Nik's Poulan Thread

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dave76

dave76

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I finally had a chance to cut with my Craftsman 3.4 (Poulan 3400) today.

What a monster! (Compared of course to my old Homelite and my Makita saws - Don't have experience with anything bigger, except an 028 I used a couple times).

This saw is definitely as good as any I've used. I am still running a lot of oil in the mix (14:1 with 89 Octane) but the thing still screams.

Once I run something like 20:1 and do that muffler mod, I'm sure it will be a real demon.

The only dumb thing about today: Trying to cut through a gnarly stump (Birch). Dulled the chain real quick. Didn't hit the ground or anything, but it was below where the tree was twinned.

Guessing this wasn't a smart idea, and that the sucker needs to be pulled.

This is why I am a greenhorn. Being a carpenter and woodworker doesn't mean I know much about felling trees apparently.

:jester:

In my 3700 and 4000 I run 50:1 ratio, use Tanaka one mix oil and never had a problem no matter what type of equipment I've used it in.
 
dh1984

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any one got a piston for a 3800 poulan some how i got a deep scratch in this one when i get the camera goin i'll see if i can get some pictures of it.
 
dave76

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Last edited:
67L36Driver
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Something Smells in Poulanville.

I tore down two little green Poulans and one Craftsman that were toasted and measured their piston diameters. All three have 44mm (1.616") piston diameter. All crank assemblies appeared to be identical but I don't have a good way to measure the stroke.

2050 supposed to be 33cc
2150 supposed to be 34cc
Craftsman supposed to be 40cc

What do you want to bet they are all the same displacement. I think some sticker manipulation for the big box stores has been going on. Why should one spend an extra $40 for the "42cc" w/16" b when you get the same engine/saw with 36cc & 14" b?
 
dh1984

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hereare the pictures from my cell phone i took of it it doesn't go all the way up just all the way to the bottom of it though and sorry about the pictures upside down i'm just getting use to this phone and don't use it much


attachment.php

attachment.php

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redunshee

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any one got a piston for a 3800 poulan some how i got a deep scratch in this one when i get the camera goin i'll see if i can get some pictures of it.

Sorry. Don't have one . Might have to find a parts saw unless its still available. The 3800 has an aluminum cylinder and a chrome piston. Don't believe you could use a 3700 piston unless you changed the cylinder as well, for the 3700 has a chrome cylinder and aluminum piston. The 3800 cylinder is a little larger bore than the 3700 but I doubt one could tell the differance in performance.
 
redunshee

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I tore down two little green Poulans and one Craftsman that were toasted and measured their piston diameters. All three have 44mm (1.616") piston diameter. All crank assemblies appeared to be identical but I don't have a good way to measure the stroke.

2050 supposed to be 33cc
2150 supposed to be 34cc
Craftsman supposed to be 40cc

What do you want to bet they are all the same displacement. I think some sticker manipulation for the big box stores has been going on. Why should one spend an extra $40 for the "42cc" w/16" b when you get the same engine/saw with 36cc & 14" b?
Gotta be the differance in stroke. Though you may have hit on the issue.
 
Modifiedmark
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I tore down two little green Poulans and one Craftsman that were toasted and measured their piston diameters. All three have 44mm (1.616") piston diameter. All crank assemblies appeared to be identical but I don't have a good way to measure the stroke.

2050 supposed to be 33cc
2150 supposed to be 34cc
Craftsman supposed to be 40cc

What do you want to bet they are all the same displacement. I think some sticker manipulation for the big box stores has been going on. Why should one spend an extra $40 for the "42cc" w/16" b when you get the same engine/saw with 36cc & 14" b?


Sure thats old news that alot of the 36cc saws were actually bigger. Now why they done that? Who knows.

I never figured out why they made any saw in a certain series smaller to begin with. Cost about the same to make a 46cc saw as a 60cc saw when all on the same chassis.
 
Modifiedmark
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Sorry Mark But I misstated my question. What can I use as a spacer to convert a Husqvarna large mount bar(D009) to fit a 3400 or 245A or any Poulan using the D176 mount? S spacer excluded

Bob, the "s" spacers really don't work well on the Husky bars anyway. They were made to space the 5/16", 8mm studs to fit the Homelite style bar with a 3/8's or 9.5mm slot.

There really too thick to fit in the 9mm Husky bar slot. The slot on the Husky bar is only .040" bigger.

I found some spacer rings that I use. I thought I was buying "s" spacers for the 3/8's slots but they sent me rings instead. There actually a little sloppy on the homelite bars and kinda snug on the huskys.

I made some other steel spacers that fit over the studs but by the time you drill the 5/16" holes there kinda thin.

Here is one I made on a 5200.

attachment.php
 
dave76

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Sorry. Don't have one . Might have to find a parts saw unless its still available. The 3800 has an aluminum cylinder and a chrome piston. Don't believe you could use a 3700 piston unless you changed the cylinder as well, for the 3700 has a chrome cylinder and aluminum piston. The 3800 cylinder is a little larger bore than the 3700 but I doubt one could tell the differance in performance.

The 3700 and 3800 have identical bore sizes, the difference being the 3700 (Red 3.7 Craftsman) has a chrome plated bore and unplated piston with thin piston rings, the 3800, (Grey 3.7 Craftsman) uses an unplated bore and a chrome plated piston with thick piston rings. So swapping a 3700 piston and cylinder to a 3800 is actually better for durability and can take a bit more abuse.
 
dave76

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Looking for the side isolator on the 4000 saw, I beleive it's PN 530024225, if anyone has em I'll buy it, mine cracked in half.
 
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dh1984

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ok fellers i got a used cylinder and piston from a old 3800 and now i need a clutch and bearing i think i can find the clutch spur. the saw i got the cylinder off of don't have a clutch on it i wished it did though.but dumb arse me had to run the saw with out the side cover and bar and chain on it and it went sping off and tried to knock me out with one of the shoes.so if any one has one i got green slips and some parts for a poulan 4218av and some poulan xxv micro limb saw parts that i trade or buy it.
 
Modifiedmark
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The 3700 and 3800 have identical bore sizes, the difference being the 3700 (Red 3.7 Craftsman) has a chrome plated bore and unplated piston with thin piston rings, the 3800, (Grey 3.7 Craftsman) uses an unplated bore and a chrome plated piston with thick piston rings. So swapping a 3700 piston and cylinder to a 3800 is actually better for durability and can take a bit more abuse.

Actually there were some "red" 3800's as well, but your right, most were 3700's.





ok fellers i got a used cylinder and piston from a old 3800 and now i need a clutch and bearing i think i can find the clutch spur. the saw i got the cylinder off of don't have a clutch on it i wished it did though.but dumb arse me had to run the saw with out the side cover and bar and chain on it and it went sping off and tried to knock me out with one of the shoes.so if any one has one i got green slips and some parts for a poulan 4218av and some poulan xxv micro limb saw parts that i trade or buy it.

Those parts can be got from any small engine shop thats a Oregon dealer.
 
dh1984

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no sir i can do that myself i think :laugh: and i hope i can get it tight enough and hope i remember to not run the saw with out the bar and chain and side off of it again
 

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