I was running this saw for about 2 hours at about a 30-50% duty cycle czcams.com/users/postUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and it did a great job. I used the lever for the built in sharpener to clear chip buildup out more than to actually sharpen the chain. It managed to cut some hardwood stumps much larger than it's size without bothering the neighbors with hours of 2 stroke noise.
A Poulan is not a Stihl, I get it. On the other hand, 95% of user complaints I've seen are a result of a lack of maintenance. The occasional, casual newbie chainsaw user creates a perfect storm of problems. The saw is rarely used, the gas is never drained (so it gums everything up, the air filter is never cleaned, the fuel filter never changed, the spark plug never gapped, the saw is never cleaned of old sawdust and oil. Yet people want to let the saw sit for 2 years, pick it up and expect it to run great. On the other hand, those that use a chainsaw to make a living, or frequently use it tend to maintain it well. I am no professional but I do maintain my small engines. I don't use ethanol gas, I replace air filters, spark plugs, etc. I have owned a Poulan Pro PP4218A for 4 years now and have probably cut down and/or limbed several hundred trees. Never had an issue with it! Is it because it's the greatest saw made, no, it's because it's a well maintained saw. So, I am not here to defend Poulan, have to reason to, but some of this trashing is ridiculous. You can't expect an occasional user to go buy a Stihl for 4-5 times the price. It's like telling someone who commutes 5 miles a day to school they shouldn't buy that Chevy Caprice because it junk compared to the luxury car they drive. So maybe I have the only Poulan in recent history that's worth anything (and I bought it reconditioned on eBay!), but I doubt it. Do routine maintenance and it will serve 95% of the needs of the casual user that needs a chainsaw once every couple of years.
You are entitled to your opinion.....I can and will respect that ...you in truth made some very valid points that I to have addressed many times .But comparing a Chevy Caprice to a Poulan was a bit much . As at least in most cases the cars will last more than a few hour compared to the poulan that often needs repair straight out of the box.
well i have a Volvo i let sit for 2 years. i went out and started it. it started. it din't idle for a minute and then shut off. i must admit, the Volvo has been sitting under a tree for 2 years, and i hadn't changed anything on it since 2015. but it started. without issue. maybe Volvo should make chainsaws.
Didn't really compare a Chevy to Poulan; I used the Chevy/luxury car as a metaphor for the stihl/poulan comparison. My real point is that you SHOULD expect any tool to work when you buy it, no problem there, I agree with you. But you shouldn't expect a low end product (at a much reduced price point) to be comparable to a high end product. That's just not reasonable, not with chainsaws, not with just about any other products. If I made a living with a chainsaw (or owned a bunch of land that regularly needed harvesting), I'd definitely own a stihl chainsaw. But since I use my chainsaw a couple of times of year helping friends out or cutting down (limbing) some smaller trees in my back yard, the Poulan unit works for me. In conclusion, match your chainsaw to your usage patterns (or budget) and maintain whatever you buy!!!
LOL...Stihl hard on ....well I guess using a Stihl I would certainly find my release. But finger fucking my way threw a Poulan would only cause carpal tunnel and make me a individual like you who is a master with a Pullin PRO.
As an owner of my second Poulan 4218, I have to say this is my favorite chainsaw video on CZcams. My first Poulan wouldn't idle at all and would bog down under any stress. Luckily I lost that one off a trailer during a move. Inexplicably, when I needed another saw, I bought the same one. I rarely use a chainsaw and thought maybe the first one was a fluke. Nope. This one runs the same and leaks bar oil like crazy. Literal puddles of oil and slings oil from the chain when it's running. I've ordered a spline tool to try to adjust the carburetor. I'll tackle the oil leak next. On the plus side, CZcams is teaching me small engine repair. If I can't fix this saw, maybe I'll lose this one off a trailer too. No more cheap saws for me.
Dave Gutknecht these are what I consider consumer products. If you are delusional enough to think a poulan chainsaw is made to cut 15 to 20 cord of wood a year, then you probably get mad that a $150 Chinese welder fails when you run 4’ of 5/32” 7018 nonstop at 180amps. This video is not informative at all. It is just some guy whining about making money off of non-mechanically inclined people. Quit your belly aching KB and be happy you have the intelligence to repair these machines and make good money as well. I work on my own equipment and believe a day unlearned is a day wasted. I hope next time you will show something worth absorbing.
@@luked1964 If your looking to absorb something then purchase a Poulan …..The fucking you will receive will require gallons of Prep H my friend . If I can educate my viewers to avoid these pieces of shit then you can bet I will do so . When facts are projected as they were in this video I think it worth while to inform and keep others from buyers remorse .
@@luked1964 You appear to have a connection with Poulan based on your idealism and lambaste others for expecting more from a piece of equipment they have spent over 150 dollars for . You then proceed to try to stereotype by your on ability to scrutinize via the example of a Chinese welder as a price comparison . Then you deviate away from your premise to imply that this video isn't informative at all . However in your absence of mind you fail to understand the premise of this video witch be minded was obvious . But incase you had trouble following I can and will try to elaborate . The direction or premise intended with this video was to show by example why I personally hate the poulan chainsaws . And show obvious failures with the design and parts so I could educate and prevent others from being taken advantage of {basic buyers remorse} . Now in regards to a line you had typed …….Its is just some guy whining about making money off of non mechanically inclined people . Might I ask how in the hell did you arrive at this conclusion in your stereotypical presumption ? As to reiterate this video was to show failures /educate/ and inform others to the quality over all of your beloved Poulan Chainsaw . And By basic example all were provided and can be evidently seen threw out the video . Perhaps by holding a still tongue you can have a wise head and absorb information more openly if you care to stop chasing your own idealisms and chastising others because of your own relative perception .{ I hope next time more forward thinking will be prevalent and if you feel compelled to leave a comment it will be less asinine }
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this in the comments already, but my Poulan Pro (PPB3416) gas tank cap stopped swelling and started to work normally again when I switched to ethanol free gasoline as opposed to what you get from most gas stations. I purchase the canned pre-mixed fuel, typically around 92 octane, from one of the many local stores in my area that stock it. It is more expensive, but it made a world of difference on the function of gas cap as well as how the chain saw runs. Also, I totally agree that they should make the components of modern chainsaws so that ethanol doesn't affect them like this, but they don't, so I tried the different fuel and it worked great. As a matter of fact it made a difference in every small 2-stroke powered tool I have.
I’ve owned and used Poulan Pros, 3314s over the last 15 years and cut a lot of trees. I will agree with what you said about the fuel cap and add the bar oil cap locks up too. Fortunately nothing else you pointed out as common issues has occurred to mine. Hell, I actually like my Poulans. To each their own though.
Yea I have a 3314 too. Bought it 7 years ago for cutting firewood and downed trees at my camp. It is quirky for sure - but for some reason I like it. Mine does act crazy like the guy says but its still going strong and cutting lots of wood.
I have the poulan 210 pro, my grandpa had it for several years and gave it to me, i have personally owned it for 5 years and it never once gave me an issue except changing the primer bulb a few times and a new fuel line, which is common amongst all chainsaws, idk i just never ran into any major issues with it
"Complete pieces of shit?" Totally, absolutely AGREE! One broke then I was stupid enough to buy another! Yes, I am totally familiar with the fuel tank cap!
The crankshaft seals going bad are a problem. I was given two old saws and after fiddling with the saw for hours, I could barely get them to run at a fast idle, but would immediately die or run very erratically - exactly as you said. Very hard to start, and carb adjustments were extremely finicky. This was not a carburetor problem. Suspecting the seals, I bought a new set of seals and bearings online for both saws - had to tear their engines completely down, and the old seals slid right off - they were deformed and worn out. You could see evidence of blowby around the bottom plate of the engine. Put them all back and no more problems, but expect wasting an afternoon doing so - cleaning the gunk out of the chassis took more time than anything else. All parts have to be thoroughly cleaned and free of any grit before reassembly or the bearings or cylinder will be damaged.
I accumulated 8 saws for fun and one is a 1638 craftsman simpul that ran with a dirty carb when I got it but had to have a fast idle or would die. It would sometimes randomly lean out and speed up for a second or two during no load revs but then return to optimum rev. But it would cut good and not lose power during cutting. When it stalls out from idling it has a pretty noticable suction/whine noise like some kind of vacuum is being drawn into somewhere. Can't tell where it comes from. Almost like something isn't venting that's supposed to. Or is leaking vacuum that's not supposed to. It will also make the vacuum leak down noise if it doesn't start after 3 or 4 pulls. Idk but I struggle to keep it running. Crank seal? It actually started and idled a little better last start with the fuel pick-up and primer line reversed lmao.
@@kkc3009 I have a Poulan pro 4218 that is making that same little sqeaky vaccum noise. Can anyone confirm this is a leaking crank seal? Having a hell of a time getting the carb adjusted on this saw. Can get it dialed in but after the saw cools off it does Not want to idle it will start and rev with the choke on but wont idle where it was when hot
Thanks for the info. These are hot sellers at box stores. I find a lot at the dump that are nearly new. Some even have no premix in the gas or even bar&chain oil in the gas tank. Yes, the seals, air leaks are what really play havoc on the poor running and inconsistent starting of these machines. They are fun to mess around with while learning/practicing two cycle porting. If you go to far just bring in back to the dump ;)
Summed up everything 23 seconds in. I bought one or some light work in the early 2000's.Once I finally got it started, It kept dying once I got into some wood,, chain kept jumping off. Learned my lesson. At least it only cost me about $150 to learn that early on.
I wanted to be sure also ,, watched again,,, yup , piece of shit )))) Was a good disposable saw when was able to buy for 75$ but give it away the minute any thing goes wrong wit it ) But ,, pull an pull an pull an
I've had my 1985 Poulan 2300 for 33 years and have never had a seal problem, even after I've tortured it. Many of the problems I've had with it were my own fault due my occasional lack of maintenance. It hasn't been perfect but I am very satisfied with it after all these years; still going strong.
Poulan was a stand alone company from 1912 'til the early 60's when they partnered with someone [Beaird Co.??]. Then they were bought by Emerson Electric in 1972. Then the Swedish company Electrolux/Husqvarna bought Poulan in 1984. So my 1985 is one of their first guinea pigs [now I know how it felt to be a new Harley Davidson buyer just after AMF bought them, then quickly tanked the Harley Davidson quality. Willie Davidson bought the company back JUST in time]. They say today's mid-level Sears Craftsman chainsaws are slightly altered Poulans. But yes, as the years go by, many company's products get "cheapened" up, for sure!
Own a Poulan 2300, unknown year. Purchased from a farm estate sale, the owner had also worked for State Road. Suspect he'd bought it from them when they upgraded, AND then he must have used it around the farm. Well you can tell it has cut a lot of wood, and still runs though the coil is getting tired as well as the compression is shot. WISH I could buy new jug & piston for it, and it would out last this new junk they should just give away for free.
Sarcasm / LoL I guess its to be expected ...So how often do you satirize others with your trolling ? Do you enjoy the Caricature you project threw cynicism or perhaps derision is your only true way of communicating with others....LoL {but just incase you missed the premise of this video friend } let me enlighten you once again ....{Poulan chainsaws are Pieces of shit} And that's how I feel about them .....But as asinine as your comment is I will indulge your creative wit and tell you to be more attentive to the videos you watch. Then it will be obvious you wont miss out on important facts like my feelings on Poulan chainsaws.
Fair enough...but respectfully you can see why one would take your comment as a insult.....Thanks for clarifying.....I did see your point {in your video} just part of your personality and I can respect that......I to suffer that sarcastic bug / so to speak ....I guess its just due to the people we encounter .....In any case sorry for my over reaction{ just simply thought you were poking fun at me and trying to degrade my video} However in light of the clarification I wont to say Thanks for being a respectful viewer and I must say you made a nice video as well ..
I totally agree with you. I have a poulan two stroke chainsaw and find it very unreliable...stalls, leaks oil like crazy. I'm tired of messing around with it and would honestly go with something of a better quality on the next purchase. 30yrs ago I bought a poulan 16in. Electric chainsaw and to this day it still works like it was intended to do...but, we must remember it's from a different day and era. Excellent video...Thank you
True .....But the cheap fuel lines in a poulan from factory are truly hands down the worst on the market.. Viton really isn't much better....The modern gasolines just play hell on these saws and carb related parts as well .
i have had two of these and the only problem i have had is fuel lines, bulb primer deterioration, and the carb coming out of adjustment. All simple fixes
Quick question. For a cheap chainsaw that is only going to get used a couple of times a year, assuming decent maintenence, is a Remington any better? The cheapest saw that's decent quality would work for me and I want to know if I should spring for a small Echo or if maybe a Remington would fit the bill. Any thoughts?
Since Poulan used a somewhat odd OD/ID fuel line I use Echo fuel line. I've used Tygon also. Fully agree with your assessment of these saws. In this area you've got cheap-ass people buying cheap-ass saws b/c mainly they don't need anything better. I seen these parked at the curb for trash pickup before. Some look as tho they've never been ran. Got 1 of those in the shop now, a 42/18. Replaced the fuel line, replaced the bar/chain with a 16" & it's not a bad saw. I always sell these at yard sales & they'll bring almost as much as new.
I've been running my Poulan 2150 for twenty eight years with just an occasional spark plug change. It still has good compression and I can fire it up and let it sit to idle with no problem.
Great prove it in a video .....That's all my viewers and I request . A simple warm up ....then idle .....cut 5 or more cuts....idle once again for min....then simply cut once again 5 or more times and allow to idle for additional min.
I think, once in awhile, that some good 1s came thru but on the whole, no! More often than not the 1s you see in the trash that look new have sat for awhile, maybe years. Usually fuels, carb kit will fix 'em but usually you've have close to the original price in it, why buy the same POS twice?
I have a 92 Poulan Pro 2300 that has been an excellent saw. Its not a heavy duty saw, but it has been through heavy duty use. 25 years of use with seven 50 plus year old silver maples and many storms, this little saw has been like the little engine that could. Only thing it's needed is a new fuel line and carb. adjustment which any shade tree tinkerer can do.
Friend if you have had luck like this {then be grateful}...For the rest of us have seen the quality and expected performance that leaves us with buyers remorse . I will say Poulan at one time made fair equipment .....sadly in todays market there is a lot left to be desired from the performance and quality. Rest assured I speak the truth ...If there are any doubts look up refurbished Poulan small engine products .....{what you will discover that I have known for years will amaze you......} These cheap pieces of small engine equipment have lightened the wallet of many hard working men and women .....Price point is what makes them so appealing to most.....But before long they come to realize the error of there ways......{often with buyers remorse as I said previously .} But in any case ...I wish you the best and hope you continue to get the service that has pleased you over the years from your Poulan product.
The poulan 2300 is an older model saw and was made to last.... if your into saws you should know this Kevin....Its not even the same type of saw... if your going to bash it at least know the models that were good the micro's the poulan s25da versions the 3700 versions and so on.....i have to say i cant stand the model of poulan wild thing you showed they have alot of issues....the first wild things were better saws in my opinion and even the farm hands...295/4620 probably the last of the good poulan saws....I see you have a hard on for the new poulans but the older ones like the 2300 /2000 micro saws and many of the older saws still run today... what kills the old saws now is NLA parts.....I myself do not like the 4018 new version of the wild thing and all its strato versions....But if your going to bash people and tell them to educate them self's....Maybe you should do your home work on the older saws... they have a following for a reason... have a good day.....
AS I looked at replys to others I came across your comment ...Might I say you certainly have a way of stereotyping with asinine intent . But be as it may I fell compelled to give you some insight on your cynicism . First I never said all poulans threw out the years were pieces of shit only the more modern Poulans in the last 15 years so to speak . Second you implied for some reason perhaps your own humor or ignorant self gratification I have a hard on for the new poulans witch clearly tells one and all my followers that you {your self } lack the ability to be attentive . As it becomes evident very early on in my videos just how much I hate the Poulan product ....So I think you lost your train of thought when you were trying to push your insult . But still the premise of the insult was perceived........Logic rather not so much .....as I hate all the newer poulans and purposely make that point evident . As for the bashing and implying of educating others I simply say as I have told so many others look up Refurbished Poulan Products and see how insightful my facts become . You to Crazed Paul should be entitled to have that {GOOD} or Great day .......SO please go get to it . Your insults much like your self glorified canter should allow you humor on all your travels. Perhaps by taking a sabbatical from your key board you may find my homework was done and using a telephone as a outlet will help aid you with the answers you may potentially seek .
Hey kevin i have a question i saw on the internet that the husqvarna 1and 2 hundred series saws are produced in the poulan plant do you know anything about that thanks
I understand what you're saying probably a number of design flaws but I have had thr same Poulan Wild Thing for 15 years have hundred of hours on it and it's never given me a problem. It has been very very reliable.
I hope you continue to get the service you have from the Poulan Wild Thing ...I personally cant say I have ever owned a newer Poulan that has been reliable even with the expected routine maintenance .
I loved this video. I had a wild thing used maybe 4hrs at best. Leaked oil everywhere from the get go. It never ran right and was hard to start. You are spot on. The only thing good was the chain and sharpening kit that they gave with it. I invested in a stihl ms 441 (a bit pricey) but never looked back. 11 years and still runs strong.
I have only owned one over the years ...A ….Pl 7 a that cut great but the automatic oiler sucked . So I really couldn't tell you much about the current quality .
I have learned a lot watching the video, the air filter does get clogged up and is a terrible design but I feel like I’ve made money hand over foot with this saw to buy 50 of them but I wouldn’t but I also have a husqvarna chainsaw but the saying you get what you pay for stands true for any other Poulan yard equipment I’ve purchased. Only Poulan product I’d back is the chainsaw.
@@sec1stud I bet it really eats up the wood with 42 cc of screaming skip tooth performance . LOL ...but seriously its obvious your sold on your Poulan and you have agreed to make a video as I requested of others so as long as what I have recommended within my expectations is met then I will be satisfied …..As well as my viewers ...So if there is any doubt about whats expected simply look at replys or comments I have typed for every viewer whom is adamant or eager to claim there poulan is dependable and or performs as intended .
@@sec1stud I know time can always be a contributing factor when making a video / But can you offer any window from witch my viewers and I could expect your video available . I mean respectfully its been a week ….The video would only take 5 min tops to meet the expectations of my viewers and I ?
Thankyou / and this is what I keep trying to educate my viewers upon …….Simply the older Poulans are not all that bad ….{70s/80s} ….But the newer junk isn't worth taking home .
I have the same saw, or one from the late 1980’s. I’ll be the first to admit that it is rarely used these days and I don’t do the required maintenance, but 30 min of TLC and it runs great. Currently have it apart to do the proper cleaning for storage. It’s no Sthil, but does what I need it to do. Remember, buy cheap, buy twice. Thanks for the video.
@@kevinbolin7665 I say Amen to that; these pieces of junk are just that - junk!. Case in point: you mentioned Husqvarna - well I have two Husqvarna 240 chain saws, only ever used the premixed 50:1 in them and the stupid things were always hard to start. I took care of them, kept them clean, installed a new carb in one, rebuilt the other one after they wouldn't start today. People mention "operator error" when these thing don't start; well meticulously following the start procedures shown on the housing doesn't help. Previously started when new, but now - nothing. Good spark, clean fuel with new fuel lines - just absolute garbage. I will be throwing these out and buying Echo from now on. Every Echo 2 stroke piece of equipment I have starts up immediately and runs great. Maybe the chain saws will be the same.
I just acquired a Husqvarna Mower, Husqvarna Leaf Vac, Poulan Back Pack blower and Poulan chainsaw for a case of bud light. I was thinking of keeping the chainsaw, but you've convinced me that's a get rid of item. It looks brand new in the case, maybe used once, but the bar oil has completely leaked out into the case.
LOL...dont take this the wrong way .....but you traded away your trany fluid...for Husqvarna mower and leaf vac.....I would have done the same lol....But seriously dont invest in the Poulans ......youll just have buyers remorse .....there not worth much and fail way ....way...way ....to often to be relied on .
Best......Lets go with dependable due to price point alone as there are many chainsaws that are just fine for cutting wood . Then you have those that are better suited for a logger . I personally prefer a Stihl for cutting basic fire wood . Now for timber cutting I like both Stihl and a few Husqvarnas {very few} but still I wont exclude Husqvarna . Echo ,Efco are also nice saws ....But quality just like Husqvarna is lacking in a few models .
Great/To each there own..... wish the rest of us felt that way .....Just to many problems plague these saws for the experienced Small Engine Tecs.... And due to the repeated breaking down of these Chainsaws its no wonder why they have a company refurbish them..
I bought my first chain saw, a Poulin about twenty years ago. It worked well and I gave it to my family for use at the cabin where it continued to provide good service for a few more years. The new ones are not as reliable, so I have moved to Stihl and Makita. Worth the extra money if you use a chain saw on a regular basis. On any saw, I drain any leftover gas and run it dry before storing it. Saves a lot of grief.
I must say that the Poulan 3314 looks to be an amazing piece of machinery. It looks like it should be a great chainsaw. And it does run, don't try to start it when the engine is hot, you need to take a 30 minute break before that. There is a modification that will fix that by drilling half inch holes in the middle of the air filter cover. But it leaks gas and oil. the oil and gas cap is removed with vice grips. And when you try to start it, it kicks like a mule. But if you clean it up, drain the oil and gas out, it makes a pretty good static display, it's good for that.
This vid. explained a lot. I had a Puolon forty years ago when I was a teenager, bought used from a cedar chopper/professional woodcutter . He had taken the muffler off to get more hp. I suffer hearing loss today because of it. I cut and sold firewood and it cut a lot of hard, seasoned oak. As far as power, tt punched way out of it's weight class and was doing the work day in/day out of bigger wood saws. It never would idle without dying but then I worked it so hard I never had my finger off the trigger. It started, sometimes grudgingly, after every refill, was never maintained as people here suggest other than adding more gas and oil and used whatever gas I bought to put in it. After many cords of hard oak wood and cedar posts it just wore out, the handle broke off (this was before brakes and guards were installed) and that was that. I do remember saying many times I was going to set it across a canyon and shoot it with my 30-06. I bought a RYOBI from Home Depot a few years ago to do a clean up on a family property and I took that POS back the next day as it had one speed, wide open. I went down the road and bought a Poulan Wood Shark. It performed better than the RYOBI, fell and cut up some dead, very hard oaks into firewood but would not start and run after I climbed up in an oak tree to trim some limbs. I threw it out of the tree and it landed on the tip of the bar and bent it. Out of the box it wouldn't idle but I didn't expect it too being a Poulan, but it cut with great power for a little saw. After almost ten years of sitting, I replaced the lines and plunger today, gapped the plug to 30k and it started up and ran. The bar oiler leaked so tomorrow I will address that.
These they sell today are "NOT your Father's Poulan". Seems like the older Poulans from before the mid Aughts, still made in USA were not all that bad. I own a late 80s vintage Poulan Pro 114 trimmer, which has done a moderate amount of trimming and is STILL in service thanks to Ebay. None of the ones sold today will do 1/10 the work the older ones have.
Totally agree on the gas cap...and the oil cap too!! I always had to use a large screwdriver to break it loose. From the first time I filled it to every time after. I got my Polan pro in 2001. It ran like a champ till 2017. Ran ethanol, left old gas in it, every season it started on first or second pull. Maybe they're worse now but my old one work great. 2017 the gas lines disintegrated replaced them and new full filter and still won't work right. I also used old used motor for bar oil. The poulan and got no love and a lot of work. I bought a stihl farm boss. Much harder to start and if I'm not careful after it's warmed up, on a restart it floods easy. I like all my stihl products but my chainsaw hasn't been the simplest to work with yet. And I use non-ethanol gas on all my stihl products and their top grade 2 cycle oil, with Stihl chain oil. I love my Stihl products, and my new chain saw. Still determined to fix my poulan. I think I need a new gas cap, cause it does flood the carburetor. And I likely will have to clean the carburetor. Cuz maybe crap got in there. After all I never gave it any love. Lol... Original spark plug and air filter too. Thanks for the video!!
I have one of these little green turds that I bought in 96. Everyone I knew told me they were junk. I needed one and I didn't have the money to buy a "good" saw. I used it to fell and cut trees WAY TOO BIG for it but it got the job done. I have since bought a Homelite and a bigger Jonsered and love the Jonsered. I still have my little "turd and use it quite often. It's still doing a great job for it's size and it's cost. I do keep most of my equipment in good repair and take care of it. All that said, I probably mistreat the "turd" more than I should because it has served me soo well.
David Delle Well said. If you want a backup machine to use for shorter cuts (smaller diameter trees), then get a Poulan 4218 Black and Amber. Great suspension system has way less vibration. And then you only have $200 setting on the shelf not getting used and when you DO use it, you look forward to it because it’s easier to use. If you want a commercial grade machine, spend commercial grade money.
Question: I have a Poulan 295 pro chainsaw, that is extremely hard to pull start when the spark plug is in (when there’s compression). If I remove the plug it pulls just fine so it’s not the flywheel or pull spring. I removed the muffler and the piston is very clean and smooth, it’s just when there’s compression it won’t pull. When I hold it in place with my foot and pull, it’s so tight my foot starts coming off the ground before I’ve completely pulled the cord out. Any ideas?
Mine is 20 years old it's a model 1950 run as good as the day I bought it, ethanol fuel is what makes the gas cap not want to come off, switch to non ethanol and it will shrink
XtremepowerUS (Stark) is inexpensive and is lot better than Poulon chainsaw. I’ve never seen a Poulon saw that wasn’t hard to start, even the one my dad had 35 years ago.
I’ve had my popular 3800 for well over 30 years and it’s cut at least 200 plus cords in its life time and yes it still runs like brand new I choose it over my stihl 036 pro all day long as the stihl is a piece of shit with the shit Chinese zama carb on it now my poulan 3800 top cylinder fin left side top broke off and left side of bottom I call foot plant to start it is broke as well I tore the exhaust box off and piston skirt exhaust port side looks brand new still but I do only run red armor in all my equipment I’ll be looking into shindaiwa chainsaws love my shiny weed eaters my T242 has over 12k plus run hours on it and still going strong good fuel and top notch 2 cycle oil make all the difference as well
THIS MAN SPEAKS THE TRUTH!!! I bought a PL3314. Brand new. It started ONCE. Ran it for 45 minutes, ran great. I shut it off to clear some brush and it NEVER started again. I will NEVER, ever buy ANYTHING made by POULAN again!
in all fairness this video was very informative but I can say I am a stihl owner but I do have a 1999 poulan 42 cc wild thing and it really has been an excellent little saw but I do know how to properly adjust the carb and do things like that a entry level person can't do
Amen! My Stihl MS361 cost me almost $700 about ten years ago. It has been worth every penny! It has never failed to start for me, and has never even needed a new plug. Just basic maintenance ( air filter cleaning, chains kept sharp, bar dressed as needed). And yes, I use it a lot! I use Stihl bar oil, not the cheap crap, and I use a good synthetic mix oil with stabilizer. Buy once, cry once....
@@notajp The Stihl 361 is a pro saw,mine had 24" bar, I think it was discontinued in 2009, I got mine at a pawn shop with a new bar and chain for $400, Everyone that seen it wanted it, started to cause family problems, I had a guy that had 3 crews of landscaping working almost to my home to buy it and my daughters men both wanted it, the landscapers didn't get it, I think he understands.Beast.
Around 1980 a 157 years old historical Stuart's Opera House,burned the 3rd story caved the bolted wooden trusses with the metal roof, I went up in there and cut them trusses with a Stihl,they only got me 1 new chain, the bolted together wooden truss were4'x4',full of nails,it was a waste a time trying to keep it sharpened, I couldn't lift them I had to roll to the bottom of the 3rd story tall round at the top windows and drop to dump truck.Lots of water damage, basement library was on the first floor,a doctor's office,, I hauled 1000's of books to the landfill.The stage was still intact,old dimes in the wood floor seams.The seating was somewhat intact.The Stihl took a beating, kept right on chugging, I seen brand new partner saws right out the box at a Paul B unyon Competition saws, expansion Chambers,ported and polished lose to the first Partner saws made stock out of the box, I was impressed.
Well to use Poulan as a example I wouldn't say you get what you pay for …...But to be honest you do make some excellent points upon price being a prime contributor to the expectation of quality . I like the replies you received from this comment as well and totally agree upon the cry once buy once mentality of Creamapera .
bought a poulan pro , now maybe not knowing bar oil different than the mix oil used the mix oil the first time for bar oil and it leaks oil and i mean bar oil the second time i filled it for the bar , took it in for service for carb adjustment and didn't fix the oil leak. i guess the small engine repair place doesn't mess with the rest of the chain mech and told me that they do leak. fill up the bar oil and 2 days later a third leaked out with out it even have been cranked? did I screw it up with mix oil the first time?
Voor Vooort Yes! Bought one last month and cut almost every day with it. Got it as a second but mad using it more because of how lite it is and the anti vibrate suspension is better than many others. I suggest to most people that they spend more time servicing any machine and they’ll have less problems.
Great....Hope you continue to get great service ......I to once owned a Poulan POS....It killed it for me as well .....LOL .......killed any hope they would ever last more than 30 days if you were lucky ....I loved it so much you can still find pieces of it about 35 feet in a old popular and maple tree along with about 20 others from other people who like to retire these P>O>S. No Joke when it snows it looks like a Poulan Christmas tree with the obvious twist . My loyal customers laugh at the sight of the tree and shake there heads every time another is added to the branches .......Quite honestly laughing at the fact they got taken by Walmart ,Lowes ,Tractor Supply ,ETC......They call it the Poulan tree .....{TREES}.....actually .......ITS been my experience the best thing about a Poulan is its ability to fly once about 2 pounds of Tannerite is used to launch them .....
@@kevinbolin7665 Lol, Didn't see this response ill today. Hey.. my Poulan p3816 that I got for 75 in the walmart clearance section is STILL killing it for me. I also run a stihl and mcculloch. This doesn't keep up with Those, but I'll keep running it till it dies.
@@derekharper7868 great .....prove its still running .....show it killing it as you advocated .......show my viewers and I its capable of the poulan challenge .....{ this request isnt much to ask for } .....honestly woundnt take more than 5 min tops to make a video .....So prove it / you can find whats expected by reading replys or by simply watching additional videos on this channel . Oh and I apologize in the belated response I get several replys as well as comments on various videos so it dosent surprise me that from time to time i may miss the opportunity to respond in a timely manner .
Welcome ....seen these saws lighten the wallets of many hard working people who were just trying to find a bargan and then sadly develop buyers remorse.
I have a Stihl 029 super,it keeps on chugging,455 Husqvarna Rancher with beefed up motor, I had 3-4 years, I just got a Poulan for $23,he says it out gas and it smelled like diesel fuel, I can get to fire the plug looked good, I put a new plug ran a bit didn't seem to want to rev up, I can get it to fire once since I set the plug specs,clean up good but it was melted on the blade kickback mount, kind of wondering why it would melt there, the bar don't have the paint wore off.
If you blow the Husqvarna out with air where the oilers opening is it's definitely a misteak.It blows sawdust in it and plugs it up,then you have to grind an opened end wrench to hold the clutch inner parts, left hand threads
Poulan is a piece of shit and its ashame a company like husqvarna put there name behind the brand but husqvarna is the best saw on the market!! There pro saws are the best and I have a husqvarna 460 rancher also that been a damn good saw as well!! Better than stihl In my book
come on now, I own a Poulan Pro 42cc that starts and idles fine but that POS has no power I have had it to the shop twice and it still has no power so I am keeping it until it is considered a classic up in the rafters of my garage because I don't want to look at it. I bought a Worx electric that starts every time with the pull of the trigger.
Big Louie ....?.....LOL You may wont to offer this kneecap specialist your skip tooth chain that's on your Wild thing ....it maybe required to cut threw all the BS of trying to make me feel intimidated.
Poulan made by Husqvarna is a good homeowner chainsaw. I had the PP4218A, for three years and sold it this past June to my best friend. It ran perfectly. Maintence is the key, a clean saw after a day's worth of work, makes all the difference in the world. I bought a newer PR5020 ( generic version of the Husky 450), great saw for storm debris a bigger girth trees. I like the fact, these chainsaws have Oregon Bar and Chains, out of the box. Are they professional grade saws, no. Nor, do I need a professional grade saw. They are wonderful for the average homeowner and someone like myself who limbs and bucks logs for firewood, six months out of the year. I have a Sthil MS 170 and 251C as well. My roots are with Poulan and just because Poulan is a cheaper saw they still serve a great purpose. I like both Husqvarna and Sthil chainsaws. I'm impressed with both companies.
Hey friend if you like them great { to each there own } You like others have expressed maintaining the saw is key to the longevity of the product .....And I would agree that that would come to reason if a person was expecting the equipment to hold up {as it would with any chainsaw} But I personally have seen to many failures within on average 2 hours of use {straight from the box might I mind you } to impress me with Poulan .....So I cant say I am a fan at all ...I cant tell you the warranties filled on these saws I have encountered at Bakers Lawnmower ...Truly sad ...Mostly due to a air leak {seals } or a carb issue .....whats even sadder than these facts are the saws ability to swell the gas caps on so tight you have to use pliers to turn them off and the fuel lines only last on average one year ....Oilers are a problem as well .......I could truly go on and on but as I said to each there own.......But I personally know better than to even try to depend on the quality of any Poulan in todays small box stores.
Agreed. Tank cap is such a pain. Rule #1 you get what you pay for. I stopped buying the cheapest tool on the market, because I always end up with the cheapest tool on the market...
Absolutely right amy and all poulans suck I tried cutting some small logs and nd a small few trees with the poulan p 3816 Brand new it wasn't reliable at all it died all the time wouldn't even stay running or even start again after just a few min after starting it I followed alm instructioms on it too maintained it and everything else POULANS ARE PURE JUNK SAWS PERIOD BOTTOM LINE IM A 41 YEAR OLD WOMAN AMD AND USE THEM COULDN'T AGREE MORE I OWM A FEW STIHL AMD A FEW OTHER GREAT SAWS BUT POULANS SUCK BAD BAD BALLS
I watched this video as I have a PR4218 gutted on my workbench. So far, my take on this chainsaw is this: Its a damn fine chainsaw IF you are willing to service it in-between every time you're willing to take it out in the rough with you. I have a 14" Homelite and a legend - a 1970 vintage Homelite 150 - their primary purpose is to rescue me every time the first-in-service Poulan craps out, which, invariably is every time I take it out with me. First it was a chain that went flat-out-dull - a third-party chain solved that problem. Next it was a cord that removed itself from the starter, thanks to an inadequate cord-retaining system and plastic parts. JB Weld soved that. As for many of the POS comments, those aren't a problem so long as you treat this saw like you would a pampered car - use it once, use it constantly, then check everything from the air filter on down, and are willing to put in homestead "fixes" for the plastic garbage that breaks. The engine is solid IF you keep the filter clean and check the fuel filter to make sure it hasn't decided to land in the bottom of your tank. The saw cuts IF you get rid of the garbage it comes with. In short - its not a POS IF you're willing and capable to put the hours in. If you're a weekend warrior - get a Stihl.
LOL...friend I guess I am a weekend warrior { Beats the lost hours in a day Poulan procrastinator} whos constantly tinkering and stressing over these cheap POS. I am not saying this to be sarcastic only to stress my point that theses saws are less than anyone could hope or desire in a chainsaw . If your happy.....To each there own .....Experience has educated me differently as well as a lighter wallet .........Buyers remorse is all most find with a Poulan .
Jody H You just nailed it ! Today's Poulan saw is designed to meet a price point. It is an occasional use home owner saw. Never meant for more intense use. The Poulan lime green saw known as the Wood Shark has a 99 hour engine life span. Want a better saw the pay out more and get Stihl or a Husky. But remember they have homeowner grade saws too.
Electrolux (yes, the sweeper people), also owns AYP (American Yard Products, used to be Roper). They build mowers for lots of other brands, such as Craftsman, Poulan, Husqvarna, and some Ariens. Husqvarna still builds some saws in Sweden, and they are much better than the Poulan built versions. The Swedish versions will say “Made in Sweden” right on them. And yes, I also hate seeing a Poulan come in the shop...
bought the craftsman version of this saw many years ago. I have had nothing but problems with it from day one. Went in for service twice under warranty and I have limped it along since then. I needed it after some recent storms and it failed me again. I now own a nice new Stihl saw, ran like a champ out of the box (something the old one never did)....new saw starts, idles and doesn't puke oil like a fountain.
I have a Poulan 2150. I keep it as a backup to my Stihl. Got the Poulan out as a prep for Hurricane Irma. After replacing the chain, cleaning the carb and messing with the muffler, it finally started. Ran about a minute. The fuel lines completely deteriorated. I mean disintegrated. Seems to be common. I'll buy a another Stihl.
Woody Smith STIHL had fuel lines deteriorating due to ethanol, also. EVERYBODY HAS. A local saw shop owner who knows his stuff in his sleep said STIHL put out a replacement ethanol-resistant fuel line to dealers- BUT THEY COULDN’T GET IT UNTIL THE OLD STOCK WAS SOLD OUT. FACT. I bought new an ECHO CS370 saw, an ECHO CS340 saw and an ECHO PS230 commercial trimmer which is modular (accepts different heads with half-shafts) - no problems. I have an OLD STIHL 026 WB, on which I had the points & condenser replaced TWICE- after replacing it with an electronic ignition module, and NEW fuel line, it cuts like lightning.
Keep in mind. You can buy a Poulan chainsaw, 42cc, for around $170. Compared to a Stihl chainsaw, it's going to look like a pile of crap. It's $170 or so. Quit complaining. What do you expect. I have one, it does pretty good, it doesn't give me any problems. It likes to stall a lot but that's about it. I accidentally locked it up from running fuel that's a little too lean. And I got it free and the sucker is still working for me today. Everyone's got their opinions, I don't really have horrible problems with them. I've never had one blow up on me or anything crazy like that. I don't know, you can say everything on it is shit, but mine is doing damn well all things considered.
Ok respectfully you just said all things considered that your saw is doing damn well .....Fair enough.....But let me ask you do you consider a saw that stalls regularly and that you accidently locked up from running its fuel to lean. {....Dependable .....?} Friend respectfully .....I can understand your opinion of the saw due to the fact you locked it up and then was able to get it to work again due to the lean mixture . But I am a Master Service Tec {Tech} as one viewer so kindly requested the spelling to be corrected.....LoL....well intel I showed the spelling on the Trophies from CPD and my Service school achievements for the past 12 years... Then he was slightly more understandable ...But anyway back to {opinions }....now it comes to me as no real surprise that there are a few die hard poulan fans out there.....And I can respect that .....Truly I can......This video just expresses my opinion ,concerns, and the evident lack in quality that Poulan chainsaws bring to the table so to speak......Noting more as the products lack of dependability become very evident to most with in 3 hours of use ....Seriously look up refurbished poulan products return rates......It will blow your mind just how often there is a failure ......The only reason Poulan has survived on the shelves this long is due to the fact they can be bought dirt cheap at local Walmarts and Tractor supply stores......{Price Point }.....Truly is why so many are sold and why the quality is what it is ...But as most people who share a difference in opinion often due ......I don't expect Facts to resonate not because of sarcasm rather foolish pride .....Now before you perceive this to be a insult let me assure you it is nor ever was intended . I just would like to request you dig a little deeper into Poulan / and place your pride aside intel you have gathered all the facts ...Most viewers will only share a opinion if there experiences with a product are Pleasing {or expected} I ask you for nothing more than to reevaluate your opinion by gathering facts based not only by a personal experience rather a collection of friends and family if the desire to do a little homework dosent interest you.
By no means am I a diehard Poulan fan. I understand it is obviously not a saw that can compete with the top chainsaw manufactures out there. And yes, my saw does stall a lot, hell every time I pick it up off of the ground it stalls for some reason lol. But it cuts whatever I throw at it. The quality is obviously lacking, understandably, considering the price. I am a little concerned, and frankly curious to see how much abuse it's going to take until it something breaks or it croaks altogether. I've been cutting hardwood trees with it for a while trying to get my yard cleaned up and it's doing a pretty good job. If I had the money I would absolutely go to a Stihl dealer and by one of their saws. But since I don't right now, my little Poulan is gonna have to take the brunt of the work. And as I've said before, for $170, I can't complain.
I guess I can understand your logic / But this video was intended to motivate fellow viewers away from a impulse purchase that often leaves many with buyers remorse.
John Trout for 180 you can get a stihl ms 170 33 cc 16” and with a little modification to the Oiler even though it’s not recommended you could run an 18 inch Oregon skip chain which is what the poulans have
Kevin - good video. I don't know exactly what it is but the more recent Poulans from the past several years are just terrible. I had one from 2000 that lasted me 12 years with occasional/rare use and I even used old fuel! My current Poulan Pro 4218a has only had TruFuel since the start and still has given me problems. I even had it in to a service shop under warranty and the guy only adjusted the carb. He tested it in front of me and then weeks later it was back to crap. I have learned how to adjust it myself and I am finding that it seems to take a perfect balance of new spark plug, new air filter and the right carb adjustment to run. However, my current model is very sluggish on the clutch as the chain spins for many seconds after I release the throttle. I tried to adjust the low screw but then it won't idle correctly. Dang thing pisses me off royally. The gas cap thing....like I said, nothing but TruFuel since the start and have hardly used it (so the gas has not had time to swell that cap seal) AND YET IT IS STILL A PAIN TO GET OFF!! I use the chain brake nut tool to whack it open like a hammer. Just ridiculous crap.....would love to throw all these junk saws on the board run desk of all the A holes that devised this plan to screw consumers out of their money. Yeah, 2 year warranty, but read the fine print!!!
@@kevinbolin7665 I have a p3314 and a 2150 not sure what the others are but my grandfather has 2 and he cuts 8 cord a year with them. And all my my buddies have them too. I run stihl oil in mine that might make a difference
I was rolling on the floor!! Pieces of shit!! Well said brother!! Im literally on CZcams trying to find videos on fixing my pile of shit poulan!! Good video
Wonder how you guys poulans get to shit while mines 6 years old and is still good all gas lines are good everything on my old one is still in good working condition and I've cut with it this year last month with no problems it works better than stihls chainsaws
@@kevinbolin7665 I just had to kill my friends broke sassafras tree last week with it but I didn't record non of me doing that it was a nice size tree to but had to come down
Well I don't entirely agree that people get what they deserve .....{I feel that the saws should at least perform as expected from the box } so buyer beware was a great statement.....I have seen hundreds of these saws and trust me I can honestly say that the newer saws made by poulan are complete junk . There is no doubt that operation and maintaining any saw is essential if you expect it to last . However Poulans are often not what people expect and really shouldn't be expected to last more than a few days if you intend on doing any major cutting.....They honestly are Junk {now with that being said common since should enter a persons head if there trying to use one of these saws for anything more than cutting small tress more than 4 inchs round .} THEY WILL BURN UP / OVER HEAT and often develop a seal leak do to there design .
I agree with you on that 33cc Poulan chainsaw my grandpa had one and he put it in the back corner of his garage and went and bought a stihl. while I agree I wouldn't say that all of them are, just in my personal experience with them, I recently acquired a 36cc chainsaw the poulan 2750 16in bar I put an 18in bar on it because the 16in bar was burnt up on it next payday I'll be getting a 16 inch bar and chain combo for it. After running some seafoam through it to clean up the Piston head and blow any cobwebs out, first tank that went through it smoked like crazy but it runs really good now, I've had a few different Stihl chainsaws over the years and I have a lot of echo equipment this 36cc pulling actually works pretty well... 33cc that sitting on your table and the one I dug out of the corner of Grandpa's shop I thought the chain break was pretty cool because the 2750 does not have one but it's a piece of shit it's probably going to become just parts for the 2750...but if you have the money Stihl is definitely who I'd go with but if you can find one of these 2750 s that are in good condition were you get one for free like I did maybe whoever reading this might have got lucky to... But the thought also occurs to me that I may have gotten one the fluke machines that actually works right so for all I know it could be a factory fuck up LMAO
Thank you, everything you've said is spot on with all the problems I've had with 20" poulan pro. New out of the box less than 45min it started having issues cutting pine. I broke it all down blew it all out cleaning everything like new. Ran great for an hr. then started stalling out again. lol Its been way to much work to keep it running the way it should. Which is to bad cause when its running proper it gets the job done. The fuel cap is impossible to get off by hand.
Decent and affordable often don't come hand in hand . I would personally recommend Stihl chainsaws just stay above a Ms 180 if you are planning on average running {intended yard work}
There's a used Poulan P3314 for sale about 50 minutes from us for $15, not sure how old it is but the add just says the carburetor needs cleaned....Hmmmmm🤔 IDK, I thought about getting it and seeing if I can get it cleaned up and running good, maybe sell it for $50 but now I'm almost afraid to full with it knowing about all of it's issues. I wonder if there's any updated parts to get for these saws to make them more reliable?
First Poulan Pro was a 20" that was a piece of crap, later had a craftsman and poulan pro 18" given to me and am well satisfied with both after clean up and a little maintenance. After setting plug gap to .035 on each they are both good saws.
Yes...it is the carb …..but be mindful that this often happens as a result of a faulty tank vent . I recommend purchasing a new carb and tank cap as the tank vent will be included if your looking for the fix .
if its not American made don't buy it that includes the parts, no different then todays Briggs engines, great engines until the Chinese started buying up these companies, engines and parts are crap
Any saw will fail with lack of routine maintenance, I have a few different saw, Husqvarna and a Stihl and Ive had my little 16" poulan for about 8 years and never had an issue with it... None.... I've had more issues with my Stihl more then my little saw and its got some really had miles on it.... But I keep up on the maintenance... BTW.... My poulan is just the regular one... Not there pro model. This guy is just talk out his ass.... Talking head.
Talking out my ass hum …..Your the one talking out there ass or maybe that gapping pussy hole that keeps queefing out total bullshit . Prove your little Poulan is that reliable walter white . PUT UP /OR SHUT UP. Because your being called out on the bullshit your trying to project as evident truth .
Bought a Poulan 'Super 250A 'Automatic' in 1978 and it has run beautifully ever since. Lived in Cooperstown, PA and prepped a rick for several years running. Has never been in for service and starts up year after year no problem. You mentioned that the older Poulan were decent - perhaps mine would be an example of that. Original bar. Sharpened chain until needed replacement 3x. Went through a couple of gallons of chain oil over that period of time. Never replaced the fuel line/filter.
WOW! I bought one in 1983 from my local "Western Auto" . Unfortunately, the Western Auto is long gone but my Poulan Counter Vibe 3400 (with a bow bar) still cuts fire wood every year without fail! No Problems! Thanks Poulan!
@@kevinbolin7665 Yeah, that's what I figured Kevin. Nothing (and I do mean NOTHING) is made to last any more. We now live in a throw away world. Buy it, use it until it breaks, throw it in the trash and buy another one... Sad. Thanks Kevin
Greetings Kevin Bolin! What is the tank vent you speak of? Is there a hole in the back of the tank side of the gas cap on some poulan/craftsman saws? I have 8 cheap saws but one, a 3816 craftsman simpul won't idle right. It cuts good and revs right but idles high then stalls if you let it idle long. When it stalls there is a strong suction/vacuum leak down noise. It also happens after 3 or 4 pulls to start it. If anyone reads my comment could this be crank seal leakage and or possibly some kind of tank venting issue? It is a 2009 simpul. By the way when buying it from it's previous owner they let the carb gum then replaced it. Let that one gum up too. I got it to run with that carb and another new replacement one but it just won't idle right and had the suction noise when stalling out or after a few pulls. The piston is clean and shiny on top but I didn't look through the muffler. I have recently become a chainsaw hobbyist lol.
Marooda M ....It pleases me to know that you haven't encountered any issues with your poulan with the exception of user error ....I guess your opinion is relative at best as like I have told many other viewers {Opinions are like assholes } everyone has one .....I have stepped back at the Poulan Products and taken that closer look as you so passionately requested.....all the while keeping a open mind to the asinine observation you projected assuming I was a P.O.S. And although I cant fully disprove your theory of me potentially being a P.O.S. .....I can prove that Poulan Products certainly are. So rather than proceed in a pissing contest with you might I encourage you to look up refurbished Poulan products , Poulan returns , Poulan warranties, and you will quickly see why the bashing of your beloved product becomes self evident....
Kevin, It is obvious that M.M. has neither owned a quality piece of machinery, nor ever worked on a low quality piece of equipment (or anything for that matter). You are correct about Pull-on (and on and on) being a Piece of shizz don't let a someone without any experience rattle your chains. The first Craftsman I saw didn't have a replaceable woodruff key, it was part of the crank,,,there was no easy way to fix it....It was designed to be thrown away when broken.
Many/ And other than a few cheap models they make some of the best Small engine equipment in the world.{ In truth even there cheap models are not really all that bad .....{improvements could be made no doubt } but over all I would still prefer them over any Poulan product in todays market..
I had an old echo, about a 72 model. That thing was a tank. I never had an issue at all. Not even a primer. I've had a lot of problems with wild thangs.
Depends upon lots of factors, including intended use, frequency of use, characteristics of the primary user such as skill level, knowledge level of required care and maintenance, and resources (money) available in making a purchase. This is where you should speak with a knowledgeable professional to help determine which, if any, tool would be appropriate to your real or perceived need.
Thanks for the info. I had a 14" Poulan for years and it ran pretty decent for smaller jobs until exactly as you mentioned, the fuel filter broke off. Getting off the gas cap was always a pain in the ass and I had to use a pair of channel locks to unscrew it. Same thing with the bar chain reservoir cap. I finally just gave it to a junk guy. I didn't learn my lesson because I couldn't pass up an 18" Wild Thing that was on sale at Farm & Fleet. Everything wrong with the 18" is just as you have shown in this video. I also noticed that the arm bar is total piece of shit and will crimp binding up the blade without hardly any pressure put on it. This saw is only about 2 years old, not used that much and it won't hold idle for shit. This one is almost impossible to get the gas cap off as well and I have to use the channel locks trick on it too. I am planning to sell my property within the next 2 years and I should never need another saw again but until then I think its time for something better. What do you recommend. I know everyone says "Buy A Stihl", but I'm not sure if I want to make that investment in a saw I won't be using much over the next 2 years. Your thoughts please. After watching this video I respect your opinion. Thanks.
@@boots7859 I have a small Stihl MS 180C with a 16" bar. I'm very happy with it. I do have a few complaints, though: No bar oil adjustment screw, no carburetor needles. I had to remove the spark arrestor because it fouls so quickly and saps engine power. It can't go one year before it's time to replace the sparkplug, because all of a sudden it just dies. The new plug solves the problem for another 8-12 months. Now that I understand its quirks I like it. Oh, by the way, the above problems were while using the expensive Stihl premix fuel.
I was running this saw for about 2 hours at about a 30-50% duty cycle czcams.com/users/postUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and it did a great job. I used the lever for the built in sharpener to clear chip buildup out more than to actually sharpen the chain. It managed to cut some hardwood stumps much larger than it's size without bothering the neighbors with hours of 2 stroke noise.
Talking out your ass...
42 cc of screaming skipped tooth performance....yeah thanks Oregon..
A Poulan is not a Stihl, I get it. On the other hand, 95% of user complaints I've seen are a result of a lack of maintenance. The occasional, casual newbie chainsaw user creates a perfect storm of problems. The saw is rarely used, the gas is never drained (so it gums everything up, the air filter is never cleaned, the fuel filter never changed, the spark plug never gapped, the saw is never cleaned of old sawdust and oil. Yet people want to let the saw sit for 2 years, pick it up and expect it to run great. On the other hand, those that use a chainsaw to make a living, or frequently use it tend to maintain it well. I am no professional but I do maintain my small engines. I don't use ethanol gas, I replace air filters, spark plugs, etc. I have owned a Poulan Pro PP4218A for 4 years now and have probably cut down and/or limbed several hundred trees. Never had an issue with it! Is it because it's the greatest saw made, no, it's because it's a well maintained saw. So, I am not here to defend Poulan, have to reason to, but some of this trashing is ridiculous. You can't expect an occasional user to go buy a Stihl for 4-5 times the price. It's like telling someone who commutes 5 miles a day to school they shouldn't buy that Chevy Caprice because it junk compared to the luxury car they drive. So maybe I have the only Poulan in recent history that's worth anything (and I bought it reconditioned on eBay!), but I doubt it. Do routine maintenance and it will serve 95% of the needs of the casual user that needs a chainsaw once every couple of years.
You are entitled to your opinion.....I can and will respect that ...you in truth made some very valid points that I to have addressed many times .But comparing a Chevy Caprice to a Poulan was a bit much . As at least in most cases the cars will last more than a few hour compared to the poulan that often needs repair straight out of the box.
well i have a Volvo i let sit for 2 years. i went out and started it. it started. it din't idle for a minute and then shut off. i must admit, the Volvo has been sitting under a tree for 2 years, and i hadn't changed anything on it since 2015. but it started. without issue. maybe Volvo should make chainsaws.
Didn't really compare a Chevy to Poulan; I used the Chevy/luxury car as a metaphor for the stihl/poulan comparison. My real point is that you SHOULD expect any tool to work when you buy it, no problem there, I agree with you. But you shouldn't expect a low end product (at a much reduced price point) to be comparable to a high end product. That's just not reasonable, not with chainsaws, not with just about any other products. If I made a living with a chainsaw (or owned a bunch of land that regularly needed harvesting), I'd definitely own a stihl chainsaw. But since I use my chainsaw a couple of times of year helping friends out or cutting down (limbing) some smaller trees in my back yard, the Poulan unit works for me. In conclusion, match your chainsaw to your usage patterns (or budget) and maintain whatever you buy!!!
No one can argue with that logic...
LOL...Stihl hard on ....well I guess using a Stihl I would certainly find my release. But finger fucking my way threw a Poulan would only cause carpal tunnel and make me a individual like you who is a master with a Pullin PRO.
As an owner of my second Poulan 4218, I have to say this is my favorite chainsaw video on CZcams. My first Poulan wouldn't idle at all and would bog down under any stress. Luckily I lost that one off a trailer during a move. Inexplicably, when I needed another saw, I bought the same one. I rarely use a chainsaw and thought maybe the first one was a fluke. Nope. This one runs the same and leaks bar oil like crazy. Literal puddles of oil and slings oil from the chain when it's running. I've ordered a spline tool to try to adjust the carburetor. I'll tackle the oil leak next. On the plus side, CZcams is teaching me small engine repair. If I can't fix this saw, maybe I'll lose this one off a trailer too. No more cheap saws for me.
I had my Poulan 42cc for 17 years,flawless,works awesome,best $150 i ever spent!!
Great .......hope it continues to give you great service .....Sadly the poulan products in todays box stores just cant be relied on.
Dave Gutknecht these are what I consider consumer products. If you are delusional enough to think a poulan chainsaw is made to cut 15 to 20 cord of wood a year, then you probably get mad that a $150 Chinese welder fails when you run 4’ of 5/32” 7018 nonstop at 180amps. This video is not informative at all. It is just some guy whining about making money off of non-mechanically inclined people. Quit your belly aching KB and be happy you have the intelligence to repair these machines and make good money as well. I work on my own equipment and believe a day unlearned is a day wasted. I hope next time you will show something worth absorbing.
they are easy to work on and i've seen the majority of units withstand many years of abuse and run great.....
@@luked1964 If your looking to absorb something then purchase a Poulan …..The fucking you will receive will require gallons of Prep H my friend . If I can educate my viewers to avoid these pieces of shit then you can bet I will do so . When facts are projected as they were in this video I think it worth while to inform and keep others from buyers remorse .
@@luked1964 You appear to have a connection with Poulan based on your idealism and lambaste others for expecting more from a piece of equipment they have spent over 150 dollars for . You then proceed to try to stereotype by your on ability to scrutinize via the example of a Chinese welder as a price comparison . Then you deviate away from your premise to imply that this video isn't informative at all . However in your absence of mind you fail to understand the premise of this video witch be minded was obvious . But incase you had trouble following I can and will try to elaborate . The direction or premise intended with this video was to show by example why I personally hate the poulan chainsaws . And show obvious failures with the design and parts so I could educate and prevent others from being taken advantage of {basic buyers remorse} . Now in regards to a line you had typed …….Its is just some guy whining about making money off of non mechanically inclined people . Might I ask how in the hell did you arrive at this conclusion in your stereotypical presumption ? As to reiterate this video was to show failures /educate/ and inform others to the quality over all of your beloved Poulan Chainsaw . And By basic example all were provided and can be evidently seen threw out the video . Perhaps by holding a still tongue you can have a wise head and absorb information more openly if you care to stop chasing your own idealisms and chastising others because of your own relative perception .{ I hope next time more forward thinking will be prevalent and if you feel compelled to leave a comment it will be less asinine }
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this in the comments already, but my Poulan Pro (PPB3416) gas tank cap stopped swelling and started to work normally again when I switched to ethanol free gasoline as opposed to what you get from most gas stations. I purchase the canned pre-mixed fuel, typically around 92 octane, from one of the many local stores in my area that stock it. It is more expensive, but it made a world of difference on the function of gas cap as well as how the chain saw runs. Also, I totally agree that they should make the components of modern chainsaws so that ethanol doesn't affect them like this, but they don't, so I tried the different fuel and it worked great. As a matter of fact it made a difference in every small 2-stroke powered tool I have.
I’ve owned and used Poulan Pros, 3314s over the last 15 years and cut a lot of trees. I will agree with what you said about the fuel cap and add the bar oil cap locks up too. Fortunately nothing else you pointed out as common issues has occurred to mine. Hell, I actually like my Poulans. To each their own though.
indeed.....truly to each there own .
Yea I have a 3314 too. Bought it 7 years ago for cutting firewood and downed trees at my camp. It is quirky for sure - but for some reason I like it. Mine does act crazy like the guy says but its still going strong and cutting lots of wood.
"Poelin" and "Huskavarny" says it all!
Everybody else uploads fixes! Maybe he can't read the manual?
I have the poulan 210 pro, my grandpa had it for several years and gave it to me, i have personally owned it for 5 years and it never once gave me an issue except changing the primer bulb a few times and a new fuel line, which is common amongst all chainsaws, idk i just never ran into any major issues with it
"Complete pieces of shit?" Totally, absolutely AGREE! One broke then I was stupid enough to buy another! Yes, I am totally familiar with the fuel tank cap!
The crankshaft seals going bad are a problem. I was given two old saws and after fiddling with the saw for hours, I could barely get them to run at a fast idle, but would immediately die or run very erratically - exactly as you said. Very hard to start, and carb adjustments were extremely finicky. This was not a carburetor problem. Suspecting the seals, I bought a new set of seals and bearings online for both saws - had to tear their engines completely down, and the old seals slid right off - they were deformed and worn out. You could see evidence of blowby around the bottom plate of the engine. Put them all back and no more problems, but expect wasting an afternoon doing so - cleaning the gunk out of the chassis took more time than anything else. All parts have to be thoroughly cleaned and free of any grit before reassembly or the bearings or cylinder will be damaged.
I accumulated 8 saws for fun and one is a 1638 craftsman simpul that ran with a dirty carb when I got it but had to have a fast idle or would die. It would sometimes randomly lean out and speed up for a second or two during no load revs but then return to optimum rev. But it would cut good and not lose power during cutting. When it stalls out from idling it has a pretty noticable suction/whine noise like some kind of vacuum is being drawn into somewhere. Can't tell where it comes from. Almost like something isn't venting that's supposed to. Or is leaking vacuum that's not supposed to. It will also make the vacuum leak down noise if it doesn't start after 3 or 4 pulls. Idk but I struggle to keep it running. Crank seal? It actually started and idled a little better last start with the fuel pick-up and primer line reversed lmao.
@@kkc3009 I have a Poulan pro 4218 that is making that same little sqeaky vaccum noise. Can anyone confirm this is a leaking crank seal? Having a hell of a time getting the carb adjusted on this saw. Can get it dialed in but after the saw cools off it does
Not want to idle it will start and rev with the choke on but wont idle where it was when hot
Thanks for the info. These are hot sellers at box stores. I find a lot at the dump that are nearly new. Some even have no premix in the gas or even bar&chain oil in the gas tank. Yes, the seals, air leaks are what really play havoc on the poor running and inconsistent starting of these machines. They are fun to mess around with while learning/practicing two cycle porting. If you go to far just bring in back to the dump ;)
Summed up everything 23 seconds in. I bought one or some light work in the early 2000's.Once I finally got it started, It kept dying once I got into some wood,, chain kept jumping off. Learned my lesson. At least it only cost me about $150 to learn that early on.
Let me be sure that I understand correctly. you're saying that "Poulan is a piece of shit"
I wanted to be sure also ,, watched again,,, yup , piece of shit ))))
Was a good disposable saw when was able to buy for 75$ but give it away the minute any thing goes wrong wit it )
But ,, pull an pull an pull an
I've had my 1985 Poulan 2300 for 33 years and have never had a seal problem, even after I've tortured it. Many of the problems I've had with it were my own fault due my occasional lack of maintenance. It hasn't been perfect but I am very satisfied with it after all these years; still going strong.
Great ...NO doubt the older Poulans quality far exceeds that witch can be found in there more modern equipment .
Poulan was a stand alone company from 1912 'til the early 60's when they partnered with someone [Beaird Co.??]. Then they were bought by Emerson Electric in 1972. Then the Swedish company Electrolux/Husqvarna bought Poulan in 1984. So my 1985 is one of their first guinea pigs [now I know how it felt to be a new Harley Davidson buyer just after AMF bought them, then quickly tanked the Harley Davidson quality. Willie Davidson bought the company back JUST in time].
They say today's mid-level Sears Craftsman chainsaws are slightly altered Poulans. But yes, as the years go by, many company's products get "cheapened" up, for sure!
Own a Poulan 2300, unknown year. Purchased from a farm estate sale, the owner had also worked for State Road. Suspect he'd bought it from them when they upgraded, AND then he must have used it around the farm. Well you can tell it has cut a lot of wood, and still runs though the coil is getting tired as well as the compression is shot. WISH I could buy new jug & piston for it, and it would out last this new junk they should just give away for free.
Please tell us how you really feel about Poulan saws.
Sarcasm / LoL I guess its to be expected ...So how often do you satirize others with your trolling ? Do you enjoy the Caricature you project threw cynicism or perhaps derision is your only true way of communicating with others....LoL {but just incase you missed the premise of this video friend } let me enlighten you once again ....{Poulan chainsaws are Pieces of shit} And that's how I feel about them .....But as asinine as your comment is I will indulge your creative wit and tell you to be more attentive to the videos you watch. Then it will be obvious you wont miss out on important facts like my feelings on Poulan chainsaws.
Kevin Bolin Not trolling. I enjoyed your video. I was just being humorous.
I guess I do use sarcasm. Here is a video I made with heavy use of sarcasm. You got me.
czcams.com/video/gfH6e2Wx5RE/video.html
Fair enough...but respectfully you can see why one would take your comment as a insult.....Thanks for clarifying.....I did see your point {in your video} just part of your personality and I can respect that......I to suffer that sarcastic bug / so to speak ....I guess its just due to the people we encounter .....In any case sorry for my over reaction{ just simply thought you were poking fun at me and trying to degrade my video} However in light of the clarification I wont to say Thanks for being a respectful viewer and I must say you made a nice video as well ..
Andy B I have mine for twelve years do proper maintenance and have no problems whatsoever don’t care what anybody said 👋🏼
I totally agree with you. I have a poulan two stroke chainsaw and find it very unreliable...stalls, leaks oil like crazy. I'm tired of messing around with it and would honestly go with something of a better quality on the next purchase. 30yrs ago I bought a poulan 16in. Electric chainsaw and to this day it still works like it was intended to do...but, we must remember it's from a different day and era. Excellent video...Thank you
Thanks for info , what is good chain saw to buy for small jobs around home?
I got a Poulan for free from a buddy of mine, the bar and chain were trashed but It still worked great to cut a trench for my electric dog fence.
To be honest the fuel line deterioration can happen to any brand, especially if ethanol fuel is around.
True .....But the cheap fuel lines in a poulan from factory are truly hands down the worst on the market.. Viton really isn't much better....The modern gasolines just play hell on these saws and carb related parts as well .
If the line isnt black it ain't right. U can go to autozone and find that out.
i have had two of these and the only problem i have had is fuel lines, bulb primer deterioration, and the carb coming out of adjustment. All simple fixes
I had cheap fuel lines swell up and crack.
3 in the course of how many years?
Quick question. For a cheap chainsaw that is only going to get used a couple of times a year, assuming decent maintenence, is a Remington any better? The cheapest saw that's decent quality would work for me and I want to know if I should spring for a small Echo or if maybe a Remington would fit the bill. Any thoughts?
Since Poulan used a somewhat odd OD/ID fuel line I use Echo fuel line. I've used Tygon also. Fully agree with your assessment of these saws. In this area you've got cheap-ass people buying cheap-ass saws b/c mainly they don't need anything better. I seen these parked at the curb for trash pickup before. Some look as tho they've never been ran. Got 1 of those in the shop now, a 42/18. Replaced the fuel line, replaced the bar/chain with a 16" & it's not a bad saw. I always sell these at yard sales & they'll bring almost as much as new.
I've been running my Poulan 2150 for twenty eight years with just an occasional spark plug change. It still has good compression and I can fire it up and let it sit to idle with no problem.
Great prove it in a video .....That's all my viewers and I request . A simple warm up ....then idle .....cut 5 or more cuts....idle once again for min....then simply cut once again 5 or more times and allow to idle for additional min.
I think, once in awhile, that some good 1s came thru but on the whole, no! More often than not the 1s you see in the trash that look new have sat for awhile, maybe years. Usually fuels, carb kit will fix 'em but usually you've have close to the original price in it, why buy the same POS twice?
I have a 92 Poulan Pro 2300 that has been an excellent saw. Its not a heavy duty saw, but it has been through heavy duty use. 25 years of use with seven 50 plus year old silver maples and many storms, this little saw has been like the little engine that could. Only thing it's needed is a new fuel line and carb. adjustment which any shade tree tinkerer can do.
Friend if you have had luck like this {then be grateful}...For the rest of us have seen the quality and expected performance that leaves us with buyers remorse . I will say Poulan at one time made fair equipment .....sadly in todays market there is a lot left to be desired from the performance and quality. Rest assured I speak the truth ...If there are any doubts look up refurbished Poulan small engine products .....{what you will discover that I have known for years will amaze you......} These cheap pieces of small engine equipment have lightened the wallet of many hard working men and women .....Price point is what makes them so appealing to most.....But before long they come to realize the error of there ways......{often with buyers remorse as I said previously .} But in any case ...I wish you the best and hope you continue to get the service that has pleased you over the years from your Poulan product.
Daiid you're a lucky guy! Perhaps because it's a 1992?
The poulan 2300 is an older model saw and was made to last.... if your into saws you should know this Kevin....Its not even the same type of saw... if your going to bash it at least know the models that were good the micro's the poulan s25da versions the 3700 versions and so on.....i have to say i cant stand the model of poulan wild thing you showed they have alot of issues....the first wild things were better saws in my opinion and even the farm hands...295/4620 probably the last of the good poulan saws....I see you have a hard on for the new poulans but the older ones like the 2300 /2000 micro saws and many of the older saws still run today... what kills the old saws now is NLA parts.....I myself do not like the 4018 new version of the wild thing and all its strato versions....But if your going to bash people and tell them to educate them self's....Maybe you should do your home work on the older saws... they have a following for a reason... have a good day.....
AS I looked at replys to others I came across your comment ...Might I say you certainly have a way of stereotyping with asinine intent . But be as it may I fell compelled to give you some insight on your cynicism . First I never said all poulans threw out the years were pieces of shit only the more modern Poulans in the last 15 years so to speak . Second you implied for some reason perhaps your own humor or ignorant self gratification I have a hard on for the new poulans witch clearly tells one and all my followers that you {your self } lack the ability to be attentive . As it becomes evident very early on in my videos just how much I hate the Poulan product ....So I think you lost your train of thought when you were trying to push your insult . But still the premise of the insult was perceived........Logic rather not so much .....as I hate all the newer poulans and purposely make that point evident . As for the bashing and implying of educating others I simply say as I have told so many others look up Refurbished Poulan Products and see how insightful my facts become . You to Crazed Paul should be entitled to have that {GOOD} or Great day .......SO please go get to it . Your insults much like your self glorified canter should allow you humor on all your travels. Perhaps by taking a sabbatical from your key board you may find my homework was done and using a telephone as a outlet will help aid you with the answers you may potentially seek .
I have s poulan 2500 farm hand shits the same as a 2040 turbo 2036 turbo jonsered
Hey kevin i have a question i saw on the internet that the husqvarna 1and 2 hundred series saws are produced in the poulan plant do you know anything about that thanks
Which brand(s) of chainsaw do you recommend? Great info thank you
I understand what you're saying probably a number of design flaws but I have had thr same Poulan Wild Thing for 15 years have hundred of hours on it and it's never given me a problem. It has been very very reliable.
I hope you continue to get reliable service ....but I must admit I cant brag in any way on the experiences I have encountered.
i have the silver edition and i cut lots lots and lots of wood 15 years just regular tune ups never had a problem
me too
These saws are total garbage.
I hope you continue to get the service you have from the Poulan Wild Thing ...I personally cant say I have ever owned a newer Poulan that has been reliable even with the expected routine maintenance .
10 years on mine. Only issue was the primer bulb.
Consider your self lucky....there are fair to many problems that plague these saws than broken primers.....
probably because it is lightly used. I wouldn't own one for constant use. I'm actually about to dig up about 30 trees
True/ there def not a saw I would rely on ..
I loved this video. I had a wild thing used maybe 4hrs at best. Leaked oil everywhere from the get go. It never ran right and was hard to start. You are spot on. The only thing good was the chain and sharpening kit that they gave with it. I invested in a stihl ms 441 (a bit pricey) but never looked back. 11 years and still runs strong.
hey Kevin what do you think about remington chainsaws I thought about getting one as a second saw along with my stihl what do you think?
I have only owned one over the years ...A ….Pl 7 a that cut great but the automatic oiler sucked . So I really couldn't tell you much about the current quality .
I’ve own that particular saw for 2 years and use it almost daily and it’s been very dependable. I also use 100% gas and perform routine maintenance.
Great then it shouldn't be a issue to show my viewers and I its performance as its ready to go so to speak .
I have learned a lot watching the video, the air filter does get clogged up and is a terrible design but I feel like I’ve made money hand over foot with this saw to buy 50 of them but I wouldn’t but I also have a husqvarna chainsaw but the saying you get what you pay for stands true for any other Poulan yard equipment I’ve purchased. Only Poulan product I’d back is the chainsaw.
I’ll post a video of the poulan eating some wood, it stays hungry so you got to feed it on the regular.
@@sec1stud I bet it really eats up the wood with 42 cc of screaming skip tooth performance . LOL ...but seriously its obvious your sold on your Poulan and you have agreed to make a video as I requested of others so as long as what I have recommended within my expectations is met then I will be satisfied …..As well as my viewers ...So if there is any doubt about whats expected simply look at replys or comments I have typed for every viewer whom is adamant or eager to claim there poulan is dependable and or performs as intended .
@@sec1stud I know time can always be a contributing factor when making a video / But can you offer any window from witch my viewers and I could expect your video available . I mean respectfully its been a week ….The video would only take 5 min tops to meet the expectations of my viewers and I ?
i love my 1988 poulan 2000. it rips so hard for a 32cc saw. absolutely love it. however, the newer saws are cheaply made, and i agree with the video.
Thankyou / and this is what I keep trying to educate my viewers upon …….Simply the older Poulans are not all that bad ….{70s/80s} ….But the newer junk isn't worth taking home .
I have the same saw, or one from the late 1980’s. I’ll be the first to admit that it is rarely used these days and I don’t do the required maintenance, but 30 min of TLC and it runs great. Currently have it apart to do the proper cleaning for storage. It’s no Sthil, but does what I need it to do. Remember, buy cheap, buy twice. Thanks for the video.
@@kevinbolin7665 I say Amen to that; these pieces of junk are just that - junk!. Case in point: you mentioned Husqvarna - well I have two Husqvarna 240 chain saws, only ever used the premixed 50:1 in them and the stupid things were always hard to start. I took care of them, kept them clean, installed a new carb in one, rebuilt the other one after they wouldn't start today. People mention "operator error" when these thing don't start; well meticulously following the start procedures shown on the housing doesn't help. Previously started when new, but now - nothing. Good spark, clean fuel with new fuel lines - just absolute garbage. I will be throwing these out and buying Echo from now on. Every Echo 2 stroke piece of equipment I have starts up immediately and runs great. Maybe the chain saws will be the same.
I just acquired a Husqvarna Mower, Husqvarna Leaf Vac, Poulan Back Pack blower and Poulan chainsaw for a case of bud light. I was thinking of keeping the chainsaw, but you've convinced me that's a get rid of item. It looks brand new in the case, maybe used once, but the bar oil has completely leaked out into the case.
LOL...dont take this the wrong way .....but you traded away your trany fluid...for Husqvarna mower and leaf vac.....I would have done the same lol....But seriously dont invest in the Poulans ......youll just have buyers remorse .....there not worth much and fail way ....way...way ....to often to be relied on .
What brand of chain saw do you recommend as the best? Thx.
Best......Lets go with dependable due to price point alone as there are many chainsaws that are just fine for cutting wood . Then you have those that are better suited for a logger . I personally prefer a Stihl for cutting basic fire wood . Now for timber cutting I like both Stihl and a few Husqvarnas {very few} but still I wont exclude Husqvarna . Echo ,Efco are also nice saws ....But quality just like Husqvarna is lacking in a few models .
I have owned my Poulan for 20 years. Works great. would not change it.
Great/To each there own..... wish the rest of us felt that way .....Just to many problems plague these saws for the experienced Small Engine Tecs.... And due to the repeated breaking down of these Chainsaws its no wonder why they have a company refurbish them..
Me too but they are much different now!! I have a new one and don't like it!
I agree completely ...I hate the new Poulans ......The older ones weren't to bad{they had there issues }but still over all were fairly dependable .
20 years ago and further back they were great saws. Today they are junk.
I have a older one its not bad!!
How many issues are related to owners who cause the problems? I know when I was young I ruined my chain saw by leaving old gas and oil mixture in it.
True/ there are a lot of people who tend to neglect there equipment....so you do make a great point..
I bought my first chain saw, a Poulin about twenty years ago. It worked well and I gave it to my family for use at the cabin where it continued to provide good service for a few more years. The new ones are not as reliable, so I have moved to Stihl and Makita. Worth the extra money if you use a chain saw on a regular basis. On any saw, I drain any leftover gas and run it dry before storing it. Saves a lot of grief.
Agreed..
I must say that the Poulan 3314 looks to be an amazing piece of machinery. It looks like it should be a great chainsaw.
And it does run, don't try to start it when the engine is hot, you need to take a 30 minute break before that. There is a modification that will fix that by drilling half inch holes in the middle of the air filter cover. But it leaks gas and oil. the oil and gas cap is removed with vice grips. And when you try to start it, it kicks like a mule. But if you clean it up, drain the oil and gas out, it makes a pretty good static display, it's good for that.
This vid. explained a lot. I had a Puolon forty years ago when I was a teenager, bought used from a cedar chopper/professional woodcutter . He had taken the muffler off to get more hp. I suffer hearing loss today because of it. I cut and sold firewood and it cut a lot of hard, seasoned oak. As far as power, tt punched way out of it's weight class and was doing the work day in/day out of bigger wood saws. It never would idle without dying but then I worked it so hard I never had my finger off the trigger. It started, sometimes grudgingly, after every refill, was never maintained as people here suggest other than adding more gas and oil and used whatever gas I bought to put in it. After many cords of hard oak wood and cedar posts it just wore out, the handle broke off (this was before brakes and guards were installed) and that was that. I do remember saying many times I was going to set it across a canyon and shoot it with my 30-06. I bought a RYOBI from Home Depot a few years ago to do a clean up on a family property and I took that POS back the next day as it had one speed, wide open. I went down the road and bought a Poulan Wood Shark. It performed better than the RYOBI, fell and cut up some dead, very hard oaks into firewood but would not start and run after I climbed up in an oak tree to trim some limbs. I threw it out of the tree and it landed on the tip of the bar and bent it. Out of the box it wouldn't idle but I didn't expect it too being a Poulan, but it cut with great power for a little saw. After almost ten years of sitting, I replaced the lines and plunger today, gapped the plug to 30k and it started up and ran. The bar oiler leaked so tomorrow I will address that.
These they sell today are "NOT your Father's Poulan". Seems like the older Poulans from before the mid Aughts, still made in USA were not all that bad. I own a late 80s vintage Poulan Pro 114 trimmer, which has done a moderate amount of trimming and is STILL in service thanks to Ebay. None of the ones sold today will do 1/10 the work the older ones have.
Totally agree on the gas cap...and the oil cap too!! I always had to use a large screwdriver to break it loose. From the first time I filled it to every time after. I got my Polan pro in 2001. It ran like a champ till 2017. Ran ethanol, left old gas in it, every season it started on first or second pull. Maybe they're worse now but my old one work great. 2017 the gas lines disintegrated replaced them and new full filter and still won't work right. I also used old used motor for bar oil. The poulan and got no love and a lot of work.
I bought a stihl farm boss. Much harder to start and if I'm not careful after it's warmed up, on a restart it floods easy. I like all my stihl products but my chainsaw hasn't been the simplest to work with yet. And I use non-ethanol gas on all my stihl products and their top grade 2 cycle oil, with Stihl chain oil. I love my Stihl products, and my new chain saw.
Still determined to fix my poulan. I think I need a new gas cap, cause it does flood the carburetor. And I likely will have to clean the carburetor. Cuz maybe crap got in there. After all I never gave it any love. Lol... Original spark plug and air filter too.
Thanks for the video!!
I have one of these little green turds that I bought in 96. Everyone I knew told me they were junk. I needed one and I didn't have the money to buy a "good" saw. I used it to fell and cut trees WAY TOO BIG for it but it got the job done. I have since bought a Homelite and a bigger Jonsered and love the Jonsered. I still have my little "turd and use it quite often. It's still doing a great job for it's size and it's cost. I do keep most of my equipment in good repair and take care of it. All that said, I probably mistreat the "turd" more than I should because it has served me soo well.
David Delle Well said.
If you want a backup machine to use for shorter cuts (smaller diameter trees), then get a Poulan 4218 Black and Amber. Great suspension system has way less vibration. And then you only have $200 setting on the shelf not getting used and when you DO use it, you look forward to it because it’s easier to use.
If you want a commercial grade machine, spend commercial grade money.
Question: I have a Poulan 295 pro chainsaw, that is extremely hard to pull start when the spark plug is in (when there’s compression). If I remove the plug it pulls just fine so it’s not the flywheel or pull spring. I removed the muffler and the piston is very clean and smooth, it’s just when there’s compression it won’t pull. When I hold it in place with my foot and pull, it’s so tight my foot starts coming off the ground before I’ve completely pulled the cord out. Any ideas?
"They're mass produced.They are complete pieces of shit." That is my exact impression of them. Great video. Thank you.
Everything is mass produced lol
Mine is 20 years old it's a model 1950 run as good as the day I bought it, ethanol fuel is what makes the gas cap not want to come off, switch to non ethanol and it will shrink
Hey, looking to buy a new 20 inch saw, please tell me which way to go. Are Echoes a good buy?
XtremepowerUS (Stark) is inexpensive and is lot better than Poulon chainsaw. I’ve never seen a Poulon saw that wasn’t hard to start, even the one my dad had 35 years ago.
Hugely helpful video. I just bought a Stihl over a Poulan and think it will serve me well.
I’ve had my popular 3800 for well over 30 years and it’s cut at least 200 plus cords in its life time and yes it still runs like brand new I choose it over my stihl 036 pro all day long as the stihl is a piece of shit with the shit Chinese zama carb on it now my poulan 3800 top cylinder fin left side top broke off and left side of bottom I call foot plant to start it is broke as well I tore the exhaust box off and piston skirt exhaust port side looks brand new still but I do only run red armor in all my equipment I’ll be looking into shindaiwa chainsaws love my shiny weed eaters my T242 has over 12k plus run hours on it and still going strong good fuel and top notch 2 cycle oil make all the difference as well
Just goes to show don't believe everything as "absolute fact" on the interweb.
THIS MAN SPEAKS THE TRUTH!!! I bought a PL3314. Brand new. It started ONCE. Ran it for 45 minutes, ran great. I shut it off to clear some brush and it NEVER started again. I will NEVER, ever buy ANYTHING made by POULAN again!
@Hank Bridges No longer worried about it. I just sold mine at a loss. I'm going with a 40V. All I need with no more issues with yanking on a rope. ;-)
Bought a Poulan pro 4218 about 3 months ago.. still not right.. I'm stuck with it for now.. what is ballpark L-H- settings to start with?
HandyAndy start at 1 and 1/2 turns counterclockwise from full in. careful not to turn it in to far to start ..
in all fairness this video was very informative but I can say I am a stihl owner but I do have a 1999 poulan 42 cc wild thing and it really has been an excellent little saw but I do know how to properly adjust the carb and do things like that a entry level person can't do
What use is a chainsaw if you have to be an expert to use it?
John Wells l have had one for a lot of years l use it when l go fishing it makes for a great boat banker 😄😄😄👍👍
if you're going to invest money into a chainsaw, buy a Stihl. When it comes to chainsaws, you get what you pay for.
Amen! My Stihl MS361 cost me almost $700 about ten years ago. It has been worth every penny! It has never failed to start for me, and has never even needed a new plug. Just basic maintenance ( air filter cleaning, chains kept sharp, bar dressed as needed). And yes, I use it a lot! I use Stihl bar oil, not the cheap crap, and I use a good synthetic mix oil with stabilizer. Buy once, cry once....
@@notajp The Stihl 361 is a pro saw,mine had 24" bar, I think it was discontinued in 2009, I got mine at a pawn shop with a new bar and chain for $400, Everyone that seen it wanted it, started to cause family problems, I had a guy that had 3 crews of landscaping working almost to my home to buy it and my daughters men both wanted it, the landscapers didn't get it, I think he understands.Beast.
Around 1980 a 157 years old historical Stuart's Opera House,burned the 3rd story caved the bolted wooden trusses with the metal roof, I went up in there and cut them trusses with a Stihl,they only got me 1 new chain, the bolted together wooden truss were4'x4',full of nails,it was a waste a time trying to keep it sharpened, I couldn't lift them I had to roll to the bottom of the 3rd story tall round at the top windows and drop to dump truck.Lots of water damage, basement library was on the first floor,a doctor's office,, I hauled 1000's of books to the landfill.The stage was still intact,old dimes in the wood floor seams.The seating was somewhat intact.The Stihl took a beating, kept right on chugging, I seen brand new partner saws right out the box at a Paul B
unyon
Competition saws, expansion Chambers,ported and polished lose to the first Partner saws made stock out of the box, I was impressed.
Well to use Poulan as a example I wouldn't say you get what you pay for …...But to be honest you do make some excellent points upon price being a prime contributor to the expectation of quality . I like the replies you received from this comment as well and totally agree upon the cry once buy once mentality of Creamapera .
bought a poulan pro , now maybe not knowing bar oil different than the mix oil used the mix oil the first time for bar oil and it leaks oil and i mean bar oil the second time i filled it for the bar , took it in for service for carb adjustment and didn't fix the oil leak. i guess the small engine repair place doesn't mess with the rest of the chain mech and told me that they do leak. fill up the bar oil and 2 days later a third leaked out with out it even have been cranked? did I screw it up with mix oil the first time?
Great Video, What model do you recommend for the Homeowner?
Echo
Im a stihl guy but the new black and yellow poulans run on 50:1 much nicer
Voor Vooort Yes! Bought one last month and cut almost every day with it. Got it as a second but mad using it more because of how lite it is and the anti vibrate suspension is better than many others.
I suggest to most people that they spend more time servicing any machine and they’ll have less problems.
My poulan has been killing it for me. Love it.
Great....Hope you continue to get great service ......I to once owned a Poulan POS....It killed it for me as well .....LOL .......killed any hope they would ever last more than 30 days if you were lucky ....I loved it so much you can still find pieces of it about 35 feet in a old popular and maple tree along with about 20 others from other people who like to retire these P>O>S. No Joke when it snows it looks like a Poulan Christmas tree with the obvious twist . My loyal customers laugh at the sight of the tree and shake there heads every time another is added to the branches .......Quite honestly laughing at the fact they got taken by Walmart ,Lowes ,Tractor Supply ,ETC......They call it the Poulan tree .....{TREES}.....actually .......ITS been my experience the best thing about a Poulan is its ability to fly once about 2 pounds of Tannerite is used to launch them .....
@@kevinbolin7665 Lol, Didn't see this response ill today. Hey.. my Poulan p3816 that I got for 75 in the walmart clearance section is STILL killing it for me. I also run a stihl and mcculloch. This doesn't keep up with Those, but I'll keep running it till it dies.
@@derekharper7868 great .....prove its still running .....show it killing it as you advocated .......show my viewers and I its capable of the poulan challenge .....{ this request isnt much to ask for } .....honestly woundnt take more than 5 min tops to make a video .....So prove it / you can find whats expected by reading replys or by simply watching additional videos on this channel . Oh and I apologize in the belated response I get several replys as well as comments on various videos so it dosent surprise me that from time to time i may miss the opportunity to respond in a timely manner .
Loved the advice at 15min in! Made my day and saved me much more than just the 15:16 it took me to figure it all out ! Thanks a bunch! 👍👍
Welcome ....seen these saws lighten the wallets of many hard working people who were just trying to find a bargan and then sadly develop buyers remorse.
I have a Stihl 029 super,it keeps on chugging,455 Husqvarna Rancher with beefed up motor, I had 3-4 years, I just got a Poulan for $23,he says it out gas and it smelled like diesel fuel, I can get to fire the plug looked good, I put a new plug ran a bit didn't seem to want to rev up, I can get it to fire once since I set the plug specs,clean up good but it was melted on the blade kickback mount, kind of wondering why it would melt there, the bar don't have the paint wore off.
If you blow the Husqvarna out with air where the oilers opening is it's definitely a misteak.It blows sawdust in it and plugs it up,then you have to grind an opened end wrench to hold the clutch inner parts, left hand threads
What do you recommend as the best chain saw - and best one for intersection of performance and affordability ?
Echo saws are a solid choice easy starting longggg lasting can't go wrong.
Poulan is a piece of shit and its ashame a company like husqvarna put there name behind the brand but husqvarna is the best saw on the market!! There pro saws are the best and I have a husqvarna 460 rancher also that been a damn good saw as well!! Better than stihl In my book
come on now, I own a Poulan Pro 42cc that starts and idles fine but that POS has no power I have had it to the shop twice and it still has no power so I am keeping it until it is considered a classic up in the rafters of my garage because I don't want to look at it. I bought a Worx electric that starts every time with the pull of the trigger.
JIM ECKENRODE Great example of the way to write a negative protest video comment. :)
Ohhhhh, you attacked my Wild Thing! Now I gotta get Big Louie to pay you a little visit. As you all know, Big Louie is a kneecap specialist.
Big Louie ....?.....LOL You may wont to offer this kneecap specialist your skip tooth chain that's on your Wild thing ....it maybe required to cut threw all the BS of trying to make me feel intimidated.
@@kevinbolin7665 Yikes! Lighten up dude! So serious.
What do you think of echo cs310
Poulan made by Husqvarna is a good homeowner chainsaw. I had the PP4218A, for three years and sold it this past June to my best friend. It ran perfectly. Maintence is the key, a clean saw after a day's worth of work, makes all the difference in the world. I bought a newer PR5020 ( generic version of the Husky 450), great saw for storm debris a bigger girth trees. I like the fact, these chainsaws have Oregon Bar and Chains, out of the box. Are they professional grade saws, no. Nor, do I need a professional grade saw. They are wonderful for the average homeowner and someone like myself who limbs and bucks logs for firewood, six months out of the year. I have a Sthil MS 170 and 251C as well. My roots are with Poulan and just because Poulan is a cheaper saw they still serve a great purpose. I like both Husqvarna and Sthil chainsaws. I'm impressed with both companies.
Hey friend if you like them great { to each there own } You like others have expressed maintaining the saw is key to the longevity of the product .....And I would agree that that would come to reason if a person was expecting the equipment to hold up {as it would with any chainsaw} But I personally have seen to many failures within on average 2 hours of use {straight from the box might I mind you } to impress me with Poulan .....So I cant say I am a fan at all ...I cant tell you the warranties filled on these saws I have encountered at Bakers Lawnmower ...Truly sad ...Mostly due to a air leak {seals } or a carb issue .....whats even sadder than these facts are the saws ability to swell the gas caps on so tight you have to use pliers to turn them off and the fuel lines only last on average one year ....Oilers are a problem as well .......I could truly go on and on but as I said to each there own.......But I personally know better than to even try to depend on the quality of any Poulan in todays small box stores.
Richard Sullivan they make good boat anchors
The absolute best ...LoL
Kevin Bolin so you like the remington chainsaws is that what your saying
Some of the older Remington chainsaws were pretty decent ...
Agreed. Tank cap is such a pain. Rule #1 you get what you pay for. I stopped buying the cheapest tool on the market, because I always end up with the cheapest tool on the market...
poor man always buy twice
You are a 100°/° correct...these saws are disposable saws,if you cut wood for a living these saws won't do it..good video
Thank you for sharing honesty .....I wish more people would ....But most are just blind to the truth due to price point .
Absolutely right amy and all poulans suck I tried cutting some small logs and nd a small few trees with the poulan p 3816 Brand new it wasn't reliable at all it died all the time wouldn't even stay running or even start again after just a few min after starting it I followed alm instructioms on it too maintained it and everything else POULANS ARE PURE JUNK SAWS PERIOD BOTTOM LINE IM A 41 YEAR OLD WOMAN AMD AND USE THEM COULDN'T AGREE MORE I OWM A FEW STIHL AMD A FEW OTHER GREAT SAWS BUT POULANS SUCK BAD BAD BALLS
So what brands do you think are good?
I watched this video as I have a PR4218 gutted on my workbench. So far, my take on this chainsaw is this: Its a damn fine chainsaw IF you are willing to service it in-between every time you're willing to take it out in the rough with you.
I have a 14" Homelite and a legend - a 1970 vintage Homelite 150 - their primary purpose is to rescue me every time the first-in-service Poulan craps out, which, invariably is every time I take it out with me. First it was a chain that went flat-out-dull - a third-party chain solved that problem. Next it was a cord that removed itself from the starter, thanks to an inadequate cord-retaining system and plastic parts. JB Weld soved that. As for many of the POS comments, those aren't a problem so long as you treat this saw like you would a pampered car - use it once, use it constantly, then check everything from the air filter on down, and are willing to put in homestead "fixes" for the plastic garbage that breaks. The engine is solid IF you keep the filter clean and check the fuel filter to make sure it hasn't decided to land in the bottom of your tank. The saw cuts IF you get rid of the garbage it comes with. In short - its not a POS IF you're willing and capable to put the hours in. If you're a weekend warrior - get a Stihl.
LOL...friend I guess I am a weekend warrior { Beats the lost hours in a day Poulan procrastinator} whos constantly tinkering and stressing over these cheap POS. I am not saying this to be sarcastic only to stress my point that theses saws are less than anyone could hope or desire in a chainsaw . If your happy.....To each there own .....Experience has educated me differently as well as a lighter wallet .........Buyers remorse is all most find with a Poulan .
I've got Blisters on me fingers
I got a pulled elbow from my stihl when the string decided to pull back wrong and not out while i kept pulling the cheap thing
Poulan ,at one time use to be a good saw mr poulan should have never sold to electrolux which now husqvarna owns poulan
Jody H You just nailed it ! Today's Poulan saw is designed to meet a price point. It is an occasional use home owner saw. Never meant for more intense use. The Poulan lime green saw known as the Wood Shark has a 99 hour engine life span. Want a better saw the pay out more and get Stihl or a Husky. But remember they have homeowner grade saws too.
Electrolux (yes, the sweeper people), also owns AYP (American Yard Products, used to be Roper). They build mowers for lots of other brands, such as Craftsman, Poulan, Husqvarna, and some Ariens. Husqvarna still builds some saws in Sweden, and they are much better than the Poulan built versions. The Swedish versions will say “Made in Sweden” right on them. And yes, I also hate seeing a Poulan come in the shop...
Electrolux moved overseas and cut corners to have a fatter bottom line. They've ruined the brand
bought the craftsman version of this saw many years ago. I have had nothing but problems with it from day one. Went in for service twice under warranty and I have limped it along since then. I needed it after some recent storms and it failed me again. I now own a nice new Stihl saw, ran like a champ out of the box (something the old one never did)....new saw starts, idles and doesn't puke oil like a fountain.
Had three never had a good one. Crap right out the box.
I have a Poulan 2150. I keep it as a backup to my Stihl. Got the Poulan out as a prep for Hurricane Irma. After replacing the chain, cleaning the carb and messing with the muffler, it finally started. Ran about a minute. The fuel lines completely deteriorated. I mean disintegrated. Seems to be common. I'll buy a another Stihl.
I would highly recommend doing that {Stihl makes great equipment} And with clean up I would wont a saw I could depend on..
Woody Smith STIHL had fuel lines deteriorating due to ethanol, also. EVERYBODY HAS.
A local saw shop owner who knows his stuff in his sleep said STIHL put out a replacement ethanol-resistant fuel line to dealers- BUT THEY COULDN’T GET IT UNTIL THE OLD STOCK WAS SOLD OUT. FACT. I bought new an ECHO CS370 saw, an ECHO CS340 saw and an ECHO PS230 commercial trimmer which is modular (accepts different heads with half-shafts) - no problems. I have an OLD STIHL 026 WB, on which I had the points & condenser replaced TWICE- after replacing it with an electronic ignition module, and NEW fuel line, it cuts like lightning.
@@TRUEBLUEGOBLUE Neighbor owns a Sthil 026, told him do not EVER let that saw get away from you. Even if you buy a new saw, keep for backup!
So would you recommend a poulan saw
Poulenc pro not good for anything except frustration! What brand would you recommend ?
Poulan is a poorly designed chainsaw. I agree.
Keep in mind. You can buy a Poulan chainsaw, 42cc, for around $170. Compared to a Stihl chainsaw, it's going to look like a pile of crap. It's $170 or so. Quit complaining. What do you expect. I have one, it does pretty good, it doesn't give me any problems. It likes to stall a lot but that's about it. I accidentally locked it up from running fuel that's a little too lean. And I got it free and the sucker is still working for me today. Everyone's got their opinions, I don't really have horrible problems with them. I've never had one blow up on me or anything crazy like that. I don't know, you can say everything on it is shit, but mine is doing damn well all things considered.
Ok respectfully you just said all things considered that your saw is doing damn well .....Fair enough.....But let me ask you do you consider a saw that stalls regularly and that you accidently locked up from running its fuel to lean. {....Dependable .....?} Friend respectfully .....I can understand your opinion of the saw due to the fact you locked it up and then was able to get it to work again due to the lean mixture . But I am a Master Service Tec {Tech} as one viewer so kindly requested the spelling to be corrected.....LoL....well intel I showed the spelling on the Trophies from CPD and my Service school achievements for the past 12 years... Then he was slightly more understandable ...But anyway back to {opinions }....now it comes to me as no real surprise that there are a few die hard poulan fans out there.....And I can respect that .....Truly I can......This video just expresses my opinion ,concerns, and the evident lack in quality that Poulan chainsaws bring to the table so to speak......Noting more as the products lack of dependability become very evident to most with in 3 hours of use ....Seriously look up refurbished poulan products return rates......It will blow your mind just how often there is a failure ......The only reason Poulan has survived on the shelves this long is due to the fact they can be bought dirt cheap at local Walmarts and Tractor supply stores......{Price Point }.....Truly is why so many are sold and why the quality is what it is ...But as most people who share a difference in opinion often due ......I don't expect Facts to resonate not because of sarcasm rather foolish pride .....Now before you perceive this to be a insult let me assure you it is nor ever was intended . I just would like to request you dig a little deeper into Poulan / and place your pride aside intel you have gathered all the facts ...Most viewers will only share a opinion if there experiences with a product are Pleasing {or expected} I ask you for nothing more than to reevaluate your opinion by gathering facts based not only by a personal experience rather a collection of friends and family if the desire to do a little homework dosent interest you.
By no means am I a diehard Poulan fan. I understand it is obviously not a saw that can compete with the top chainsaw manufactures out there. And yes, my saw does stall a lot, hell every time I pick it up off of the ground it stalls for some reason lol. But it cuts whatever I throw at it. The quality is obviously lacking, understandably, considering the price. I am a little concerned, and frankly curious to see how much abuse it's going to take until it something breaks or it croaks altogether. I've been cutting hardwood trees with it for a while trying to get my yard cleaned up and it's doing a pretty good job. If I had the money I would absolutely go to a Stihl dealer and by one of their saws. But since I don't right now, my little Poulan is gonna have to take the brunt of the work. And as I've said before, for $170, I can't complain.
I guess I can understand your logic / But this video was intended to motivate fellow viewers away from a impulse purchase that often leaves many with buyers remorse.
John Trout for 180 you can get a stihl ms 170 33 cc 16” and with a little modification to the Oiler even though it’s not recommended you could run an 18 inch Oregon skip chain which is what the poulans have
Kevin - good video. I don't know exactly what it is but the more recent Poulans from the past several years are just terrible. I had one from 2000 that lasted me 12 years with occasional/rare use and I even used old fuel! My current Poulan Pro 4218a has only had TruFuel since the start and still has given me problems. I even had it in to a service shop under warranty and the guy only adjusted the carb. He tested it in front of me and then weeks later it was back to crap. I have learned how to adjust it myself and I am finding that it seems to take a perfect balance of new spark plug, new air filter and the right carb adjustment to run. However, my current model is very sluggish on the clutch as the chain spins for many seconds after I release the throttle. I tried to adjust the low screw but then it won't idle correctly. Dang thing pisses me off royally. The gas cap thing....like I said, nothing but TruFuel since the start and have hardly used it (so the gas has not had time to swell that cap seal) AND YET IT IS STILL A PAIN TO GET OFF!! I use the chain brake nut tool to whack it open like a hammer. Just ridiculous crap.....would love to throw all these junk saws on the board run desk of all the A holes that devised this plan to screw consumers out of their money. Yeah, 2 year warranty, but read the fine print!!!
I know of 8 different poulan saws that never skipped a beat. I love them
Provide a few model numbers ....I would like to see for myself if any on your list match any of mine .
@@kevinbolin7665 I have a p3314 and a 2150 not sure what the others are but my grandfather has 2 and he cuts 8 cord a year with them. And all my my buddies have them too. I run stihl oil in mine that might make a difference
if im cutting for 30 minutes i clean the filter every tank of fuel
LOL...You can actually keep it running for 30 min ?.....{No} but seriously friend you shouldn't have to be cursed with using such pieces of shit .
I was rolling on the floor!! Pieces of shit!! Well said brother!! Im literally on CZcams trying to find videos on fixing my pile of shit poulan!! Good video
Wonder how you guys poulans get to shit while mines 6 years old and is still good all gas lines are good everything on my old one is still in good working condition and I've cut with it this year last month with no problems it works better than stihls chainsaws
@@Mike-su8si Then if this is the truth .....simply prove it .....thats all my viewers and I ask ....
@@kevinbolin7665 I just had to kill my friends broke sassafras tree last week with it but I didn't record non of me doing that it was a nice size tree to but had to come down
Spot on Kevin! I hate fixing these saws for people, Just buy a Farm Boss and you are good for life. Have a great day guys!
Thank you for this information sir, very helpful.
I like my 034 and Homelite XL12 Super better.
BROWNWRENCH BROWN. They're the best
Buyer Beware!...But if you don't know how to operate it or take care of it...then you get what you deserve.
Well I don't entirely agree that people get what they deserve .....{I feel that the saws should at least perform as expected from the box } so buyer beware was a great statement.....I have seen hundreds of these saws and trust me I can honestly say that the newer saws made by poulan are complete junk . There is no doubt that operation and maintaining any saw is essential if you expect it to last . However Poulans are often not what people expect and really shouldn't be expected to last more than a few days if you intend on doing any major cutting.....They honestly are Junk {now with that being said common since should enter a persons head if there trying to use one of these saws for anything more than cutting small tress more than 4 inchs round .} THEY WILL BURN UP / OVER HEAT and often develop a seal leak do to there design .
You will learn chainsaw maintence...lol
I agree with you on that 33cc Poulan chainsaw my grandpa had one and he put it in the back corner of his garage and went and bought a stihl. while I agree I wouldn't say that all of them are, just in my personal experience with them, I recently acquired a 36cc chainsaw the poulan 2750 16in bar I put an 18in bar on it because the 16in bar was burnt up on it next payday I'll be getting a 16 inch bar and chain combo for it. After running some seafoam through it to clean up the Piston head and blow any cobwebs out, first tank that went through it smoked like crazy but it runs really good now, I've had a few different Stihl chainsaws over the years and I have a lot of echo equipment this 36cc pulling actually works pretty well... 33cc that sitting on your table and the one I dug out of the corner of Grandpa's shop I thought the chain break was pretty cool because the 2750 does not have one but it's a piece of shit it's probably going to become just parts for the 2750...but if you have the money Stihl is definitely who I'd go with but if you can find one of these 2750 s that are in good condition were you get one for free like I did maybe whoever reading this might have got lucky to... But the thought also occurs to me that I may have gotten one the fluke machines that actually works right so for all I know it could be a factory fuck up LMAO
We have had nothing but trouble with ours. Do you have a reliable brand recommendation in a reasonable price range?
Echo
Mine was crap right out of the box .
Most often are....
Thank you, everything you've said is spot on with all the problems I've had with 20" poulan pro. New out of the box less than 45min it started having issues cutting pine. I broke it all down blew it all out cleaning everything like new. Ran great for an hr. then started stalling out again. lol Its been way to much work to keep it running the way it should. Which is to bad cause when its running proper it gets the job done. The fuel cap is impossible to get off by hand.
Kevin what do you recommend to purchase as a decent chainsaw what brand please advise!!
Decent and affordable often don't come hand in hand . I would personally recommend Stihl chainsaws just stay above a Ms 180 if you are planning on average running {intended yard work}
There's a used Poulan P3314 for sale about 50 minutes from us for $15, not sure how old it is but the add just says the carburetor needs cleaned....Hmmmmm🤔
IDK, I thought about getting it and seeing if I can get it cleaned up and running good, maybe sell it for $50 but now I'm almost afraid to full with it knowing about all of it's issues. I wonder if there's any updated parts to get for these saws to make them more reliable?
Good video!!!!!! U r right about those saws
Thanks / And I hope you enjoyed the video....I Tannerite everyone I get gave to me....Cursed with...LOL
Everything you mention I have encountered with this pos
Those saws are straight up junk, I am surprised there hasn't been a class-action lawsuit...
mine run great the start when i need them
The biggest problem with mine is the air cleaner and carb adjustment other than that it has run fine for the 2 years I have owned it.
TheToolReview I know Husqvarna makes jump
TheToolReview l know Husqvarna makes junk
The older poulans are way better the new ones are shit
Are all these issues applied to all the Poulin Pro models, such as the 20"?
Sadly yes / please don't allow yourself to fall victim to a impulse purchase that will leave you with lighter pockets as well as buyers remorse.
First Poulan Pro was a 20" that was a piece of crap, later had a craftsman and poulan pro 18" given to me and am well satisfied with both after clean up and a little maintenance. After setting plug gap to .035 on each they are both good saws.
Hey sir got a poulan pro worked great but then gas stated pouring out of metal exhaust in front side of saw what's my problem the carb
Yes...it is the carb …..but be mindful that this often happens as a result of a faulty tank vent . I recommend purchasing a new carb and tank cap as the tank vent will be included if your looking for the fix .
if its not American made don't buy it that includes the parts, no different then todays Briggs engines, great engines until the Chinese started buying up these companies, engines and parts are crap
Wow
So you say German and Swedish saws aren't good because they aren't american
Any saw will fail with lack of routine maintenance, I have a few different saw, Husqvarna and a Stihl and Ive had my little 16" poulan for about 8 years and never had an issue with it... None.... I've had more issues with my Stihl more then my little saw and its got some really had miles on it.... But I keep up on the maintenance...
BTW.... My poulan is just the regular one... Not there pro model.
This guy is just talk out his ass.... Talking head.
Talking out my ass hum …..Your the one talking out there ass or maybe that gapping pussy hole that keeps queefing out total bullshit . Prove your little Poulan is that reliable walter white . PUT UP /OR SHUT UP. Because your being called out on the bullshit your trying to project as evident truth .
Bought a Poulan 'Super 250A 'Automatic' in 1978 and it has run beautifully ever since. Lived in Cooperstown, PA and prepped a rick for several years running. Has never been in for service and starts up year after year no problem. You mentioned that the older Poulan were decent - perhaps mine would be an example of that. Original bar. Sharpened chain until needed replacement 3x. Went through a couple of gallons of chain oil over that period of time. Never replaced the fuel line/filter.
I dont doubt your 1978 preforms great
WOW! I bought one in 1983 from my local "Western Auto" . Unfortunately, the Western Auto is long gone but my Poulan Counter Vibe 3400 (with a bow bar) still cuts fire wood every year without fail! No Problems! Thanks Poulan!
The older Poulans where pretty decent saws …...This newer crap makes me sick …...Not even worth taking home so to speak .
@@kevinbolin7665 Yeah, that's what I figured Kevin. Nothing (and I do mean NOTHING) is made to last any more. We now live in a throw away world. Buy it, use it until it breaks, throw it in the trash and buy another one... Sad. Thanks Kevin
Greetings Kevin Bolin! What is the tank vent you speak of? Is there a hole in the back of the tank side of the gas cap on some poulan/craftsman saws? I have 8 cheap saws but one, a 3816 craftsman simpul won't idle right. It cuts good and revs right but idles high then stalls if you let it idle long. When it stalls there is a strong suction/vacuum leak down noise. It also happens after 3 or 4 pulls to start it. If anyone reads my comment could this be crank seal leakage and or possibly some kind of tank venting issue? It is a 2009 simpul. By the way when buying it from it's previous owner they let the carb gum then replaced it. Let that one gum up too. I got it to run with that carb and another new replacement one but it just won't idle right and had the suction noise when stalling out or after a few pulls. The piston is clean and shiny on top but I didn't look through the muffler. I have recently become a chainsaw hobbyist lol.
The only issues I have encountered with my Poulan saws are USER error. So before you bash them take closer look at what or who is really a P.O.S!
Marooda M ....It pleases me to know that you haven't encountered any issues with your poulan with the exception of user error ....I guess your opinion is relative at best as like I have told many other viewers {Opinions are like assholes } everyone has one .....I have stepped back at the Poulan Products and taken that closer look as you so passionately requested.....all the while keeping a open mind to the asinine observation you projected assuming I was a P.O.S. And although I cant fully disprove your theory of me potentially being a P.O.S. .....I can prove that Poulan Products certainly are. So rather than proceed in a pissing contest with you might I encourage you to look up refurbished Poulan products , Poulan returns , Poulan warranties, and you will quickly see why the bashing of your beloved product becomes self evident....
Kevin, It is obvious that M.M. has neither owned a quality piece of machinery, nor ever worked on a low quality piece of equipment (or anything for that matter). You are correct about Pull-on (and on and on) being a Piece of shizz don't let a someone without any experience rattle your chains. The first Craftsman I saw didn't have a replaceable woodruff key, it was part of the crank,,,there was no easy way to fix it....It was designed to be thrown away when broken.
Thanks / you truly do make some great points ....
Stilh has the best chainsaws #1
Have you ever even seen a "Stihl" chainsaw? lol
Many/ And other than a few cheap models they make some of the best Small engine equipment in the world.{ In truth even there cheap models are not really all that bad .....{improvements could be made no doubt } but over all I would still prefer them over any Poulan product in todays market..
used to
John Raven what kind of question is that?
I had an old echo, about a 72 model. That thing was a tank. I never had an issue at all. Not even a primer. I've had a lot of problems with wild thangs.
I have a Popular chainsaw 14" bar that I've had for years it runs good and never has let me down. All I cut is hard wood for firewood.
What saw would you recommend?
Depends upon lots of factors, including intended use, frequency of use, characteristics of the primary user such as skill level, knowledge level of required care and maintenance, and resources (money) available in making a purchase. This is where you should speak with a knowledgeable professional to help determine which, if any, tool would be appropriate to your real or perceived need.
Thanks for the info. I had a 14" Poulan for years and it ran pretty decent for smaller jobs until exactly as you mentioned, the fuel filter broke off. Getting off the gas cap was always a pain in the ass and I had to use a pair of channel locks to unscrew it. Same thing with the bar chain reservoir cap. I finally just gave it to a junk guy. I didn't learn my lesson because I couldn't pass up an 18" Wild Thing that was on sale at Farm & Fleet. Everything wrong with the 18" is just as you have shown in this video. I also noticed that the arm bar is total piece of shit and will crimp binding up the blade without hardly any pressure put on it. This saw is only about 2 years old, not used that much and it won't hold idle for shit. This one is almost impossible to get the gas cap off as well and I have to use the channel locks trick on it too. I am planning to sell my property within the next 2 years and I should never need another saw again but until then I think its time for something better. What do you recommend. I know everyone says "Buy A Stihl", but I'm not sure if I want to make that investment in a saw I won't be using much over the next 2 years. Your thoughts please. After watching this video I respect your opinion. Thanks.
Stihl has apparently gone to shit on their consumer line as well. So far, a lot of people are claiming the Echo consumer line is solid.
@@boots7859 I have a small Stihl MS 180C with a 16" bar. I'm very happy with it. I do have a few complaints, though: No bar oil adjustment screw, no carburetor needles. I had to remove the spark arrestor because it fouls so quickly and saps engine power. It can't go one year before it's time to replace the sparkplug, because all of a sudden it just dies. The new plug solves the problem for another 8-12 months. Now that I understand its quirks I like it. Oh, by the way, the above problems were while using the expensive Stihl premix fuel.