Craftsman 3.7 18" information

**promac850** · 11-28-2010, 04:29 PM

Craftsman 3.7 with 18" bar

Any of you seasoned chainsaw owners know where I can get parts (air filter, etc.), and a manual? (btw, I did post on beg for manuals thread) If you have had any experience owning and/or using one of these, I would like to know what you liked/hated about it.
My uncle gave it to me on Thanksgiving, and said he wanted to see if I can get it running. I like the saw, and it is in good shape. I'm working on getting the fuel lines exposed so they can be replaced, and also plan to clean the decompression port. Carb rebuild will also be done. (it's a Walbro carb)
Thanks in advance for reading or helping, I really want to get this saw to run.
Kyle

EDIT: It is a Craftsman/Roper

**Rftreeman** · 11-28-2010, 04:34 PM

parts will depend on if it's a poulan/craftsman or a roper/craftsman, you should be able to get parts from searspartsdirect.com you might also find some items on ebay...

**joe25DA** · 11-28-2010, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by promac610

Craftsman 3.7 with 18" bar

Any of you seasoned chainsaw owners know where I can get parts (air filter, etc.), and a manual? (btw, I did post on beg for manuals thread) If you have had any experience owning and/or using one of these, I would like to know what you liked/hated about it.
My uncle gave it to me on Thanksgiving, and said he wanted to see if I can get it running. I like the saw, and it is in good shape. I'm working on getting the fuel lines exposed so they can be replaced, and also plan to clean the decompression port. Carb rebuild will also be done. (it's a Walbro carb)
Thanks in advance for reading or helping, I really want to get this saw to run.
Kyle

Welcome to the site.
If the saw has a decomp valve its a Roper/Craftsman. I have had 2 but sold both as runners so I never worked on them. They seem like solid saws. I would check the link promac put up. I had good luck finding parts there for one of my Poulan/Craftsmans.

**knockbill** · 11-28-2010, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by joe25DA

Welcome to the site.
If the saw has a decomp valve its a Roper/Craftsman. I have had 2 but sold both as runners so I never worked on them. They seem like solid saws. I would check the link promac put up. I had good luck finding parts there for one of my Poulan/Craftsmans.

i just used mine this afternoon... i posted a thread a month or so about replacing the fuel line from carb to tank without tearing teh whole saw apart,,,you can use teh search tab at teh top of teh page,,,

there is an ipl at teh link the op posted, but not many new parts available,,, i found that the craftsman/poulan bars fit ropers,,, the carb kits are available, and i used echo fuel line in mine,,, it is a little tricky to work on, even removing the carb takes a little time, but it has a lot of torque, and even tho it isn't as fast as a modern saw, it doesn't seem to slow down with the bar buried....

post some pics of yours, and we'll get it running,,, they are built like a tank....

**Roanoker494** · 11-28-2010, 07:13 PM

I currently have two of the Roper/Craftsmans 3.7/18 saws, one with power sharp and one without. I have never ran either of them, both need about the same work your saw does. I have heard they are very strong and dependable saws, but new parts are not much available anymore.
Saw 1

saw 2

**promac850** · 11-28-2010, 09:50 PM

Here are some pics, carb pics didn't turn out, but otherwise most of them are purty goood. Yes, the saw has been disassembled, and yes, my workbench is a mess of tools and chain oil. The saw, before I took it apart, had so much compression that I couldn't pull it over. (on the bench anyways, this was after I let oil soak in the cylinder) Even with the decomp activated, it still is amazingly difficult to pull over. Also, it came with the original case, which is now filled with bar oil. (hmm...) Did the saw leak it into the case from a bad gasket or sealer, or did it just seep out of the bar lube hole over the last ten years? Look at the bar, you can see how much my uncle used it...
The last picture is of the muffler, starting at the left, inner baffle, spark arrester, outer baffle, outer muffler cover. I was thinking a light muffler mod, no hacking and drilling, mind you, but a little bit of bending and prying of the deflector inside the outer cover. Which baffles should I pull? Inner, outer, or both? Or are the gains pretty much worthless on a saw of this vintage?
Thanks for helping me, I'm a simple little

Saw1.JPG

Saw2.JPG

Saw3.JPG

Saw4.JPG

Saw5.JPG

ps I look up to you guys

and hope to have a collection with as many saws possible. We all got CAD.

EDIT: model # is 917.353770 It does have the powersharp option, but the powersharp chain and related stuff is missing.

**WidowMaker** · 11-28-2010, 09:56 PM

post up your model number...

**wsg** · 11-29-2010, 12:17 PM

Have the same saw.. got it from my dad. Funny..i have the case with oil in the bottom as well!

**Rftreeman** · 11-29-2010, 12:20 PM

I've got one just like it and I have one just like the one in knockbill's avatar, they are both dissembled right now, they got put on the back burner for a while....

**promac850** · 12-01-2010, 08:19 AM

Thanks guys, this helps me a lot. I will post pics and maybe a video of it running. Thanks again!

Kyle

**Rftreeman** · 12-01-2010, 09:57 AM

looking at picture #3 it looks like you have a scored piston, that could explain the difficult to pull it over thing, it should be pretty easy to pull until the piston reaches the top of the cylinder where the spark plug is and it makes the compression....another thing on these saws is the starter rope pulley will seize up on it's shaft, the one I have the guy thought it was locked up but the pulley was seized...couple squirts of wd-40 fixed that..

**Guido Salvage** · 12-01-2010, 02:39 PM

Got a couple of them as well (but apparently only a picture of one). I probably need to give it a workout at some point.

**promac850** · 12-02-2010, 08:21 AM

A scored piston is gonna be a problem isn't it? Well, I put it back together and took some pictures. We'll know for sure fairly soon if it runs or not. It's got spark, the carb is clean, and it turns over. What do you guys think?

pics will be posted tonite. technical difficulties.

**Rftreeman** · 12-02-2010, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by promac610

A scored piston is gonna be a problem isn't it? Well, I put it back together and took some pictures. We'll know for sure fairly soon if it runs or not. It's got spark, the carb is clean, and it turns over. What do you guys think?

pics will be posted tonite. technical difficulties.

yep but not as bad as it seems, I'm sure you could find one, do you have a compression gauge?

**promac850** · 12-02-2010, 05:24 PM

Yes, I do have a compression gauge, do I just pull the saw over until it produces it's highest value or something like that? btw, I've only done compression tests on 4 stroke engines. A little advice would be appreciated. also, heres the pics...

Saw6.JPG

Saw7.JPG

Saw8.JPG

Saw9.JPG

Now, this last pic, is of the manual, I'm confused as to why I can't use premium fuel instead of regular. Someone clarify this for me please. I need to know whether I can or cannot use 93 octane premium. Do I just buy cheapo generic non-detergent SAE 30 or should I go with Quicksilver TCII Outboard mix oil? Or recommend something. Thanks for helping. I really appriciate it. I told my dad we gotta mix 16:1, he said holy crap, that's a lotta oil!

We run 40:1 in the McCulloch PM 610.