New member, old equipment- Poulan 2300AV

[woodlandcammies]

What can I say I like cheap saws hahaha. Still want an old stihl though, or an OLD 70-80 homelite although I was looking at the hutzl kits

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I've had several of the micro saws and discovered you have to trade them off or sell them because you can't wear them out. The worst problem with them is the long fuel line which usually turns to stone after a few years. I did work on one today that had no spark and I had to replace the coil...you'd think a coil would last longer than 40 years LOL..

 

[GeorgiaVol]

These top handles are the easiest saws to fix imo. Its just a fuel line, carb kit, air filter usually. Takes longer to tune it than fix it because of the odd placement of the adj screws. But after you do a couple it gets easier.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Yep, I just picked up the saw today, fellow asked me if I could fix it quickly, I told him that working on these saws is a vacation compared to some saws. I had it done fairly quickly but my wife wanted me to mow the yard first. Both got done in about 3 hours with the most time spent mowing..

 

[woodlandcammies]

Palmer- I've got to admit you are right they are hard to kill. Dads husky has had more problems than I've ever had with this thing, and his is only a year or so old... he still can't believe I got it running after it sat on a shelf for six years with stale gas and rotted gaskets in it.
I'm still trying to convince the neighbor for that 2150 I fixed today since he already has two stills and a husky 55. Might use the 2150 as the beater saw and put the old girl on a shelf for a bit

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I don't currently own any of the micro saws except for 1 parts saw. The Poulan 25DA is also a hard one to kill, I still did manage to keep two of them and a parts saw. I can still buy them at the flea markets for under $10.

 

[SunnyDaze]

I joined the site today.

I just had a 2300 AV handed down from my father as well. I tore it apart tonight. I'm going to do all new fuel lines, new oil line, new fuel pickup, air filter, carb kit, and (hopefully) I'll be able to salvage the oil filter and fuel cap screen by soaking them in acetone.

I used a very fine blade and removed the carb gaskets safe and sound. They seem like total unobtanium.

My father rarely used the saw; my grandfather's Stihl 012 AV (that's another story) did most of the light work around the farm in the 80s. The piston and cylinder wall looks good. I really don't want to take the cylinder apart because the cylinder gaskets aren't readily available.

I'll post pictures tomorrow if I find the time.

Best of luck with your 2300!

 

[woodlandcammies]

I just did the yearly service (fuel lines, air filter, plug, clean case/sprocket area) yesterday. Forgot how much of a pain it is to route the fuel line without it getting kinked next to the carb, or pinched in between the filter cover screw. I really need to tear the side of the case off and check the one way valve and the oil line sometime in the near future.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I joined the site today.

I just had a 2300 AV handed down from my father as well. I tore it apart tonight. I'm going to do all new fuel lines, new oil line, new fuel pickup, air filter, carb kit, and (hopefully) I'll be able to salvage the oil filter and fuel cap screen by soaking them in acetone.

I used a very fine blade and removed the carb gaskets safe and sound. They seem like total unobtanium.

My father rarely used the saw; my grandfather's Stihl 012 AV (that's another story) did most of the light work around the farm in the 80s. The piston and cylinder wall looks good. I really don't want to take the cylinder apart because the cylinder gaskets aren't readily available.

I'll post pictures tomorrow if I find the time.

Best of luck with your 2300!

Carburetor gaskets and kits are readily available for this saw because lots of saws use that type carburetor. Just get the number off the side of the carb when you go looking. You'll have to go to a small engine shop that's fully equipped for chainsaw repairs. The shop nearest me has a box of the base gaskets for different saws.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

I just did the yearly service (fuel lines, air filter, plug, clean case/sprocket area) yesterday. Forgot how much of a pain it is to route the fuel line without it getting kinked next to the carb, or pinched in between the filter cover screw. I really need to tear the side of the case off and check the one way valve and the oil line sometime in the near future.

Sometimes they get kinked back near the tank also. Has one the other day that was pinched when previous repair man closed the cover on it.

 

[woodlandcammies]

Yeah, I did that the first time I changed the lines out. Didn't realize it until yesterday that last time I put new fuel lines on her, I had partially pinched the lines under the plastic carb/airfilter cover. Had been like that for over a year, and surprisingly didn't leak fuel. Wish they had put the fuel port on the carb at a 45 degree angle though.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Some of those fuel nozzles you can actually move to another angle but be careful if you try it. Normally, the factory setting is okay..

 

[woodlandcammies]

On my carb its straight out the side. on the later poulans you could slightly adjust and turn them, but not on the 2300's

 

[a. palmer jr.]

You mentioned old equipment: better hang onto some of your old saws, they're a lot easier to mess with than the new ones. Parts aren't as hard to get as you might think..

 

[SunnyDaze]

You mentioned old equipment: better hang onto some of your old saws, they're a lot easier to mess with than the new ones. Parts aren't as hard to get as you might think..

Judging by the helpful PMs that I'm receiving I'd have to agree. You guys are just awesome.

 

[James Miller]

Since you guys are talking 2300s will a craftsman 2.0 p/c fit on these saws? I picked this one up for dirt cheap its about as clean of one as iv seen but straight gassed from the looks of it right out of the box almost. If the base gaskets are hard to find I guess I'll check the squish and run no gasket if I have to.

 

[a. palmer jr.]

You can always check Poulan or Sears Parts Direct for parts. On the Sears website you need the 358 number to look it up.

 

[SunnyDaze]

I found the original 16" chain stamped with "POULAN" in my dad's basement along with a black hard case. I managed to untangle it. I think I'm going to attempt sharpening it if I can get the saw going.

Before I do so, is a chain that's probably 35 years old safe to use? Is there a way to test it's strength?

Here are some photos of aftermath of the the tear down.

 

[James Miller]

I found the original 16" chain stamped with "POULAN" in my dad's basement along with a black hard case. I managed to untangle it. I think I'm going to attempt sharpening it if I can get the saw going.

Before I do so, is a chain that's probably 35 years old safe to use? Is there a way to test it's strength?

Here are some photos of aftermath of the the tear down.

Wish mine looked that good when I checked it.

 

[SunnyDaze]

I guess I lucked out. My father didn't use this much. Like I said earlier, my grandfather's Stihl 012 AV did most of the small stuff around the farm.

Are you going to leave yours as-is or are you going to crack it open?