Nik's Poulan Thread

[Modifiedmark]

No wonder I never have parts!

Seems I never have parts because I keep putting parts saws together!

I picked up two Craftsman 3.7 parts saws last week and seen I had about enough parts to make one out of them. They both had good P/C's so I set about picking throught the best parts and bolting them together.

I decided to try my hand at porting this one also. Had to rob the air filter cover and the outer bar plate off of my 3700 to try it out as those were the only parts I lacked for it.

My son came by and tried it out for me since I'm still not up to lifting that much yet.

I also tried a different muffler design for it also. I think it looks and works fine and is alot easier to fabricate.

The saw didn't want to run right because of a coil problem and when correcting that I realised I got alot more brg movement out of it then I did when I checked it without the flywheel on it.

So we got it running and it ran real strong but I went ahead and tore it all back down to go ahead and put new brgs in it this time. Since it ran so good with the used rings I'm going to put a new set in it when it goes back together this time also.

What do you guys think?

 

[PasoRoblesJimmy]

Even though Bailey's doesn't list small piece parts for Poulans in their catalog or on their website, they have a surprisingly large selection of small piece parts for Poulan chainsaws.

If you have an IPB and know the exact Poulan part number, type it into the search box at the Baileysonline.com website. You will be surprised at how often the small piece part will be available from Bailey's.

FYI, Poulan chainsaw part numbers usually start off with 530.

Note: The IPLs for older Poulans always list the part numbers as 530-xxxxx. The newer Poulan parts numbering system eliminates the dash after 530.

Hint: When you do a parts search for older Poulans at Bailey's, type the complete part number 530xxxxx without the dash.

 

[joe25DA]

Seems I never have parts because I keep putting parts saws together!

I picked up two Craftsman 3.7 parts saws last week and seen I had about enough parts to make one out of them. They both had good P/C's so I set about picking throught the best parts and bolting them together.

I decided to try my hand at porting this one also. Had to rob the air filter cover and the outer bar plate off of my 3700 to try it out as those were the only parts I lacked for it.

My son came by and tried it out for me since I'm still not up to lifting that much yet.

I also tried a different muffler design for it also. I think it looks and works fine and is alot easier to fabricate.

The saw didn't want to run right because of a coil problem and when correcting that I realised I got alot more brg movement out of it then I did when I checked it without the flywheel on it.

So we got it running and it ran real strong but I went ahead and tore it all back down to go ahead and put new brgs in it this time. Since it ran so good with the used rings I'm going to put a new set in it when it goes back together this time also.

What do you guys think?

It looks awesome! the muff mod is cool too. Personally, I really like the red/black craftsmans. And its seems that most that I see werent used as hard as their poulan cousins. Yours doesnt look beat at all! That redmax bar looks good on there too. Is that a 20"?

 

[Mr. Bow Saw]

Heres one I just got. Is the model 3.7 or 3700?
It says 3.7 0n the tag

 

[Modifiedmark]

Cliff, that looks good! Think it left the Sears store like that? LOL

Yes that "Should" be the 3700 thin ring plated cyl version but I found that the other Red 3.7 that I got was in fact a thick ring unplated cyl 3800 version.

I had been waiting to confirm that there were indeed 3800 versions in red, as I kinda thought that all the later gray ones were that way.

I think I know where you got that saw and I have to ask, did you also get the super nice 4000 bowsaw that the same seller had a few days ago?

I wanted it pretty bad but didn't want to give his price at this time, but it didn't last long.

Joe, I'm still laughing at the deal on this 20" Redmax bar. I guess most people don't know that they had D176 mount bars too! I got it for $12 shipped to the house and its a rebadged Oregon Power Match to boot!

 

[Mr. Bow Saw]

Cliff, that looks good! Think it left the Sears store like that? LOL

Yes that "Should" be the 3700 thin ring plated cyl version but I found that the other Red 3.7 that I got was in fact a thick ring unplated cyl 3800 version.

I had been waiting to confirm that there were indeed 3800 versions in red, as I kinda thought that all the later gray ones were that way.

I think I know where you got that saw and I have to ask, did you also get the super nice 4000 bowsaw that the same seller had a few days ago?

I wanted it pretty bad but didn't want to give his price at this time, but it didn't last long.

Joe, I'm still laughing at the deal on this 20" Redmax bar. I guess most people don't know that they had D176 mount bars too! I got it for $12 shipped to the house and its a rebadged Oregon Power Match to boot!

Hey Mark,
I don't know if it came from sears like this. The guy claims it came
from Poulan like this. Yeah its the saw your thinking of. It was a little
more then I like to pay but it was calling to me...LoL
I did not get the 4000. I was thinking abot it but then it was gone.

 

[redunshee]

Good looking saw Mark. Also like the muffler mod. Great job. Question: when you opened up the exhaust port, did you simply widen the interior portion nearest the piston or carry the widening all the way to the exterior. I ported an old 3400 but only opened it up near the piston and wonder if I should have gone all the way to the exterior. Also I agree that The Craftsman badged Poulans seem to have less wear and tear that the Poulans. They also seemed to have sold a lot more 3.7 's than 3.4's. I have a 3.7 that looks almost new with a comp of 145.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Well I guess it could have came from Sears like that, but then again I'm doubting it.

Looks good irregardless.


That 4000 was very nice, but I got to watch the $ a little right now being off on medical leave.

 

[OhioGregg]

Couple of great looking saws Mark & Mr Bow saw!!!

Once again, an excellent muffler modification Mark
Bob, it would be a guess on my part, but just the shear numbers of people (homeowners), that strolled through a Sears store, compared to a Poulan dealers shop, would be staggering. I can see why there are so many Craftsman saws out there.
Unfortunatly, thats probably what pushed Poulan to cater to the homeowner class saws market. Sell huge numbers of cheaper saws, instead of (pro saw) dealer network.

Anyway, I still like em !!


Gregg,

 

[redunshee]

Couple of great looking saws Mark & Mr Bow saw!!!

Once again, an excellent muffler modification Mark
Bob, it would be a guess on my part, but just the shear numbers of people (homeowners), that strolled through a Sears store, compared to a Poulan dealers shop, would be staggering. I can see why there are so many Craftsman saws out there.
Unfortunatly, thats probably what pushed Poulan to cater to the homeowner class saws market. Sell huge numbers of cheaper saws, instead of (pro saw) dealer network.

Anyway, I still like em !!


Gregg,

Totally agree, Gregg. Strong saws, bullet proof and easy to work on.
Bob

 

[Modifiedmark]

Good looking saw Mark. Also like the muffler mod. Great job. Question: when you opened up the exhaust port, did you simply widen the interior portion nearest the piston or carry the widening all the way to the exterior. I ported an old 3400 but only opened it up near the piston and wonder if I should have gone all the way to the exterior. Also I agree that The Craftsman badged Poulans seem to have less wear and tear that the Poulans. They also seemed to have sold a lot more 3.7 's than 3.4's. I have a 3.7 that looks almost new with a comp of 145.

Bob, I just made the interior port as wide as the outside, but then I did widen the outside just a very little. I'm not a porting guy much, just messing around some to see what happens.

Bob is your 3.7 a thin ring plated bore saw like the 3700 or a thick ring unplated cyl like the 3800?

The 3800 style on the one I tore down was about 135lbs compression which I thought was pretty good for that, so I got a good jug and piston for one in case someone needs it.

 

[redunshee]

Bob, I just made the interior port as wide as the outside, but then I did widen the outside just a very little. I'm not a porting guy much, just messing around some to see what happens.

Bob is your 3.7 a thin ring plated bore saw like the 3700 or a thick ring unplated cyl like the 3800?

The 3800 style on the one I tore down was about 135lbs compression which I thought was pretty good for that, so I got a good jug and piston for one in case someone needs it.

I've got both Mark. I believe the Craftsman is thin ringed and the Poulan thick. This is from memory so I may have them confused. One problem is when I went to order thick rings, I got thin ones. They have the same part#, so I'm stumped. May have to look at a 3800 IPL to see if the # is differant. I've got an extra 3700 thin ring piston I pulled off a parts saw. I'm in the same portinc class as you. Did a POulan 3400 that I'm selling on Ebay(painted orange and black)) that has new rings. Very strong but comp. is only 125 after a half tank of gas. Don't know how much it'll increase after several tanks and likely will never know. Have you any experience in this and how much increase did you see?

Bob

 

[Modifiedmark]

I've got both Mark. I believe the Craftsman is thin ringed and the Poulan thick. This is from memory so I may have them confused. One problem is when I went to order thick rings, I got thin ones. They have the same part#, so I'm stumped. May have to look at a 3800 IPL to see if the # is differant. I've got an extra 3700 thin ring piston I pulled off a parts saw. I'm in the same portinc class as you. Did a POulan 3400 that I'm selling on Ebay(painted orange and black)) that has new rings. Very strong but comp. is only 125 after a half tank of gas. Don't know how much it'll increase after several tanks and likely will never know. Have you any experience in this and how much increase did you see?

Bob

Well Bob I hope you got them turned around as I thought all Poulan branded3700's were thin rings! All my 3700 ipls show the same rings part # 530024576 but the 3800 which should be thick rings show 530025933 as the part # for them.

Like I said this is the first time I seen a Red Craftsman 3.7 with the 3800 style top end on them! I just thought the gray ones were 3800.

I'll bet since the saws were for Sears they just used what they had in abundance for them, or maybe Sears was just not crazy about switching from red right away!

 

[redunshee]

Well Bob I hope you got them turned around as I thought all Poulan branded3700's were thin rings! All my 3700 ipls show the same rings part # 530024576 but the 3800 which should be thick rings show 530025933 as the part # for them.

Like I said this is the first time I seen a Red Craftsman 3.7 with the 3800 style top end on them! I just thought the gray ones were 3800.

I'll bet since the saws were for Sears they just used what they had in abundance for them, or maybe Sears was just not crazy about switching from red right away!

You are probably right, Mark. Makes sense as the 4000's have thin rings. Would have to pull jugs to confirm. So do you think the #530025933 will work? I guess you're saying they would.
Bob

 

[Modifiedmark]

You are probably right, Mark. Makes sense as the 4000's have thin rings. Would have to pull jugs to confirm. So do you think the #530025933 will work? I guess you're saying they would.
Bob

I'm saying that yes, I think so!

 

[rms61moparman]

You are probably right, Mark. Makes sense as the 4000's have thin rings. Would have to pull jugs to confirm. So do you think the #530025933 will work? I guess you're saying they would.
Bob

Not all of them!!!

I know where there is a 4000 sitting with thick rings.

Mike

 

[redunshee]

Not all of them!!!

I know where there is a 4000 sitting with thick rings.

Mike

Mike, I bet you have it too. Thanks for the info. Have never seen one but, then again I haven't seen everything.

Bob

 

[rms61moparman]

Mike, I bet you have it too. Thanks for the info. Have never seen one but, then again I haven't seen everything.

Bob

Yep,

It's sitting in my saw shed and runs pretty good..........................for an old junk.
I'm thinking about porting it, but it's the only one I've ever seen with the thick rings and I almost don't want to mess with it.
I sure would like to have one that runs like Brads 4000 though! If you ever get the chance, make sure you put that beast to some wood.

Mike

 

[redunshee]

Yea, I don't have the ba...s to do any intake porting. Just starting on exhaust porting and I'm uneasy about that.

 

[redunshee]

Poualn S25DA

Picked up another one that supposedly had low compression. However it checked out at 150 but it does have a big leak in the clutch side seal, I believe. I say believe, because in looking at IPL, I only see a seal for the flywheel side(530019051). I assume there is a clutch side seal and if so is it the same part#? Also IPL shows a flywheel side bearing on the outside of the seal. Is this correct? Only reason I picked up saw was because it was electronic ignition and was AV. I figure one of you guys who have a s25DA, like Joe25da might have some advice.

Bob