Poulan Pro pp4818 chainsaw?

[Softdraw]

Does anyone here have any experience with this saw? I see a thread regarding the new pp5020, but I saw a pp4818 in Home Depot yesterday. It looks like the pp4818 is the 5020's little brother. I'm guessing the 4818 is a Husky designed saw that incorporates some of the Poulan features.

Yes, I know it's still a low end saw, but I could use another one.

 

[Chris-PA]

I believe you meant a PP4218, which is a 42cc saw. I do not have one. It is an evolution of the old PP260 saw, and I have a Craftsman that is very similar and which I like quite a bit. I would consider it more of a Poulan designed saw that incorporates some Husqvarna-corporate features.

It's a 42cc strato engine with a chrome bore, inboard clutch, a two arm chainbrake and A/V. I think they are a little heavier than some, but this seems to be typical with the extra hardware for the strato feature and the plastic chassis. It's a saw I would like to have, but my old ones run fine.

 

[Softdraw]

I believe you meant a PP4218, which is a 42cc saw. I do not have one. It is an evolution of the old PP260 saw, and I have a Craftsman that is very similar and which I like quite a bit. I would consider it more of a Poulan designed saw that incorporates some Husqvarna-corporate features.

It's a 42cc strato engine with a chrome bore, inboard clutch, a two arm chainbrake and A/V. I think they are a little heavier than some, but this seems to be typical with the extra hardware for the strato feature and the plastic chassis. It's a saw I would like to have, but my old ones run fine.

Thanks, but no, its a pp4818. I have a pp4218 that quit on me. The pp4818 looks very similar to the pp5020 someone else posted about. The engine is 48 cc's rather the 42 cc's you mentioned and I have.

You can see it on the Home Depot website. The cc difference is what prompted my thread.

But I do thank you for the response. I was beginning to wonder whether my post had been lost in cyberspace...

 

[WillBrayJr]

I'd buy the PP4218 Predator. It comes with a case, gloves, file, extra chain I believe, bar&chain oil, and 2-cycle oil. You do have to order it online but it's $13 less and includes free shipping.

 

[Chris-PA]

Well I'll be! I never saw that before nor heard of it discussed here. Near as I can tell the picture on the HD website is wrong - it shows a PP4218. Looking at the IPL it's clearly based on the 5020. I cannot tell if it uses 3/8 or 0.325" chain.

Given that one of the weaknesses of the 5020 is weight, and this does not appear to be much lighter, I would go with a 5020.

Actually, I'd rather have the PP4218 - I'd fix the one you have if it were me.

 

[Softdraw]

Well I'll be! I never saw that before nor heard of it discussed here. Near as I can tell the picture on the HD website is wrong - it shows a PP4218. Looking at the IPL it's clearly based on the 5020. I cannot tell if it uses 3/8 or 0.325" chain.

Given that one of the weaknesses of the 5020 is weight, and this does not appear to be much lighter, I would go with a 5020.

Actually, I'd rather have the PP4218 - I'd fix the one you have if it were me.

Thank you--I am not opposed to repairing the one I have, but I am not a mechanic and have neither the experience nor resources to fix it. However, I had a mechanic look at it and he said he thinks it has an air leak. Is that a problem that's fixable without a huge investment? I appreciate you taking the time to answer these simple questions.

 

[WillBrayJr]

Well I'll be! I never saw that before nor heard of it discussed here. Near as I can tell the picture on the HD website is wrong - it shows a PP4218. Looking at the IPL it's clearly based on the 5020. I cannot tell if it uses 3/8 or 0.325" chain.

Given that one of the weaknesses of the 5020 is weight, and this does not appear to be much lighter, I would go with a 5020.

Actually, I'd rather have the PP4218 - I'd fix the one you have if it were me.

The PP5020 doesn't have that goofy tool-less chain adjuster.

 

[Softdraw]

The PP5020 doesn't have that goofy tool-less chain adjuster.

The pp4818 I mentioned doesn't have the tool less adjuster, either. It looks like a smaller version of the 5020.

 

[Chris-PA]

The PP4218AV doesn't have it either, only the PP4218AVX

Usually air leaks are from crankshaft seals or the intake. However, the fuel lines on these Poulans have a reputation for deteriorating. That would be the first thing to look at. After that a good carb cleaning. You can inspect the piston and ring after removing the muffler - if those are scored it will lose compression.

 

[Softdraw]

The PP4218AV doesn't have it either, only the PP4218AVX

Usually air leaks are from crankshaft seals or the intake. However, the fuel lines on these Poulans have a reputation for deteriorating. That would be the first thing to look at. After that a good carb cleaning. You can inspect the piston and ring after removing the muffler - if those are scored it will lose compression.

Thank you. But is checking for those generally expensive?

Also, you were dead on about the weight of the pp4818. I checked it again today at Home Depot and it comes in at 14.2 pounds. The 5020 is 14.7 pounds, and the pp4218avx 11.something pounds.