Nik's Poulan Thread

[joe25DA]

I havent hardly had any time to look at a saw the past 2 weeks! We have been gettin slammed with snow this month. Working a full time job plus the 22 properties we snowblow/plow has taken up all my saw time. I did come across a craftsman 2.1 with a snow blower I got last week. Not sure what Ill do with it yet. It has minor scoring on the piston so I might make it a parts saw (like I dont have enough 2.1 parts saws!). Lately I have been doing work to my Toro. New belts and an oil change this week. Gotta keep it running. I cant really cut any wood, I took the dog for a walk in the woods behind the house and the 2' of snow has covered all the dead wood I was getting. I am on the hunt for a 4200-5200 but they seem rare in these parts.
next project will probably be seals on one of my 4000's.

 

[rbest]

Hello everyone, I am new to this. I have been lurking around here for a while and have picked up some good information on older poulan chainsaws. I have been cutting wood with my dad for years, and was under the impression that the equipment we use (poulan 3400, 3700) were junk according everyone around here. Our saws were looking a little beat up, so I decided to restore them and found this site. Since then I have become a little addicted to older poulan chainsaws, I have bought and restored 3-3400's, 5-3700's, 1-3800, and 2-4000's. I just cant get enough of these saws, Do I have a problem? anyway I think they are great and love the way they run, I will try to put some pictures on here if I can figure out how to. thanks for all of the info.

 

[mweba]

Mitch, I have been eye ballin the NOS ones the guy on ebay has.

Poulan Farmhand 2900 2.8 c.i. 20" bar - eBay (item 220716755271 end time Jan-28-11 14:44:40 PST)

Nice. Pawn is asking 60. Heck for that why not buy a new one. I have a customers here with interm ignition issue. When it runs it pulls very well for 40ishcc.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Nice. Pawn is asking 60. Heck for that why not buy a new one. I have a customers here with interm ignition issue. When it runs it pulls very well for 40ishcc.

I think the 2900's are 46cc. Pretty well made saws for clamshells. Chrome bores and Swedish cranks. My 40cc 2500 would smoke a 025 even before I modified it.

 

[8433jeff]

Mitch, I have been eye ballin the NOS ones the guy on ebay has.

Poulan Farmhand 2900 2.8 c.i. 20" bar - eBay (item 220716755271 end time Jan-28-11 14:44:40 PST)

People would rather have a MS250. Stupid people, but thats them. Those even look to have decent chain on them.

 

[OhioGregg]

Havn't been doing much with saws lately, to darn cold. I did get another 306A parts saw. Been taking a few pieces off of that, that were better looking and putting them on my operational one.

Can't wait to get rid of this snow & ice, so can get back to actually working my old no good Poulans. I had 15 cords ready for this winter. I sold 9 to friends allready. The rest was for me. It is nice though, sitting in a warm, wood heated house, all cut with worthless old Poulans.


Gregg,

 

[8433jeff]

No dummy, thats not what I meant. :bang:

I know what you meant. Geez. I'm a dummy, and you're not sending me a saw. Might have to take a anti depressant tonight before bed.:can::can::can:

 

[OhioGregg]

Hello everyone, I am new to this. I have been lurking around here for a while and have picked up some good information on older poulan chainsaws. I have been cutting wood with my dad for years, and was under the impression that the equipment we use (poulan 3400, 3700) were junk according everyone around here. Our saws were looking a little beat up, so I decided to restore them and found this site. Since then I have become a little addicted to older poulan chainsaws, I have bought and restored 3-3400's, 5-3700's, 1-3800, and 2-4000's. I just cant get enough of these saws, Do I have a problem? anyway I think they are great and love the way they run, I will try to put some pictures on here if I can figure out how to. thanks for all of the info.

rbest, Welcome to the Poulan corner of AS. I know EXACTLY how you feel about your saws. Sounds an awfull lot like what I use..LOL I wouldn't trade any of them for any New saw from any maker. Sounds crazy I know, but thats how I feel about em.


Gregg,

 

[paulyb21]

Craftsman 3.7 ci (poulan3800)? Price about right?

Don't post a lot and took awhile to get a photo to preview...

anyways looking at this in the morning. Was $125 then 100 then $80 Now $75, Can. Owner says it runs real good, we'll see
Is that about right for a good runner? (paid about 1/2 that for my Poulan 3400cv which I love.) You guys say this model has a bit more grunt than the 3400...

Being a grey craftsman, and using the search here figure it is a Poulan 3800;
or craftsman 358.356090 (or pretty close to it, says it has the "18 bar)

Was looking for a RED one but this should cut some wood , eh?

Thanks paulybView attachment 169388View attachment 169398View attachment 169399View attachment 169398View attachment 169399

 

[OhioGregg]

paulyb21, Not to bad of a price. It was obviously made for the Canadian market with the brake, or whats left of it. The good way to tell what you have is looking at the piston/cyl. If it has a chrome piston with unplated cyl., its most likely a 3800.
The other way around, its most likely a 3700. I don't think anything was set in stone however. I don't think it matters all that much. The 3400 has a chromed piston. and Lord only knows how many of them are still running.:beer:


Gregg,

 

[paulyb21]

response

Gregg, (OhioGregg) thanks for the response
Yes not sure if it is the 3700 or 3800. most posts by people that seem to know, lean towards most grey's being 3800. not a biggie for me I know how strong my 3400 with chrome piston runs...and mine is still running too!! Just want to get the right ipl matched for the right model...Yes I will peek under the muffler for sure

Canadian for sure, just have to skip across the river to Quebec to see it. May even have some parts to get the brake functional too...(though most seasoned cutters on here would say not to bother)..If I can get them I will put them on.
paulyb

 

[67L36Driver]

Havn't been doing much with saws lately, to darn cold. I did get another 306A parts saw. Been taking a few pieces off of that, that were better looking and putting them on my operational one.

Can't wait to get rid of this snow & ice, so can get back to actually working my old no good Poulans. I had 15 cords ready for this winter. I sold 9 to friends allready. The rest was for me. It is nice though, sitting in a warm, wood heated house, all cut with worthless old Poulans.


Gregg,

Foolish man. Don't you know that the heating value of wood (btu per pound) is much higher when it has been cut with a $600 saw? hone: (I heisatate to mention the brand name).

 

[OhioGregg]

Foolish man. Don't you know that the heating value of wood (btu per pound) is much higher when it has been cut with a $600 saw? hone: (I heisatate to mention the brand name).

LOL, I her ya. I been called worse I suppose. Sure, I have spent a lot of money over the last few years, refurbishing old Poulans. But the funny thing is, I used only a 3400 to do the same thing for 22 years. Well, truth be told, i didn't use to sell any wood. Now it seems, these old Poulans are actually making me some money. So I guess you could say they are paying for themselves.


Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

Gregg, (OhioGregg) thanks for the response
Yes not sure if it is the 3700 or 3800. most posts by people that seem to know, lean towards most grey's being 3800. not a biggie for me I know how strong my 3400 with chrome piston runs...and mine is still running too!! Just want to get the right ipl matched for the right model...Yes I will peek under the muffler for sure

Canadian for sure, just have to skip across the river to Quebec to see it. May even have some parts to get the brake functional too...(though most seasoned cutters on here would say not to bother)..If I can get them I will put them on.
paulyb

Would be nice to get the brake functioning again, for restoration purposes I suppose. I only own 2 saws with a brake. A 385 Husky and a Poulan super 380. I could personally do without. But if they are there, be nice to have them working.

Gregg,

 

[67 Mustang]

Don't post a lot and took awhile to get a photo to preview...

Being a grey craftsman, and using the search here figure it is a Poulan 3800;
or craftsman 358.356090 (or pretty close to it, says it has the "18 bar)

Thanks paulyb

Welcome to the site, paulyb! My first "big" saw was a 358.356091. Bought it new in 1987 and still have it. It's a gray 3800. If the one you're looking at is in good condition and running right I think you'll find a favorable improvement over a 3400.

 

[67 Mustang]

Well, truth be told, i didn't use to sell any wood. Now it seems, these old Poulans are actually making me some money. So I guess you could say they are paying for themselves.


Gregg,

I guess no one told you, Gregg. You're not allowed to make money using an old Poulan. We'll let it go this time.

 

[redunshee]

Mitch, I have been eye ballin the NOS ones the guy on ebay has.

Poulan Farmhand 2900 2.8 c.i. 20" bar - eBay (item 220716755271 end time Jan-28-11 14:44:40 PST)

No, no, no ,no. I will not open this link. Maybe I'll just take a look! No. No. Wow. $89 and free shipping?
Bob

 

[OhioGregg]

No, no, no ,no. I will not open this link. Maybe I'll just take a look! No. No. Wow. $89 and free shipping?
Bob

Hehehehe, Tempting ain't it Bob?

Gregg,

 

[Modifiedmark]

Hehehehe, Tempting ain't it Bob?

Gregg,

Gregg, it must have been too tempting. There were 3 of them now I just checked and theres only 2 left!

 

[redunshee]

Gregg, it must have been too tempting. There were 3 of them now I just checked and theres only 2 left!

Wasn't me!