Nik's Poulan Thread

[fossil]

And when you complete it and fire it off, DO NOT run it with the clutch cover off!!!
You will know what an eye opener exactly is!!!
Or possibly an eye closer.


Mike

I ordered some stuff today for the 3700. Unfortunately, I checked my measurements again and it is a 3400. I was very disappointed. I guess I'll have to change my signature.

I had a closer look at the bar because it didn't seem right and it is a large mount Husky bar. I now have two of those and no Husky to go with it. I call that incentive.

Anyway, after looking it over and replacing the fuel and vent line and putting it all back together I thought what the heck, and put the 16" husky bar .058 and my .050 safety chain on (AND THE CLUTCH COVER), set the high and low needles at 1 turn out and fired it up. Tweeked it a bit and made a cut.

Not disappointed at all now. That thing cuts way better than my expectations. I think these old Poulans are the best kept secret out there.

Hopefully it will get even stronger when I get the new air filter, the new bar so I'm not cutting such a wide, crooked swath and finish the muffler mod.

I may look for another larger one in a while. My wife and daughters haven't said anything but I can tell they think I've gone off the deep end with the saws. (What a great hobby!)

I'll let you know how it goes when it's done. Still have to get a clutch bearing ordered.

Thanks again for all you help.

 

[OhioGregg]

I ordered some stuff today for the 3700. Unfortunately, I checked my measurements again and it is a 3400. I was very disappointed. I guess I'll have to change my signature.

I had a closer look at the bar because it didn't seem right and it is a large mount Husky bar. I now have two of those and no Husky to go with it. I call that incentive.

Anyway, after looking it over and replacing the fuel and vent line and putting it all back together I thought what the heck, and put the 16" husky bar .058 and my .050 safety chain on (AND THE CLUTCH COVER), set the high and low needles at 1 turn out and fired it up. Tweeked it a bit and made a cut.

Not disappointed at all now. That thing cuts way better than my expectations. I think these old Poulans are the best kept secret out there.

Hopefully it will get even stronger when I get the new air filter, the new bar so I'm not cutting such a wide, crooked swath and finish the muffler mod.

I may look for another larger one in a while. My wife and daughters haven't said anything but I can tell they think I've gone off the deep end with the saws. (What a great hobby!)

I'll let you know how it goes when it's done. Still have to get a clutch bearing ordered.

Thanks again for all you help.

I didn't know I was suppose to be disappointed for 22 years, when the only saw I had was a 3400. All ways worked well for me. The 3700/4000 is the same saw, just a little more muscle.
Glad to hear ya got it going.:msp_thumbsup:


Gregg,

 

[Eccentric]

Are you sure of your measurements? You stated earlier that the saw had a chromed bore and a bare alluminum piston. That'd make it a 3700 or 4000 depending on the bore measurement. 3400 and 3800 saws have chromed piston and bare alluminum bore.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Good deal Mike Can't wait to see that one run. I'm hoping to try for another Poulan Lovers GTG in Oct. sometime.
That is unless a couple of the the big names in Poulan fame, say one from Indiana or Kentucky would want to host one..LOL


Gregg,

One thing I would check on any saw is the chain oiler...it's just kinda annoying when they don't work. I bought a saw a couple of days ago that wouldn't oil and I found out the parts are NLA....anywhere!

 

[fossil]

Are you sure of your measurements? You stated earlier that the saw had a chromed bore and a bare alluminum piston. That'd make it a 3700 or 4000 depending on the bore measurement. 3400 and 3800 saws have chromed piston and bare alluminum bore.

Well the piston looks like shiny aluminum just like my other saws and the cylinder looks very grey so I am assuming I'm right.

I thought my measurements were OK. Does my assumption on the colors sound OK?

Just finished my muffler mod using pictures posted by Gregg 10/24/2010. Not near as neat as yours Gregg but functional. Drilled out the baffle holes to 5/16" as well. I'll clean up the port when I can work in some good light.

 

[Eccentric]

Your piston is shiney because it is chromed.....and the bore is dull because it is bare alluminum. You have a 3400. Does it have thick or thin rings? The thin ring saws have chromed bores and bare pistons. Thick ring saws of this series (3400/3800) have bare bores and chromed pistons.

 

[fossil]

Your piston is shiney because it is chromed.....and the bore is dull because it is bare alluminum. You have a 3400. Does it have thick or thin rings? The thin ring saws have chromed bores and bare pistons. Thick ring saws of this series (3400/3800) have bare bores and chromed pistons.

I can't get a decent picture with artificial light. I will try to get one tomorrow. Whats the difference in thickness betwen the two?

 

[joe25DA]

I can't get a decent picture with artificial light. I will try to get one tomorrow. Whats the difference in thickness betwen the two?

The 3400 is 56cc, the 3800 is 61ccs. Both have chrome pistons, bare cyl and thick rings. The 3700, 3.7 (but not all) and 4000 use thin ring chrome bore.

 

[MervMaster]

Model 358.356240<br />
<br />
Serial 1k024j894<br />
<br />
Marked "sears best 2.5 ci turbo"<br />



I need a parts source for a starter pulley. Mine has shattered and will not engage the flywheel. Thanks guys.


I'm never in a hurry, I'm just moving fast.

 

[rms61moparman]

Model 358.356240<br />
<br />
Serial 1k024j894<br />
<br />
Marked "sears best 2.5 ci turbo"<br />



I need a parts source for a starter pulley. Mine has shattered and will not engage the flywheel. Thanks guys.


I'm never in a hurry, I'm just moving fast.

Have you got a pic???


Mike

 

[homelitejim]

Just wondering if there were any problem areas with these. Gonna try to get the two for $150, if I can. The guy's just had them in storage for a while. Plus, he says he has a box of parts, too. Don't know if they're 8500 parts or maybe some for a 5200 (that he had stolen a couple months ago......

The problem with them is that everyone will fill up your PM box with "I wants".:hmm3grin2orange: They are great saws with more power than you would expect from a 85 cc saw, I run a 8 pin 3/8 on mine with 26 and 28 inch bars and it still wants more, so one I am going to convert to .404 and a 36 inch bar and see if that slows it down. I can usually find covers and such from donor saws at small engine shops, carb kits are still available and ebay used to have a good selection of parts at least the last time I checked. I did get 3 8500's and a 5400 in my deal for around $80 if I remember correctly but they looked rough.

edit for video.[video=youtube;n21Nn808hPM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n21Nn808hPM[/video]

 

[Nardoo]

Ah, I know I am late in the discussion but work is killing me. This is the comp of my 4900 - all original too. No wonder it rips.:msp_smile:

Al.

 

[OhioGregg]

I can't get a decent picture with artificial light. I will try to get one tomorrow. Whats the difference in thickness betwen the two?

fossil,
Here is a pic of un-chromed/thin ring on the left, and chromed/thick ring on the right.

Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

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,
Here's your saws twin. Must have been separated at birth.:msp_thumbup: And by many miles!!

Gregg,

 

[Chris J.]

Model 358.356240<br />
<br />
Serial 1k024j894<br />
<br />
Marked "sears best 2.5 ci turbo"<br />



I need a parts source for a starter pulley. Mine has shattered and will not engage the flywheel. Thanks guys.


I'm never in a hurry, I'm just moving fast.

Have you got a pic???


Mike

Bump! Plus one for a photo, would be helpful since chance are good the part is common to several Poulan models.

Site sponsor Chainsawr has the complete recoil, maybe the part numbers he lists can help to narrow down it down.

Chainsawr poulan built craftsman model # 358.356240 chainsaw starter recoil cover and pulley assembly

 

[fossil]

fossil,
Here is a pic of un-chromed/thin ring on the left, and chromed/thick ring on the right.

Gregg,

Thanks for the pictures of the pistons

Here's a pic of my rings through the exhaust port. Looks like the 3400 to me.

 

[mweba]

3400 fo sho

 

[OhioGregg]

Thanks for the pictures of the pistons

Here's a pic of my rings through the exhaust port. Looks like the 3400 to me.

Like they say Tim, If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...it must be a 3400!!!

Its definitely is a chrome piston with large rings!


Gregg,

 

[rms61moparman]

Thanks for the pictures of the pistons

Here's a pic of my rings through the exhaust port. Looks like the 3400 to me.

Yeah!

Looks like you ONLY won one million dollars in the lottery instead of the 5 million "Grand" prize!!!LOL

Ya still got a great saw!


Mike

 

[homelitejim]

3 NOS Poulans

I picked up a couple of NOS Poulans today, that will go really nice with my 8500's, 5400, and 4900.