Just curious to know if any of you guys cut firewood with your old Poulans or are they shelf queens. I've got 2 4000's,, 2 red and black 3700's, a PP375 a 3800 and 2 3400's along with a 3500, 2 PP365's a 3300 and a PP335. All of them do firewood duty. I cut 5 cords a year and have thought about buying a modern saw but what's the fun in that ?
Nik's Poulan Thread
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Dan, Our wood cutting sounds a lot a like. I cut about the same 5-7 cords a year, for my use, heat with wood. I used to cut a little more, and sell some also to friends and neighbors, back when Ash borer hit this area. I used Poulans almost exclusively, up until the last 2 years. I bought one of those China clone saw kits, Husky 372xp clone. I put the big bore 76cc top on it. Been using it as my go to saw the last couple years. Use a Poulan 3000 as my small saw, as with age, I like the light weight power it has.
Up, till then I used all models of Poulans, the 4000 being my favorite all around saw. My 4200 & 5200 were my go to saws for big wood, 25" to 40" inch trees. My very first saw I bought was a 3400, new in 1986. Only saw I had until 2008. Some I rarely used for work, but the main ones were 3400, 3700, and 4000, 4200, 5200. I have a number of the Poulan Pro models too, that are equally well liked. Like the PP375, Super 380, 295, 25, 655 & 455.
Just thinking too, a saw they never made, but wish they had, was a 72cc version of the super 380 style saw. That would have been the cats ass in my opinion.
Gregg,
Up, till then I used all models of Poulans, the 4000 being my favorite all around saw. My 4200 & 5200 were my go to saws for big wood, 25" to 40" inch trees. My very first saw I bought was a 3400, new in 1986. Only saw I had until 2008. Some I rarely used for work, but the main ones were 3400, 3700, and 4000, 4200, 5200. I have a number of the Poulan Pro models too, that are equally well liked. Like the PP375, Super 380, 295, 25, 655 & 455.
Just thinking too, a saw they never made, but wish they had, was a 72cc version of the super 380 style saw. That would have been the cats ass in my opinion.
Gregg,
Snowchaser
ArboristSite Operative
Countervibe saws are my favorite. I cut with my 4000, 3700, 3400 and about to be restored 5200. Only other saws that get regular use are my modded ms361 and husky 2101 for the big stuff.
I have a 5200 with a 32" bar that I use when the occasion calls for it. The "Wild Thing" and MS180 guys just stand there with their eyes and mouths open...
Mark
Mark
Snowchaser
ArboristSite Operative
Have not ran my 5200 yet. Got 2 junkers last year and finally got around to making one good one. I always wanted a big bore countervibe.
Your gonna like it I'm pretty sure. Some of my greatest joys of cutting wood, is when using the 5200 to buck large oak logs, 30+inches in size. More modern saws in that size range will have more chain speed, My 385xp for example, but not many will out torque it, if there is such a thing.
Gregg,
Greg, is that the 5200 with the Sunbelt P/C on it ? I put a Sunbelt 3700 P/C on my 3800 and it runs good. The only other saw that I use is a Pioneer/Partner P42HP with a 24" bar that does a good job splitting rounds that are too big to lift. If I was going to buy a new saw I would take a good look at Echo and Shindaiwa
I cut firewood to heat my home. Like OhioGregg I bought a 372 clone about 5 or 6 years ago and have had no problems with it. But there is just something about the countervibes - their characteristic burbling idle, their torque and how bulletproof and easy to work on - that still makes them my favorite saws.
I have 3400, 3700, 3800 and 5200 countervibes and I cut more wood with them than any other saws.
I have 3400, 3700, 3800 and 5200 countervibes and I cut more wood with them than any other saws.
Snowchaser
ArboristSite Operative
I watched Buckin’s video on this saw again. Amazed at the difference he made just by removing the baffle in the muffler and plugging the governer.
Yes Dan, it has the P/C I got from you. I think I have seen where someone might be making a replacement piston, not sure of cyl. But, at the time getting that set from you was a life saver. I've not had any trouble at all with that saw, runs great. As far as getting a new saw goes.... that ship has sailed for me. LOL I'm getting old for some reason, and the saws I have will far outlast me, thats sure. The Echos do look nice though. But if had to scrap together a pile of shekels for a new saw, it would probably be a Husky 572 or 592xp.
Gregg,
Same here. My first love for saws was with the mid - size counter vibes. Only saw I had for years was a 3400. It came with a 18"bar & chain. Over the years I switched to a 20" bar. Then eventually I bought two used Craftsman 3700 parts saws and made one good one. Was cutting one day with the 3400, ran out of gas. Just grabbed the 3.7 and continued. Noticed a good bit of difference in power of the two saws back to back like that. Well. I figured a little more would be even better. So I got started with the 4000's, and the rest is history. I would say the 4000 with 20"bar was my favorite all around use saw over the years. Have used a 24" on a 4000, but rarely. Thats when I expanded my saw inventory to include 4200 & 5200. Bunch of saws with different size bars, just depending on the tree I was working on.
Gregg,
I wish I had had one of the 5400 8500 I had when I tested the 064 385 PP505 all buried in hardwood. Thinking was 28" 3/8.
Out of those 3 the 064 had the torque advantage. But all 3 cut on par and wouldnt notice it unless timing cuts. Plus they all way lighter in weight too.
GB in pic 32
Out of those 3 the 064 had the torque advantage. But all 3 cut on par and wouldnt notice it unless timing cuts. Plus they all way lighter in weight too.
GB in pic 32
