Poulan 3400 counter vibe

[sachsmo]

I did not know that Dolmar made a reed valve engine that competed with Poulans.

SD and BP were in bed together in the '70s.

Remember the vaunted 5500 and 6000?

 

[3000 FPS]

3400 is piston ported is it not?

I was referring to the 4200,4400, 5200 great saws of their time.

Yes the 3400, 3700, 4000, 395 are piston ported open transfer design. Did Dolmar have open transfers. All the older ones I have worked on were closed port.

 

[sachsmo]

Roland, that saw was introduced in 1978, why in the world would it need crank seals today?

As for the raidal play, it ends up being a triat of those needle brg saws. The crank end play is set by the depth of the crank brgs and I think they sometimes move around some. I know it sounds strange to some and especially by the way they do things today but a little end play in those dont hurt anything. They run and run forever that way.

In 1978 that CounterVibe saw was ahead of the pack.

Acres states 1979 as the intro date on the 3400,

These weren't too shabby for 1976,

 

[hoeyrd2110]

Interesting, I was working at a Poulan dealer at the time the 3400's came out. Never seen one with .325 and never seen it mentioned in a IPL either. What bars did they have on them? I'm not sure I ever seen a D176 bar in .325 either.




Why all the oil? I run all my old Poulans now that were originally specked out at 16-1 at 50-1 now.

You my perfer 32-1 but I have running proof that its not needed.

i've seen 4 3400's(including mine) with .325 bars on em and the sprockets matched, 2 have poulan bars on them the rest were probably changed over. i know for a fact mine came with .325 18" on it from the demo fleet then a 20" up until a few years ago when the bar wore out, my buddy changed to a oregon bar (which has the wrong mount) later. then ditched it to me cause it wouldn't oil right(wrong mount hehe). now it wears a proper 3/8's 18" bar. i'll get a pic of the .325 sprocket to show you guys. i always wondered myself because the 3700's i have are both 3/8's and there they are in red clothing and figured if any would have .325 it would be the sears models. you also have to remember it may be my area not a huge logging operation around here, saws are BIG at 60CC you know what i mean.

on the oil it's just preference i guess. with speaking to the dolmar guys over some warrant stuff(5100 cylinders) they all recommended 32:1-40:1 they said 50:1 just wasn't enough for the tolerances in the motors(echo's in house tech's told me the same). i had always run 32:1 so i have stayed there since it was withing the recomendation of the engineers. 50:1 just don't make me feel right especially with a saw that parts are getting harder to get and the tolerances are no where near what they are today. you can run your saws 100:1 makes no difference to me i like me 32:1 and i have never ever burned up a saw, maybe it's how i care for em or maybe it's the extra cushion of 32:1. we will never know cause i'm keeping the mix where it's at.

 

[sachsmo]

i've seen 4 3400's(including mine) with .325 bars on em and the sprockets matched, 2 have poulan bars on them the rest were probably changed over. i know for a fact mine came with .325 18" on it from the demo fleet then a 20" up until a few years ago when the bar wore out, my buddy changed to a oregon bar (which has the wrong mount) later. then ditched it to me cause it wouldn't oil right(wrong mount hehe). now it wears a proper 3/8's 18" bar. i'll get a pic of the .325 sprocket to show you guys. i always wondered myself because the 3700's i have are both 3/8's and there they are in red clothing and figured if any would have .325 it would be the sears models.

on the oil it's just preference i guess. with speaking to the dolmar guys over some warrant stuff(5100 cylinders) they all recommended 32:1-40:1 they said 50:1 just wasn't enough for the tolerances in the motors(echo's in house tech's told me the same). i had always run 32:1 so i have stayed there since it was withing the recomendation of the engineers. 50:1 just don't make me feel right especially with a saw that parts are getting harder to get and the tolerances are no where near what they are today. you can run your saws 100:1 makes no difference to me i like me 32:1 and i have never ever burned up a saw, maybe it's how i care for em or maybe it's the extra cushion of 32:1. we will never know cause i'm keeping the mix where it's at.

YUP!

a bunch old them old SDs (really not that old '70s and '80s) came with a sticker right by the fill cap,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,25:1

 

[sunfish]

My 3400 was originally a bow saw, but had a 20" 3/8 when I got it, later change to 18"

My brother bought a new 3400 mid 80s' and it came with 3/8" 18" bar.

Not saying some didn't come this way, but I see no reason to run .325 on these saws?

 

[sunfish]

I gotta say, as much as I love these old Poulans, when I got my first 346xp (45cc), I never wanted to run those old Poulans any more...:msp_mellow:

 

[fossil]

I got a 3400 not so long ago but was surprised to find that the crank bearings had quite a bit of radial play and obviously worn cranks seals (air leak). And the saw was not used that much, judging by its condition. Just a bit curious why these green Poulans are su much liked at AS.

I measured the radial play in in mine wih new bearings and it was at .004". That does feel like a lot. Runs great.

 

[hoeyrd2110]

My 3400 was originally a bow saw, but had a 20" 3/8 when I got it, later change to 18"

My brother bought a new 3400 mid 80s' and it came with 3/8" 18" bar.

Not saying some didn't come this way, but I see no reason to run .325 on these saws?

i agree completely i think it's a waste to run .325 but in 77-78 when this saw was making demo rounds in the southeast PA area it had a poulan equiped .325 18". i ran it for 2 hours and almost sold it cause i thought it was a turd. then i put the 3/8's on and my eyes were opened:msp_thumbsup: i have a feeling it was a test saw to see how the dealers took to a .325 version. thank god it didn't impress

the demo's went for $150 a piece:msp_sad: i wish and so does he he had bought more. he walked out of work one day with a S25CV and a 3400CV for under $300...man that just don't happen no more. and he said they had a whole skid of each...

 

[sachsmo]

BP was a "little" optimistic on their claims of running a 30" bar on them.

But so was Mcculloch when they claimed the 10-10 could run a 28"!


You could put that long of bar on them but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bury a 30" with a 54cc saw, you may be there awhile.

 

[hoeyrd2110]

BP was a "little" optimistic on their claims of running a 30" bar on them.

But so was Mcculloch when they claimed the 10-10 could run a 28"!


You could put that long of bar on them but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bury a 30" with a 54cc saw, you may be there awhile.

then these saws must be crap cause i heard that a MS290 could RIPP! with a 25" bar

 

[sachsmo]

then these saws must be crap cause i heard that a MS290 could RIPP! with a 25" bar

Well then it must be true if you read it on the internet eh?

 

[fossil]

then these saws must be crap cause i heard that a MS290 could RIPP! with a 25" bar

They can all pull those bars. Just bring a book. Kind of relaxed cutting

 

[hoeyrd2110]

Well then it must be true if you read it on the internet eh?

i think he will be here soon enough to argue the point:sword:

i just couldn't help it. it just fit too well:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[sachsmo]

I was referring to the 4200,4400, 5200 great saws of their time.

Yes the 3400, 3700, 4000, 395 are piston ported open transfer design. Did Dolmar have open transfers. All the older ones I have worked on were closed port.

Yup me too.

Not a bad thing though eh?

 

[sachsmo]

i think he will be here soon enough to argue the point:sword:

i just couldn't help it. it just fit too well:hmm3grin2orange:

:msp_confused:

 

[Eccentric]

Aaron, no I dont think that I have ever seen those mounts you list ever in .325 and thats why I was asking. When Poulan went with a .325 pitch on the 306SA they used a roller nose or hardnosed bar on them.

As far as your 306 with a UXL, I doubt very seriously that it left that factory with it. In those days they showed up with Poulan bars on them in the old style Poulan mount your aware of with the round adjuster holes. The Windsor bars were sold by Poulan as replacements a few years later, but that dont mean a dealer couldnt have swapped it out to make a sale.

My 306A is one of the very late ones with the electronic ign, "temperature limiting Ca-spec" steel muffler, and the non-governed HS carb. Wish I could find an IPL for that saw. Poulan was putting UXL mount bars on the Countervibes with 'S' clips at that time (wasn't the 306A discontinued around 1980?) , so I wouldn't be surprised if the saw came with that bar from Poulan. As you said.................it could have been swapped however (especially if that powerhead sat on the dealer shelf for a year or more). Doesn't really matter either way. Still.........I would like to see that IPL...

 

[hoeyrd2110]

:msp_confused:

i was referencing a ridiculous post in a thread i thought some of you would get it...oh well. i had hoped you guys would have figured me to be joking. 25" on a 290 sheesh

 

[sachsmo]

i was referencing a ridiculous post in a thread i thought some of you would get it...oh well. i had hoped you guys would have figured me to be joking. 25" on a 290 sheesh

No worries Bro'


I is just here bench racin' and shootin' the bull. Just like all of us eh?

 

[Modifiedmark]

My 306A is one of the very late ones with the electronic ign, "temperature limiting Ca-spec" steel muffler, and the non-governed HS carb. Wish I could find an IPL for that saw. Poulan was putting UXL mount bars on the Countervibes with 'S' clips at that time (wasn't the 306A discontinued around 1980?) , so I wouldn't be surprised if the saw came with that bar from Poulan. As you said.................it could have been swapped however (especially if that powerhead sat on the dealer shelf for a year or more). Doesn't really matter either way. Still.........I would like to see that IPL...

Aaron, I'm digging back in my feeble memory from back 35 years ago when I was working at the AC/Poulan dealer.:bang:

Ok, let me try again to explain. with the help of some old Poulan documents. The 306A is listed as discontinued in 1980 but I believe that means that they were only produced and sold as current till 1979. The 3400 is listed as introduced in 1979, but its kinda like new cars, 2013 models coming out in 2012.

I was working at the dealer in this time frame and it seems to me that we couldnt order any more 306's when the 3400's came out. I really think 1979 was the last year for the 306/245 saws and the latest IPL that I can find for them is 1978.

Now back to the bars, I still say they only came with Poulan bars for the span of the 306 and the 3400's first only came with Poulan bars as well. The 3700 was introduced about a year later then the 3400 and I remember those being the first ones that came with the Windsor bars with the S clip. After that alot of the did come with Windsor bars.

As for the IPL you search for, I dont have one for the 306 but I do have one for the 245A showing what you look for. As for your non goverend carb, I dont know about it for sure, never seen a IPL to support that. What is the HS model # of your carb? There were some saws that used a non goverend carb, some of the 200 series and the 361 type saws but again, I wont say yours is not original and at this time unless you bought the saw new or got if from the original owner who can document it, we'll will just have to go with it.

1987 245A IPL