Poulan 306A Help And Pull Start Advice

[Put-It-In-H!]

Hi everyone, new here, been lurking as a guest for a while though.

Recently got a Poulan 306A. I want to give it a tidy/clean up and fix the pull cord, bit of a novice when it comes to chainsaws so need advice and info from you guys, please.

I haven't done much with the saw yet, apart from give it a quick clean up, cleaned the chain with solvent and nail brush, then dried and oiled. I cleaned out the guide rails on the bar, they were packed with grime and sludge! Put the bar and chain back on and tensioned correctly. I also cleaned the air filter in warm soapy water, left to air dry and reinstalled.

The muffler is an issue at the moment. All that it has is the muffler body and a 'home-made' cover (done by the previous owner) just thin metal with holes drilled in! All it does is stop anything from falling in to the cylinder.
I have ordered a replacement used complete muffler off eBay but I'm still waiting for it to arrive! I'm in the UK, it's coming from the US so I could be waiting a bit still.

I have started the saw, with a 32:1 mix. Does that sound right to you guys? I did do a bit of research prior to deciding on that ratio. I did message and ask the previous owner what ratio he ran it on but I got no response.

It wasn't too difficult to start at all, but man is it loud! I guess the current muffler on it has no silencing to it what so ever, since the insides are missing as is the proper cover. I would've waited until I'd got the replacement muffler to start it up, but I was too eager to check what I'd bought actually worked!

The pull cord is pretty slack, I'd say about 10inches of it won't recoil back in and is left hanging out. I want to fix this and I thought I may as well fit a new cord since it'll be apart anyway and the current cord is filthy and grime soaked!

My question is, how do I do this?? I know the flywheel needs to come off and the starter assembly is behind it. I've looked at exploded diagrams but I think a guide is what I need! I'd hate to screw anything up and make things worse.

So yeah, any advice with regard to taking apart the pull mechanism, fitting a new cord, putting it back together with a result I can be proud of, would be very much appreciated!

While I'm at it I may as well ask this too! I also want to strip, clean and rebuild the carb, using a carb rebuild kit. I've stripped and rebuilt the carb on my 2-stroke bike countless times, but chainsaw carbs are new to me. So any advise and info to do with taking apart and rebuilding the carb would be great! I think it'll need adjusting too, when I started it it seemed to idle pretty high. Again, I'm fine with tuning my bike carb but adjusting a chainsaw carb is new to me. The carb is Tillotson.

Issue with the piston too. There seems to be some scoring to it on the exhaust side. Any ideas what could've caused it? I was thinking the current muffler set up? I only ran it for a couple of minutes when I started it but I don't know how long the previous owner was using it like that for.

I think I've gone on for long enough! Thanks in advance for any tips, advice, info or any help you guys can give.

Cheers.

 

[machinisttx]

You might want to check for air leaks since you said it's idling high. If there are air leaks, they are probably what caused the scoring.

You should be able to remove just the recoil assembly to replace the rope. If you just want to fix the rope hanging out issue, you can either add another revolution(or two) to the drum, or cut the rope a bit shorter(if it's too long).

 

[Eccentric]

Post up here.

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw-stickies/98495-1893.htm

 

[Guido Salvage]

You should be able to remove just the recoil assembly to replace the rope. If you just want to fix the rope hanging out issue, you can either add another revolution(or two) to the drum, or cut the rope a bit shorter(if it's too long).

The OP is correct, the starter rope recoils into a separate housing behind the flywheel on the 306/245 series. You can use a small piece of finish nail in the end of the rope to keep it from pulling out.

I have a 245 apart on my bench and can show you the pieces.

 

[machinisttx]

I've got a busted up 306A in the shop with a scored P/C. Didn't do much with it, so the pulley location is news to me.

 

[CTYank]

Had a 306A back in the day. About the muffler, mine had two cast aluminum pieces that bolted together, with large discharge holes. Could rattle the lenses out of your glasses. Sent the cats running for cover.

Main reason I sold the beast. It ran fine on 50:1 synthetic. (Sure could lay a smoke-screen with 16:1).

What's the compression look like? I'd check that carefully before opening things up. And meanwhile make sure it's not running too lean @ full power.