Nik's Poulan Thread

[Eccentric]

It's grey. I'll grab model number tomorrow. Aluminum bore bad?

With these saws, surprisingly it's not a bad thing. I've had bad experience with the bare bore Briggs and Tecumseh engines, but these Poulans with bare bores (many of the Micro saws, 3400's, 3800's, etc) have an excellent track record. It does mean that peeking through the exhaust port may not give you a true indication of the bore condition. Those chromed pistons are tough, and can look good even when the bare bore is scored.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

With these saws, surprisingly it's not a bad thing. I've had bad experience with the bare bore Briggs and Tecumseh engines, but these Poulans with bare bores (many of the Micro saws, 3400's, 3800's, etc) have an excellent track record. It does mean that peeking through the exhaust port may not give you a true indication of the bore condition. Those chromed pistons are tough, and can look good even when the bare bore is scored.

I'd guess it would be bad to mate a chromed piston with a chrome bore...

 

[Mastermind]

I'd guess it would be bad to mate a chromed piston with a chrome bore...

Clearance would be an issue.......but not the only one. :msp_unsure:

 

[Eccentric]

I'd guess it would be bad to mate a chromed piston with a chrome bore...

Clearance would be an issue.......but not the only one. :msp_unsure:

Yep. The numbers don't work out. The chromed pistons are oversized compared to the bare pieces, and the chromed bores are oversized as well. Accumulated tollerances would add up to too little clearance. There's probably issues with galling as well.

 

[redunshee]

My 3.7? cylinder view through exhaust

Those are thick rings, same as 3800.

 

[redunshee]

Ebay

Two 4000's going for big money on the Bay.

 

[OhioGregg]

My 3.7? cylinder view through exhaust

BroncoRN, I have posted this pic several times before. But looks like a good place to use it again.

The piston on the right, is chromed, with thick rings, like yours. The one on the left is bare aluminum, with thin rings.
Generally speaking, the 3400 & 3800 will look like the one on the right. The 3700 & 4000 will look like the one on the left. On can NEVER say 100% of the time though with these older Poulan & Craftsman saws.

Generally speaking again, most of the RED Craftsman 3.7 saws were the thin ring type, and the GRAY Craftsman 3.7 saws were thick ring types.:msp_sneaky: Same as the Poulan 3800.

Gregg,

 

[R DeLawter]

BroncoRN, I have posted this pic several times before. But looks like a good place to use it again.

The piston on the right, is chromed, with thick rings, like yours. The one on the left is bare aluminum, with thin rings.
Generally speaking, the 3400 & 3800 will look like the one on the right. The 3700 & 4000 will look like the one on the left. On can NEVER say 100% of the time though with these older Poulan & Craftsman saws.

Generally speaking again, most of the RED Craftsman 3.7 saws were the thin ring type, and the GRAY Craftsman 3.7 saws were thick ring types.:msp_sneaky: Same as the Poulan 3800.

Gregg,

Is there a best choice between the two and are they interchangeable?

 

[redunshee]

Is there a best choice between the two and are they interchangeable?

They are interchageable so long as you swap the cylinders as well. In other words you can't use a chrome cylinder with a chrome piston , etc. As far as which is better, I prefer the thin ring setup. Compression seems to run a bit higher. Don't know why. However thick rings are easier to come by if you need new rings.
Bob

 

[OhioGregg]

Is there a best choice between the two and are they interchangeable?

Richard, They are NOT interchangeable. As far as which is best, I guess that is up for discussion among those smarter than me. I guess I would prefer a 3700 over the 3800. BUT, one can't argue with the longevity of the 3400 saws and the numbers of them out there still running fine.


Gregg,

 

[redunshee]

Gregg, I'm sure you were referring to just swapping pistons, correct?

 

[OhioGregg]

Two 4000's going for big money on the Bay.

Its good to see them bringing decent prices. I guess if your selling anyway. I know I wouldn't let any of mine go for less than what they are currently at. With that being said, I don't think I paid more than $90 for any of mine. Just goes to show how popular they are becoming.


Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

Gregg, I'm sure you were referring to just swapping pistons, correct?

YEP!!! I was Bob.


Gregg,

 

[redunshee]

Its good to see them bringing decent prices. I guess if your selling anyway. I know I wouldn't let any of mine go for less than what they are currently at. With that being said, I don't think I paid more than $90 for any of mine. Just goes to show how popular they are becoming.


Gregg,

Yea, I paid a bit more for my two but am surprised with the price diff between the 3700 and 4000. Not that big a differance in performance between the two.

 

[redunshee]

YEP!!! I was Bob.


Gregg,

I figured. Thought I was missing something. WHEW!

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Richard, They are NOT interchangeable. As far as which is best, I guess that is up for discussion among those smarter than me. I guess I would prefer a 3700 over the 3800. BUT, one can't argue with the longevity of the 3400 saws and the numbers of them out there still running fine.


Gregg,

The longevity part must be about taking care of them with the right fuel ratio, good oil, and running them not too lean on the air/fuel ratio also. It seems the design itself is good for fifty years of medium to moderate use. Nothing lasts that long with heavy use or abuse.

 

[3000 FPS]

Two 4000's going for big money on the Bay.

There is a 5400 that is not doing bad in the bidding also. To much for me.

 

[67 Mustang]

There is a 5400 that is not doing bad in the bidding also. To much for me.

The Allis Chalmers 295 is the one really kicking butt. Nice saw and has the owner's manual.

 

[rms61moparman]

The Allis Chalmers 295 is the one really kicking butt. Nice saw and has the owner's manual.

They always do!
From what I've seen the Allis-Chalmers saws will routinely outsell any of the other "tractor saws" by a wide margin.
Ain't that just my kind of luck!!!
I love the Orange.
I love the Poulans.
They take more $$$ to get than any of the rest.


Mike

 

[Eccentric]

Its good to see them bringing decent prices. I guess if your selling anyway. I know I wouldn't let any of mine go for less than what they are currently at. With that being said, I don't think I paid more than $90 for any of mine. Just goes to show how popular they are becoming.


Gregg,

Sez the guy that has 4 of 'em. It's the ####s if you're looking to buy one. Would like to find a nice 4000 like one of yours for less than $90. Same thing with the 5400 (and other 85cc Poulans). Not sure why guys get happy when they see their prefered old saw brand/model going for more money on feebay (like it's some show of 'respect' for the collectors and their saws). Just makes aquiring more of them (and parts) that much harder in the future. I'm secure in my taste in chainsaws and don't need stihl/husky/jred/dolmar pricing to make me feel good about my choices.