Nik's Poulan Thread

[redunshee]

Poulan 3400

Well, don't ask me why but I put together another 3400 from parts I had lying around. Stripped and repainted saw but I confess its not a professional job. Lot of orange peel. Installed new rings and was surprised to see comp @ 145 not using a gasket just Dirko HT sealant. Saw starts and runs good and have it tached @ 10,500. Won't push it until I have several tanks thru it, which may never happen here in Texas. I've posted pictures but will aplogize in advance for my inability to open pics in the post. For some reason they just don't open even after re-reading the instructions a hundred times.

 

[OhioGregg]

Well, don't ask me why but I put together another 3400 from parts I had lying around. Stripped and repainted saw but I confess its not a professional job. Lot of orange peel. Installed new rings and was surprised to see comp @ 145 not using a gasket just Dirko HT sealant. Saw starts and runs good and have it tached @ 10,500. Won't push it until I have several tanks thru it, which may never happen here in Texas. I've posted pictures but will aplogize in advance for my inability to open pics in the post. For some reason they just don't open even after re-reading the instructions a hundred times.

LOL, I know what ya mean Bob, Its hard not to put together these saws, their so darn easy to work on. I still find it hard to pass on them on Ebay, They are kinda like potato chips, can't have just one, or two, or three...

That saw looks good to me! Is that the Mopar Green paint on that one?


Gregg,

 

[Modifiedmark]

Pics and vid coming soon. This thing had a crazy .325 9-pin rim on it I swapped it out for a 3/8 8-pin. It seems to pull it well.

What kind of RPMs are these supposed to tune to? Mine sounds good somewhere between 9,000-9,500. I've got it set to 9,000 to be safe.

That saw originally came with a .404 pitch baracuda chain on it.

I'm surprised you can get that many RPM's out of it with the gov in place on that HS carb.

130lbs comp is very good for that saw. In fact its all my Dayton put out with a brand new NOS P/C

The first place to look for a new decomp would be that guy in Louisville, as I got one there before.

Look, close, you need to make sure the top of that clutch cover gets tucked under the edge of that fuel take before you break that cover!!!!!!!!!!

Thats why you see the covers on them broke from time to time.

I expected better from you Brad. LOL

 

[Torin]

Help is on the way: I found jackssmallengines.com and ordered piston kit and cylinder kit for $81 incl shipping. Only question is they had Husky parts under the same part# and asked which mine was. The Husky parts were marginally more but I was tempted to lie and maybe get better parts. I might maybe have got wrong-size parts too so I chickened out and said "Poulan". So now I'll sit on my front porch for the next however long til I get my claws on those parts and get this little turkey back together. FWIW mine has the tool-less chain tensioner; what have you heard that's caused them to be dreaded? Mine seemed OK and sure quick to use, .... Dennis
PS: I ran the "order tree" for Poulan parts and found same part#s, relatively same prices, but when I "added to cart" I got a dialog box saying "there's a problem with this part". Poulan really has to get on the stick with this stuff. Jack's was as easy as JC Whitney, and parts are on their way

The tool-less tensioner has been reported to slip, as the saw gets used more. members have posted how they have converted theirs back to the old style. $81 may not be a bad deal for the parts but, for $100 you could have a whole new saw.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Help is on the way: I found jackssmallengines.com and ordered piston kit and cylinder kit for $81 incl shipping. Only question is they had Husky parts under the same part# and asked which mine was. The Husky parts were marginally more but I was tempted to lie and maybe get better parts. I might maybe have got wrong-size parts too so I chickened out and said "Poulan". So now I'll sit on my front porch for the next however long til I get my claws on those parts and get this little turkey back together. FWIW mine has the tool-less chain tensioner; what have you heard that's caused them to be dreaded? Mine seemed OK and sure quick to use, .... Dennis
PS: I ran the "order tree" for Poulan parts and found same part#s, relatively same prices, but when I "added to cart" I got a dialog box saying "there's a problem with this part". Poulan really has to get on the stick with this stuff. Jack's was as easy as JC Whitney, and parts are on their way

Did you order the new crank brgs with the seals on them? I would have since it had to be scored from something to begin with.

 

[joe25DA]

Well, don't ask me why but I put together another 3400 from parts I had lying around. Stripped and repainted saw but I confess its not a professional job. Lot of orange peel. Installed new rings and was surprised to see comp @ 145 not using a gasket just Dirko HT sealant. Saw starts and runs good and have it tached @ 10,500. Won't push it until I have several tanks thru it, which may never happen here in Texas. I've posted pictures but will aplogize in advance for my inability to open pics in the post. For some reason they just don't open even after re-reading the instructions a hundred times.

looks real nice Bob. I did a 3400 not too long ago, I still havent run it!
<a href="http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/?action=view&current=saws478.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/saws478.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/?action=view&current=saws477.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/saws477.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[redunshee]

Thanks Joe. I now have 3-3400's, a Skil 1641 and Dayton 4Z251A which I believe is a 3400, just Red. The Dayton may be a 3700 cause it says 18in. bar, but I'm not sure. Forgot what piston looked like when I rebuilt it and its not listed on Mike Acres site.

 

[joe25DA]

I had a Dayton like yours, I want to say it was a 3400. MS460woodchuck/John is the new owner now. if he popped that muffler off wed know whether or not the piston is chrome. I agree with the others I bought a "parts" 3700 once to have on hand for my 3.7; the only saw in this series I had at that time. Well that saw turned out to be a 4000 and the rest is history....Its in a happy new owners hands now.
this
<a href="http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/?action=view&current=saw007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/saw007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
to this
<a href="http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/?action=view&current=saws109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/saws109.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[rms61moparman]

Now you guys are gonna have to stop posting all of these nice 3400s!!!

I'm starting to go into the rut, wanting to hot rod one of them really bad but haven't found the right candidate yet.
My old "Ugly Bastard" runs pretty good for a pile of junk parts but I think there is quite a bit more in there and I want to see if I can find it!


Mike

 

[joe25DA]

Now you guys are gonna have to stop posting all of these nice 3400s!!!

I'm starting to go into the rut, wanting to hot rod one of them really bad but haven't found the right candidate yet.
My old "Ugly Bastard" runs pretty good for a pile of junk parts but I think there is quite a bit more in there and I want to see if I can find it!


Mike

Ohhh im sure there is Mike.

 

[blsnelling]

Look, close, you need to make sure the top of that clutch cover gets tucked under the edge of that fuel take before you break that cover!!!!!!!!!!

Thats why you see the covers on them broke from time to time.

I expected better from you Brad. LOL

I was hoping no one would notice It is cracked, but I think it was before I got it. I sure didn't help it any though.

 

[Modifiedmark]

I was hoping no one would notice It is cracked, but I think it was before I got it. I sure didn't help it any though.

You think it was? LOL Maybe not to most but to me it stuck out like a sore thumb! Maybe cause I have seen so many of them.

Mine was for sure cracked before I got it but where it was cracked the bucking spike I put on it kinda helps hold it together.

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

I was hoping no one would notice It is cracked, but I think it was before I got it. I sure didn't help it any though.

Very common crack on these saws for sure. The other common crack is the foot being broke off of the clutch cover.

I'm with Mark on the surprise with the RPM #. Maybe someone blocked off the gov in the carb.

BTW Brad nice looking saw you got there!

 

[Modifiedmark]

Very common crack on these saws for sure.

Very common when the owner dont pay attention to a simple detail...........

 

[joe25DA]

Another awesome Poulan

Dont know if this saw is a 2.8 or not, but Im thinking yes since it has the 18" bar. Doesn't matter much because it runs and cuts almost as good as my Dolmar 540. I sharpened the lousy safety chain and took the rakers down a bit. This saw has .325 on a rim. I used it on some dead rock hard oak and it just dug in! Like I said in my other post I ran Ritchie's 460 and Id take my Craftsman over it hands down. Even the anti vibe felt better in the craftsman and that saw is an '88. I see why guys like this line of saws and why they had such a long run (pp 330)
<a href="http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/?action=view&current=saws572.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/joe25da/saws572.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[nthums1]

>

Are not .325 parts a bit hard to find?
I think my HL XL originally had that. I took it in because of broken nose sprocket and they said I needed new drive as well. I'm pretty certain they put 3/8 on it with old chain. The drive and chain did not last long. Seems that they removed link from old chain which may have been stretched a little.
With shortening the chain, I now have to wonder if there was one less tooth on the drive. With the same number, the diameter would have to have been larger and the chain actually tighter.

That is, if you converted to 3/8 with the same number of drive teeth, your chain would travel slightly faster, but then you'd have slightly fewer cutters. Certainly makes me wonder what real world differences show up when comparing .325 to 3/8?

 

[nthums1]

3500 fuel vent

Looking at IPL of this saw group, 3350, 3500, & 3600, there is a vent shown to the left side of diagram consisting of 4 parts including length of line. I have absolutely no idea where it is located since I've never seen it on my saw. Or whether it is for fuel or oil tank?
Can someone help me on this point?

I'm still waiting on ring and gaskets. I ordered from M & D and tracking on USPS I have to wonder what in the world is going on. Shipped from Bedford, OH. and they went to Cleveland, then to Pontiac, MI. right past Detroit. From there they turned around and went to Detroit as of the last update. I'm in Savannah, GA. ?????WTF????

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Looking at IPL of this saw group, 3350, 3500, & 3600, there is a vent shown to the left side of diagram consisting of 4 parts including length of line. I have absolutely no idea where it is located since I've never seen it on my saw. Or whether it is for fuel or oil tank?
Can someone help me on this point?

I'm still waiting on ring and gaskets. I ordered from M & D and tracking on USPS I have to wonder what in the world is going on. Shipped from Bedford, OH. and they went to Cleveland, then to Pontiac, MI. right past Detroit. From there they turned around and went to Detroit as of the last update. I'm in Savannah, GA. ?????WTF????

That seems to be how the Post Office is trying to save money, especially on non priority mail. It sits in the Post Office until a shipment is going out, hopefully in your direction and they add yours to it. If it goes in the opposite direction, that Post Office holds it until something comes south, then they try again. I had a carburetor kit take several weeks to get here; I could have driven there in one day and picked it up, but it would've cost more. Priority mail usually is three days or less but costs more also.

 

[Denman123a]

$81 may not be a bad deal for the parts but, for $100 you could have a whole new saw.

Mine cost near $200 on sale, but came with a good carry case, spare chain and a gallon worth of synth mix oil. Besides I can't bring myself to trash a tool that's got so much good left in it

 

[Torin]

Mine cost near $200 on sale, but came with a good carry case, spare chain and a gallon worth of synth mix oil. Besides I can't bring myself to trash a tool that's got so much good left in it

Actually, I was thinking you could keep yours for spares.