Nik's Poulan Thread

[a. palmer jr.]

IF you are LUCKY the clutch will spin off when the engine is idling back down and go shooting across the shop floor, up the wall, and fly off into the flourescent light and burst the bulbs.
(Just don't worry about how I know that!!!)
Or go racing out across the yard like a rat on crack (right Jeremy?) with all or some parts never to be seen again.

If you aren't so lucky when it starts to clear the drum, the spring that holds the whole shootin' match together will;
1) Break
or
2) Come off
thus unleashing a force and shrapnel very similar to a low grade grenade!!!

Almost everyone who fools with these old Poulans has a story to share about a similar incident (some of us lower intelligence types have more than one story because naturally.......Well it probably won't do that again....Yeah, RIGHT) to share but some take a bit of "High Life" inducement to limber their lips!!!!!LOL


Mike

One good way to find those parts in the yard is with the lawn mower....

 

[fossil]

Boy, I hate to keep bugging you guys but will an Oregon rim fit on my Poulan 3700 clutch? It has a 3/8 pitch 7 tooth rim.

 

[wendell]

It’s got a 16" Oregon bar on it now in OK shape with an Oregon 72 safety chain.

Just a thought but are you sure that chain isn't LPX? Many confuse it with safety chain due to the ramped bumper but it is very good chain.



And ditto on shooting a clutch across the yard, crashing into a dump cart and shooting needle bearings in every direction through the grass.

But, with a lot of help and a bunch of luck, we found every one. :msp_thumbsup:

 

[rms61moparman]

Boy, I hate to keep bugging you guys but will an Oregon rim fit on my Poulan 3700 clutch? It has a 3/8 pitch 7 tooth rim.

Maybe!

There are two different sizes of Oregon drives and some Stihl specific rim drive sizes so they may not, but it is a good liklihood.


Mike

 

[Warped5]

I haven't shot a clutch out of the shop yet, but I do have a talent for launching circlips and such things!

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I haven't shot a clutch out of the shop yet, but I do have a talent for launching circlips and such things!

Circlips, the little spring under the carb metering lever and the little screen in the carbs are all over my garage but I can't find any of them.

 

[Eccentric]

IF you are LUCKY the clutch will spin off when the engine is idling back down and go shooting across the shop floor, up the wall, and fly off into the flourescent light and burst the bulbs.
(Just don't worry about how I know that!!!)
Or go racing out across the yard like a rat on crack (right Jeremy?) with all or some parts never to be seen again.

If you aren't so lucky when it starts to clear the drum, the spring that holds the whole shootin' match together will;
1) Break
or
2) Come off
thus unleashing a force and shrapnel very similar to a low grade grenade!!!

Almost everyone who fools with these old Poulans has a story to share about a similar incident (some of us lower intelligence types have more than one story because naturally.......Well it probably won't do that again....Yeah, RIGHT) to share but some take a bit of "High Life" inducement to limber their lips!!!!!LOL


Mike

The mower shop at the Sears Service Center that I used to work at had been in use for 30 years or more when I was there in the 1990's. Above one of the benches along the wall (near the door), there were several small holes and dents in the tin from a few 'clutch incidents'. One of the old timers told me that guys there had had gotten hurt a few times over the decades...

Boy, I hate to keep bugging you guys but will an Oregon rim fit on my Poulan 3700 clutch? It has a 3/8 pitch 7 tooth rim.

Yep. Standard Oregon seven spline rims.

 

[fossil]

Just a thought but are you sure that chain isn't LPX? Many confuse it with safety chain due to the ramped bumper but it is very good chain.



And ditto on shooting a clutch across the yard, crashing into a dump cart and shooting needle bearings in every direction through the grass.

But, with a lot of help and a bunch of luck, we found every one. :msp_thumbsup:

Here's a picture of my chain. I'm pretty new to the chainsaw game but have been repairing stuff for years.
Sorry for the crappy focus but three glasses of wine don't help.
I am assuming it's an Oregon 72 safety chain since it has 72 on the drive links.

Thanks to all of you for your invaluble help. I have my beauty Pioneer Farmsaw up and running and tuned properly thanks to all of you. It's heavy but man, do I love that saw.

I am looking foaward to getting this Poulan to the same place.

Tim

 

[rms61moparman]

If I remember correctly, the 72 on the drive links specifies the chain as 3/8ths .050 gauge.


Mike

 

[fossil]

The mower shop at the Sears Service Center that I used to work at had been in use for 30 years or more when I was there in the 1990's. Above one of the benches along the wall (near the door), there were several small holes and dents in the tin from a few 'clutch incidents'. One of the old timers told me that guys there had had gotten hurt a few times over the decades...



Yep. Standard Oregon seven spline rims.

Thanks!

 

[fossil]

If I remember correctly, the 72 on the drive links specifies the chain as 3/8ths .050 gauge.


Mike

I defer to you Mike. I could leave those safety bumpers on and paint little sayings on each one of them. Seriously, I will try the chain as is and if i don't think it cuts well I will grind them down.

 

[crowellmachine]

Hey Aaron, I hope you don't mind, but I pilfered your Poulan logo...:msp_ohmy: I like that!, and its to the point. Been meaning to do that for some time. Then I saw yours!!! LOL


Gregg,

I would like to figure out what that font is, and have the wife get fancy and make a letterhead using it.

KJC

 

[Warped5]

I would like to figure out what that font is, and have the wife get fancy and make a letterhead using it.

KJC

I KNOW THIS IS OFF THE POULAN TOPIC ....

You can copy the text, then paste it into a Wordpad document. Place your cursor in the text and SOMETIMES Wordpad will tell you what the font is ....

 

[Nardoo]

IF you are LUCKY the clutch will spin off when the engine is idling back down and go shooting across the shop floor, up the wall, and fly off into the flourescent light and burst the bulbs.
(Just don't worry about how I know that!!!)
Or go racing out across the yard like a rat on crack (right Jeremy?) with all or some parts never to be seen again.

If you aren't so lucky when it starts to clear the drum, the spring that holds the whole shootin' match together will;
1) Break
or
2) Come off
thus unleashing a force and shrapnel very similar to a low grade grenade!!!

Almost everyone who fools with these old Poulans has a story to share about a similar incident (some of us lower intelligence types have more than one story because naturally.......Well it probably won't do that again....Yeah, RIGHT) to share but some take a bit of "High Life" inducement to limber their lips!!!!!LOL


Mike

I launched a 3400 clutch clear over the back fence and nearly 100 yards down the paddock. It was going so fast that I could not see the actual clutch but I could trace its path by the puffs of dust and pieces of grass being kicked up. Those Poulan clutches are nice and heavy and the rotational energy they build up is very strong. It took me a couple of months before I found that sucker in the grass and that was by accident.
BTW, I just re-ringed a couple of my 3400's as they were low on comp (even with no base gasket) and each jumped from about 120 to 130 psi. I was very disappointed as both have good p/c's and I thought the increase would be better. It may increase a little I suppose. The positive aspect is both saws idle better with no signs of stalling, which they each used to do, and I had always attributed to carb issues that I could not fix. Has anyone done a Mastermind and shaved the base of the cylinder to reduce the squish? Seems if they could be persuaded to a compression 150 or more they would be a lttle snappier. Just thinkin'.

Al.

 

[OhioGregg]

Circlips, the little spring under the carb metering lever and the little screen in the carbs are all over my garage but I can't find any of them.

Yup! :msp_confused: I could never figure why in a carb rebuilding kit, they never included the that dang little spring! Thats an elusive creature!

I launched a 3400 clutch clear over the back fence and nearly 100 yards down the paddock. It was going so fast that I could not see the actual clutch but I could trace its path by the puffs of dust and pieces of grass being kicked up. Those Poulan clutches are nice and heavy and the rotational energy they build up is very strong. It took me a couple of months before I found that sucker in the grass and that was by accident.
BTW, I just re-ringed a couple of my 3400's as they were low on comp (even with no base gasket) and each jumped from about 120 to 130 psi. I was very disappointed as both have good p/c's and I thought the increase would be better. It may increase a little I suppose. The positive aspect is both saws idle better with no signs of stalling, which they each used to do, and I had always attributed to carb issues that I could not fix. Has anyone done a Mastermind and shaved the base of the cylinder to reduce the squish? Seems if they could be persuaded to a compression 150 or more they would be a lttle snappier. Just thinkin'.


Al.

Al, I know Brad (BSnelling) has done just that, with pretty decent results. From what I have heard, no personal exp. The squish band on these Poulan's is very wide. Like .40-.50 wide. So just leaving out the gasket, still leaves a lot of room for improvement, and machine work.


Gregg,

 

[rms61moparman]

I launched a 3400 clutch clear over the back fence and nearly 100 yards down the paddock. It was going so fast that I could not see the actual clutch but I could trace its path by the puffs of dust and pieces of grass being kicked up. Those Poulan clutches are nice and heavy and the rotational energy they build up is very strong. It took me a couple of months before I found that sucker in the grass and that was by accident.
BTW, I just re-ringed a couple of my 3400's as they were low on comp (even with no base gasket) and each jumped from about 120 to 130 psi. I was very disappointed as both have good p/c's and I thought the increase would be better. It may increase a little I suppose. The positive aspect is both saws idle better with no signs of stalling, which they each used to do, and I had always attributed to carb issues that I could not fix. Has anyone done a Mastermind and shaved the base of the cylinder to reduce the squish? Seems if they could be persuaded to a compression 150 or more they would be a lttle snappier. Just thinkin'.

Al.

Al,

I dropped the cylinder the old fashioned way (with a piece of stickyback sandpaper stuck to the desk top) on the 3400 that I piped and it brought the compression up to around 150.
I need to raise the exhaust on that saw and let it get a little more back-charge.
There is one in the works that I think will be pretty impressive.....(I hope).
Stay tuned to Arboristsite for further details!!!


Mike

 

[scottr]

Here's a picture of my chain. I'm pretty new to the chainsaw game but have been repairing stuff for years.
Sorry for the crappy focus but three glasses of wine don't help.
I am assuming it's an Oregon 72 safety chain since it has 72 on the drive links.

Thanks to all of you for your invaluble help. I have my beauty Pioneer Farmsaw up and running and tuned properly thanks to all of you. It's heavy but man, do I love that saw.

I am looking foaward to getting this Poulan to the same place.

Tim

Tim, that chain looks like the old 72SG XtraGUARD 3/8" chain. Use a 3/16" file and set depth gauges to .030" .

 

[fossil]

Tim, that chain looks like the old 72SG XtraGUARD 3/8" chain. Use a 3/16" file and set depth gauges to .030" .

Thanks Scott

 

[wigglesworth]

......Seems if they could be persuaded to a compression 150 or more they would be a lttle snappier. Just thinkin'.

There is one in the works that I think will be pretty impressive.....(I hope).
Stay tuned to Arboristsite for further details!!!


Mike

 

[67L36Driver]

I know it's not the same but, my vet pumps 180 with an 8.25:1 c.r. and longish cam. Runs on 87 octane.