and the price and specs of this saw are certainly attractive. I also believe that it's often a lot harder for that customer to come up with $150-$200 for something like this than it is for us CAD infected guys to spend $800 on one more saw that we don't need. That customer needs a saw that's going to last; not one that will likely need to be replaced in a few years.

Good reply, thanks!

 

[rms61moparman]

Hey Mark,

Do you by chance know the crank diameter of a 295 off the top of your head???

I also wonder if the customer spike is referring to did his obligatory "chain brake check" at the beginning of every cutting day.
It makes me shudder when I see people crank a saw up to full throttle out of the wood and suddenly snap the brake handle forward!:msp_scared:
I don't suppose the rotating mass of the crank, piston/rod assembly and flywheel would have enough force to do any permanent damage though.


Mike

 

[fossil]

Talking to guys with homeowner saws over the years I would think a stiff crank end would be a good idea. Most don't understand why the chain gets loose when new and I'll bet a lot of them crank it down hard when the chain is hot. For some of them bar oil is just a suggestion.
I would bet most never read past the "how to start the saw" in the owner's manual.

 

[spike60]

Mark, I 100% agree with everthing you said. I didn't in anyway want to come off sounding like I was being critical of you or anyone else for saying some positive things about the saw. But as we all know, it's tricky when posting on a site to not inadvertently send the wrong message, so I'm sorry if it came off that way. I know that you and others also mentioned the limitations this saw would have for members, and you noticed all of the same faults I found when I got to see it up close. But I think visitors to this site, and it seems like there are always 3 to 4 times as many guests as members any more, might think this was a better buy than it really is.

And you're also right about the price buyer never changing his viewpoint: He's always going to buy on price. And they are the ones most likely to want a saw to be more than it is. I'm dumping the last of my 435 refurbs @ $150, and I can't wait til they're gone. (Just a couple left) Nobody can simply accept these little saws for what they are. They see a Husky for $150 and they want to cut 8 cords of wood a year, clear acreage, they ask if they can put a 20' bar on it. In fact, the guy who brought in the 5020, bought one of those 435's. He'll probably buy another one.

As to what will happen to his 5020, I haven't heard back from him since I left him a message.

As far as affordability goes, it's like I told someone who bought a 435 yesterday: No matter how good the price looks, you still have to have the right tool for the job, or the end result will be disappointment in the purchase.

I think cheap saws like wild things have a place as occasional tools, and they make sense for a guy who needs to take down a small tree or clean up after a storm. But IMO, anyone who is going to need and rely on a saw to heat his home should try and save up the extra $ he'll need to get a saw that will get the job done over the long haul. I realize that sometimes a cheap saw might be necessary as a bridge to get there.

It's funny, but I had a chance to get wild thing refurbs for $40. No kidding. At that price, why not, right? Mark them up $25 and sell them like donuts or something. "How many ya want?" But folks still expect them to run, and if they don't they come back unhappy, and then after a little bit of that, I'm unhappy. So I thought it best to just stay out of that arena altogether.

Got a real long winded post here, don't I? LOL Time to run downstairs and get something to eat.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Yep, I got cha, hear ya loud and clear and agree with ya!

Funny you brought up the Husky 435. I picked up a referb a few weeks back and wasnt real impressed with it and like you say, I can see guys thinking just because they say Husqvarna on it, they think they can do anything with it.

I picked it up really for a guy at work and he wants it just mainly for a limbing saw. He seems to take good care of his stuff and I think it will be fine for his fire wood limbing dutys.

 

[SasquatchMan]

Spike: great detailed rundown on possible weak links in the saw, very well thought out critique.


I think this is a great thread for someone considering this purchase. For all the back-and-forth, there's a bunch of great info in here, and a guy reading this thread is now in a position of making an informed decision.

Didn't realize that comparing the saw to a 50cc Stihl was so wrong. Noted for future reference.

 

[Modifiedmark]

.

Didn't realize that comparing the saw to a 50cc Stihl was so wrong. Noted for future reference.

Nope not wrong at all if you really feel the need to do it to decide if a $200 consumer saw is fast enough to earn its keep for you.

I was just insinuating that it is some of the pointless stuff that goes on around here, even if the Stihl can beat it, so what, the Stihl is still twice the price of the 5020.

Kinda like a couple of geeks taking there mopeds out to the drag strip. Yeah one will probably outrun the other but in the end there both still mopeds and will not come close to winning a race against a 900cc crotch rocket.

 

[rms61moparman]

Nope not wrong at all if you really feel the need to do it to decide if a $200 consumer saw is fast enough to earn its keep for you.

I was just insinuating that it is some of the pointless stuff that goes on around here, even if the Stihl can beat it, so what, the Stihl is still twice the price of the 5020.

Kinda like a couple of geeks taking there mopeds out to the drag strip. Yeah one will probably outrun the other but in the end there both still mopeds and will not come close to winning a race against a 900cc crotch rocket.

Even the slow moped might look fantastic if you are walking the 10 miles to town!


Mike