Small Poulan Chainsaws - Advice Please

leeave96

16 years ago

I am thinking about buying a small Poulan chainsaw for some brush clearing - something a little easier on my back!

The model I am considering is the Poulan Pro PP3516AVX. It has a 35cc engine and a 16 inch bar. About $140ish at Lowes.

Here is a link to the saw:

http://www.poulan.com/poulanpro/viewProductDetails.do?productID=161

Anyone have and use a smaller Poulan or Poulan Pro chainsaw?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill

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Comments (4)

lkbum_gw
16 years ago
I have the Poulan "Wild thing" which is similar but with 40cc engine and 18" bar (see link). Very pleased with this product, starts easy, good muffler, agreesive cut, has always run smooth. I've had it 5 or 6 years.

Here is a link that might be useful: poulan wild thing
rcmoser
16 years ago
I am very happy with my 14" woodshark model 1950, IMO you wouldn't need the "16 model. The 14" will be alittle lighter and eaiser to get around the brush. Mine is 7 years old and still looks and runs like new. But, I never put it away dirty, check chain tension, and always hit the chain a few times with a file after use. IMO that way it's ready to go again when I need it.
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Richard , It,s been a while since my last post on this thread (Ewalk) As for Poulans they are light weight saw unit . If you maintain them religiously you will receive adequate service . If not then they will give you headaches lol. They are designed for light cutting requirements. !st you must ensure clean fresh fuel with adequate fuel conditioner due to ethanol fouling issues. You have not indicated how often you cut or how old your saw is . They primary failing of the previous saws complaints within this thread are in my opinion weak ignition modules causing irratic spark . Other than that compression or lack there of will cause hard starting and loss of power during prolonged cutting. I would start with cleaning your carb since fuel starvation is a basic cause . Also ensure you have adequate blue spark prior to cleaning carb . You must service your air filter and fuel filter seasonally or as required dependant on the hours of use . To summerize , check fuel , plug , filters , compression and clean carb . If unit does not start get back to us ...Chow !... aka formerly Ewalk
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There's no way Poulan is making anybody else's saw of quality. Ryobi chainsaws are manufacured by HomeLite I believe. Husq supposedly makes Craftsman saws, but they must be made to Sear's lower grade specs regardless of price. Know nothing about Jonsered and can't even find a price. Stihl is of course the brand most of us hear of and Echo is a good brand down at the Depot. Got a Husq 235e from Tractor Supply but returned it because it was missing a part which went between the outer shell casing and the main piece. A black plastic piece belonged there so it never closed right once opened. The inertia bar wouldn't engage properly. Checked eBay for Echo's but the manufacturer wouldn't stand behind any reseller. Sears of all places had a sale on Husqvarna 445: 50 off retail, 25 bonus reduction, free shipping + taxes beats 429 for a Stilh for the homeowner like me.
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I have Husqvarna 235E that doesn't seem to oil right. With a new chain it cuts a few logs. After each sharpening of cuts fewer. I have sharpened other saws without problems. I keep thinking the oil is sparse so after trying everything else, I removed the oil pump. There is supposed to be some kind of nozzle on the end of the oil pickup tube that goes into the oil tank. When I pulled the oil pickup tube no nozzle was there. I don't know if it is missing or came off in the rubber lined hole. I can't see it. Any idea how I can determine if the nozzle is in there and whether or not a missing oil pickup nozzle would cause my chain problems. The saw is a reconditioned one.
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From what you listed, I'd buy the Stihl in a heartbeat. However, I would also really consider an Echo CS-306. You can get them at homedepot for $200, they have the same size 30cc engine as the 170, but only weigh 7.5lbs. The stihl weighs 8.6 lbs. The Echo also carries a 5 year warranty, and they are good solid machines, made in the USA. What I would recommend is go and handle both saws, then decide which one you feel more comfortable with and buy that one. For what you are doing almost any saw will be ok, so long as you take care of it. This means running good quality oil in the appropriate ratio, mid grade or premium fuel, keep the saw clean, the chain tight (not overtight), sharp and the bar oil full. Also, and this one is huge, don't leave the saw full of gas if it is going to sit more than a month. Drain the fuel, then start the saw till it runs out of gas (it will run for a couple seconds off the fuel in the line). And don't forget to wear protection. At minimum hearing protection and eye protection, but you really should wear chaps as well. Good luck, and happy sawing!
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johninmd
16 years ago
I bought a 16 " 2.3 cu in "poulan" from Sears about 20 years ago, so did my cousin, both still run fine, He recently bought a "Wild Thing" poulan, the oiler quit in one season's use. My brother also had a Wild Thing, and i don't remember for sure what happened, but i know it was nothing but problems.
Maybe a few bad apples, i dunno, looks like others have had ok luck with the newer ones. I think the thing is now, its like everything else, you get what you pay for if you are lucky, it will work a long time, if not, it quits day after warranty runs out.
johntommybob
16 years ago
I live out in the country on about 12 acres. I cut a lot of firewood, and have done some clearing from time to time. Last year I cut down and cut up about 40 Pines trees the pine beetles had killed. Some were pretty big.

In the time I have lived here (about 31 years) I have owned 2 Poulan chain saws. the one I have now I guess I have owned more than ten years. It's a sixteen inch model as was the one before it. Both were bullet proof saws. I Have repaced the bar on the current one once, and the chain maybe three times, maybe twice.

You can cut up a pretty good size tree into fire blocks with a sixteen inch saw if you need too, and I have needed too more than a few times: the secret being to keep it really sharp. You need to learn how to do that.

I keep thinking I need to buy a new saw, but like the energizer bunny, the thing just keeps going and going.

I can't speak to how good the new models are.

JTB

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Small Poulan Chainsaws - Advice Please

Comments (4)

lkbum_gw

rcmoser

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