Nik's Poulan Thread

[Modifiedmark]

Katrina victim?......................Yuck!

Could be? I have no idea where this one came from.

No reason for it not to live again though.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Here's one I've been tinkering with for the last few days..finally got it to go but still having a little trouble with the clutch. I think one of the shoes broke but it's still hanging on, till I find another clutch for it. The saw sounds pretty good for an oldie.

I just found a clutch for it..not as rare as I thought!

No not rare at all for alot of parts for them. You will like that saw.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

No not rare at all for alot of parts for them. You will like that saw.

I got it for super cheap..the last owner didn't want to mess with it. All I've done so far is give it a good cleaning and replace all the lines, plus the kill switch was unhooked. I ordered a clutch yesterday for it so it should be cuttin' wood in about a week.

 

[OhioGregg]

Yep, thats my guess as well.

There is a little pitting in the crankcase, but I think it will be ok. If not I have a 3700 crankcase I can use but I don't think I will need it.

I'll get it cleaned up more tomorrow.

Couple years ago I had a 3400 case that looked just like that.
Thats how my 3400 version of Mike's "Ugly Bastard" came to
be. Only one half of it was salvageable. Just so happened that I had the opposite side from a 3700 Craftsman that was still good. So just cobbled up all kinds of spare parts to experiment with. LOL

Gregg,

 

[rms61moparman]

Couple years ago I had a 3400 case that looked just like that.
Thats how my 3400 version of Mike's "Ugly Bastard" came to
be. Only one half of it was salvageable. Just so happened that I had the opposite side from a 3700 Craftsman that was still good. So just cobbled up all kinds of spare parts to experiment with. LOL

Gregg,

That's how some of the best saws are made!!!:msp_wink:
I just finished an 026 like that. Runs good but it's gotta go away from here!
I'll take my hot rod Wildthing ANY day over that pos!




Mike

 

[OhioGregg]

That's how some of the best saws are made!!!:msp_wink:
I just finished an 026 like that. Runs good but it's gotta go away from here!
I'll take my hot rod Wildthing ANY day over that pos!




Mike

Here is a pic of said saw. Ugly as sin, but it DID run. I think I have stole some parts, screws etc. from it. I originally tried "porting" it. Wanted to try more on it, but just never had the ambition.

Gregg,

 

[Eccentric]

To quote someone often quoted this week of the year when confronted by people intent on doing the wrong thing-"I wash my hands of this".

Good job Jeff. Way to bring the Good Friday reference into a saw discussion!

A little bit is the camera angle but you are not off by much. I bet it would cut real fast with a 14! It was a 16......When my barn burned the insurance company gave me $27 for my Poulan 4200. I had a 16" bar on it, the 24" bar and chain that came with it was never used. I was not going to replace the saw because I am now to old and gimpy to use a saw of that size but it pissed me off so bad I just had to do it. If they had given me $150 or $200 for it I would have been happy. My 4200 was like new.

I had replacement cost insurance but they will only pay if you actually replace it, so I did. I went down to the local Huskie saw shop with my owners manual from my 4200 and told them to give me whatever is the modern equal. I had my burned up 24" and 16" bar with me. I think it came to $809.:msp_mellow:

$27 for a mint 4200? Those cheap bastards. At least you were able to get some real money out of them afterall (and get a very good saw..........as far as modern saws go). Bet they thought you were just gonna 'go away' since your 4200 wasn't available new anymore. Too bad there wasn't an NOS 4200 on feebay at the time!

 

[Modifiedmark]

Couple years ago I had a 3400 case that looked just like that.
Thats how my 3400 version of Mike's "Ugly Bastard" came to
be. Only one half of it was salvageable. Just so happened that I had the opposite side from a 3700 Craftsman that was still good. So just cobbled up all kinds of spare parts to experiment with. LOL

Gregg,

Yeah this one was a mess, I coulndnt belive the piston pin brgs were ok, but they were. I just got done cleaning up the piston and putting it on the new crank for it. What a PITA, I wish I had the factory pin pusher tool.

I thought Fatguy was going to hook us up with those?

The case had some pits in the bottom but it didnt really affect the sealing surfaces between the case halves so they got cleaned up really well and I sand blaseted the pittted area and gave it a little JB weld to smooth it up some. I have did this before and the saws still running fine.

The P/C are really good on this and it should make a super good clean saw.

Takeing a break on it for now, Chris was over and we were working on getting a 245A for him up and running. He had to take off but will be back in a little bit and we should get it going soon.

 

[Modifiedmark]

I am not intent on doing anything, just asking if anyone has tried it. It seems not.

If the cylinder is O.K. in its present "lightly sanded" condition I will leave it alone, I don't want to wreck it. Since I have no experience with these things I am asking opinions of those who do.

If it is already wrecked, a little experimentation can't hurt. The worse thing that happens is I wreck $5 worth of new piston rings.

I have no intention on selling this saw, if I did I would spend the $50 and get a new cylinder for it. :msp_mellow:

I must have misunderstood, I thought you were trying to save the original jug, not the one that was sent to you.

Still makes me uneasy about acid to a bare cyl though.

 

[OhioGregg]

Yeah this one was a mess, I coulndnt belive the piston pin brgs were ok, but they were. I just got done cleaning up the piston and putting it on the new crank for it. What a PITA, I wish I had the factory pin pusher tool.

I thought Fatguy was going to hook us up with those?

The case had some pits in the bottom but it didnt really affect the sealing surfaces between the case halves so they got cleaned up really well and I sand blaseted the pittted area and gave it a little JB weld to smooth it up some. I have did this before and the saws still running fine.

The P/C are really good on this and it should make a super good clean saw.

Takeing a break on it for now, Chris was over and we were working on getting a 245A for him up and running. He had to take off but will be back in a little bit and we should get it going soon.

I can't agree more! Mark. I sure wouldn't want to make a video on how to remove the piston on one of these, without that tool! LOL Its a circus of blocks of wood, C-clamps, and sheer luck and wishful thinking.

I found one of those special Poulan tools, just for that purpose. But was missing the bushing that goes on the end. Nik still has it, he was gonna try to make one. Or design a new tool on his own. That was before the last GTG...LOL
Something tells me that got put on the back burner, and forgotten.:msp_biggrin:

Gregg,

 

[Modifiedmark]

I can't agree more! Mark. I sure wouldn't want to make a video on how to remove the piston on one of these, without that tool! LOL Its a circus of blocks of wood, C-clamps, and sheer luck and wishful thinking.

I found one of those special Poulan tools, just for that purpose. But was missing the bushing that goes on the end. Nik still has it, he was gonna try to make one. Or design a new tool on his own. That was before the last GTG...LOL
Something tells me that got put on the back burner, and forgotten.:msp_biggrin:

Gregg,

Yeah it must have. Hell I would buy a new one from Poulan if I could.

Going back on was easy though, just heated the small end of the rod and the pin will push back in with your fingers but you have to be fast at it!

 

[rms61moparman]

I found one of those special Poulan tools, just for that purpose. But was missing the bushing that goes on the end. Nik still has it, he was gonna try to make one. Or design a new tool on his own. That was before the last GTG...LOL
Something tells me that got put on the back burner, and forgotten.:msp_biggrin:

Gregg,

I can tell you without reservation that it HASN'T been forgotten!
Seems like Nik is in the same boat as many of us.
Work really interferes with our hobbies!!!

I'm sure he joins me in being glad to have work tho'!!!


Mike

 

[redunshee]

I can't agree more! Mark. I sure wouldn't want to make a video on how to remove the piston on one of these, without that tool! LOL Its a circus of blocks of wood, C-clamps, and sheer luck and wishful thinking.

I found one of those special Poulan tools, just for that purpose. But was missing the bushing that goes on the end. Nik still has it, he was gonna try to make one. Or design a new tool on his own. That was before the last GTG...LOL
Something tells me that got put on the back burner, and forgotten.:msp_biggrin:

Gregg,

I tried various methods but the one that seems to work is to use blocks of wood to support the piston, heat the piston top and use a drift and tap out the wristpin. I find replacing a piston somewhat more difficult as I have problems aligning the piston and the rod end. The correct tool would be much easier to work with but........
Bob

 

[Modifiedmark]

I tried various methods but the one that seems to work is to use blocks of wood to support the piston, heat the piston top and use a drift and tap out the wristpin. I find replacing a piston somewhat more difficult as I have problems aligning the piston and the rod end. The correct tool would be much easier to work with but........
Bob

Bob, I know you have had your share of fights getting the crank seals in and right on the 3400-4000 saws and I myself have had trouble gettting those little seals to go in right.

I was looking today at how sharp the edge of the hole is and I think I may try to bevel the outside of the hole in the case to see if that will help the seals start down in the hole straight a little better.

Can't hurt to try it can it?

 

[rms61moparman]

Bob, I know you have had your share of fights getting the crank seals in and right on the 3400-4000 saws and I myself have had trouble gettting those little seals to go in right.

I was looking today at how sharp the edge of the hole is and I think I may try to bevel the outside of the hole in the case to see if that will help the seals start down in the hole straight a little better.

Can't hurt to try it can it?

Well,

Yes it CAN but probably won't!!!:msp_wink:


Mike

 

[joe25DA]

Pp 335

I got it all torn down tonight and its ready to be cleaned. What a mess, It amazes me when I get a saw this dirty with a very good p/c. I also noticed this saw uses thin rings, much like the 4000. I like working on these, much like 3.4, 3.7, 4.0, Poulan built a very good saw in this lineup. Ordering the intake boot tonight, the orig looks good, but Im not a gambling guy. Im hoping to have it for the GTG.

 

[rms61moparman]

They were VERY good saws!!!
Poulan was at the top of their game at that time.

Wouldn't it be cool to buy up all of the patents and start reproducing them?
Of course no matter how well they were made there would be a boatload of "experts" calling them dumpster junk!!!LOL


Mike

 

[joe25DA]

I agree Mike. Mine is dated 1987 which is probably the first year for them. Im thinking it was made in late '87 and sold in '88.
As far as the experts go, well empty barrels make the most noise. I heard Poulan made these saws to go head to head with the 026's. Id take my 2.8 and 2 335s over an 024, 025, 026 ANY DAY!

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Here is a pic of said saw. Ugly as sin, but it DID run. I think I have stole some parts, screws etc. from it. I originally tried "porting" it. Wanted to try more on it, but just never had the ambition.

Gregg,

What's the name of that lime green paint again?

 

[rms61moparman]

That paint is 1970 Mopar "Sub-Lime"
Don't use the 1971 "Lime Lite" it is a lot paler.


Mike