Nik's Poulan Thread

[joe25DA]

Thought I'd post these also, for your benefit Joe. Those decals I sent ya dressed up my 2 4000's pretty good.


Gregg,

Gregg, those decals look awesome! Like I said, Im gonna gave to claen up my 4000 now that it'll have those decals! The old school oregon bar looks real good on the blue/white saw.

 

[Big Dan]

Glad I found this thread

Went to an auction yesterday and picked up a really clean 3800.Can someone tell me the specs on it?It's got a 20" B&C on it and I'm needing to know if it will pull it or would an 18"er be better.Tried to get the info through "search" but couldn't find much.Also need to get a new air filter and spark plug,are they still available through a Poulan dealer?Thanks all, Dan

 

[cjcocn]

Went to an auction yesterday and picked up a really clean 3800.Can someone tell me the specs on it?It's got a 20" B&C on it and I'm needing to know if it will pull it or would an 18"er be better.Tried to get the info through "search" but couldn't find much.Also need to get a new air filter and spark plug,are they still available through a Poulan dealer?Thanks all, Dan

You can read the specs <a href="http://www.acresinternet.com/cscc.nsf/ed1d619968136da688256af40002b8f7/25200e3d40adfea088256d50001675f4?OpenDocument">here</a>.

HTH

 

[rms61moparman]

Went to an auction yesterday and picked up a really clean 3800.Can someone tell me the specs on it?It's got a 20" B&C on it and I'm needing to know if it will pull it or would an 18"er be better.Tried to get the info through "search" but couldn't find much.Also need to get a new air filter and spark plug,are they still available through a Poulan dealer?Thanks all, Dan

Dan,

The 3800 is a really good saw.
Kinda the last of the great ol' Poulans. They are basically the same engine as the 3700 but newer.
It's a 60/61cc and will pull a 20" bar with Authority.
Lawnmowertech37 (a site sponsor here) should have the air filters and you can get the plug anywhere.
They are all the saw the VAST majority of people on this site would ever need, despite what they might tell you.

Have you done a compression test yet??
That will give you an indication of the condition of your saw.


Mike

 

[Big Dan]

Glad to find this thread

Thanks for the replies,I feel like my $42.50 wasn't completely wasted! I don't have a compression tester so I probably should buy one.It started on the 3rd pull and sounded good so maybe the compression is ok.Appreciate the help. Dan

 

[OhioGregg]

Went to an auction yesterday and picked up a really clean 3800.Can someone tell me the specs on it?It's got a 20" B&C on it and I'm needing to know if it will pull it or would an 18"er be better.Tried to get the info through "search" but couldn't find much.Also need to get a new air filter and spark plug,are they still available through a Poulan dealer?Thanks all, Dan

Big Dan, welcome to the Poulan thread, lotta good helpful folks here, that have a soft spot for the old Poulans. Like rms61moparman said, its a very close brother/sister to the 3700. I don't have a 3800, but do have 2 3700's.
I usaually run a 20" on mine, ocasionally a 18", either is good.

One thing I should tell ya though. Nobody here is gonna believe ya got one, unless you post some pictures of it!
Just pullin you leg. Welcome to the site.


Gregg,

 

[redunshee]

Poulan 3800

BigDan, the guys here have alot of information.The 3800 is a newer version of the 3700. I also found from the that the 3800 uses thick rings whereas most 3700 use thin rings. However for those of us who do have the thick ring Poulans we are able to use the 3800 rings(thanks to ModifiedMark). Additionally 3800's use chrome plated pistons whereas 3700's have chrome plated cylinders.
Bob

 

[brokenbudget]

Additionally 3800's use chrome plated pistons whereas 3700's have chrome plated cylinders.
Bob

and thats why the 3700 is better

 

[redunshee]

and thats why the 3700 is better

You know I don't have any idea if this is true or not. Haven't owned a 3800 but do have a bunch of 3400's, (2)3700's and (2)4000's. Have no complaints with them though I don't use them all day every day. I wonder how they would hold up under cotinuous daily work? I suspect as well as any profeessional saw but I can't prove it. Recall a logger saying that 6 mos. was about the average life of a saw in his work. Now he was cutting big timber 8 hrs. a day all week.
Bob

 

[sefh3]

IPL and Service Manual

I thought I would try here first before I posted in the beg for manual thread but does any one have a electronic version for a 306A and a 3400? If you do PM me and I'll send ya my email.

 

[rms61moparman]

I can say this without reservation Bob,
I have seen some very worn cylinders on the 3400s and 3700s and in every case they were either abused or the saws were VERY highly used.
I have yet to see a worn cylinder on one that was a "low hour" saw.
I can't say that for a lot of other makes.


Mike

 

[Modifiedmark]

and thats why the 3700 is better

Yes they are.

How much better is debatable.

There are many, many chrome piston 3400's 3800's still going strong everyday and I would say there ratio to burning up is really no worse then anyother model out there from the same time frame and usage.

Whats more there were all them chrome plated micros that are still in service so I have to say that with only normal care the chrome plated piston models were pleanty good for most users and not a really big issue like some around here would like you to believe.

 

[Modifiedmark]

I can say this without reservation Bob,
I have seen some very worn cylinders on the 3400s and 3700s and in every case they were either abused or the saws were VERY highly used.
I have yet to see a worn cylinder on one that was a "low hour" saw.
I can't say that for a lot of other makes.


Mike

I had a very, very low hour chrome cyl go bad once. If only the owner wouldnt have power washed the saw and then put it up wet for months.

 

[redunshee]

I thought I would try here first before I posted in the beg for manual thread but does any one have a electronic version for a 306A and a 3400? If you do PM me and I'll send ya my email.

Can't speak for the 306A but as far as I know all 3400's are electronic. Don't have any idea if they are interchangeable but have seen 3400 coils on Ebay fairly frequently.

 

[rms61moparman]

I had a very, very low hour chrome cyl go bad once. If only the owner wouldnt have power washed the saw and then put it up wet for months.

That sounds like abuse to me!!!


Mike

 

[brokenbudget]

You know I don't have any idea if this is true or not. Haven't owned a 3800 but do have a bunch of 3400's, (2)3700's and (2)4000's. Have no complaints with them though I don't use them all day every day. I wonder how they would hold up under cotinuous daily work? I suspect as well as any profeessional saw but I can't prove it. Recall a logger saying that 6 mos. was about the average life of a saw in his work. Now he was cutting big timber 8 hrs. a day all week.
Bob

i haven't seen any more failures from the 3400 or 3800 that i haven't seen from the 3700's. the remark was a small bit of humor.
i have worked on these for quite a while and know the 3400 will pull alot of hours before any major wear will show up, the chrome holds up just fine if you can keep the dust from passing the crappy excuse for a filter they put on these saws. the crank bearings are what you need to really look at, they would get sloppy on the second tank of fuel (exaduration of course) and then let the crank slap from side to side when they move outward. no stops in the bearing bores to stop them from walking right out and pushing the seals out to touch the flywheel or spit the other out on the clutch side.
unless your a builder the chromed piston/alloy cyl. won't cause any more problems that a chrome cyl,/alloy piston would.

 

[Modifiedmark]

That sounds like abuse to me!!!


Mike

I know, I was just spelling it out for you southerners.

 

[redunshee]

Mike and any other guys who have a 4200 or 5200. Reassembling my 5200 and the svc. manual refers to an "airbox". I don't have one and in looking at IPL's on various sites I don't see one. Reference in svc. manual was about pulling fuel line thru the airbox. Could they be referring to the the top of the gas tank which is part of the handle assembly? I woudn't think so but then again.....
Bob

 

[OhioGregg]

i haven't seen any more failures from the 3400 or 3800 that i haven't seen from the 3700's. the remark was a small bit of humor.
i have worked on these for quite a while and know the 3400 will pull alot of hours before any major wear will show up, the chrome holds up just fine if you can keep the dust from passing the crappy excuse for a filter they put on these saws. the crank bearings are what you need to really look at, they would get sloppy on the second tank of fuel (exaduration of course) and then let the crank slap from side to side when they move outward. no stops in the bearing bores to stop them from walking right out and pushing the seals out to touch the flywheel or spit the other out on the clutch side.
unless your a builder the chromed piston/alloy cyl. won't cause any more problems that a chrome cyl,/alloy piston would.

The air filters on the 3400/3700 never thrilled me, But, If people would just service the darn things once in a while, they get the job done just fine.

I clean mine EVERY time I refuel, with a soft bristled brush out in the woods. Then when back in the shop, will use air also. After so long, I replace them. Their cheap enough.

I should take a picture of some of the many filters that were on some of these "parts saw" that I bought. Its no wonder they were reduced to parts saw. Had one with numerous holes drilled in it, one with absolutly no flocking whatsoever left on it, just a bare metal screen. Some so gunked over, I don't think air could pass through them.
I've said this before also, I have a 3400 plated piston, bare cyl. that I bought new in 1985. Cut countless cords of wood over the years, and it still runs like a new saw! So, the cyl./piston issue doesn't bother me in the least.


Gregg,

 

[67 Mustang]

Mike and any other guys who have a 4200 or 5200. Reassembling my 5200 and the svc. manual refers to an "airbox". I don't have one and in looking at IPL's on various sites I don't see one. Reference in svc. manual was about pulling fuel line thru the airbox. Could they be referring to the the top of the gas tank which is part of the handle assembly? I woudn't think so but then again.....
Bob

Bob, I believe the "airbox" reference is simply where the fuel line comes out where the carb is mounted. Area where the carb is mounted is often referred to as the airbox. It is simply a matter of reference. The top of the hole is the airbox floor, the bottom is inside the fuel tank.

Steve