Nik's Poulan Thread

[rocketnorton]

I know a guy who was a Poulan dealer back in the '70's and 80's. He said it was hard to sell the Poulans because they competed with the Stihl's and were around the same price point. Stihl had much better marketing (which is what it's all about to the average person) and sold more saws. I see and hear a lot of . "I am selling this because I bought a Stihl!" Well whoop de do and good for me.

The dealer inquired about the 4200, and 5200 sales and the distributor said he sold very few up here in Ontario. A big sale was 10 saws to a dealer so they are rare here. Maybe the same applied to the sales in the US. I expect the popularity may have been very regional.
A lot of people missed a good saw and I am thrilled to have one of each. Gary has the rest.

not this one... ...and a 3800, just because...

 

[fossil]

not this one... ...and a 3800, just because...View attachment 396670 View attachment 396671 View attachment 396672

I heard you had them on a long term lease.

 

[OhioGregg]

Another odd thing on the red saw above. I looked at the muffler diffuser today and I've never seen one like this. From another saw maybe? This one has about 8% open area compared to the standard 18 X 0.255" openings.

View attachment 396668 View attachment 396669

That for sure is an odd one. Never seen one like it. It sure enough looks like a Poulan part. Had to be a Craftsman "Thing", or a Canada gov't mandated thing... who knows. Noise or EPA thing??? See and learn something new every day about these things it seems. Or, just another un-answered question..LOL

Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

not this one... ...and a 3800, just because...View attachment 396670 View attachment 396671 View attachment 396672

Nice 4200!! I like the full-wrap handle, don't have any full wraps. Yep, that 3800 looks just like my late 3400.
There are a number of things that we could look at too, on the 4200/5200 saws. They changed a few things from early production to the late production, just before the 4400/5400, when a lot changed.

Gregg,

 

[blk05crew]

Another odd thing on the red saw above. I looked at the muffler diffuser today and I've never seen one like this. From another saw maybe? This one has about 8% open area compared to the standard 18 X 0.255" openings.

View attachment 396668 View attachment 396669

You sure that isn't drilled out? I kind of looks that way to me?

 

[joe25DA]

I drill the diffusers on all my keepers. I open the holes to 5/16" maybe? Never thought to drill one big 3/4" hole

 

[fossil]

You sure that isn't drilled out? I kind of looks that way to me?

Nope. The standard one has 18 .255" dia holes, 9 each side. That one has 14 .16" dia holes, 7 each side and one 0.6" hole on each side. Drilled holes are easy to spot beside stamped holes. These ones are stamped.

That for sure is an odd one. Never seen one like it. It sure enough looks like a Poulan part. Had to be a Craftsman "Thing", or a Canada gov't mandated thing... who knows. Noise or EPA thing??? See and learn something new every day about these things it seems. Or, just another un-answered question..LOL

Gregg,

No EPA pollution type stuff mandated for saws up here. I'm pretty sure there would be a provincial standard on noise limits now but not back then. That saw is an early one and the date slugs in the molds are 1979.

 

[OhioGregg]

Nope. The standard one has 18 .255" dia holes, 9 each side. That one has 14 .16" dia holes, 7 each side and one 0.6" hole on each side. Drilled holes are easy to spot beside stamped holes. These ones are stamped.



No EPA pollution type stuff mandated for saws up here. I'm pretty sure there would be a provincial standard on noise limits now but not back then. That saw is an early one and the date slugs in the molds are 1979.

Maybe you have the very first Craftsman/Poulan sold in Canada! Could be worth hundreds or thousands of $$$. Or maybe just $50 LOL

Gregg,

 

[joe25DA]

Here's what I'm up to right now. Lucky enough to be running one of my saws at work. This one here is 2800. My new favorite lightweight saw. I've been using this one to widen up our access trails. This 30' maple was a little tricky cause of the frozen brook right behind it so I couldn't get a good back cut or I'd be down hill, on ice with a saw...so it's ugly but went where I wanted. Saw is just fun to run.

 

[blk05crew]

Here's what I'm up to right now. Lucky enough to be running one of my saws at work. This one here is 2800. My new favorite lightweight saw. I've been using this one to widen up our access trails. This 30' maple was a little tricky cause of the frozen brook right behind it so I couldn't get a good back cut or I'd be down hill, on ice with a saw...so it's ugly but went where I wanted. Saw is just fun to run.
View attachment 396689 View attachment 396690

Wish I was out running a saw right now Nice pics!

 

[Craigwell]

Ok, finally had a chance to measure the cylinders of my craftsman and mastercraft saws..

The Craftsman measures a touch over 1 7/8" or 48mm, while the Mastercraft is 1 13/16 or 46mm.

I took the measurement several times, same result. Hopefully reasonably accurate.

The larger bore craftsman definitely has thinner rings than the smaller bore mastercraft

Craftsman 358-41418
Mastercraft 54-5671-4

I was itching to get home this week and do this!

 

[Craigwell]

Another odd thing on the red saw above. I looked at the muffler diffuser today and I've never seen one like this. From another saw maybe? This one has about 8% open area compared to the standard 18 X 0.255" openings.

View attachment 396668 View attachment 396669

I can say after checking my two (Mastercraft and Craftsman) that neither are like that with the large hole, they both have the diffuser with 18 .255" openings. I even pulled the Mastercraft muffler again just now to be sure lol.. I knew the Craftsman definitely did not.

 

[fossil]

Yep, you have a 3700 and a 3400.

I don't think there were any re-branded 4000 saws but maybe there were. I don't think I've seen one on either site.

 

[Acornhill]

Very nice saws, I still stand by that the 3400 is one of the best all around firewood saws ever made. s25DA is one of the best limb saws ever made and for big wood well any of the big countervibes will do.

 

[cowroy]

I'd just like to come and cry for a minute or two....... [emoji24][emoji24] I missed a pp475 with a 24" and a 32" bar for a smokin deal by an hour [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24]

 

[PogoInTheWoods]

Here's your manual.

​

 

[Craigwell]

I poked at my Mastercraft branded 3400 tonight, determined it needs a fuel filter. As I was poking around, I noticed what seems to be a return or vent line going into the tank as well.. This line is brittle and disintegrated as I poked at it.

I found an IPL with a quick bit of googling, but the line doesn't turn up on it. Anyone know what diameter it is? Wondering about buying some different size lines in bulk, along with filters - as I service my "fleet".

 

[Hoggwood]

I poked at my Mastercraft branded 3400 tonight, determined it needs a fuel filter. As I was poking around, I noticed what seems to be a return or vent line going into the tank as well.. This line is brittle and disintegrated as I poked at it.

I found an IPL with a quick bit of googling, but the line doesn't turn up on it. Anyone know what diameter it is? Wondering about buying some different size lines in bulk, along with filters - as I service my "fleet".

There should be a white barbed fitting on the vent line that holds the external 1/8 3/16 line. Internal to the tank is the duckbill on the fitting and the vent line is on the barb. When you pull it from the tank it friction fits into the tank hole. The line is the same size for both fuel and vent.

 

[fossil]

Very nice saws, I still stand by that the 3400 is one of the best all around firewood saws ever made. s25DA is one of the best limb saws ever made and for big wood well any of the big countervibes will do.

I need to pick up one of the 25's. There are lots of micro's up here but limited 25's. Which model should I set my sights on?

 

[cowroy]

Here's your manual.

View attachment 396821​

Dab a little on the bleedin' why don't ya pog?
[emoji30][emoji24]