Any chainsaw nuts on here?

[roylt]

I just got a couple older used units and wanted opinions.

First is a 2003 Poulan. Sticker says 2150 but the tag shows 42cc? Anyway it seems to be in good shape. Had a tank of oil in it so I cleaned it up and put fresh (from today) gas in it. Followed the instructions but couldn't get it to go? Realized the primer wasn't filling with gas so I primed until it did have gas. Note I only put in about 2/3 full just to try it out. After that I got it to go but it seemed to rev fine and then bog. Seemed to run out of gas? Thought maybe the vent on the gas cap was clogged? Cleaned it the best I could and then tried to get air through it. Seemed ok. Tried starting it then taking the gas cap off at idle and revved a bit. Seemed ok. But it was on its side. Cap back and upright again, died. This is my first "full sized" saw.

Second is a old Craftsman top handle. Also made by Poulan. 358.352030 is the model. This is a 2.0 - 10"er but it has a bigger bar on it now. All was going well until I was putting it back together and the fuel line snapped off. So I need new fuel line. The bigger concern is the air filter. Obsolete. It seems to be just a little rectangle of foam. Looks like ebay has some that are described as for the Poulan 25 which I guess is the same?
I have this same saw but a bit newer. Got it at a farm auction just after I bought my homestead. It has been the perfect saw for me for just around the house etc. That is why I picked up this second one. I should probably check the air filter on it too....

All input is welcomed. Not an expert at anything really but I do own some tools and not afraid to try. These were real cheap at an estate sale.
Thanks,

 

[stonebuster]

Never had a Poulan but have two Stihls that have an exhaust screen/spark arrestor that can clog. If you take the exhaust manifold off you may see it clogged. On my Still it's about 3/4" square screen. Otherwise, it sounds like a fuel problem. I'm assuming you're mixing two stroke oil 50:1. I'm also assuming you know the oil reservoir is strictly for the bar & chain. I wonder if the gas cap is vented & clogged or maybe turn up the idle a bit. A fresh spark plug if you haven't already.

 

[coachk64]

Ditto on the fresh plug. I had a Poulon of the same type years ago, but had roughly the same problem and I've pretty much given up on gas chain saws. I've had a few different types but every one seems to go to hell just from not using them often enough. Every one I've had would not start or idle at all after sitting for a few months, and every shop locally seems to consider chain saws to be disposable.
Right now I have a couple of battery saws and they work every time I need them. Not nearly as heavy-duty as a good gas saw, but for the light work needed by your average homeowner they fit the bill just fine. My favorite is an 18" Ryobi 40V saw that is capable of more than I ever need, just cutting up the odd tree that falls down in my neighborhood.
If I really needed a gas chain saw about the only one I'd consider would be a Stihl. I've had a Stihl gas blower for several years and every time I start it the thing runs like it is brand new.

 

[Richard76]

also should be a filter in the gas tank, I would check that then google adjusting H and L jets for that saw. I also have never had a Poulan, just Husky's but the fuel delivery system is pretty much the same on all saws

 

[nrobe50]

Sounds like it could be the fuel line inside the gas tank.

 

[Mobuck]

Your fuel pickup up may be clogged on the first saw you described. Make a hook from smallish wire and carefully lift the pickup tube out of the filler hole. The little screen/strainer at the end may be gummed up/clogged. Also. check that tube for cracks. For the air filter, you might cruise through the HVAC area of your local HD/Lowes/Menards looking for one of the open foam furnace/AC filters. Whittle out what you need from something on the shelf.
I have zero experience with that brand of saw--not real popular in my area. I do have a Poulan leaf blower (rebranded to a local chain store brand). It's OK for the price paid but the carb always seems to be out of adjustment and screw is a real beach to reach.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

If it's been setting awhile , the carburetor could be gummed up and needs cleaning.

 

[mirglip]

Chainsaw nuts don't buy Poulans. After about 4 hours of use the cylinder will be egg shaped.

 

[coachk64]

I've also found that I have way better luck with small engines if I only use non-ethanol gas and make sure it doesn't get more than a couple of months old. I've scrapped all of my 5-gallon gas cans and only have 2-gallon cans for this reason.

 

[thor's daddy]

Your Craftsman top-handle is merely a rebranded Poulan, so yes, the air filter from the 25 will fit. Believe it or not, there are some Poulan nuts out there that have worked to collect all the re-brands of Poulan saws for their collections.

As to the bogging saw. Put the cap on the tank and try to run it on its side. If it runs as such, it's not the tank vent. My guess is the carburetor needs a refresh kit (new diaphrams and screens). You can find them online for a few bucks. For about $15 you can put a Chinese carb in it. Carb swaps are pretty easy. Out. In. Adjust. Done.

While you're in there, replace the fuel and impulse lines (since you need to do the same on the top-handle). If the primer bulbs are getting hard, you might want to pop in new ones. I only have one Poulan (Wild Thing), I think the primer bulb was a couple bucks when I replaced it a while back. Definitely worth the hassle.

The rest of the saws at my house are Stihls, from a little 30cc MS170 to the 70cc MS440. Oh, and I've got my Dad's old McCulloch Mini-Mac. I love that saw, but I don't always have all day to fiddle...

 

[thor's daddy]

... only use non-ethanol gas and make sure it doesn't get more than a couple of months old...

Agreed. One of the best tips I've heard is to drain the saw after running it, then fire it back up and run the fuel lines and carburetor dry. When she stalls, you're done. Clean it up and put it up.

I don't really worry about the age of the gas, as I've got a string trimmer and mower that eat up a fair bit, but I can tell you for certain that fresh fuel will run better than stuff that's been sitting in the garage for four months.

The same goes for bar oil. Drain it back into the jug after you're done for the day.

Gas, even non-ethanol, will eat at the fuel lines and (eventually) gum up the carb, hence the reason for running them dry. And some saws (Stihl, I'm talking to you!) leak bar oil like it's a feature, not a defect.

Storing your saws in a hot garage or shed will only wear out the rubber bits all that much faster. Mine get cleaned up and stored on a shelf in the shop in the basement. There's no doubt in my mind that it makes them last longer.

 

[Killer Bee]

not sure if I qualify as a chainsaw nut but run a few saws for firewood, fenceline clearing, land maintenance, etc. around the farm.

I'd check the clunk and line in that poulon fuel tank. by design it flops around so it's always sitting in gas regardless if saw position. fuel lines can get stiff with age and hang up out of the fuel or crack from dry rot and suck air in certain saw positions. quick check if empty is look inside to see if line is soft and flexible, another easy check is top the tank off cap full and rotate the saw around see it it still stalls.

next would be check the diaphragm and spring check in the carb. unlike a lawn mower needle/seat, saw carbs use a spring/diaphragm to keep fuel bowl full in all positions and they are finicky about leaks. dry rotted rubber parts and paper gaskets etc. can give a saw a hard time. if the saw otherwise has potential for use, I would make the best attempt at rebuilding the carb and fuel delivery and go from there.

good luck!

a couple gratuitous pitchers.. how does a chainsaw thread get this far without any?

polesaw turned out to be downright handy!

 

[Richard76]

exactly...

 

[thor's daddy]

 

[krw]

Poulan's were made 20 mi from Me. Husqvarna bought their facility Yrs ago. Now Husqvarna is shut down. Poulan's were entry level at best. When Logger's used to use Power Saws, the Swedish Husqvarna 266 an 288 were Kings for years. At the Sawmill, all they bought were Stihl's. If sawgas was mixd to lean this batch, it was mixd to rich on the next. They were GOOD saws. Abused and ran every day. If I were buying a saw today, it would be a Stihl

 

[protoolman]

A couple years ago was a great time to buy a Stihl. They have a new line underway with emissions controls only one bar nut etc. New Line sucks! Luckily I bought 2 just before the change.

 

[WAYNO]

I have owned and used so many chainsaws of many brands. They just have always worked. I have recently (10 years) standardized on Stihl, only because parts and service are instantly available, everywhere.

And as with most small engines, fuel systems can require a bit of maintenance.



.

 

[roylt]

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like most think as I, double check fuel delivery first.

To be clear both saws seem to be fairly well cared for. Seem to have been run dry before storage but I can't be sure.

Picture of the top handle is after cleaning it up and the Poulan is how I got it.

 

[Delbert]

I guess I'm a saw nut. Got a older Stihl MS310 I bought new 20yrs ago for my workhorse, inherited a 90's Husqvarna 036 that I put a little work into with cleaning and carb work and works great and just picked up at a yard sale last week for $25 a little Stihl 025 that I repaired with new pull rope, carb cleaning/tuning, spark plug regap, coil to flywheel regap and now runs great.

 

[blume357]

been using a Huski for about 20 years now every couple of months to maybe 6 months just sitting. Had to have it worked on once... seal to carburetor went bad.
biggest problem is I can't sharpen the chain worth a darn... solution is to just have four and when three are dull take them to my local place and have them sharpen them.

Now for a true story:
Back when we had the mountain house I bought a Husivarna 55 saw and used it up there for about a year.... would bring it home for the winter. 'Friend', who is always borrowing tools came to me and said he was headed up to N.C. to help some folks he knew clear off a lot and his chain saw was not working could he borrow mine?... (I did not know better). I said sure, but the chain was a little dull and so I also gave him a brand new one still in the package.....

He showed back up in two weeks with the saw and said the chain I gave him did not fit and he had to take it to a local shop up there and they put the right chain on it... I did note that there was a sticker on it with the Waynesville N.C. shop name on it and the bar actually did not look as I remembered but I was in a hurry to get somewhere and so just stuck the saw on a shelf and took off.
3-6 Months later I need to cut a tree or such and go and pull the saw off the shelf... I then actually looked at it... It is a Huskivara 51! Not a 55... this is not my saw.... My 'friend' is so flaky he has not got a clue and by now there is no way to track mine down...

Now here is the best part of the story.... a few years later I'm telling an old dude from my church about this and he gives me the look and gently tells me one of the rules in life:
Never ever loan out your chain saw... they are like a woman and if you do it will never come back same.

 

[Mobuck]

I have a bunch of saws left over from a time when I used chainsaws a LOT. My use ranged from commercial logger and firewood cutter to land clearing to just keeping the woodpile stocked. Current stable of saws: Mac 610 (2), a 1010 with a 710 'jug' (makes you wake up when you hit the go trigger), a 'stock' 1010, Stihl 011 that I bought new for Dad 35 years ago (now heirloom status- just sits in a case on a shelf), numerous 010/011/012 in various conditions (plus a pickup bed full of 010/011/012 parts), ECHO 310, 361, CS4600(x3), CS5000, and last but most often used these days Rigid 18V w/10" bar.
I discovered earlier this year that my second Cousin just a couple miles away is a self employed chainsaw repairman so I'm going to try to trade him the pickup load of parts in return for putting a couple of the little Stihl saws back in running condition.

 

[eveled]

For a while antique saws were showing up here. Kind of funny, hang one up on the wall and people donate another.

Not shown is a 2 man military hydraulic chain saw someone gave me.

I have a wonderful Stihl saw I found in the trash. It started on the first pull.

But honestly my 18volt Milwaukee saw does everything I need.