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Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home?

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Butch

12-23-2003 04:46:05

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Do any of you have experience with the very cheap models of Poulan chain saws. I don't have a model number handy but they are just over $100 at TSC and have a 14 or 16" bar. Are there any known defects with these? It would be for my boys 14-15 who love to help me cut wood but my 036 Stihl is a bit too much saw for them, besides I like to run it myself. Just need something to tide them over for a few years until they are old enough to cut my wood for me while I watch, LOL. I have been watching my dealer for a good used Stihl or Husky in a smaller model but they just don't get traded in.

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JJButson

12-26-2003 20:50:03

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

I absolutely love mine and I agree with poulan and poulan and poulan then throw in the bushes. They are pretty much disposable I am on my third one in about 8 years. Much lighter and handier than a forty pound homelite. And for 50 bucks a year I will gladly replace every other year. Keep old ones around for partrs whem handle or recoil etc. break.

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Farmered

12-26-2003 02:26:01

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

I have one of those cheap gray 16" saws from Sears. If I had known at the time that it was a Poulon I probably wouldn't have brought it home. By the time I had that figured out I was happy with the saw. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I cut pallets in half or thirds to fit my outdoor woodstove. Hint: Have a half dozen extra chains and a wheel type grinder from HF. Years ago I heard that you poulon and poulon and poulon
and when it still doesn't start you 'tro it in the bushes and get a Homelite, but that was when Homelite made a good saw. Have a happy New Year.Ed

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treeboy

12-23-2003 17:45:05

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

now the boys are going to need: a pair of chaps & a hard hat w/ear muffs..for a birthday present a: file&joint chain sharping guild ps. the reason the little saws don't have spikes to force it into wood, if it aint sharp, no usee...also check with your local forestry dept. "game of logging" has a landowner training one day program that i think is time very well spent(sponcered by husky)

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Butch

12-23-2003 10:51:07

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

Thanks a lot men, looks like the boys will be getting a Poulan Christmas present. Can't get past the "Wild Thing" saw though (I wonder if thier marketers have ever been in the woods?), they will be getting the plain green one. I guess if I use it now and then it will make me appriciate my 036 more.

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Kevin

12-23-2003 14:40:43

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Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 10:51:07

The sears craftsman is the same saw, no Wild thing there, just boring grey! I like mine, I have the 18" and its actually fairly smooth, light years ahead of the old 16" I had.

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2fordsmike

12-23-2003 13:17:48

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Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 10:51:07

Hey Butch: Sometimes el cheapo will surprise you. I have two weed whips-- a John Deere (Echo) cost about $230 and a light-duty Homelite refurbished but-looked-like new for $68. JD is over 20 years old; Homelite is 12-14 years old. I don't put many hours on them anymore. I have only replaced the "strings",but have not spent one nickle on either engine. I am careful not to get them too hot and I drain the gas out of them every winter and sometimes I put a little oil in the cylinder for the winter. I now use Amzoil 2-cycle oil, using less oil in the mixture than the owners manual suggests (40-1). The little Homelite is handier and easier to use. The JD is the choice for weeds that have gotten a little woody. Mike-Iowa

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Mac

12-23-2003 08:40:06

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

Butch: I had an old poulan for some time. Finally gave it away. Later bought one of those 100$$$ "Macs" at K-Mart, small but is good for trimming and small trees. Had it about 7 yrs and have only replaced the plug and gas lines. Already paid for itself. Don't think you are going wrong for just light work. Unless you can do the necessary repairs yourself, it is a throw away. Not worth having repaired by a shop. If not for the inconvenience, I would have gotten a good elec job for my use.

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Ben in KY

12-23-2003 08:37:14

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

I like the Poulans as well as any of the occasional use saws you get out there. I have a Poulan Pro 220. On the front of the manual it says "For occasional use". It has PRO in the name but is for occasional use ?? go figure. Well anyway I am satisfied with the saw and have cut about 15 cords of wood with it.
As the others have said these are not a saw to buy for heavy professional use, but they are good occasional use saws and starter saws for someone to start out with and learn about the safety and care and feeding of chainsaws. They seem to last me about 5 years, then get placed into junk/parts status.

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Fawteen

12-23-2003 08:15:49

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

I have a Stihl for my "main" saw, and a raggety old Poulan for limbing and knock-around use. Once I FINALLY got the carb working right, it's actually a pretty decent little saw, for the price.

I plan to start my grandson out with it, he's been asking to learn to use a chainsaw.

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Steve from Mo

12-23-2003 07:58:18

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

I kept my old Sears/Poulan when I got a couple of Stihl's. Finally found a small used Stihl at a Pawn Shop; didn't look or run like it had been used much.

As long as the model you are buying has the safety features, you should be ok. If the boys make a mistake and break that saw, it's a lot cheaper to repair/replace than a good saw. It's better to replace a cheap saw than repair it since most jobs take more shop time than the saw is worth.

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jokers

12-23-2003 07:31:19

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

Hi Butch

First let me point out to you that I have a quiver full of current Husky and Stihl pro saws to qualify my statement.

I don`t agree with the others who tell you not to buy that saw for your intended purpose.With the small Poulan as your primary saw, I think that you would ultimately be disappointed. But for anyone not using the saw a ton, it will cut decently within the limitations of it`s output power, it just won`t last as long as a top brand and it will buzz your hands a bit more. The saw should last you more than a hundred hours of actual cutting, possibly quite a bit more if you are good about maintenance.

I`d say take a chance on the Poulan, but return it immediately if something is not right with it and get another. Then when the boys graduate to a better saw they will really appreciate it. In the mean time it is a cheap learning tool.

Russ

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ShepFL

12-23-2003 07:22:32

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

I have 2 saws. One that is a serious wood saw (Stihl) and the other that is a knock around saw. The knock around saw is a Poulan. I think it is a Wild Thing. It has an 18" bar. I tote it on the tractor strapped to the bush hog. As needed I use it to clear the trail. It is an ok saw and does what it intended to do. It cuts most smaller stuff satisfactorily. My biggest beefs with the saw is that a) it has NO dogs on it to bite into the wood, b) the clutch tends to get filled with wood chips regardless of the chain used and c) the cheap plastic kickback guard. For a starter saw or just cheapo to get buy with it has been fine for my needs.

For more detailed discussions on saws check out the link below. I have learned alot on the other forum.
FWIW

Forestry Forum - Chainsaws

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EIL

12-23-2003 06:02:55

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

Home Depot usually has some refurbished echo saws. Echo is a top brand like husky or stihl.

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Big Jim

12-23-2003 14:02:22

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Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to EIL, 12-23-2003 06:02:55

I had a small McCullough saw which I had purchased new some years ago for a knockaround saw. It worked OK until the oiler quit working this year. It would cost more to fix than the saw is worth. I bought a real small Echo saw (I can't remember the model number). This saw cost $200 instead of the $100 for the McCullough. I can tell you right now it is half the weight of the Mccullough and has twice the power. It is so well balanced you can easily maneuver it with one hand. It is the best little limbing saw money can buy.

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Van

12-23-2003 05:30:47

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Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Butch, 12-23-2003 04:46:05

Butch,
Those discount store Poulans are not worth the materials it took to make them. Keep checking the dealers for a Stihl or a Husky. Another option would be to look on ebay or the online dealers, there is usually alot of saws there of all different types and sizes.
Van

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Alvin n Ms.

12-23-2003 09:10:03

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Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Van, 12-23-2003 05:30:47

Butch, I own a Poulan, and it is a prety fair saw, however if your time is worth anything at all never buy a used saw, unless you are a fur trader and never lend a chain saw out. It won't come back the same. alvinnms

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Stick

12-23-2003 14:58:42

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Re: Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling home? in reply to Alvin n Ms., 12-23-2003 09:10:03

I have 3 saws, a 38cc 16" Mastercraft (Poulan), a 50cc JD 18" circa 1968, and a 65cc Husky 365 22". The little Poulans are a tad finicky to get the carb set so they don't stall all the time, and like was already said, no dogs. They're built cheap and don't have a ton of power but they're light and nice to use for a smaller person. My wife and daughters use it as the Husky is too heavy for them. Personally, I find it annoying to use for other than limbing, but I'm just used to the bigger ones that don't ever stall. They like it though. Our system is pretty much I do the felling with the Husky, they do the limbing with the Poulan, then I go back and buck anything over 6" or so with the Deere (it's about 2/3 the weight of the Husky) while they do the smaller stuff and pile it. Big stuff I still buck with the Husky. We do about 15 cords a year, stuff up to about 18" across.

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Alvin n Ms.

12-23-2003 18:36:08

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauling h in reply to Stick, 12-23-2003 14:58:42

Husqvarna is defiantly the very best. After hearing my brother brag about them for years I finaly bought one last year. It will cut through a tree limb before it starts to fall. I never saw anything as fast before. My poulan is no slouch,with a good chain it will eat through large trees fast enough to please me. alvinms

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Robert

12-24-2003 02:50:15

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cheap model Poulan worth hauli in reply to Alvin n Ms., 12-23-2003 18:36:08

I agre with the Husky statement, They are the BEST saws available. If you want to give one to a 14 or 15 year old though, I would recommend a model like a 340 or a 136, They are lightweight, high quality saws, I have the 323L trimmer and LOVE it the power is unmatched, UNLESS you consider a MAC PM-610 3.7 cubic inch chainsaw to be a grass trimmer. I like my pm610 but for most 15 year old guys I would advise a saw of 40 ccs or less and a rear mount handle, the reduced radius nose guide bar and a GOOD carlton sawchain. Poulans are not worth SH$@ for anyone who takes a saw seriously, aka woodsman I much prefer a stihl or Husqvarna chainsaw to a poulan. they cost a bit more, but if you get one used they are the king of the farm, woods, and everything in between. Im 16, trained for and capable of handling up to a 5.5 cubic inch saw, of course I have been running saws since I was about 10 or 11, so theres some pretty good experience there. I have a poulan wildthing saw, I went on ebay bought the bucking spike for it and am soon going to try to convert to a smaller pitch of chain, like 1/4 inch if I can find a rim and drum set for it. but the McCulloch like a model eager beaver 2.0 top handle saw is a good starter saw, My first saw was a Mac130 top handle with a 14" bar on it. They are a bit heavy but worth every penny of what you spend to get one, by the way they are NOT available new anymore, but that will teach your kids the value of a good service shop,and a good fairly low trouble saw. Just MAKE SURE they WEAR the chainsaw chaps and eye protection their legs arms and hands are too valuable to lose.

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