Nik's Poulan Thread

[OhioGregg]

Two completely different cylinder configurations with only a 5 c.c. difference between them.......and about 2.5 - 3 lbs. of weight difference IIRC!??

The 245A has the bigger bore/shorter stroke combo vs. the smaller bore/longer stroke of the 4400. The 4400 has electronic ignition vs. points in the 245A.

The 4400 has the 'Counter-Vibe' and the 245A.....well it's probably vibe central!???

I'm sure there are folks here who currently own both models(running, mine aren't) or have in the past owned/operated these saws. I'd sure like to hear your impressions of the two and how they compare in power, handling, durability and whatever other facets you can think of.

Your input will help me figure out which saw to direct my efforts towards first. The 245A I have heard run....the 4400 was running last year at Thanksgving according to the previous owner.....not currently running. Plus the 4400 has that daggum unobtainium air filter assembly!! :frown:

Thanks in advance for any feedback and experiences you have had with these saws.

I'm sure you will get some good and varying advice on this one. Can't go wrong with either far as I'm concerned. :msp_thumbup:
I enjoy using my 245A, LIGHT, powerful, and like you say, no anti-vibe features. I don't use mine very often, for the simple fact, parts etc. are a little harder to come by. I have a 4200, that I do use a lot! Same saw as the 4400.
Don't let the fact that it has a few less CC's bother you. It will more than impress you in big wood. They pull like there is no tomorrow. I use a 24" bar on mine, and I think it would pull a 28" equally well.

The 245 will be more nimble feeling. A lot of fellas use 20" bars on them. They are only 13.5 lbs. or so. Mine also has the solid state ignition, as opposed to points. Doubt you could tell a difference though. If your like most of us Poulan lovers, you will end up with both eventually. :msp_ohmy:

Be interesting to hear some other opinions on them. I guess if it was me...I would probably go for the 4400 first. At least that is a saw I would actually use a lot. And not be quit so afraid to ruin it.


Gregg,

 

[XPLRN]

I'm sure you will get some good and varying advice on this one. Can't go wrong with either far as I'm concerned. :msp_thumbup:
I enjoy using my 245A, LIGHT, powerful, and like you say, no anti-vibe features. I don't use mine very often, for the simple fact, parts etc. are a little harder to come by. I have a 4200, that I do use a lot! Same saw as the 4400.
Don't let the fact that it has a few less CC's bother you. It will more than impress you in big wood. They pull like there is no tomorrow. I use a 24" bar on mine, and I think it would pull a 28" equally well.

The 245 will be more nimble feeling. A lot of fellas use 20" bars on them. They are only 13.5 lbs. or so. Mine also has the solid state ignition, as opposed to points. Doubt you could tell a difference though. If your like most of us Poulan lovers, you will end up with both eventually. :msp_ohmy:

Be interesting to hear some other opinions on them. I guess if it was me...I would probably go for the 4400 first. At least that is a saw I would actually use a lot. And not be quit so afraid to ruin it.


Gregg,

Thanks, Gregg, for your input!! I am just more than flusterated about the NLA status of the 4400 air filter. That's the one thing I really need to feel comfortable putting that saw back in service. Yeah I can get the carb kit, fuel line, filter, bar and chain.....but for the highest consumable on that saw, air, I can't purchase a new air filter at a decent price. I just don't have the desire/time in our 105+ degree temps to try and invent a new methodology of "re-filtering" the old filter that is all 'flocked out'.

IF by some odd chance someone out there has a NOS air filter for the 4400 at a decent price please PM me the details, thanks!!

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Two completely different cylinder configurations with only a 5 c.c. difference between them.......and about 2.5 - 3 lbs. of weight difference IIRC!??

The 245A has the bigger bore/shorter stroke combo vs. the smaller bore/longer stroke of the 4400. The 4400 has electronic ignition vs. points in the 245A.

The 4400 has the 'Counter-Vibe' and the 245A.....well it's probably vibe central!???

I'm sure there are folks here who currently own both models(running, mine aren't) or have in the past owned/operated these saws. I'd sure like to hear your impressions of the two and how they compare in power, handling, durability and whatever other facets you can think of.

Your input will help me figure out which saw to direct my efforts towards first. The 245A I have heard run....the 4400 was running last year at Thanksgving according to the previous owner.....not currently running. Plus the 4400 has that daggum unobtainium air filter assembly!! :frown:

Thanks in advance for any feedback and experiences you have had with these saws.

I don't have a 4400 but I do have a 245 and a 3.7 Craftsman. It seems the 3.7 is heavier and like said wouldn't vibrate as much. No more wood cutting than I do it's barely noticeable. I just cut firewood and as warm as it was last winter didn't cut much in the last two years. The 245 has the edge on power a bit over the 3.7 however both saws aren't in tip top condition, both aren't great in the compression department, I think the 245 has less than 100. Haven't checked the 3.7 but I'm betting it isn't the greatest either. Not a great comparison, I guess...

 

[OhioGregg]

XPLRN,
Don't know if you saw this thread or not. Dealing with the air filters on these saws. http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/198040.htm

The filters for the 245A are just as hard to come by, if not harder. At least the filters on the big series of saws are a little easier to fab something up that works well.


Gregg,

 

[XPLRN]

XPLRN,
Don't know if you saw this thread or not. Dealing with the air filters on these saws. http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/198040.htm

The filters for the 245A are just as hard to come by, if not harder. At least the filters on the big series of saws are a little easier to fab something up that works well.


Gregg,

Thanks, Gregg, for that link........I have seen it and am on there at post #23 and #26. I do really like what Mm and Warped5 have prototyped......guess I might have to direct some effort towards the things I talked about in post #23 and post #26.

Luckily the air filter on the 245A is in pretty decent shape. :msp_thumbsup:

 

[rms61moparman]

Two completely different cylinder configurations with only a 5 c.c. difference between them.......and about 2.5 - 3 lbs. of weight difference IIRC!??

The 245A has the bigger bore/shorter stroke combo vs. the smaller bore/longer stroke of the 4400. The 4400 has electronic ignition vs. points in the 245A.

The 4400 has the 'Counter-Vibe' and the 245A.....well it's probably vibe central!???

I'm sure there are folks here who currently own both models(running, mine aren't) or have in the past owned/operated these saws. I'd sure like to hear your impressions of the two and how they compare in power, handling, durability and whatever other facets you can think of.

Your input will help me figure out which saw to direct my efforts towards first. The 245A I have heard run....the 4400 was running last year at Thanksgving according to the previous owner.....not currently running. Plus the 4400 has that daggum unobtainium air filter assembly!! :frown:

Thanks in advance for any feedback and experiences you have had with these saws.

Why do you make it sound like an "either/or" proposition?
I think it is safe to say that the vast majority here would take BOTH and "smile for a mile'!
Don't be too upset about the air filter they come up on eBay pretty regularly at about the same price that you'd pay for filters for brand x saws at a dealer.

As Gregg said very well the 4400 will be faster but the 245 is lighter.
Keep BOTH you'll thank me later.


Mike

 

[redunshee]

here's some pix of the carb on my new 306A. is this the infamous "governor" type carb? cscc says its either a tillie HS-59A or B HS-198A. if so (or even if not) what are the advantages/disadvantages of the governor? also, i know i've seen comments on doing a work-around of the governor. how's that done. thanks, jerry

Going from memory Jerry, but that looks to be the governor behind the throttle in your first pic. If they are running fine the saw will 4 stroke out of the cut and clean up in the cut. Usually a 1 - 1 1/4 setting of the Hi needle is fine. If the governor is bad, it will not clean up in the cut and bog down(at least on mine). To disable the governor you remove the brass screw and place a piece of pie plate, cut to fit,(some use a welch plug) in the governor opening. Replace the brass screw with some blue loctite and you are good to go. Now you can set the HI needle to get your 4 stroking/clean sound. Probably same setting as original setting though.
Bob

 

[XPLRN]

Why do you make it sound like an "either/or" proposition?
I think it is safe to say that the vast majority here would take BOTH and "smile for a mile'!
Don't be too upset about the air filter they come up on eBay pretty regularly at about the same price that you'd pay for filters for brand x saws at a dealer.

As Gregg said very well the 4400 will be faster but the 245 is lighter.
Keep BOTH you'll thank me later.


Mike

It's not a "either/or" situation........it's a work effort/financial channeling decision of which saw to direct my limited resources towards. Since I've never ran either saw in a cutting situation I am trying to assess which one will be the first candidate to go up to Prescott and cut the Ponderosa Pine and Juniper that needs to come down.

I sure do like my 4000 that you turned me on to, I KNOW how it cuts.......how do the 4400 compare to it!??? Or are they just tooo close in c.c.'s (4 c.c.'s isn't much) to really have a distinct difference/preference or ??? I'm also trying to understand why the big difference in weight between the two of them!??? Both have the counter-vibe feature, maybe just different era design differences since the 4000 was intro'ed in 1983 and the 4400 was intro'ed 1980(according to Acres website)??? Sorta like the differences between the Chevy small block 400 and big block 400's ???

 

[OhioGregg]

Its funny, I was settin here this morning drinkin my morning coffee, and got to thinking about our older beloved Poulans, and how they relate to some of our favorite cars or trucks from the past. Saws like the 245A, I kinda look at it as a 57 T-Bird. Great vehicle to take out occasionally for a cruise, but not an everyday beater.

Or, a F-150,250,350 etc. 4x4, (pick your favorite brand here) from the late 70's-80's. Most likely manual 4-speed on the floor, no cruise, AC, had to crank your windows up & down. But man did they get the job done. To these I compare to the Poulan 3400,3700,4000, 4200,5200 etc.

Then you have what I call modern saws and trucks, from late 90's on up. Like the Husky 372,385,395 etc. Or Stihl 440, 460, 660, etc. comparing to a modern truck, most likely AC, power windows, automatic trans, cruise, GPS, carpet, heated seats, and electric ass scratchers. They all get the job done too, just with a little more ease and comfort.

I suppose you could even go back further. I can remember driving my grandfathers 1953 Ford F-250, or my uncles 59 & 66 F-100, 3 speed on the column. Probably have to be my age or older to remember shifting 3 on the tree.
With these I might equate to the sand cast Poulans, or the very early versions of the 200, 300, 400 series.

I guess I must just be an old geezer, living in the past. I would be perfectly happy driving a 1978 F-250 4x4 with a bed full of Poulan 4000's, 5200's etc. out to the woods. But, I might have AC in that old truck.:msp_biggrin:


Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

It's not a "either/or" situation........it's a work effort/financial channeling decision of which saw to direct my limited resources towards. Since I've never ran either saw in a cutting situation I am trying to assess which one will be the first candidate to go up to Prescott and cut the Ponderosa Pine and Juniper that needs to come down.

I sure do like my 4000 that you turned me on to, I KNOW how it cuts.......how do the 4400 compare to it!??? Or are they just tooo close in c.c.'s (4 c.c.'s isn't much) to really have a distinct difference/preference or ??? I'm also trying to understand why the big difference in weight between the two of them!??? Both have the counter-vibe feature, maybe just different era design differences since the 4000 was intro'ed in 1983 and the 4400 was intro'ed 1980(according to Acres website)??? Sorta like the differences between the Chevy small block 400 and big block 400's ???

I guess alot depends on what size trees these Ponderosa Pines & Juniper are. I'm not familiar with either, here in Ohio we just have old fashioned mid-western hardwoods..

Sounds to me like the 4000 will be your most used saw, like it is with me. If your gonna be workin on BIG trees...I would definitely take along the 4400. There isn't a whole lot of difference cc wise, like you say. But, in my experience the 4400 will have a quite noticeable upgrade in power. There is something about them old reed valve Poulans that just make endless power. A good combo for that would be a 4000 with 20" bar, and the 4400 with 24" or 28" bar.
There IS a difference.:msp_w00t:


Gregg,

 

[OhioGregg]

XPLRN,
I don't know, you have probably seen this before, I posted this video earlier this spring. My 4200 with 24" bar cutting some Ash, around 28". Chain wasn't especially sharp in this vid. I took down 7 Ash trees with it before doing this video.

[video=youtube;XzAh1Hrs5Ao]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzAh1Hrs5Ao&feature=player_detailpage[/video]


Gregg,

 

[Modifiedmark]

It's not a "either/or" situation........it's a work effort/financial channeling decision of which saw to direct my limited resources towards. Since I've never ran either saw in a cutting situation I am trying to assess which one will be the first candidate to go up to Prescott and cut the Ponderosa Pine and Juniper that needs to come down.

I sure do like my 4000 that you turned me on to, I KNOW how it cuts.......how do the 4400 compare to it!??? Or are they just tooo close in c.c.'s (4 c.c.'s isn't much) to really have a distinct difference/preference or ??? I'm also trying to understand why the big difference in weight between the two of them!??? Both have the counter-vibe feature, maybe just different era design differences since the 4000 was intro'ed in 1983 and the 4400 was intro'ed 1980(according to Acres website)??? Sorta like the differences between the Chevy small block 400 and big block 400's ???

The 4400 is a later design of the 4200 which was brought out in about 75 if I remember right, and is on a large enough set of cases to support upwards of 85cc.

The 4000 was the end of the line for displacement of a platform that was originally around 55cc and 65cc is probably about the most that it can support.

Yes the 4400 will outcut the 4000, not even up for debate but it also comes with a weight disavantage of about 2lbs because of the differences I noted earlier.

The 245 you asked about earlier was a design dating back to 68 or so and is actually at about as much displacement as you can get from its design. It started at 60cc and while a good design, it still has to be maintained and the cooling fins kept reasonably cleaned to funtion reliably, but is very light for its 74cc displacement. Being reed valved inducted it wont turn lots of no load RPM's but will hold most of them in the cut. IMHO the 306A and 245A were tops in there class in there time frame.

 

[Modifiedmark]

The 4400 is considered a upgraded 4200 with a improved recoil assy and the larger/longer tank/rear handle assy.

Pretty smooth AV for its time and great power for 69cc. With longer bars in hardwood, they will hang with modern 70cc saws but being all mag casting construction they have a little more wieght then the moderen 70cc saws.

 

[67 Mustang]

I am just more than flusterated about the NLA status of the 4400 air filter. That's the one thing I really need to feel comfortable putting that saw back in service. Yeah I can get the carb kit, fuel line, filter, bar and chain.....but for the highest consumable on that saw, air, I can't purchase a new air filter at a decent price. I just don't have the desire/time in our 105+ degree temps to try and invent a new methodology of "re-filtering" the old filter that is all 'flocked out'.

Not an insurmountable obstacle to get your saw into service, at least to check it out and adjust the carburetor. If you can obtain and old pair of panty hose you can temporarily fabricate an air filter by simply wrapping it around the old AF frame making sure there are no leaks around the bottom. Check it often and keep it cleaned.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Any of you guys know if the member that stated he was ordering 2 poulan 415 clutch covers from Sears had any luck getting them in or not?

 

[Eccentric]

Its funny, I was settin here this morning drinkin my morning coffee, and got to thinking about our older beloved Poulans, and how they relate to some of our favorite cars or trucks from the past. Saws like the 245A, I kinda look at it as a 57 T-Bird. Great vehicle to take out occasionally for a cruise, but not an everyday beater.

Or, a F-150,250,350 etc. 4x4, (pick your favorite brand here) from the late 70's-80's. Most likely manual 4-speed on the floor, no cruise, AC, had to crank your windows up & down. But man did they get the job done. To these I compare to the Poulan 3400,3700,4000, 4200,5200 etc.

Then you have what I call modern saws and trucks, from late 90's on up. Like the Husky 372,385,395 etc. Or Stihl 440, 460, 660, etc. comparing to a modern truck, most likely AC, power windows, automatic trans, cruise, GPS, carpet, heated seats, and electric ass scratchers. They all get the job done too, just with a little more ease and comfort.

I suppose you could even go back further. I can remember driving my grandfathers 1953 Ford F-250, or my uncles 59 & 66 F-100, 3 speed on the column. Probably have to be my age or older to remember shifting 3 on the tree.
With these I might equate to the sand cast Poulans, or the very early versions of the 200, 300, 400 series.

I guess I must just be an old geezer, living in the past. I would be perfectly happy driving a 1978 F-250 4x4 with a bed full of Poulan 4000's, 5200's etc. out to the woods. But, I might have AC in that old truck.:msp_biggrin:


Gregg,

Here's some of my Old Iron that I use to haul my Old Magnesium (some of it of similar colors) out to the woods.

 

[hemiyota]

Any of you guys know if the member that stated he was ordering 2 poulan 415 clutch covers from Sears had any luck getting them in or not?

After over a month, I called to see what was going on. They said they'd check and get back to me.......the next day, I got an email saying my order had been cancelled. So much for having 400 in stock!:msp_angry:

 

[Eccentric]

After over a month, I called to see what was going on. They said they'd check and get back to me.......the next day, I got an email saying my order had been cancelled. So much for having 400 in stock!:msp_angry:

I had a similar experience with the 200/300 series crank seal I ordered from Sears a few months ago and never received. Got the tractor parts I ordered, but not the seal (and I almost ordered a bunch to have on hand and distribute amongst the group here). Gonna contact Sears AGAIN right now. Ordered the damn thing in April, and the status on that part (530001936) is STILL "Part has been processed in the system, but status from the supplier is not yet available". If you look up the part numbers for the seals (this one, and 530019042), the system sez they're in stock (so you can order them). Glad I didn't tie up a buncha money in seals I'll probably never get. Something told me to reduce the quantity of seals (to 1) before submitting the order. Glad I listened to that something. I only have $5.49 or so tied up right now....:bang:

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

After over a month, I called to see what was going on. They said they'd check and get back to me.......the next day, I got an email saying my order had been cancelled. So much for having 400 in stock!:msp_angry:

Thanks for the update. :msp_sad:

 

[rms61moparman]

It's not a "either/or" situation........it's a work effort/financial channeling decision of which saw to direct my limited resources towards. Since I've never ran either saw in a cutting situation I am trying to assess which one will be the first candidate to go up to Prescott and cut the Ponderosa Pine and Juniper that needs to come down.

I sure do like my 4000 that you turned me on to, I KNOW how it cuts.......how do the 4400 compare to it!??? Or are they just tooo close in c.c.'s (4 c.c.'s isn't much) to really have a distinct difference/preference or ??? I'm also trying to understand why the big difference in weight between the two of them!??? Both have the counter-vibe feature, maybe just different era design differences since the 4000 was intro'ed in 1983 and the 4400 was intro'ed 1980(according to Acres website)??? Sorta like the differences between the Chevy small block 400 and big block 400's ???

THOSE 4 cc's are HUGE!!!
The 4400 will spank the 4000 AND the 245 resoundingly!

A couple of years ago Brad Snelling ported a 245 and it ran really well. When put to the test against my stock 4200, the 4200 beat the ported 245 soundly.
Now, lest anyone think I'm trashing the 245, nothing could be further from the truth.
I love the 245 and it is one of the very few saws that I am still looking to add to my collection.
For power to weight, the 245 is still in the hunt after all these years, but brute power doesn't always compare favorably to power AND chain speed.
Andyshine77, Fatguy and I did an impromptu test a few years ago on one of my 4200s and the saw tach'ed out at 10,500 out of the cut. It lost 100, yes that's right ONE HUNDRED, rpm's in the wood!!!
With a 28-32 inch bar, I believe the 245 will get a lot closer to the speed of the 4400 but I don't think the 245 will ever out cut the 4400.
JMHO
And yes, I compare the 4200/4400 vs. the 4000 or 245 to the difference in a 400 small block and a 396 big block. The 396 may have less displacement, but there is simply no comparison in the power.


Mike