Nik's Poulan Thread

[moparman]

That is entirely possible. It is a great looking saw. He got it from a relative, the origional owner. It seems to have not have had much use. I sent him a note and asked if it had been repainted and he said no. I have been trying to promote it in a subtle way but I don't want to be involved in any kind of price hyping scam. It is what it is.

Mike

[/QUOTE]

I find it hard to beleive that the saw hasn't been repainted. The rim shows a fair amount of wear, but there is no evidence on the barpad that a bar had ever been clamped there. I have a stock 8500 that has only been ran a few times on a dyno, cut a few pies and been thrown in different storage areas over its life. It's black paint on crankcase looks as good as this saw and my bar clamp looks much much better, but probably 1/4 of the green paint on handle and fuel tank is worn and chipped off. Poulan saws of this vintage were not noted for having very durable wet paint (green). The black is powder paint so it was more durable. I will agree that it is a very good looking saw for its age, especially if it has not been repainted.

 

[redunshee]

Maybe the bottom of cylinder is tapered so you won't need a compressor. Some saws are, don't know if this is one of them or not.

Don't know if it is or not but piston slipped in much easier than I figured. Use a very small screwdriver and voila, it was in.

 

[redunshee]

They aren't bad at all!!!
A carburetor screwdriver is the only help I've ever needed..............yet!



Mike

MIke , that's exactly what I used and was surprised how easily it slipped in. Also got the chainbrake assembly fixed as well. Just need to rebuild saw and its ready to go. Don't really know why I'm spending time on this saw.

Bob

 

[rms61moparman]

MIke , that's exactly what I used and was surprised how easily it slipped in. Also got the chainbrake assembly fixed as well. Just need to rebuild saw and its ready to go. Don't really know why I'm spending time on this saw.

Bob

Bob,

You will find out when you get it up and running good.
They are really VERY good little saws for homeowner saws.
Stihl has one identical to it that they charge BIG money for, and you have to deal with Stihl!!!


Mike

 

[Denman123a]

New Piston Into New Cylinder

I just repl the p and c in my PP4218AVX and had no trouble dropping the cylinder onto the new piston and ring. Lots of oil on all surfaces and bring it down evenly as possible. The skirt of the cylinder has a chamfer that catches the ring a bit and lets you work the ring gently into the cylinder. My piston ring groove had a locating pin for the ring gap so the ring stays in one position thru its life I guess. My p/c replacement worked astonishingly well for my first step into 2 cycle work in decades; the job was forced upon me by a premature failure of this saw from new, and the singular uselessness of the two local Poulan dealers. I got the parts sent from jackssmallengines and am most pleased with that whole business, ... :msp_biggrin:

 

[dave76]

Was working on a customers Wild Thing and after working on mine I will say the carbs the factory installed are definitly too small and are the bulk of the problems with these saws especially the 42cc ones. I replaced my WT-324 with a WT-285 from an old 2900 46cc saw, 11.11mm vs 13.5mm venturi. The saw starts easily and runs perfect, the 324 carbed or any 11.11mm carb seems to be very finiky to set right, the low screw needs to be turned out like 2.5-3 turns to idle and not bog on rev up. The 285 isn't a bolt on, but some tweeking with the air box, had to heat it with a torch and install it to fit into place due to the linkage rubbing. But it runs awsome, may try an convince this customer to go this route.

 

[redunshee]

Oh yeah, one of the best anywhere.

Was working on a customers Wild Thing and after working on mine I will say the carbs the factory installed are definitly too small and are the bulk of the problems with these saws especially the 42cc ones. I replaced my WT-324 with a WT-285 from an old 2900 46cc saw, 11.11mm vs 13.5mm venturi. The saw starts easily and runs perfect, the 324 carbed or any 11.11mm carb seems to be very finiky to set right, the low screw needs to be turned out like 2.5-3 turns to idle and not bog on rev up. The 285 isn't a bolt on, but some tweeking with the air box, had to heat it with a torch and install it to fit into place due to the linkage rubbing. But it runs awsome, may try an convince this customer to go this route.

Hmmm. I may have to try your suggestion. I have a zama carb on my 4018 wildthing and haven't measured the venturi however

 

[dave76]

Hmmm. I may have to try your suggestion. I have a zama carb on my 4018 wildthing and haven't measured the venturi however

The 4018 are stratofied and have a weird second barral to the carb to inject air straight in. I'm looking into what can be used thats bigger on the newer saws.

BTW I had another customers 4018 Wildthing here the other day, the man had no clue how to run a chainsaw, he never added bar oil so the chain was toast, that in turn heated the crap out of the sprocket which caused the chain brake housing to melt and the spring melted through and started to rub on the sprocket heating it up somemore, this caused the clutch springs to relax and not work anymore, on top of this it started to melt the chassis of the saw. It was a big mess, he even turned the lower bar rail blue, saying it wouldn't cut no more so he had to keep putting more pressure on the cut Lol. In the end the saw is now junk because it would cost waaay too much money to fix, close to $80 in parts.

I told him buy a new saw, bring it to me so I can tune it and show you how to use it properly. I beleive this is what happens to most of our modern big box store Poulans.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

The 4018 are stratofied and have a weird second barral to the carb to inject air straight in. I'm looking into what can be used thats bigger on the newer saws.

BTW I had another customers 4018 Wildthing here the other day, the man had no clue how to run a chainsaw, he never added bar oil so the chain was toast, that in turn heated the crap out of the sprocket which caused the chain brake housing to melt and the spring melted through and started to rub on the sprocket heating it up somemore, this caused the clutch springs to relax and not work anymore, on top of this it started to melt the chassis of the saw. It was a big mess, he even turned the lower bar rail blue, saying it wouldn't cut no more so he had to keep putting more pressure on the cut Lol. In the end the saw is now junk because it would cost waaay too much money to fix, close to $80 in parts.

I told him buy a new saw, bring it to me so I can tune it and show you how to use it properly. I beleive this is what happens to most of our modern big box store Poulans.

you mean we're supposed to put OIL in these things? good one... next you're going to tell me we should mix something with the gas to make them run better too! :jester:

 

[rms61moparman]

The 4018 are stratofied and have a weird second barral to the carb to inject air straight in. I'm looking into what can be used thats bigger on the newer saws.

BTW I had another customers 4018 Wildthing here the other day, the man had no clue how to run a chainsaw, he never added bar oil so the chain was toast, that in turn heated the crap out of the sprocket which caused the chain brake housing to melt and the spring melted through and started to rub on the sprocket heating it up somemore, this caused the clutch springs to relax and not work anymore, on top of this it started to melt the chassis of the saw. It was a big mess, he even turned the lower bar rail blue, saying it wouldn't cut no more so he had to keep putting more pressure on the cut Lol. In the end the saw is now junk because it would cost waaay too much money to fix, close to $80 in parts.

I told him buy a new saw, bring it to me so I can tune it and show you how to use it properly. I beleive this is what happens to most of our modern big box store Poulans.

And the saw is toast because it is JUNK!LOL
Had nothing to do with the owner being an imbecile, it was Poulan's fault for not building a better saw.


Mike

 

[8433jeff]

The 4018 are stratofied and have a weird second barral to the carb to inject air straight in. I'm looking into what can be used thats bigger on the newer saws.

BTW I had another customers 4018 Wildthing here the other day, the man had no clue how to run a chainsaw, he never added bar oil so the chain was toast, that in turn heated the crap out of the sprocket which caused the chain brake housing to melt and the spring melted through and started to rub on the sprocket heating it up somemore, this caused the clutch springs to relax and not work anymore, on top of this it started to melt the chassis of the saw. It was a big mess, he even turned the lower bar rail blue, saying it wouldn't cut no more so he had to keep putting more pressure on the cut Lol. In the end the saw is now junk because it would cost waaay too much money to fix, close to $80 in parts.

I told him buy a new saw, bring it to me so I can tune it and show you how to use it properly. I beleive this is what happens to most of our modern big box store Poulans.

And it still runs. Thats the amazing thing. Never will we build anything completely idiot proof, and these saws have their flaws, but they are still one tough SOB.

 

[redunshee]

And it still runs. Thats the amazing thing. Never will we build anything completely idiot proof, and these saws have their flaws, but they are still one tough SOB.

Well, I reassembled my WildThing 4018 and started it. Got it to idle fine but when squeezing the throttle it bogs once the linkeage opens the upper air intake. If I throttle it open slowly its fine, though. I misplaced my Zama metering lever tool so I wonder if the lever is set too high. Carb has been rebuilt. I was also unimpressed with the vibration. Would have thought a saw built in 93 would have had antivibration. May have to get it running well and get rid of it.

Bob

 

[redunshee]

And the saw is toast because it is JUNK!LOL
Had nothing to do with the owner being an imbecile, it was Poulan's fault for not building a better saw.


Mike

Oh, Shoot!!!!!

 

[Modifiedmark]

I was also unimpressed with the vibration. Would have thought a saw built in 93 would have had antivibration. May have to get it running well and get rid of it.

Bob

Do you mean 03? the strato verstion was way later then 93.

Btw at the same time as any Wild Thing Poulan did make a antivibe version. They called them the Poulan Pro but then again they cost more!

 

[dave76]

you mean we're supposed to put OIL in these things? good one... next you're going to tell me we should mix something with the gas to make them run better too! :jester:

It's funny you should mention that. He did tell me he used 2 cycle mix and that he would add the gas then pour the mix in, IN EVERY TANK OF FUEL, I asked him how did you know if the mix ratio was right and wouldn't it be easier to mix a gallon or two in the fuel container, he just looked at me and said he needs the straight gas for his lawn mower. I said oooooooh.

 

[dave76]

Well, I reassembled my WildThing 4018 and started it. Got it to idle fine but when squeezing the throttle it bogs once the linkeage opens the upper air intake. If I throttle it open slowly its fine, though. I misplaced my Zama metering lever tool so I wonder if the lever is set too high. Carb has been rebuilt. I was also unimpressed with the vibration. Would have thought a saw built in 93 would have had antivibration. May have to get it running well and get rid of it.

Bob

As Mark had said the Wildthing is available in the Poulan Pro colors as the 4218, or the older version as a PP260 both have AV and work well. The 4218 is about $40 more.

 

[dave76]

And it still runs. Thats the amazing thing. Never will we build anything completely idiot proof, and these saws have their flaws, but they are still one tough SOB.

The saw still ran, but because the clutch springs were so over heated they had relaxed to point they were useless, the clutch basically stayed engaged, and with the chain brake spring rubbing on the sprocket it wouldn't idle. I did try and keep the carcass but for some reason he wanted it back. I figure I can always use extra parts.

I didn't tell you guys but I actually sold him one of my grey Craftsman 3.7/20 for $100, he bought the thing in a second. I also showed him everything on how to use it and run, I'm preying for the best.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Soo, is the ebay 8500 drama over now?

It brought $650 with shipping.

Anyone want to fess up?

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Soo, is the ebay 8500 drama over now?

It brought $650 with shipping.

Anyone want to fess up?

I fess up, I sold it. If the new owner is here and wants to step forward, that's up to him.
And he won it for $599 +actual shipping (which should total around $640ish) and I'm happy that he'll be getting a very good saw for his collection, and I'll have enough to help me buy something newer to use.

 

[rms61moparman]

Soo, is the ebay 8500 drama over now?

It brought $650 with shipping.

Anyone want to fess up?

I will confess that it is a nice saw!!!
I will also confess that I have coveted it and will continue to do so.
And finally I will confess that I wish I had enough money to have been a "contender" (Think Marlon Brando here...LOL)

But alas.........I guess I'll just have to be content with my "Old Junks"!


Mike