MattFL
ArboristSite Lurker
I've got a couple of Poulan 40-something cc 18" saws that I've had for a number of years. For light duty use they run well and cut fine, but for major cutting they both will overheat and quit until they cool off. For example, we had to remove a large cedar tree and after several minutes of full throttle cutting they act as if they're running very lean, and if you don't keep them revving they will stall and refuse to restart until they have cooled down. Then once cool they start and run fine again, and the process repeats. This makes for a very long day. I'm in S. Florida, ambient temps are typically in the 80's and 90's. I'm not sure if the fuel is boiling or if it's electrical, but both saws do it so I'm guessing it's a characteristic of the design. Does anyone know what is actually happening, or if there is a modification or fix? I've recently acquired a Stihl that I'm hoping won't have this problem (haven't used it yet), but these saws cut fine for occasional use so it would be nice to get them working more reliably.