Nik's Poulan Thread

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All 3700’s I’ve seen were thin ringed and chrome bore. Also had a black filter cover with air slits. As an aside, several years ago we had a discussion here if a 3400 would run better with a 3700 filter cover. I have two red craftsman, one is a thin ringed chrome bore 3700 and the other a thick ringed bare bore 3800. I just think Poulan used varying parts for the Craftsman brand. Now,

To through another question out there, kinda along the same line. Back in about 1990, when the Poulan Pro line of saws came out, right after the merger of Pioneer/Poulan, and went to the new black/gold colors. Poulans older big saws, 6900, 7700 ,8500 disappeared, along with 3400, 3700, 3800, 4000 etc. They came out with the 375 & 395, both clearly new versions of the 3700 & 4000. So I'm assuming they still had 3700 & 4000 piston/cyl. supplies in stock, to make these "new models". They also had another saw called a 385, which to my knowledge, no one has ever seen. LOL Have seen it listed in IPL's etc. But not in real life. Not even a picture of one. Could that possibly have been a 3800 continuation? I cant think of what could be so different between a 375 & 395 to constitute another model designation. Maybe the elusive 385 was a thick ring, bare bore saw,. Who knows?

Gregg,
That's what I lean toward is that it was a thick ringed 3800 but until this saw shows up on a bench (which I'm guessing it won't) we will never really know Gregg.
 
To through another question out there, kinda along the same line. Back in about 1990, when the Poulan Pro line of saws came out, right after the merger of Pioneer/Poulan, and went to the new black/gold colors. Poulans older big saws, 6900, 7700 ,8500 disappeared, along with 3400, 3700, 3800, 4000 etc. They came out with the 375 & 395, both clearly new versions of the 3700 & 4000. So I'm assuming they still had 3700 & 4000 piston/cyl. supplies in stock, to make these "new models". They also had another saw called a 385, which to my knowledge, no one has ever seen. LOL Have seen it listed in IPL's etc. But not in real life. Not even a picture of one. Could that possibly have been a 3800 continuation? I cant think of what could be so different between a 375 & 395 to constitute another model designation. Maybe the elusive 385 was a thick ring, bare bore saw,. Who knows?

Gregg,

I have the 375 and 395 but like you mentioned have never seen a 385. It does make you wonder if they ever really produced one.
 
I seem to recall, and my memory is not great anymore, that ModifiedMark, back some years ago saying the same thing, about not ever seeing a 385. He had a theory as to why or whatever, but cant recall. He had a lot more history knowledge of Poulan, than me. I want to say that maybe the 385 had something to do with the Canadian market, or Australian, or maybe I'm just dreaming, most likely. Maybe had a chain brake ?
Any case, I would love to see one.

On a side note, What carb is used on a 395? My 375 has the Zama C3. All other Poulan saws in that class had Walbros, that I know of.

Gregg,
 
Todd's been quiet for a while hope he's ok.
Strange for him to MIA.

Enjoying this oddball model talk. I love getting into the history of it. Id like to know what prompted the decision to kill the big counter vibes
Seen him posting on FB not long ago. Few days back.
 
Need some tips here. I’ve got a poulan farm pro 375 with a rusted up crank. I need to remove the piston and install the piston on a 3400 or 3800 crank. It looks like the piston pin is pressed in. Any tips on removing it without damaging anything? Thanks


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Member Duke Thieroff (sawsalvage.com) had built up an inexpensive tool assembly, modified from a Caronachina ATV puller set, to pull the WP off & reinstall it using an allen or cap head screw.

Search his website for “wrist pin tool”. The tool & a propane torch on the small con rod end works best. Fleabay store name is “thedukesawparts”, & no I’m not a sponsor.

A hammer, drift punch, & heat alone makes it difficult to position it at the correct depth on re-assembly.

"I have a potty mouth"!

 
Need some tips here. I’ve got a poulan farm pro 375 with a rusted up crank. I need to remove the piston and install the piston on a 3400 or 3800 crank. It looks like the piston pin is pressed in. Any tips on removing it without damaging anything? Thanks


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The best way to do the job is with a tool made for the job. This one is a Poulan tool that I bought off Ebay years ago, but didn't have the" bushings " needed for the piston pin & sleeve insert. Nik, our threads namesake, was a machinist, and was kind enough to make a couple for me. The tool works great!! You can try to make one, which I tried early on, it worked, but was a struggle. Somebody with more ability and patience, could make a better one. I'll include pics of the real thing and the crappy one i made, so you can get some ideas as to whats needed.

Both the pin and the sleeve are pressed in and out, no heat required. First time I tried this job, before I had a tool of any kind, I just used hammer and punch. The trouble with that is holding the piston and or rod firmly and not bending something out of whack. Having the right tool, its a very easy smooth job.

Poulan Piston Tool 001.jpgPoulan Piston Tool 003.jpg100_0278.JPG

Gregg,
 
I seem to recall, and my memory is not great anymore, that ModifiedMark, back some years ago saying the same thing, about not ever seeing a 385. He had a theory as to why or whatever, but cant recall. He had a lot more history knowledge of Poulan, than me. I want to say that maybe the 385 had something to do with the Canadian market, or Australian, or maybe I'm just dreaming, most likely. Maybe had a chain brake ?
Any case, I would love to see one.

On a side note, What carb is used on a 395? My 375 has the Zama C3. All other Poulan saws in that class had Walbros, that I know of.

Gregg,

Greg the 385 was a 395 setup as a bow saw. I have seen them and a while back knew where 2 of them were. And the 395 being a later model had the same Zama as your 375 on them. The one I had certainly did.
 
Funny, I’ve been using my 3.7 (one of my first carb jobs) a lot lately. I have thinned out a lot of saws. But this is one of a few that stays put. I hadn’t used it in a few years. Fired right up but pi$$ed fuel out from the top. The lines I ran 10 years ago shrunk so I ran a new one and re tuned. Had a good 20” bar and mostly sharp loop of rsc on it. Ran right thru some bar deep frozen red oak. All stock but a 4000 intake and one of marks 5200 style mufflers160 psi. I’ve had 3800 and 3400 saws and these thin ring saws are noticeably stronger. When I had my 4000s I couldn’t tell the difference and those were tight saws.
Found a cool coke bottle from
The 80s and a nice blue quart Ball jar.40EC015B-4DFD-48FB-BCEB-60DADF38F8B4.jpeg9A419FBC-244A-4AA6-88FC-AF95650B19FD.jpeg2B19604E-A1D1-4731-A4AB-0E42BC39DB35.jpeg
 
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