Nik's Poulan Thread

[OhioGregg]

When did they change to black covers? Mine though repainted, originally had and still has a green cover.
Bob
PS Oh wait. I see your top cover has side screws whereas mine has one big top screw. GUess mine is an older model?

Bob, Those are questions I can't answer. I don't have a clue. I'm still waiting for Mark to write the book on Poulan facts & figures. My older 5200, has the one screw, green top cover, and smooth front crankcase. (no protruding strengthening ribs).

Would love to know what years they made some of these changes. I'm assuming that my newer black top 5200, was made just shortly before they made the model switch to the 5400. I don't know when that was either.

I'm just guessing here, but am thinking they started building the 4200/5200 in the late 1970's, up till about mid 1980's, then switched to 4400/5400 until the late 1980's when the 6900/8500 appeared. I wish someone could nail down the dates for these changes, let alone the minor changes they made to each model along the way.


Gregg,

 

[fossil]

Bob, Those are questions I can't answer. I don't have a clue. I'm still waiting for Mark to write the book on Poulan facts & figures. My older 5200, has the one screw, green top cover, and smooth front crankcase. (no protruding strengthening ribs).

Would love to know what years they made some of these changes. I'm assuming that my newer black top 5200, was made just shortly before they made the model switch to the 5400. I don't know when that was either.

I'm just guessing here, but am thinking they started building the 4200/5200 in the late 1970's, up till about mid 1980's, then switched to 4400/5400 until the late 1980's when the 6900/8500 appeared. I wish someone could nail down the dates for these changes, let alone the minor changes they made to each model along the way.


Gregg,

My 5200 has a black top cover (no sign of green underneath) and the single nut hold down. It may have been a soft change where there was no specific cut off date for the change and they were mixing old and new stock for a while.
Maybe we should ask people to get the serial numbers off the saws to see if it can be nailed down that way but we would need to have an original owner purchase date for it to mean anything. I believe the top nut covers could be converted to screws just by pulling the locating studs and substituting screws. My guess it was done as a cost saving measure as three screws are cheaper than stud bracket, custom nut, spring washer, circlip and studs with plastic caps so it was likely a running change to use up stock and may have taken some time.

 

[OhioGregg]

My 5200 has a black top cover (no sign of green underneath) and the single nut hold down. It may have been a soft change where there was no specific cut off date for the change and they were mixing old and new stock for a while.
Maybe we should ask people to get the serial numbers off the saws to see if it can be nailed down that way but we would need to have an original owner purchase date for it to mean anything. I believe the top nut covers could be converted to screws just by pulling the locating studs and substituting screws. My guess it was done as a cost saving measure as three screws are cheaper than stud bracket, custom nut, spring washer, circlip and studs with plastic caps so it was likely a running change to use up stock and may have taken some time.

Makes sense to me Tim. Out of curiosity, i checked the serial numbers on my 5200's. The older green top, smooth case one is 469670. The newer one with black top & ribbed case is 711082.
Quite a gap there.


Gregg,

 

[Eccentric]

My 5200 has a black top cover (no sign of green underneath) and the single nut hold down. It may have been a soft change where there was no specific cut off date for the change and they were mixing old and new stock for a while.
Maybe we should ask people to get the serial numbers off the saws to see if it can be nailed down that way but we would need to have an original owner purchase date for it to mean anything. I believe the top nut covers could be converted to screws just by pulling the locating studs and substituting screws. My guess it was done as a cost saving measure as three screws are cheaper than stud bracket, custom nut, spring washer, circlip and studs with plastic caps so it was likely a running change to use up stock and may have taken some time.

Makes sense to me Tim. Out of curiosity, i checked the serial numbers on my 5200's. The older green top, smooth case one is 469670. The newer one with black top & ribbed case is 711082.
Quite a gap there.


Gregg,

My 5200 is like Tim's. Front rib on the case. Black top cover. Single central top cover retaining nut/stud. IIRC the MN/SN tag is gone. No help there...

 

[OhioGregg]

My 5200 is like Tim's. Front rib on the case. Black top cover. Single central top cover retaining nut/stud. IIRC the MN/SN tag is gone. No help there...

Well, I learned something today from you guys. I assumed all along that the black top saws were all 3 screw types. Seems with Poulan, back in the day, nothing was set in stone!


Gregg,

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

You can see how off my purple selection was. But do I give a rip, nope. :msp_lol::msp_tongue:

 

[redunshee]

PP 325 arrived

Saw arrived. Compression is 90. Pulled muffler and piston and cylinder look okay. Ring looks like its pretty well shot. Once I pull cylinder I'll have a better idea of the condition of the P&C. Saw has spark, so that's good.

Bob

 

[Showme]

Saw arrived. Compression is 90. Pulled muffler and piston and cylinder look okay. Ring looks like its pretty well shot. Once I pull cylinder I'll have a better idea of the condition of the P&C. Saw has spark, so that's good.

Bob

Well let's see it.

 

[redunshee]

Well let's see it.

You got me. Already have it torn down. P&C can be cleaned up and used. I'll order a new ring for it. Compression should go up but I'll mic old and new to see how bad the old one was. Also need to get a choke lever and carb kit.

 

[fossil]

Well, I learned something today from you guys. I assumed all along that the black top saws were all 3 screw types. Seems with Poulan, back in the day, nothing was set in stone!


Gregg,

I just checked my 4200 SN 536457 (also a ribbed case) and the 5200 SN 561581. As far as not being set in stone, I was surprised to see the 61cc displacement in small print on the last 3400 I bought.
I have never been able to find a pic of the 3400XP (65cc) orange saw to see if it has the high top air filter cover. I think the one Nik fixed up for his Dad and painted blue had a 3400 / 3700 type cover.
My Craftsman 3400 has the vented 3700 filter cover. It was likely mix and match to whatever parts stock they had up here.

 

[joe25DA]

I had some cutting to do today, small saplings nothing worth pics, but I used my 330. It's funny the hardest part about cutting is picking a saw. I only used it once so far on a maple and I was very happy with it. Today was no different, I bet if I was "normal" that's the only saw I'd need.

 

[ChainLightning]

Finished with the modding on my 1950 today. Runs much better. Was gonna keep it as a loaner saw but after running it today I like it to much :hmm3grin2orange:
[video=youtube;56uavzHcB_Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56uavzHcB_Q[/video]

 

[Wagnerwerks]

You got me. Already have it torn down. P&C can be cleaned up and used. I'll order a new ring for it. Compression should go up but I'll mic old and new to see how bad the old one was. Also need to get a choke lever and carb kit.

Bob, you need these for a 295? I can likely help with the choke lever or any other bits. I have a few here in pieces. Its not like I don't already owe you.

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I had some cutting to do today, small saplings nothing worth pics, but I used my 330. It's funny the hardest part about cutting is picking a saw. I only used it once so far on a maple and I was very happy with it. Today was no different, I bet if I was "normal" that's the only saw I'd need.

Yeah.... But who wants to be normal.

 

[Kostas]

I just checked my 4200 SN 536457 (also a ribbed case) and the 5200 SN 561581. As far as not being set in stone, I was surprised to see the 61cc displacement in small print on the last 3400 I bought.
I have never been able to find a pic of the 3400XP (65cc) orange saw to see if it has the high top air filter cover. I think the one Nik fixed up for his Dad and painted blue had a 3400 / 3700 type cover.
My Craftsman 3400 has the vented 3700 filter cover. It was likely mix and match to whatever parts stock they had up here.

Well Tim,i checked my 4200 also,SN 710973 and considering the throttle lock out,i assume that it might be one of the very latest models,but i could be wrong. :msp_unsure:

 

[redunshee]

Bob, you need these for a 295? I can likely help with the choke lever or any other bits. I have a few here in pieces. Its not like I don't already owe you.

No a 325. Its made by Partner similar to their 5000, so I doubt parts will interchange. Thanks anyhow. Kind of you to offer.
bob

 

[fossil]

Well Tim,i checked my 4200 also,SN 710973 and considering the throttle lock out,i assume that it might be one of the very latest models,but i could be wrong. :msp_unsure:

Both of mine have the throttle lock-outs. I see the IPL calls that out as an option. I didn't know that.

 

[OhioGregg]

I just checked my 4200 SN 536457 (also a ribbed case) and the 5200 SN 561581. As far as not being set in stone, I was surprised to see the 61cc displacement in small print on the last 3400 I bought.
I have never been able to find a pic of the 3400XP (65cc) orange saw to see if it has the high top air filter cover. I think the one Nik fixed up for his Dad and painted blue had a 3400 / 3700 type cover.
My Craftsman 3400 has the vented 3700 filter cover. It was likely mix and match to whatever parts stock they had up here.

Tim, I checked my 4200 also. #516071 Ribbed case, single screw cover. None of my Poulans in that series have the "grip safety" on the handles.

As for the Canadian built or marketed saws in that mid-size series, I don't have a clue. :msp_ohmy: All kinds of variations in those, even more so than the US marketed saws.

Just for my own curiosity, would like to see the lowest # and highest serial# 5200 & 4200 amongst us Poulan Nuts. Could be a decieving thing I suppose. They maybe didn't start at #001 or whatever.


Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

I had some cutting to do today, small saplings nothing worth pics, but I used my 330. It's funny the hardest part about cutting is picking a saw. I only used it once so far on a maple and I was very happy with it. Today was no different, I bet if I was "normal" that's the only saw I'd need.

I agree Joe. I have been thoroughly pleased with my PP380. Either one would make a great ONE saw plan, if such a thing exists. I used to think the same thing when all I had was a 3400 for years. But all you jokers on this forum sent me down a different path of thinking.


Gregg,

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

Took the new 5200 out for its first test drive today. I don't have enough wood, or too much bar...LOL Hard to give it a true go with the 30" bar in that size wood. But, the saw works, still keeping it on the rich side. Just playing with it a little, there is a lot of rpm's left in it. Heres a pic and a short video. So I don't want to hear, "no pics or video it didn't happen.

[video=youtube;vWv1No3wk-0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWv1No3wk-0&feature=player_detailpage[/video]


Gregg,

Love the saw and like the hat just as much!!