Nik's Poulan Thread

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

I agree!!! I have used both, a 385xp & 5200 for bucking & felling fairly large oaks. Both 85cc, the Husky is just a newer design, with a little more rpms than the 5200. I have never done a side by side comparison, something I should do sometime, just for the fun of it.:msp_biggrin:

They both perform the task beautifully!! but, I enjoy using the 5200 more, just for the wow factor (sound). LOL It sounds like a chainsaw should, while working. Neither ones weight bothers me, especially for the tasks they are used for.

Gregg,

The 385 is a runner for sure Gregg. The 385 likes it's rpm and the 5200 is a torque monster! Line em up on camera in a log for us, it'll give ya something to do one day.

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

I've never run them side by side but I would think they would be very close.
I would love to get two identical bars and chains and run them side by side at the PLGTG!!!
That would be a VERY good comparison because they are both VERY low hour saws.


Mike

I have owned both and it would be a very good comparison Mike. My money's goin on the poulan though!

 

[OhioGregg]

The 385 is a runner for sure Gregg. The 385 likes it's rpm and the 5200 is a torque monster! Line em up on camera in a log for us, it'll give ya something to do one day.

I could swap bars on them to compare more fairly, but the drive link count would be off by 1. At lest with 28" bars thats the case. I never tried using the 30" Husky bar on the Poulan, but I would guess I would have the same problem.

Gregg,

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

I could swap bars on them to compare more fairly, but the drive link count would be off by 1. At lest with 28" bars thats the case. I never tried using the 30" Husky bar on the Poulan, but I would guess I would have the same problem.

Gregg,

The bigger the bar and wood the better! Lets em shine that way.

 

[rms61moparman]

I could swap bars on them to compare more fairly, but the drive link count would be off by 1. At lest with 28" bars thats the case. I never tried using the 30" Husky bar on the Poulan, but I would guess I would have the same problem.

Gregg,

Gregg,

Those saws are really dumb!
They don't know the difference.
I try real hard to run 20" 72 link bars and chains on EVERYTHING!
It sucks to have a bunch of 70 link and 72 link because invariably the ones you grab to go cut wood will be the wrong ones!

Life is so much easier if all of your kids wear the same size shoes!!!LOL


Mike

 

[rms61moparman]

I have owned both and it would be a very good comparison Mike. My money's goin on the poulan though!

Well,

My heart hopes the 5.2 will win but I'm not so sure.
That 056Super is a BEAST!

Side by side to pick one to have and use though, the Poulan wins EVERY time!!!!!
I can still find ignitions for them.........if they ever go out!
As a bunch have found out the ignitions for the 056 line is now made of unobtainium!


Mike

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

Well,

My heart hopes the 5.2 will win but I'm not so sure.
That 056Super is a BEAST!

Side by side to pick one to have and use though, the Poulan wins EVERY time!!!!!
I can still find ignitions for them.........if they ever go out!
As a bunch have found out the ignitions for the 056 line is now made of unobtainium!


Mike

My ignition as well as the rest of the saw is now ashes thanks, to this a little over 2 yrs ago!
<a href="http://s493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/ms460woodchuck/?action=view&amp;current=barn004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/ms460woodchuck/barn004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[OhioGregg]

Gregg,

Those saws are really dumb!
They don't know the difference.
I try real hard to run 20" 72 link bars and chains on EVERYTHING!
It sucks to have a bunch of 70 link and 72 link because invariably the ones you grab to go cut wood will be the wrong ones!

Life is so much easier if all of your kids wear the same size shoes!!!LOL


Mike

I hear ya!:smile2: Its funny, the 24" Husky bar & chain will work on my 4000, just barely enough adjustment. But the 28" Husky chain will not..needed to get a 91 link chain to run it on the 5200.
Life would be way to simple, if they were all interchangeable. LOL

I suppose one drive link count wouldn't make much difference in a side by side comparison. But using different chains might, if one is sharper than the other. Oh well, It would be close enough for non government comparison work that I do..

Gregg,

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

I hear ya!:smile2: Its funny, the 24" Husky bar & chain will work on my 4000, just barely enough adjustment. But the 28" Husky chain will not..needed to get a 91 link chain to run it on the 5200.
Life would be way to simple, if they were all interchangeable. LOL

I suppose one drive link count wouldn't make much difference in a side by side comparison. But using different chains might, if one is sharper than the other. Oh well, It would be close enough for non government comparison work that I do..

Gregg,

2 new chains off of the same reel would work?

 

[Brewmaster]

I need Poulan advice

What model Poulan / Craftsman fit my needs? [Or most]

1. 54-57cc
2. Chain Brake
3. Inboard Clutch
4. Rim Sprocket
5. 20-24" bar

I have had a "Sears Best" 3.3 ... no brake and outboard clutch ... very nice saw.

But I am looking for a Keeper saw with a case that I can keep in my truck.

Help much appreciated !!!

PS- Please list "ALL" the models ... because I want to hunt for one locally.

List thus far:
Poulan Pro 330 / 335 / 3300 / Craftsman 3.3

 

[longbar]

Well,

My heart hopes the 5.2 will win but I'm not so sure.
That 056Super is a BEAST!

Side by side to pick one to have and use though, the Poulan wins EVERY time!!!!!
I can still find ignitions for them.........if they ever go out!
As a bunch have found out the ignitions for the 056 line is now made of unobtainium!


Mike

I feel the same way! Im too scared to use the 056 I have. I know the place I got my 8500 from has the rest of the parts I need for it so if I can get back there soon I wanna get those and try the 8500 vs 056 super. Ok Ok I just wanna try the 8500 period!!

 

[OhioGregg]

My ignition as well as the rest of the saw is now ashes thanks, to this a little over 2 yrs ago!
<a href="http://s493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/ms460woodchuck/?action=view&amp;current=barn004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/ms460woodchuck/barn004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Geeez!! John! I don't think I ever seen that pic or not. Looks like you had a lot more "heat treated" tools, than just saws. Was there much salvageable in that disaster?

Gregg,

 

[dave76]

Dave that is a problem with those, there a odd size for todays replacement lines.

They use a 3/16" ID but the only line that I can find today with that ID is also a 5/16" od which is pretty big and stiff. If makes it tuff for the line to float around int he tank to follow the fuel in different postitons.

It can be used in that saw but is also tuff to get pulled through the tank hole.

All of my saws in that series now have a two piece fuel line setup in them. Id did my first one with the screw in tank fitting from a Poulan 361 which used a 1/8"ID line on one side and a 3/16" ID line on the other.

I had to tap the hole in the tank to accept the fitting.

The 361 fitting is NLA and Bob Wright being the super nice guy he is turned some more out on his lathe for me.

I did aquire two brand new original Poulan fuel lines for them and they now set on my shelf as the 2 piece setup just works much better. If you do a search here on the site, I did post some pictures of that setup.

Now listen, no offence here at all, its not that big a deal but I'm still wondering how it came to be that you ended up with that saw to begin with.

I mean the saw was on auction and I and two others had bids on it. How did it come to be that our bids were cancelled, the auction ended and you ended up with it?

Something dosen't seem right here.

A little update fellas, I brought the saw to work to clean it up as we have two 80HP air compressors and parts washer an all. Anyway she is as clean as she can get, so for ####s and giggles I figure what the heck put some 50:1 mix in and try her out, bam she fired right up, a little carb adjustment and the saw runs mean, it sounds mean as hell too...... Will need more tuning, a plug, air filter, mabe a carb kit, on decel she's a little slow to return to idle. Checked the P&C, no scoring and not a lot of wear that I can see. All AV bushings are good, thing oils like sumbich, probably too much, it was pouring out. Gonna get a new clutch cover, this one is cut out for a bow guide and oil splashes off the chain and all over the muffler. Also see Sugercreek has 4900 decals.

Mark I didn't know you had a bid in, Lol sorry, anyway I figured I'd email the guy just to see what he wanted for the saw since he said it was listed in a local ad, figure mabe he'll end it early as he stated if it sold locally if I offer to buy it now for the asking price, if the price wasn't too rediculious, he said he didn't know what the saw was worth but $100 an it's yours, I almost broke my keyboard trying to reply to him.

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

Geeez!! John! I don't think I ever seen that pic or not. Looks like you had a lot more "heat treated" tools, than just saws. Was there much salvageable in that disaster?

Gregg,

Not much salvageable after the fire. The picture above was the cooler part of the inferno. This pic was of the other end of the shop. Oh yea I think I lost 8 saws in this but don't really remember.
<a href="http://s493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/ms460woodchuck/?action=view&amp;current=barn005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/ms460woodchuck/barn005.jpg" border="0" alt="barn"></a>

 

[joe25DA]

back in the cold

After a week in the sun its back to reality. havent looked over that past 10 pages. Any highlights? I do have 2 news saws on the way, both Im pretty excited about. I was on the hunt for Poulans in west palm FL, but no luck. Back to work, more snow tomm.

 

[8433jeff]

Mike, you think I could make a adapter to bolt the Stihl bar on the Poulan for the test?

I'm thinking I could.

My 4000 wore a Stihl bar when I got it, the original owner ground a pair of lock washers down to fit as spacers. Bailey's sells them, I can order them, but I would make some from tubing before I spent cash on one. The 056 Magnum II I put back together for a guy that cuts ice was a beast, but until way larger wood, I bet the Poulan will keep up, and may be easier to handle.

 

[HeRoze]

today's haul - mac 10-10 without the brake, a homelite 150, and a poulan 361 auger.

 

[67L36Driver]

today's haul - mac 10-10 without the brake, a homelite 150, and a poulan 361 auger.

Is the mfgr's. tag marked for a 361?

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

today's haul - mac 10-10 without the brake, a homelite 150, and a poulan 361 auger.

That 361 with the attachment is a rare bird for sure! Nice find!!!

 

[HeRoze]

Is the mfgr's. tag marked for a 361?

that's right. sn 441xxx. why do you ask?