I would just replace the gas line first ans check the filter. it the gas line is as old as the saw it's probably cracked and leaking or sucking air. If you do replace the gas line it will take awhile for the gas to get pulled up to the carb and all the air worked out. use carb. spray some carb cleaner into the carb. with the trottle held wide open so the saw will run for a short time off the carb. cleaner and will help pull the gas and air out of the line IMO. Another thought is do you see any gas dripping from the saw either out the muffler or along the bottom below the carb.? The hard starting problem or no start can easily be troubleshoot by spraying a short 2 or 3 second blast of carb. cleaner down the carb. If it hits and runs a short time off the carb. cleaner you have a gas starvation problem. Don't worry about the carb. cleaner I do this all the time and have NEVER Damaged any of my equipment. Plus you get a side benifit cleaning action of the carb. cleaner being pulled through the engine. Another thought is it maybe flooding, when the saw gets flooded you will have the comb chamber, crankcase and spark plug coated with a thin layer of oil which will prevent it from sparking sometimes. If you remove the spark plug and it saturated with gas/oil mixture (and it should be if you put mixed gas in it) wash out the comb. chamber and spark plug by spray carb. cleaner into the spark plug hole and pull the rope several times till all the oil is washed out. now put the spark plug back in and start it. Last thought is the diaphram in the carb has a tiny hole or crack and it sucks air preventing it from pulling the gas through the carb. Old saws are like new born babies IMO you have to clean the crap out of them if you want them to run and be happy!

Like everybody else said, avoid any current production Poulan/Homelite/McCulloch like the plague. Complete junk. Sure, there are occasional people who have good experiences with them, but they are a definite minority. The Husqvarna 1xx series saws should be avoided, too. They are simply rebadged Poulans that Husqvarna provided some (limited) input on. They are better than Poulans, but not nearly as good as the true Husqvarnas. As I'm sure you're finding, at $200 you are at the very lowest price bracket for a decent saw. If there is any way to stretch your budget a bit, I would save/skrimp a bit. You will be much happier in the long run. For saws that are worth considering at $200 or less, Stihl's 180 is a good choice and it gets a good report from a lot of users. Just don't try to use it like a big saw. It is probably the best sub-$200 saw you'll find. Also, the tail-handle Echo saws like the CS346 (not the top handle ones, those are for use while in trees and not on the ground!!!) are extremely durable and will tolerate a great degree of neglect and still work. They are not extremely powerful, but they are as durable as can be. One point of critique and a quick solution: the internal-tensioner "Intenz" feature of the Echo-supplied bars is annoying and problematic. A conventional tensioner screw-and-pin can be obtained from any Echo dealer for about $7. It can be retrofitted to the saw in less than 2 minutes and used with the Intenz bar to make a much happier setup (just use this in place of using the Intenz feature to adjust the chain tension). Beyond that, if you can swing the extra dollars it a Stihl MS250 is a superb choice and will last the average homeowner a lifetime. It is an excellent saw for homeowner use and can be reasonably expected to run a 18" bar in a pinch (16" being a better everyday setup). It is the same physical size as the 210/230 saws, but packs a bit more oomph. If I was limited to one saw for homeowner-type uses and couldn't justify the cost of a pro-grade saw (like the Husqvarna 346, Stihl 260pro), the MS250 would be my choice. The Husqvarna 340 and 345 are also good little saws worth considering for your purposes, though I would give the edge in this size/power class to the Stihl MS250. And whatever you choose to buy, don't forget your protective gear - eye and ear protection, good gloves, and protective chainsaw chaps or pants. Seriously, don't skimp out on the leg protection. Sure, they cost a couple bucks, but they're a heck of a lot less expensive than having your leg sewn back up. For loads more chainsaw information, you might wish to look at the chainsaw forum at arboristsite.com.

I have found dirty pumps and filters to be my problems. Dirty due to sawdust getting into the bar oil tank while filling before cleaning or being careful. The PoulanÂs foam filters were easy to clean with the use of my Poulan manual. I could see the foam deteriorating if the saw is old enough. The saws with manual pumps and auto seems to work better because you can force oil through and prime the bar (when the pump is good and the filter is not too dirty). Some people will simply use a squirt can to add oil as needed or at least before good dia cut vs a bill on an old saw. One Logger told me he adds oils as if the oilier is not working period. Remember, some Craftsman are Poulan saws. Craftsman is only a brand vs a builder of a product. logger

I am not the best person to answer this since I was recently getting advise here and accidently disconnected something during my repair just like I suspect you are afraid that you might do too. However, while I am not familiar with your saw, I may as well start this thread off by pointing out that older saws were usually designed to be respectable tools rather than disposable items. Often, long stored small engines fail to run so you are already ahead in the game. While the more experienced here may suggest something else, I would expect that a piece of crud just jammed up one of your carburetor's main orifices, and there aren't many in a small carb. My point is that this is probably a simple repair. If you are in upstate NY you might want to look for a country shop that fixes big boy's toys like I did. If you were in North Carolina, I would have high hopes for you. The other approach would be to see if your son in law or some other family member would take a look at it for you.