Thought id make one for these new plastic saws and honestly i dont think there a to bad of saw for the price, certainly no echo or stihl but they aint to bad, so lets talk about them starting with the model pn3414 :chainsawguy:
Modern Poulan Thread
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WillBrayJr
ArboristSite Guru
Unfortunately modern gas powered Poulans are BAD. Their electric products are decent though.
I had a WoodShark in 2001 because it was all I could afford. I used a few gas powered Chainsaws before but NEVER had to lock the throttle to get one to start. Even with adjusting the Carb it just wouldn't idle. Bought it at Wal-Mart for $75 and got that much when I sold it at a Garage Sale.
The funny thing is that I have a Poulan sitting right here infront of me in the Living Room as I type this. However it was made in the 1980s and much better than the current garbage Poulan puts out.
I had a WoodShark in 2001 because it was all I could afford. I used a few gas powered Chainsaws before but NEVER had to lock the throttle to get one to start. Even with adjusting the Carb it just wouldn't idle. Bought it at Wal-Mart for $75 and got that much when I sold it at a Garage Sale.
The funny thing is that I have a Poulan sitting right here infront of me in the Living Room as I type this. However it was made in the 1980s and much better than the current garbage Poulan puts out.
on my mates new (plastic) poulan we gave it a muffler mod, retuned carby and tightened the screws that go through the carby into the cylinder that came loose which was why it was such a prick to run out of the box but now that saw screams off its head and for $210aus i wouldnt mind buying one for a spare
WillBrayJr
ArboristSite Guru
I suppose I could use one of the modern Poulans to scare people on Halloween. Could use them as Boat Anchors too. Not to mention Wall Hangers
They HATE me more than my wife does. I can turn them away when folks drag them into the shop, but it costs too much to send the wife down the road!
Seriously, they aren't worth the trouble to mess with once they start giving troubles, IMHO. I even had ZERO success trying to get the famed Poulan 330 to find a home in my line-up. My experience with all of their saws made in recent years is not good, and I have considerable experience with these things.
If you want cheap "plastic" stuff, get an Echo, they are EXCELLENT little saws for the money......Cliff
Seriously, they aren't worth the trouble to mess with once they start giving troubles, IMHO. I even had ZERO success trying to get the famed Poulan 330 to find a home in my line-up. My experience with all of their saws made in recent years is not good, and I have considerable experience with these things.
If you want cheap "plastic" stuff, get an Echo, they are EXCELLENT little saws for the money......Cliff
WillBrayJr
ArboristSite Guru
Chainsaws are popular at Haunted Houses here, and if the people there can run around with them than why can't I? Oh wait a minute, I did when I was in my pre-teens. Seemed like the State Police paid me a visit twice a week during the Summer months back then. They're not going to lock up a 6 year old though.
Vibes
Addicted to ArboristSite
I think those new Poulans are really hit or miss. May be the ones made on Friday or Monday are trash.
My buddy has a newer Crapsman as his truck saw and another in the shed at camp and they really aren't to bad of saws. My other freind has a 4260 Poulan Pro and that thing never ran right out of the box. If that thing was mine it would go to a GTG as one of those who can throw it the farthest contests. I've broken the starter twice on it and should never have fixed it the first time.
On the other hand, I work with a guy who has a 5 year old red and green Poulan Woodshark I think that has cut a lot of wood. Go figure
I would stay far from them. Go with a small Efco or Red Max. Real good plastic saws in my opinion.
My buddy has a newer Crapsman as his truck saw and another in the shed at camp and they really aren't to bad of saws. My other freind has a 4260 Poulan Pro and that thing never ran right out of the box. If that thing was mine it would go to a GTG as one of those who can throw it the farthest contests. I've broken the starter twice on it and should never have fixed it the first time.
On the other hand, I work with a guy who has a 5 year old red and green Poulan Woodshark I think that has cut a lot of wood. Go figure
I would stay far from them. Go with a small Efco or Red Max. Real good plastic saws in my opinion.
joecool85
Addicted to ArboristSite
Never did get that quite right eh? That's too bad. I love my 330, but I've only cut a dozen hours or so on it so far.
JustinM
Addicted to ArboristSite
I think you may be on to something here.
I bought a 3416 as my very first saw when I bought my acreage. At the time i KNEW it was a toy & I knew it wasnt going to be with me long - I simply had no experience with Chainsaws & bought it in order to understand what to be looking for (hellooooo anti-vibration) and what to watch out for in a saw. I still consider it to be a good $125 investment because it DID show me all I needed to know.
The funny thing is, several years later, that little 3416 still starts and runs like a champ. Ive never had to do anything to it (aside from adjusting idle a hair) but it starts EVERY time, 2 pulls, and runs and idles well. The downside is that its still a POS and takes the better part of your lifetime to cut a single cord of wood.
Obviously i dont run it much & Im actully currently in negotiations with the local pawn shop to trade it try to work down the price on a husky, but for what it is, its ok. Not great, but ok. On the flipside, I have a Poulan Pro 4620, which is their current "top of the line" saw and, frankly, it ain't half bad. If you ever find yourself acquiring one (i got mine free) first thing you need to do is remember that no self respecting 46cc saw should be pulling a 20" bar. I have a 14" on mine. It runs nicely, has surprisingly good antivibe and cuts just fine as a limber. I dont think id ever pay full price for one, but at a garage sale or something, its not something Id totally dismiss.
sunfish
Fish Head
I was a die-hard Poulan fan for over 20 years, until I got my first Husky in 2001.
Older Poulans are fine saws though.
Older Poulans are fine saws though.
"Never did get that quite right eh? That's too bad. I love my 330, but I've only cut a dozen hours or so on it so far."
Nope, we gave it a good run, but after 3 different 330's all giving me troubles I couldn't sort out, I gave up on them. There were some lengthy threads running on my efforts, and of course, PLENTY of grumbling from the Poulan "cult" following, etc. FWIW, my troubles were all idle/stalling related, they ran fine in the cut, but not overly impressive for the weight, just decent. I don't cut for fun, and want dead-solid-reliable equipment when I head to the woods. The Poulan's didn't fall into that catagory, so they are no longer around.
I'm sure they made some good stuff at one point. Most of the modern department store stuff is disposable, IMHO. I get Crapsman and Walmart Poulan's brought in here from time to time, hate to see them coming, to be perfectly honest......Cliff
Nope, we gave it a good run, but after 3 different 330's all giving me troubles I couldn't sort out, I gave up on them. There were some lengthy threads running on my efforts, and of course, PLENTY of grumbling from the Poulan "cult" following, etc. FWIW, my troubles were all idle/stalling related, they ran fine in the cut, but not overly impressive for the weight, just decent. I don't cut for fun, and want dead-solid-reliable equipment when I head to the woods. The Poulan's didn't fall into that catagory, so they are no longer around.
I'm sure they made some good stuff at one point. Most of the modern department store stuff is disposable, IMHO. I get Crapsman and Walmart Poulan's brought in here from time to time, hate to see them coming, to be perfectly honest......Cliff
well my mate bought it for clearing pine trees and for that it does the job quiet well but its the kinda saw that you can buy 3 of in terms of price to compared a stihl so its basically work it throw it away and buy another sort of set up and dont have to worry about paying big stihl bills if it ever needs parts also after a while he might have enough dead poulans to build a few more but anyway for the money and what his doing its a fair game
Been working a couple for some years- 2400 and 2150. Neither are potential heirlooms, but they can be worked pretty hard and cost little. If they go "poof" the bars/chains fit lots of other models.
The 3400 is another story.
The 3400 is another story.
WillBrayJr
ArboristSite Guru
$85 just to mount a Bar and Chain, That's a rip-off when theowner can do it for free. $210for a modern Poulan that's as reliable as a car without an engine:jawdrop:Maybe your Country doesn't have regulations like the States does.
Could be right....have a 2150 that just runs and has worked well for yard clean up, a PP221 that was possessed by some demon and refused to restart hot, and my 4620 that was my first mod job that runs. They are junk, but picking on them here is kinda like making fun of Aveo on the BMW website.:dunno:
Absolutely and without question the two WORST saws I ever owned were "re-badged" Poulan's. One was a Husqvarna 141, years before I knew they where they came from.
That saw was "possessed" as well. Average number of pulls to start it cold was about 30. It ran OK, but went into some sort of "vapor lock" or overheating problem about 1/2 to 2/3rd into every tank. You could FORGET about running it in hot/humid weather. Don't even think about getting it to start hot, or after re-fueling. The oil worked when it felt like it, which like my 30 year old son still living at home, wasn't very often! It was anemic in the cut, not impressive anyplace for power or cutting speed. Pretty much a disgrace to the Husqvarna line-up of chainsaws...what were they thinking?
I hate to even mention the little Sears saw we bought to cut out vents in floors back when I worked in my dad's Heating and Cooling business. We figured having a little saw would be helpful on new homes where we didn't have temporary power. It was a POS in every respect, not worth the fuel it cost to get it home from the store......Cliff
That saw was "possessed" as well. Average number of pulls to start it cold was about 30. It ran OK, but went into some sort of "vapor lock" or overheating problem about 1/2 to 2/3rd into every tank. You could FORGET about running it in hot/humid weather. Don't even think about getting it to start hot, or after re-fueling. The oil worked when it felt like it, which like my 30 year old son still living at home, wasn't very often! It was anemic in the cut, not impressive anyplace for power or cutting speed. Pretty much a disgrace to the Husqvarna line-up of chainsaws...what were they thinking?
I hate to even mention the little Sears saw we bought to cut out vents in floors back when I worked in my dad's Heating and Cooling business. We figured having a little saw would be helpful on new homes where we didn't have temporary power. It was a POS in every respect, not worth the fuel it cost to get it home from the store......Cliff
ckelp
just being myself
i love my 35cc plasticity it slides around in the bed of my truck in the winter i consider it like my 30-30 behind the seat also i run whatever is in the tank (old gas)
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CGC4200
Addicted to ArboristSite
cylinders on newer Poulan Pro's
I have an older PP260 I use when fuel might be getting old and other risky
business. That last generation had durachrome engines with an an aluminum
piston and anti-vibe springs, have no idea about 4218's, they may be a
strato-charged design too.
I have an older PP260 I use when fuel might be getting old and other risky
business. That last generation had durachrome engines with an an aluminum
piston and anti-vibe springs, have no idea about 4218's, they may be a
strato-charged design too.
