Nik's Poulan Thread

[Chris J.]

...

I wish this site had a poulan specific forum, thats really all i'm intrested in.
...KJC

Welcome aboard! BTW, you're posting the Poulan specific thread (kind of a sub-sub-forum, I guess).

Plus one for what Mark posted--The old literature & documents contain much useful information that's not easily found.

 

[mactodd]

According to the Poulan Pro website those rings can still be ordered from Poulan. Part# 530024756. Seals are NLA but it seems you can use generic SKF 6120 seals.

You might want to go over to Poulan Pro.com and see what alll gaskets can be ordered. There are really not alot of gaskets on them.

Already ordered directly through Poulan through my friendly dealer, and they are backordered on the rings, with no known delivery date. Gasket set comes up NLA. I may just use it as an excuse to 3bond the cyl. base instead of a gasket! Thanks for the tip on the seals.
:smile2:

 

[Modifiedmark]

Already ordered directly through Poulan through my friendly dealer, and they are backordered on the rings, with no known delivery date. Gasket set comes up NLA. I may just use it as an excuse to 3bond the cyl. base instead of a gasket! Thanks for the tip on the seals.
:smile2:

Yeah thats not surprising that they came up backorderd, that happens from time to time on the old stuff. That just means that your local warehouse didnt have them and there probably going to come from another.

"Most" of the time the stuff comes in sooner or later, but there is the now and then part that is actually all gone.

The base gasket is not really needed on most of those series of saws, as they have pleanty of piston to head clearence to begin with.

The cyl to manifold gasket is the only hard one to make but it can be done.

 

[homelitejim]

Got the saw home. Comp feels good, but pulled the muffler and saw some light scoring. I could see it, but running a pick over it i could tell they were very shallow. I think pull the jug, polish p/c and a new set of rings should do it. Otherwise, saw is not too bad. Yeah, thats a 16" bar on it:biggrin:

That is a nice find. I am liking these old Poulans more and more, can't wait to see a video of it in some big wood.

 

[Mo. Jim]

Live in North Central PA, My Grampa had a Poulan dealership from mid seventies to late eighties.
Helping my dad cut his firewood over the last few years has kind of started a renewed interest in the poulan stuff.
I have my gramp's 3x5 Poulan metal sign hanging in my machine shop. It is the one that has a 245 across the bottom.

In my grampa's garage there was a room partitioned off with a woodstove in it. It has always been the "Saw Room"
as long as I have existed. Many memories of coming in to get warm in winter, gramp drinkin coffee, tinkering with
saws. He wasn't a huge dealer, but had a good reputation, and a small customer base. He sold saws, weed eater
string trimmers, and a few pieces of 3 pt. hitch equipment.











Here are some highlights of the stuff we still have, and no, nothing is for sale

8500- bought for dad, christmas 2 years ago. 75$ it was stuck when we got it, got it freed up, carb kit & new chain.

3) 4200's

5) 3400's that run, 4) ceased up/parts

ALOT of micro's atleast 5 that run, many parts saws.

2 GREEN poulan/generac generators: 1) 5hp, 1) 7.5hp both fully functional, and ready

110 volt electric chainsaw

Attachment to fit micro's to make them into a weed eater.

attachment for micro's for drill chuck (tapping maple trees)

Weed eater hanging bug light zapper- not joking, the box is still above the bathroom!

Chain making tools, all service manuals, bulletins, and a small amount of NOS parts

childs toy Micro (the one with the beaded "chain")


I wish this site had a poulan specific forum, thats really all i'm intrested in. But anyway, My intent is not to make
anyone jealous, I just thought I should give a little background.

KJC

Thats worth a Christmas rep

 

[nick 55]

Not that these are real super fantastic finds(compared to the 4000 I bought Wednesday), but it looks like I may be getting a Christmas bonus this year from my MIL for splitting wood all day today and cutting down 4 trees tomorrow. A pair of 2375s and a Stihl MS270. Don't know the condition of any, but a saw is a saw. To me anyways.

Now for a silly question.
On my 4000, could I run a semi skip chain on a 28" bar and still have satisfactory results? I'm not looking to win races, rather just not completely bog it down in larger(not burying it) wood? If not, a 24 will have to work.

Nick

 

[rms61moparman]

Not that these are real super fantastic finds(compared to the 4000 I bought Wednesday), but it looks like I may be getting a Christmas bonus this year from my MIL for splitting wood all day today and cutting down 4 trees tomorrow. A pair of 2375s and a Stihl MS270. Don't know the condition of any, but a saw is a saw. To me anyways.

Now for a silly question.
On my 4000, could I run a semi skip chain on a 28" bar and still have satisfactory results? I'm not looking to win races, rather just not completely bog it down in larger(not burying it) wood? If not, a 24 will have to work.

Nick

That isn't silly at all.
Yes the 4000 should do remarkably well with a skip or semi-skip on a 28" bar....IF... you let the saw and the chain do the work.
I know that my 6400 Dolmar will pull a 28" full comp chain like it is nothing. Now I fully realize that they are two very different saws from different eras but the 4000 will probably surprise you.


Mike

 

[OhioGregg]

Not that these are real super fantastic finds(compared to the 4000 I bought Wednesday), but it looks like I may be getting a Christmas bonus this year from my MIL for splitting wood all day today and cutting down 4 trees tomorrow. A pair of 2375s and a Stihl MS270. Don't know the condition of any, but a saw is a saw. To me anyways.

Now for a silly question.
On my 4000, could I run a semi skip chain on a 28" bar and still have satisfactory results? I'm not looking to win races, rather just not completely bog it down in larger(not burying it) wood? If not, a 24 will have to work.

Nick

Nick, According to the Poulan brochures etc. They list 16" - 30" as range of bars for the 4000. That being said, I have never personally tried a 28" on one. A 24" is no problem, so I would assume a 28" would be feasible, especially with skip chain. Sure won't hurt to try. :msp_tongue: Let us know how it does.


Gregg,

 

[8433jeff]

That isn't silly at all.
Yes the 4000 should do remarkably well with a skip or semi-skip on a 28" bar....IF... you let the saw and the chain do the work.
I know that my 6400 Dolmar will pull a 28" full comp chain like it is nothing. Now I fully realize that they are two very different saws from different eras but the 4000 will probably surprise you.


Mike

If the 28 is .050 or .063 in 3/8's it won't be a problem. If, like me, yours is a .058, then there is neither semi or full skip is available from Oregon (at least my distributor/dealer), unless you find some old stock. Thought I'd take it easy on the ol 045, but I worried needlessly. The 4000 will love you for your concern.

 

[Modifiedmark]

My 4000 came from the left coast, Portland OR to be exact and it came to me with a 28" bar.

Not surprising from the land of soft woods but I tried it here in some Oak and it did just fine with it.

Oh and I posted up a new thread on the Allis Chalmers 295 with pictures there.

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/188629.htm

 

[8433jeff]

Men, I seen another genius at the shop the other day. He called wondering about an oil cap for a Husky, was told we thought we had one, so he'd be over. Comes in with a Husky 350, eighteen inch bar, and says I need you to look at my big saw. Comes back with a Wild Thing sporting a 20" bar wearing full size 3/8's. I looked at the chain, and wondered if he had hit concrete with it, to myself, of course. He pulled the top off, "I don't use the screws, what I'm cutting is dried up downed ash and I need to clean the filter pretty often. Some of that stuff is pretty big, 36 inches across." It still had 120 lbs compression. Was eating sawdust for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and snacking some on the side, because there was no fuel filter on the line, it had broken off. Plenty of newer line, but no filter. Much as I hated to, I showed him my 3450 I had put up for sale, and he took that, a 7/64 file, his 20" bar and chain, and the Husky home. The Wild Thing lives, after an unpugging of the carb and through cleaning. I hope the 3450 sees such care again someday.
All he needed was the file, no guide, "I just follow the edge." Yeah scout, I seen that on your other chain. The one you were filing with a 5/32 file, and had more hook on than a long liner dipping for tuna.

 

[Modifiedmark]

There is never a shortage it seems of those types is there? :hmm3grin2orange:

Too bad about the 3450 though, you done a bad thing to it. LOL

 

[8433jeff]

I did really like that saw, and most of the oil leak? seemed to be fixed....I did tell him about that.

 

[OhioGregg]

Men, I seen another genius at the shop the other day. He called wondering about an oil cap for a Husky, was told we thought we had one, so he'd be over. Comes in with a Husky 350, eighteen inch bar, and says I need you to look at my big saw. Comes back with a Wild Thing sporting a 20" bar wearing full size 3/8's. I looked at the chain, and wondered if he had hit concrete with it, to myself, of course. He pulled the top off, "I don't use the screws, what I'm cutting is dried up downed ash and I need to clean the filter pretty often. Some of that stuff is pretty big, 36 inches across." It still had 120 lbs compression. Was eating sawdust for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and snacking some on the side, because there was no fuel filter on the line, it had broken off. Plenty of newer line, but no filter. Much as I hated to, I showed him my 3450 I had put up for sale, and he took that, a 7/64 file, his 20" bar and chain, and the Husky home. The Wild Thing lives, after an unpugging of the carb and through cleaning. I hope the 3450 sees such care again someday.
All he needed was the file, no guide, "I just follow the edge." Yeah scout, I seen that on your other chain. The one you were filing with a 5/32 file, and had more hook on than a long liner dipping for tuna.

Great Post Jeff:biggrin: I get a kick out of reading things like that. In a way, I suppose its maybe a good thing there is no shortage of "those types" out there. That makes for more neglected old saws for us saw scroungers to try get running again. Plus it makes me fell good there are stupider people than me out there. lol


Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

I did really like that saw, and most of the oil leak? seemed to be fixed....I did tell him about that.

Something tells me a little oil leak won't bother him much. And if it does, He will probably just stop putting oil in it. So it won't leak no more.:biggrin:


Gregg,

 

[mactodd]

I did really like that saw, and most of the oil leak? seemed to be fixed....I did tell him about that.

Something tells me the "genius" won't give it a passing thought.

 

[homelitejim]

I love when they ask how long the blade is.

 

[crowellmachine]

So, who likes to tweak and grind thier Poluans????

I have a constant itch to make things run at the peak of the total potential. I have been into snowmobiles since I was 10.
Mostly ski doo. Have modified ALOT of sled engines, mainly rotax. Raising cylinders, cutting heads, porting, boring carbs,
Also a decent amount of experience porting the cases on rotary valve engines. That being said, here is my idea.
This is probably going to bizarre, but maybe not......

On sleds we always run a thick (usually multiple) base gasket, or a shim plate, to raise port timing. Then cut the head
to get the squish back. With the one piece cylinder/head design, doing this would drop your compression substantially.
so, what if you sliced the head portion off the cylinder in wire EDM? Then drill and tap a bolt circle in the cylinder portion.
The kerf from the EDM will be about .012 . Drill a matching bolt hole circle thru the head. adjust squish from here, also
possibly make and use an aluminum head gasket, or an o ring style gasket.

I'm going to attempt this on one of my dead 3400's over the winter. Has anyone ever read on this forum of anyone doing
stuff like this? on sleds we usually raise the transfers 2mm, widen the exaust throat, and blend the intake tract. typical
squish on a free air is .065

Thoughts?

KJC

 

[nick 55]

Thanks for the info guys! I know the 24" will be fine on this saw, but I just think the 28 looks right. I won't be abusing the saw at all, the large wood on my ground is primarily cottonwood and silver maple. If I need a larger saw I will borrow my friends MS660 or 880. This is the largest saw I own......for now.

Nick

 

[8433jeff]

Something tells me a little oil leak won't bother him much. And if it does, He will probably just stop putting oil in it. So it won't leak no more.:biggrin:


Gregg,

He insisted that was the right chain for that bar, he was right there, and looked confused when I smiled and said that saw was never meant to have that bar mounted on it.

He'll have some trouble using up the Timbermaster. It was in really good shape. And he has another bar for it, and a sharp chain. I know where his land is, and he does have plenty to cut in tops after logging and blowdowns, and the beetle that isn't here according to the DNR. Bet the yucky orange one sits a lot more now.