Bought a new Poulan Pro 5020 to see what there about

[Justsaws]

I drank the punch and bought one these guys Seems like a serious machine! Doesn't compare to the other "big box" saws.

I also found a bunch of nice, straight oak about a quarter mile from my house and my mom has been asking for a 6' fence for her place. I'm thinking about buying a mini mill and cutting a bunch of board with it....

I know it sounds crazy and I am really pushing the limits with the saw, but I really want to try it...

Thoughts and/or recs on a chain/mill?

How much fencing? Milling a bunch of boards with that saw would be optimistic by my definition of the word "bunch".

A person can mill with pretty much any chainsaw. The difference is productivity and equipment longevity. I have used 45-50cc saws on a 12" mill and they work, they will get the job done. In terms of how long the saw lasts, that is largely up to the operator and the chain sharping skills. There is less margin for error on small saws running small chains than there is on big saws. There is also the issue of parts fatigue, inexpensive saws are inexpensive for a reason. The clutch for that saw will be cheaper than the clutch for a Stihl 660. Probably buy the whole Poulan or get real close for the price of the 660 clutch, drum and oil gear from Stihl. Parts that will fail fast will be the bar, clutch, sprocket and oiler. Get some parts prices and include that information in your descision. Chains are quickly consumed when maxing out a small saw while milling. If you are breaking AV mounts stop pushing on the saw, push on the mill.

Check the fastners OFTEN.

Adding that most newer saws lack a comfortable amount of oiling capability for milling. Drip oilers are the cheap easy fix.

That being said, you can probably buy 4 of those saws news before you are getting close to a new long term milling saw. If you have lots of time to kill, go nuts.

Adding that milling chains usually have a +/-10 degree top plate angle. Try your saw first with just a normal chainsaw chain. The 30-35 degree top plate angle will cut faster but get dull faster and the surface texture of the boards may be rougher than with milling chain. Sharp chain, check the bar for the rails getting pushed out often.

 

[Justsaws]

Well, I dont claim to have a inside track into the minds at Husqvarna/Poulan but I just have to say I dont think they were thinking of building that saw to be a milling saw. Thats just me though......

Probably not, but if it is what you got.....

They best not complain when breaks though.

 

[Modifiedmark]

The oiler is the least of my worries for this saw no matter what its used for. The one I had here would put out enough oil to oil two bars.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Hey ModifiedMark, I just scooped up one of these the other day and like it a lot so far! There was some oak available for scrounging down the road from me and decided to put it to the test. While it didn't exactly pull with authority going through it, it was still far more than I was expecting out of this saw. I bought it because like a lot of other guys on here, it'll be a firewood saw. Don't have a lot of money to spend because I'm the only one working while the wife stays at home with the little guy (just turned 2 early Feb.). So anything pricier than the $200 I paid for it, was out of the question. I'm curious to see how many other long term users there are that have these and how they worked out for them. My other saw is a Poulan 4218 that I scooped up from Walmart years back (back when they had the burgundy plastic) and is still going strong too!

Sounds like you knew what to expect from it so I'm pretty sure it will do you just fine as you sound like its targeted user.

 

[pennsywoodburnr]

Sounds like you knew what to expect from it so I'm pretty sure it will do you just fine as you sound like its targeted user.

Definitely. I have a feeling it'll last me a long while too. If you want to see some of the oak I cut up with it, I posted some pictures in the firewood and heating forum under the thread title "oak firewood mini score". It should be on the 1st or 2nd page. Thanks again for the review. That was the primary reason I went with this saw.

 

[tmanmi]

Amazon has them for $165.71 right now and I don't see anything out them being refurb's.

 

[tomandjerry00]

Thanks and chain rec?

Thanks for all the help, especially the milling thoughts. I really appreciate it!

I have about 70 ft of fence to build, but I can't start building until April so plenty of time to mill.

Gonna try the saw for a week or two on the smaller stuff and then decide on a mill. Right now I'm thinking the mini-mill, but open to other thoughts.

Lastly, does anyone have any rec's on the best ripping chain and the best cross-cut chain for this saw? Thanks a ton!

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Amazon has them for $165.71 right now and I don't see anything out them being refurb's.

I just bought one of those and it is list as new.

 

[rms61moparman]

I just bought one of those and it is list as new.

I call dibbs on it when you are done testing it out!!!


Mike

 

[zogger]

Thanks for all the help, especially the milling thoughts. I really appreciate it!

I have about 70 ft of fence to build, but I can't start building until April so plenty of time to mill.

Gonna try the saw for a week or two on the smaller stuff and then decide on a mill. Right now I'm thinking the mini-mill, but open to other thoughts.

Lastly, does anyone have any rec's on the best ripping chain and the best cross-cut chain for this saw? Thanks a ton!

Ha! Start reading

http://www.arboristsite.com/milling-saw-mills/

Ppersonally, Id look for an older much larger saw to do milling with. Anything, an old homelite or something.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

I call dibbs on it when you are done testing it out!!!


Mike

I will be comparing to my grey craftsman poulan 3000 49cc that way it is in the right cc range to be compared. :msp_wink:

Others said 5020 had less torque in the cut then the 330 and 330 was stronger. That is expected IMO considering the 5020 50cc and 330 54cc.
Just like the PP325 partner 5500 53cc is noticeably stronger and more torque in the cut then the partner 5000 49cc.
or 45cc 346 compared to 50cc 346 same thing noticed.

I have a good running grey craftsman 49cc aka poulan 3000 with bare bore to compare to.

1st thing I plan on doing is never installing the 20". Going to put a 16" on from the get go in 3/8. Then maybe 325 later too since that is what the 3000 has on it. Will test with same set ups on both in 3/8 and 325.

Need to figure out the drum for a 325 switch though. :msp_unsure:

Oh a 346 50cc 545 550 will be there too. Hope the 5020 dont embarrass them to much. :msp_w00t:

 

[Deleted member 83629]

just buy one and go cut some wood dang it! i cut twice a week with mine and i have already burned 10 gallons of mix. time for a new plug though since im been running the saw a bit fat to help break it in since it wouldn't run out of the box

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

I will as soon as it gets here.:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

I ordered mine yesterday about 6:30am. Said shipped from Indy at 3ish and is out for delivery UPS in Ohio right now. :shock::smile-big:

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Speak of the devil. :yoyo:

Now that was quick. Ordered yesterday at 630am, shipped same day 3ish. Delivered today UPS 415pm.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

OUT OF THE BOX NEW and homeowner sawer would get disgusted pretty quick IMO. The saw carb was off the mark on L and I.

I checked factory settings and then put them back to see. L was 1.5 and H was 2 - 2.5 out (sorry cant remember H off hand).

It would start and not idle and shut off. Start and bog giving throttle.

I kept adjusting the carb till I ended up with about 3 out on L and left 2-2.5 on H at about 12.8K. Turned the I idle up too. Reminds me of the redmax carb and settings (which through me for a loop when I 1st got it), not like the 1 to 1.5 turns out we get used to.

Got to make some test cuts and I was ear to ear.

Be warned make sure you have the splined carb tool $8-$14 and know how to tune a saw if buying NIB.

K095 mount

 

[w8ye]

Most weed whacker size carbs were 2 to 2/1/2 on the needles

 

[Deleted member 83629]

i see it uses tygon fuel line that is strange i thought they used that cheap clear vinyl crap i guess i have to check mine
and get some super 70 oregon chain it is far better than the vanguard chain that comes with the saw

 

[dswensen]

Fixed it for ya.

i see it uses tygon fuel line that is strange i thought they used that cheap clear vinyl crap i guess i have to check mine
and get some super 70 oregon chain it is far better than the vanguard chain that comes with the saw

I see it uses Tygon fuel line. That is strange. I thought they used that cheap clear vinyl crap. I guess I have to check mine
and get some Super 70 Oregon chain. It is far better than the Vanguard chain that comes with the saw.

 

[LegDeLimber]

seems the threads are a bit tighter pitch on these carb screws,
so it's giving some larger number of turns out than what the older stuff would take.

 

[Deleted member 83629]

I see it uses Tygon fuel line. That is strange. I thought they used that cheap clear vinyl crap. I guess I have to check mine
and get some Super 70 Oregon chain. It is far better than the Vanguard chain that comes with the saw.

My eyesight is terrible i appreciate the help.Hard for me to read the keyboard on my computer.