Bought a new Poulan Pro 5020 to see what there about

[FastGame]

It is a bit gas hungry I have noticed It does like to drink the fuel. But otherwise I don't feel bad having it in my collection. Now its time to tweak the muffler.

I think they have the Strato engine so should be decent on gas, maybe needs to be broken in more or maybe small gas tank ? The guy next door has one and he beats it up...still runs nice for the $$

 

[Jimothy]

+1

Thanks Modifiedmark and all.

This thread(and forum) made my buy a no brainer for me.

Lovin it so far.

 

[fossil]

joecool85 - Mahalo for the confirmation that this is the exact same saw as the Poulan Pro 5020. Good to know!

redheadwoodshed - thanks for the welcome! You guys have a great forum here!

I have the husky 350 back from the shop with the muffler off.
When I get the time I will take another look at it and see what I can do.
I have seen some parts on e-bay.
Will read all the 350 threads here before I strip her down.
Maybe buy a shop manual 1st !!

Aloha!

Go to the stickie section and ask for an IPL and shop manual for your 350

http://www.arboristsite.com/stickies/68615-1089.htm

 

[Okole]

Thanks for the pointer to the 'Beg for manuals' thread! This Forum never ceases to amaze me!

I went ahead and got one of the Craftsman flavor saws. It was on sale $21 off if bought online and picked up in store, for a total of $196 inc tax. Not too bad a price. Been too busy to fire her up yet, but will do on Tuesday.

Aloha!

 

[s sidewall]

This has to be the longest thread on this web site, took me days to read it. Nothing wrong with a homeowners saw for that price.Thats a no brainer there.

 

[importjunk]

It is a good source of information, but not the longest by any means. Check out the Poulan thread under stickies. 1457 pages,almost 22,000 posts. Now get reading, book report due Monday.

 

[russhd1997]

opcorn:

 

[7sleeper]

It is a good source of information, but not the longest by any means. Check out the Poulan thread under stickies. 1457 pages,almost 22,000 posts. Now get reading, book report due Monday next year!.

There fixed it for ya.

7

 

[Modifiedmark]

This thread just keeps poping up so I might as well tell ya that Sears has a online special right now on these for I think it was $179 and free shipping.

 

[CTYank]

This thread just keeps poping up so I might as well tell ya that Sears has a online special right now on these for I think it was $179 and free shipping.

Thanks for the tip, Mark. (I've got my copy and it just keeps running better after about 15 tanks.)

I told some friends, and they're trying to arrange $ and conflict-avoidance. :msp_wink:

One of them has run it, and seen it cutting big oak at full-song, so it's a no-brainer for him.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Thanks for the tip, Mark. (I've got my copy and it just keeps running better after about 15 tanks.)

I told some friends, and they're trying to arrange $ and conflict-avoidance. :msp_wink:

One of them has run it, and seen it cutting big oak at full-song, so it's a no-brainer for him.

Thanks for the report. Most seem do be doing ok or else we would have heard about them I would think.

 

[russhd1997]

I just bought one of these PP5020 saws for my son in law for Christmas. We cut about 25 cords of wood a year here and he does a good share of it. This saw looks to built a lot like my Jonsered 2036 and that is my primary limbing saw. If this saw is as trouble free as the J-red we are going to like it. Other than the one with the broken crank it seems that everyone else is happy with it. I will report back here on how this saw performs and any likes/dislikes. This saw is going to get a good work out here. Probably 30 years worth of Joe homeowner use in one year. Time will tell if I made a good decision when I bought this saw.

 

[zogger]

I just bought one of these PP5020 saws for my son in law for Christmas. We cut about 25 cords of wood a year here and he does a good share of it. This saw looks to built a lot like my Jonsered 2036 and that is my primary limbing saw. If this saw is as trouble free as the J-red we are going to like it. Other than the one with the broken crank it seems that everyone else is happy with it. I will report back here on how this saw performs and any likes/dislikes. This saw is going to get a good work out here. Probably 30 years worth of Joe homeowner use in one year. Time will tell if I made a good decision when I bought this saw.

Ya, please do! Long term use reviews are good. There most like *are* more weak points to find out about, so your winter workout should find them!

 

[Okole]

Started her up today.

Fresh ethanol free gas, STA-BIL and 40:1 mix with synth oil,
Followed the instructions to the T.
She started right up!
Ran at fast idle for 30 secs.
Stopped and restarted her several times.
Idled perfectly.
Perfect.

I will chop Coconut as soon as I get time and report back.

Aloha!

 

[TheDiabolicaL1]

Thanks to all who contributed in this thread. I just finished reading the entire thing and I'll be looking to get my hands on a 5020 tomorrow.

Today, my dear ole hand-me down/freebie Homelite XL Auto lost spark halfway finished filling up my truck. This isn't the first time she's decided for whatever reason to refuse to run after an hour or so of cutting wood perfectly. Last year she gave me her exploded view too many times to count. I'm not one to shy away from a project and I have full intent on getting her running again but I need a saw now.

The auto oiler has never worked in the homelite. Years ago it was converted to a thumb pump. thumb pumps bring the suck. The clutch is badly worn in the homelite as well. Slightly less than the weight of the saw itself and it starts slipping badly. As I understand it, parts are hard to come by these days, most of what is available is used. The homelite is heavy. It's terribly inefficient and now with a no spark issue... well, the ole girl needs to be shelved for a while and repaired correctly before being put back into service. May live the rest of it's days being a truck saw, back up saw, loaner saw, helper saw, or my saw when the wife decides to finally come help get some ******* firewood! haha

That said, I like quality items but at this time, I simply can't justify the expense of the big two. I don't use my saw year around. I cut between 4-6 cords of firewood a year to heat my home. The price of the big two have kept me putting bandaids on my ole homelite. My quest begun today for a cheaper alternative that offered a middle ground for my standard of heavy use (4-6 cords per year) and price. I think the 5020 will suit me well for it's intended purpose.

Hell, it's cheaper than nearly every used example of husky or stihl I can find on craigslist around my area, and there's a bunch of them right now.

 

[CTYank]

Welcome, Diabolical.

I got a 5020 about a year ago, mainly as backup heavy artillery for my pursuits of firewooding and storm cleanup. Found out it could keep up with a Husqy 455r- not bad for $100 less than a 455r refurb. And ... it works great for noodling- really spits the chips clear.

After about 15 tanks, it's still loosening up- a good sign to me about expected longevity.

(You can find good prices on non-pro Husqy refurbs at vminnovations dot com- prices include shipping.)

Probs noted so far:

1) air filter seal not-so-good away from the spring clip. Tiny bead of silicone fixed it. I clean filter in place.

2) fuel line in tank softened at filter, releasing same, with saw sucking wind. Snipped off 1/8" of fuel line for temp fix- easy fix in the field. Soon to be replaced with some .160" - .180" Tygon fuel line. Gotta wonder why they use the cheap vinyl? crap. Don't tell me.

3) I wish the oil pump was driven off the clutch as in my 455r. Would spray less on starting a cut.

 

[zogger]

Welcome, Diabolical.

I got a 5020 about a year ago, mainly as backup heavy artillery for my pursuits of firewooding and storm cleanup. Found out it could keep up with a Husqy 455r- not bad for $100 less than a 455r refurb. And ... it works great for noodling- really spits the chips clear.

After about 15 tanks, it's still loosening up- a good sign to me about expected longevity.

(You can find good prices on non-pro Husqy refurbs at vminnovations dot com- prices include shipping.)

Probs noted so far:

1) air filter seal not-so-good away from the spring clip. Tiny bead of silicone fixed it. I clean filter in place.

2) fuel line in tank softened at filter, releasing same, with saw sucking wind. Snipped off 1/8" of fuel line for temp fix- easy fix in the field. Soon to be replaced with some .160" - .180" Tygon fuel line. Gotta wonder why they use the cheap vinyl? crap. Don't tell me.

3) I wish the oil pump was driven off the clutch as in my 455r. Would spray less on starting a cut.

Good to know about the crap fuel lines. I can see some cost savings taken by the maker, but adding less than a dollar to make them more reliable seems like they should have done that.

 

[7sleeper]

That's what you call market economy.

7

 

[Modifiedmark]

(You can find good prices on non-pro Husqy refurbs at vminnovations dot com- prices include shipping.)

Probs noted so far:

2) fuel line in tank softened at filter, releasing same, with saw sucking wind. Snipped off 1/8" of fuel line for temp fix- easy fix in the field. Soon to be replaced with some .160" - .180" Tygon fuel line. Gotta wonder why they use the cheap vinyl? crap. Don't tell me.

3) I wish the oil pump was driven off the clutch as in my 455r. Would spray less on starting a cut.

Curious what type of gas your using in your saws, non ethanol or E-10. If E-10 do you have a tester and actually check it once in a while? Do you ever drain the saw and run dry after use?

I'm just trying to see if I can trace a pattern with these as I know IndianSprings has been on a rampage about the fuel lines on Poulans.

Myself I have not seen the amount of trouble he has been reporting, yeah I have seen my share of bad line problems (pleanty on other brands also) but nothing consistant yet and not on anything that new yet.


I just worked on 2 Poulans last weekend, a 2003 PP295 that just was to the point of getting ready to have line failure that I know never gets its E-10 gas drained and is used very little and a 2000 1950 Woodshark that didnt need its orginal lines replaced yet.

I myself think that the lines lasting 10 years on the 295 is more then good service.


As for the clutch driven oiler, I suppose that would be nice, but is it really going to be THAT nice? Not nice enough to justify the cost and make a $200 not a $200 saw anymore far as I'm concerned.

 

[JimM]

I just bought one of these PP5020 saws for my son in law for Christmas. We cut about 25 cords of wood a year here and he does a good share of it. This saw looks to built a lot like my Jonsered 2036 and that is my primary limbing saw. If this saw is as trouble free as the J-red we are going to like it. Other than the one with the broken crank it seems that everyone else is happy with it. I will report back here on how this saw performs and any likes/dislikes. This saw is going to get a good work out here. Probably 30 years worth of Joe homeowner use in one year. Time will tell if I made a good decision when I bought this saw.

I dont see this saw as being anything like my 2036. Bigger, heavier, possibly slower at limbing. Dont get me wrong, I love the little j-red, but not in the same class, in my opinion.