Poulan Saws which one's are the keepers?

[Chris J.]

I was just looking for this old thread I started a while ago and got to reading it. I am going to go on a search for 3400,4200,4900, 5200 5400, or an 8500 my question is if I could get any of these which is easy to get parts for and which one would you want to own?

You should avoid any and all Craftsman 4.2 and/or 5.2 chainsaws like you would a $5.00 hooker with an adam's apple.

Instead, send them to me for proper quarantine (the chainsaws, not the hookers ).

 

[Jeff Lary]

The easiest is the 3400, then the 3800, then the 3700, then the 4200, then the rest. If you want a very nice 3400, some on here, including myself can hook up up with a nice one. If you're an east coaster, the bigger ones are harder to land in my experience.

Well I really dont "need" a saw I "want" a saw (see the clever way I worked that out) I dont want some one to give up a nice saw for me.I just wanted a project for the winter.We have a wanted magazine here wher I can post an ad. I was just wondering which ones I should search for. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Jeff Lary]

Don't rule out the 3700 series either, just picked this one up tonight at a pawn shop. Sorry for the crappy picture.

Now is that one going to say Poulan on it? or is it made for someone else hence the red not green paint?

 

[Chris J.]

Now is that one going to say Poulan on it? or is it made for someone else hence the red not green paint?

The image that Guido posted is a Craftsman 3.7 which is a rebadged Poulan 3700, which should not be confused with the Craftsman 3.7 that is a rebadged Roper. The Craftsman 4.2 & 5.2 that I previously mentioned are the Poulan 4200 & 5200, respectively.

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/151393.htm

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/149518.htm

 

[Jeff Lary]

The image that Guido posted is a Craftsman 3.7 which is a rebadged Poulan 3700, which should not be confused with the Craftsman 3.7 that is a rebadged Roper. The Craftsman 4.2 & 5.2 that I previously mentioned are the Poulan 4200 & 5200, respectively.

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/151393.htm

http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/149518.htm

So how would I know a craftsman roper from a craftsman poulan?

 

[Chris J.]

So how would I know a craftsman roper from a craftsman poulan?

On the Craftsman 3.7/Poulan, the lower rear handle is the easiest way to tell (see photos). The Roper-made 3.7 underwent several design changes, but it never looked like the Poulan-made 3.7.

 

[Guido Salvage]

If no one else does, I will post Roper pictures tonight.

 

[Jeff Lary]

If no one else does, I will post Roper pictures tonight.

Ok so Chris just posted 2 photos of the same saw correct? different views right.

 

[Chris J.]

Ok so Chris just posted 2 photos of the same saw correct? different views right.

Yes, that's my Craftsman 3.7 (Poulan 3700). The exposed support bar (officially the spacer - isolator) between the anti-vibe mounts (officially the isolators) is one clear way to ID certain Poulan models that were rebadged as Craftsman. Once you see a few Roper 3.7s, it's easy to distinguish it from the Poulan 3.7s. I don't have any photos of any Craftsman/Roper saws; hopefully Gary will post some.

 

[Guido Salvage]

Since no one else stepped up, here are a couple of pictures of Roper built Craftsman saws. These are the earlier versions:

These are the later ones:

The Poulan built 3.7's came in red:

As well as gray:

I have run both of my newer Roper built saws and they cut fairly well.

 

[Jeff Lary]

thanks, so Isolater av means Poulan , Solid cast rear handle roper

 

[user 64030]

How about:

306
3800
5200 (bottom-end only)
25 DA
a beige/faded green (???) "Skill Saw" that looks identical to the 25 DA
2300
Micro XXV "Deluxe"

I know a guy that has all these setting on the floor of his garage.... :wink:


dw

 

[Chris J.]

How about:

306
3800
5200 (bottom-end only)
25 DA
a beige/faded green (???) "Skill Saw" that looks identical to the 25 DA
2300
Micro XXV "Deluxe"

I know a guy that has all these setting on the floor of his garage.... :wink:


dw

I know a guy that would be interested in all of those saws....
I know a guy who happens to be just about broke....

If you post that list of saws in the Poulan stickie, you'll have some folks interested in those saws.

 

[Acornhill]

back to the top, over two years since a posting, I will feed it.

 

[Acornhill]

here are a few

 

[Jeff Lary]

those must be rare up around maine I have never seen any black and green Poulans ever. nice looking one tho

 

[singletrack100]

I was just bored tonight on fire assignment in CA so I got to reading this... those Roper's Guido posted! My dad had one of those when I was a kid, first saw I ever ran. The thing was an utter piece of junk! In the shop all the time because it wouldn't start when hot after refueling- I remember it taking more than one flight through the woods after my dad threw it in disgust!

I ended up with it as a young man and same thing. I got good at estimating how long a tank of fuel would last and got pretty good at "hot-fueling" (fueling while it was still running)! It caught fire once doing this but I got it out and continued to use it for a few years, then dad gave me his Johnsered for a few years til I got my first Stihl! What memories!

 

[Jeff Lary]

That is the truth of a lot of old saws. You almost never hear anyone say stuff like that. My brother had an old McCulloch 10-10 and that did the same thing , and so did he. I remember one time after pulling on the saw for 5 min that he took it to the woods road and set it gently down there. The crank started the old Allis Chalmers Model B and calmly backed over the saw 2 or 3 times. Then after the saw sunk down into the muddy road he yanked it out and pulled it over and it started right up. From that point on he said on occasion he would take the saw to the rear wheel of the Allis and warn it. After a few applications of this the Saw , saw the light and behaved much better. I personally threw a Jonsereds 510 sp into the woods one time when I was about 18 did not help the saw much but sure felt great !!

 

[Guido Salvage]

Some eye candy for you...

More have been added since this picture was taken last year.

 

[Jeff Lary]

Jeepers...I will send you some simple green already. If you cant clean em up some you need to donate some...it's only fair. Nice collection