Poulan Pro 5020 - Anyone Seen One?

[zogger]

I might actually consider that. I'm working on the axes and hatchets right now. I finally have a good hatchet and two good axes. I'm working on a double headed axe as well that should be good for limbing/debarking/scarring neighbors when they show up in my yard and I'm splitting wood with a double headed axe while wearing chainmail armor.

I made the mistake of suiting up and engaging in swordplay with an experienced (and much bigger than me) SCA member one time...got my clock cleaned within seconds...dang that hurt.....really, like about three seconds tops between "Lay on"! and me going "Yield"!

First, only and last time I ever did that.

 

[Erik1]

Ok, so I picked one of these up at the Flea last week, well actually the Craftsman version. Looked like the handle got run over by a truck. But for $50 I figured what the heck; it was barely used otherwise. Went to searspartsdirect and was pleased to find almost all the parts are already available...and dirt cheap. I'm talking $8 pistons. So for $36 including shipping, I've got the handle, trigger kit, and tune-up parts coming. Started taking it apart this weekend to clean it up and see what makes it tick. I've got to say it pretty much looks like a Husky on the inside. Almost every plastic part has a Husqvarna logo on it, the muffler and ignition (Walbro) look like off-the-shelf Husky parts. Carb is a Zama. And not only is the clutch cover/inertia brake assembly the same as a Husky, the bar mount appears to be Husky also. Check out the pictures:

View attachment 220641View attachment 220642View attachment 220643

Black bar is the Poulan/Craftsman PP5020; Gray bar is for a Poulan PP330 K041 mount for comparison. I don't have a Husqvarna bar laying around to compare it too, but it sure looks like it to me. The clutch and sprocket look like standard Poulan parts though. My Poulan 31116 tool takes the clutch off. Sprocket is a 7-tooth with a roller bearing. The oil pump also looks like a standard Poulan affair - direct drive off the crankshaft, non-adjustable, mostly plastic. I peeked in the cylinder when I was taking the clutch off; it does appear to be chrome-plated. I'll post some more pics and any other things I find out in a bit.

 

[Erik1]

Some more pics of the saw:

 

[Chris-PA]

Some more pics of the saw:

Cool - looks good, thanks for the pictures!

 

[WillBrayJr]

I'm quite surprised this model is getting the praise that it is. Maybe Poulan has stepped up their game after realizing their recent offerings are garbage. Who knows, maybe I'll buy one when I have the extra cash. If I think it's a good product then I'll keep it and say so. If it's just another POS, I'll say so then put it Craigslist and sell it some sucker as the greatest thing since sliced bread. I wouldn't be surprised that it comes with one of those ridiculous "safety" chains.

 

[joecool85]

I'm quite surprised this model is getting the praise that it is. Maybe Poulan has stepped up their game after realizing their recent offerings are garbage. Who knows, maybe I'll buy one when I have the extra cash. If I think it's a good product then I'll keep it and say so. If it's just another POS, I'll say so then put it Craigslist and sell it some sucker as the greatest thing since sliced bread. I wouldn't be surprised that it comes with one of those ridiculous "safety" chains.

That would make sense, I mean, hey, Husqvarna, Stihl and Echo do it with their consumer grade saws...

 

[joecool85]

Sorry I meant nose. When switching from .325 to .375 you have to do it on a replaceable nose style(power match). The end radius on a bars without replaceable noses are not the same from .325 to .375 so they wouldn't work correctly if you just changed out the sprockets. On a prolite the sprocket is replaceable in the tip but only with the same size that came out.

Could I use the 16" version, 160RNBK041 ? I'm thinking if I go with a shorter bar I may as well go as short as I can while still maintaining usefulness. Plus I'll keep the stock 22" in case I need it.

 

[Vibes]

I saw several of those Craftsman versions on Ebay this weekend getting sold off from one of those places that sells off Sears return merchandise. They looked like they were probably used to make a few cuts then returned on the Sears loaner program. They were selling for cheap.

I think they do have safety chain but what would you expect from a Sears saw. I had to run safety on my Craftsman professional last week cause I orderered the wrong size loop of 20 LP from Baileys. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. I haven't used safety chain for quite a while.

 

[joecool85]

I think they do have safety chain but what would you expect from a Sears saw. I had to run safety on my Craftsman professional last week cause I orderered the wrong size loop of 20 LP from Baileys. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. I haven't used safety chain for quite a while.

If it's sharp, it'll cut.

 

[Vibes]

If it's sharp, it'll cut.


Yea I know. I got 3 truckloads of Asplundh wood that was lying on the side of the road cut up with it this weekend. Like I said I was just trying out my new bar and gut the wrong size chain. The bar says 56 drivers, but the saw takes 57. I ran the 18inch safety chain down to the saw shop and had him remove some links so I could run it over the weekend.

If your looking for a good cheap saw, keep an eye out for those yellow Craftsman Pro. 40cc models. They are really nice saws. I put a 16 inch bar on it and replaced the intenz bar with a chain adjuster. You can still run the intenz 18 incher with a chain adjuster but I just wanted the 16. They are a better saw than the Ryobi even though they have the same engine. It has carb screws instead of the pac man adjusters. No primer bulb either.

I'm wondering if I can get a driver added to that 30 LP CHAIN.

 

[IQRaceworks]

Just saw this thread...I know it's old, but I thought I would chime in.

I picked up one of the Poulan Pro 5020's about 5 months ago. Since then, I've probably ran 20+ tanks of fuel through it felling lots of 8"-14" trees, and then cutting them up into firewood. After I broken it in with a few tanks of fuel, I adjusted the carb a little, sharpened the Vanguard chain (its' ok, but could be better), but other than that...I haven't had to mess with it. I just feed it fuel, and oil.....and run it.. For what I do with it, it's been a great saw. It's got plenty of power, and I'm glad I didn't spend double the price on a Stihl of the same size. People may bad-mouth Poulans.....but this saw has been an awesome saw for the money. I've heard that the 5020's are made at the Husky factory....but I'm not sure much truth there is to that.

Overall...it's a great saw for the money.

 

[rsmn]

Checked around online for prices.Amazon $199, Ace hard.$201, sears,$398.What's up with sears?

I've been looking for an inexpensive saw that is decent with an anti-vibe feature. I've struck out on ones from garage sales and CL here, either they are hammered and need $$ or they are just too much $$ compared to new.

Pricewise, Menards carries the PP5020 and they are having an 11% off sale until Saturday. That puts the price at about $179 +tax.

Local Sears doesn't carry at the store and they didn't have any in their outlet/repair center area either, but they did have a factory refurb PP4218AVX for $115 in store, or $109.98
online (free shipping) and a PP3516AVX for $104 in store. Cases are $15 extra.

Sears has the 5020 for $189, but it looks to be online order only. 50 cc 20" Gas Chain Saw - Case Included- Craftsman-Lawn & Garden-Handheld Power Tools-Chain Saws

All the other craftsman saws in the outlet looked like a version of a 4218, but with out the anti-vibe feature and they were priced at $139.

 

[rms61moparman]

I've been looking for an inexpensive saw that is decent with an anti-vibe feature. I've struck out on ones from garage sales and CL here, either they are hammered and need $$ or they are just too much $$ compared to new.

Pricewise, Menards carries the PP5020 and they are having an 11% off sale until Saturday. That puts the price at about $179 +tax.

Local Sears doesn't carry at the store and they didn't have any in their outlet/repair center area either, but they did have a factory refurb PP4218AVX for $115 in store, or $109.98
online (free shipping) and a PP3516AVX for $104 in store. Cases are $15 extra.

Sears has the 5020 for $189, but it looks to be online order only. 50 cc 20" Gas Chain Saw - Case Included- Craftsman-Lawn & Garden-Handheld Power Tools-Chain Saws

All the other craftsman saws in the outlet looked like a version of a 4218, but with out the anti-vibe feature and they were priced at $139.

Run don't walk away from anything that says AVX!!!
The toolless chain adjusters on them SUK!
You can convert them back to the "good old fashioned" technology if you can get one cheap enough. Don't worry about spending the extra $$$ for the 4218. The engine is exactly the same in both the 4218 and the 3516.


Mike

 

[Chris-PA]

That metal clutch cover on the 5020 is a big attraction to me. Clutch covers are too likely to be exposed to heat and mechanical damage, and they're cantilevered off the two bar studs off the front - that's tough duty for plastic, and warping is often the result. The plastic clutch cover on my little 32cc Mac has two screws at the back - a little extra hardware to turn when changing chains but no big deal, and a lot of extra support. Plastic clutch covers/chainbrakes have been the most often replaced parts on my Poulans.

 

[Keith E.]

I ran a little less that three tanks through one that a friend of mine had a couple of months ago. It cranked easy, cut the wood. I've got no complaints.

Keith

 

[Jon1212]

So would this be the coveted saw? I was thinking about getting this for a loaner/ helper saw.

Chainsaw

 

[zogger]

So would this be the coveted saw? I was thinking about getting this for a loaner/ helper saw.

Chainsaw

Looks like it

 

[rsmn]

Run don't walk away from anything that says AVX!!!
The toolless chain adjusters on them SUK!
You can convert them back to the "good old fashioned" technology if you can get one cheap enough. Don't worry about spending the extra $$$ for the 4218. The engine is exactly the same in both the 4218 and the 3516.


Mike

Thanks for the heads up.

Looks like the cover from the PP4218AVHD (along with a nut or two) would be the replacement for the toolless adjuster on the 4218AVX or 3516AVX...is that correct? Any other covers fit?

Also, another question: How are the oilers on these Poulans? Are they decent (I'm assuming they will be non-adjustable) or are they going to drip out during storage?

 

[rsmn]

So would this be the coveted saw? I was thinking about getting this for a loaner/ helper saw.

Chainsaw

That looks like a great deal.

 

[joecool85]

Looks like it

How can you tell? I can't without seeing the other side of the saw.