$10 chainsaw

silverdoctor · #1 06-20-2015, 05:04 PM

Bought a little Poulin XXV deluxe at a garage sale today, been looking for a light duty chainsaw. Hardly looks used but definitely sitting around for a while.

He says it runs, just a hard start - pulls over nicely really. Couldn't start it on site, out of gas. I imagine I should pull the carb and give it a soaking, change the plug etc.

What should I soak the carb in?

Mistagin · #2 06-20-2015, 06:02 PM

Run some sea foam through it

.

My lawn mower wouldn't start this spring. Always has, but not this time. Put it away properly winterized too.

Drained the tank and put a bit of sea foam in, second pull and away it went!
Filled the tank with fuel and a bit of sea foam and it's running great. A bit of white smoke for a little while, but that's what sea foam does.

I do the same thing with my chain saw if it's been sitting for awhile. Always works

HyperMOA · #3 06-20-2015, 06:09 PM

I would do as stated above. You will spend more on cleaner than you did the saw, so I would give Seafoam a shot first.

So Nova *!% · #4 06-20-2015, 06:23 PM

I didn't know that Seafoam was anything other than an excellent WD-40 alternative.
Really great tip here guys! Thanks

propliner · #5 06-20-2015, 06:40 PM

It's probably due for a diaphragm change inside the carb. It acts as a fuel pump. They harden with time.

Dacotensis · #6 06-20-2015, 07:06 PM

I wouldn't do any of the above until it's needed.

Drain old gas/oil.
Mix up some premium fuel/oil.
Refill.
Go through the starting steps.

If this fails, check for sparky.
If that's good, give it a shot of ether.

If this all fails to bring it to life, then invest the time to take it apart for a cleaning.
It will fire..
Good

TreeGuy · #7 06-20-2015, 10:09 PM

Doc. It was $10 for a reason. Take the mix gas, pour it over the body in a safe location and set it on fire. It'll burn longer than it'll ever run for you. Poulin = Pullin'.

spoiledsaskhunter · #8 06-20-2015, 10:41 PM

save urself a whole bunch of aggravation and throw the thing into ur neighbours yard (or over a cliff). I've had several poulans and have since vowed to never let one of them on to my property again...........they are vial, hateful engines and never want to run right from one use to another.

silverdoctor · #9 06-20-2015, 11:06 PM

I'm looking for a project, too much cast iron lately... It tried to start a couple of times, it has compression but there's a small leak in the bar oil. I'll let it sit for a couple of days and change the plug.

Dacotensis · #10 06-20-2015, 11:44 PM

Interesting info..

Red all that pull cord could serve another purpose as well.

Poulans are r made for heavy work.
Light load stuff is their limit.

Use that 50:1 you have in the basement SD.
You will get a quick idea and yes a little fuel with the plug pulled would be my first choice.

Brettjod · #11 06-21-2015, 12:58 AM

Seafoam does wonders sometimes. I have an old Skilsaw chainsaw that my father-in-law gave me. It's over 30 years old and he said it sat for 15 years without running. Still had gas in it. I used the Seafoam cleaner/lube spray. kept spraying it into the carb and starting it. After soaking for about 10 mins it would start on the Seafoam alone because it wasn't sucking up gas from the tank. Did that about 10 times and now it's my backup chainsaw lol.

FreeLantz · #12 06-22-2015, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dacotensis

Poulans are r made for heavy work.
Light load stuff is their limit.
.

I hope the above is sarcasm lol! And it is a horrible idea to hit the thing with the ether bunny. Remind me to never ever buy anything you are trying to sell Dacotensis, especially if it has an engine.

They sell these things "refurbished" for $100, and thats way over priced. Sometimes, you get what you pay for and power saws are on that list.

waterninja · #13 06-21-2015, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeGuy

Doc. It was $10 for a reason. Take the mix gas, pour it over the body in a safe location and set it on fire. It'll burn longer than it'll ever run for you. Poulin = Pullin'.

Thats funny.

Grizzly Adams · #14 06-21-2015, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeGuy

Doc. It was $10 for a reason. Take the mix gas, pour it over the body in a safe location and set it on fire. It'll burn longer than it'll ever run for you. Poulin = Pullin'.

There's a reason, Princess Auto sells truck loads of reconditioned ones.

Grizz

propliner · #15 06-21-2015, 09:08 AM

Th old poulans were pretty decent saws and the XXV was a good top-handle. Also check the fuel pickup line inside the tank. It should have a weighted filter on it.

Redfrog · #16 06-21-2015, 11:17 AM

I believe Poulan start life as Pioneer. My buddy has a Pioneer that is older than half the folks on this board. Still works when he needs it.

The Poulans are really a good choice for the 'redneck olympics' chain saw toss.

bb356 · #17 06-23-2015, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeGuy

Doc. It was $10 for a reason. Take the mix gas, pour it over the body in a safe location and set it on fire. It'll burn longer than it'll ever run for you. Poulin = Pullin'.

Is that like a stihl ... still trying to get it started.

huntinstuff · #18 06-21-2015, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverdoctor

Bought a little Poulin XXV deluxe at a garage sale today, been looking for a light duty chainsaw. Hardly looks used but definitely sitting around for a while.

He says it runs, just a hard start - pulls over nicely really. Couldn't start it on site, out of gas. I imagine I should pull the carb and give it a soaking, change the plug etc.

What should I soak the carb in?

I will make you a deal

Bring it to me. If I can't get it to run within 30 min at full RPM for 30 seconds I will buy it for twice what you paid for it

fn1949 · #19 06-21-2015, 12:14 PM

I have one and when it started to run bad then quit I took the carb off and opened it up and the diaphragm which is the fuel pump was ruptured. Bought a kit for it and away it went. runs like a top now. Make sure you have spark first.

russ · #20 06-21-2015, 02:06 PM

It should be clarified that the Seafoam being referred to is SF13 which is a fuel additive. Seafoam does also make a penetrant - that's not what you want to put in your tank.

dumoulin · #21 06-21-2015, 06:25 PM

The best thing to do it chuck it in the garbage before you spend another dollar on it and wrap your knuckles. Poulan = POS!

silverdoctor · #22 06-21-2015, 09:41 PM

I'll get it running come hell or high water. Was looking for a light duty chain saw to take out camping, something that can chop up a bit of deadfall for firewood if needed. Getting too fat and lazy to swing an axe these days. Thanks for the replies, i'll post back when I get time to look at it.

TreeGuy · #23 06-21-2015, 11:26 PM

Trash it Doc. You know computers. I know saws. Not worth the grief.

Klondike · #24 06-21-2015, 11:38 PM

Be sure to store it on a boot tray or something similar as you can keep chain oil in this poulins they leak so bad.

silverdoctor · #25 06-22-2015, 12:44 AM

Popped the plug tonite, don't know how someone managed it, but the side electrode was crushed up against the center electrode. The center electrode is pushed to the side. I gapped it, installed it and it's still free pulling, seems to be lots of compression. Spark is flying everywhere but where it's supposed to be. It tried to start with the regapped plug but it's definitely not getting the spark it needs. Definitely getting fuel.

Thinking back, we spent alot of time in the woods felling trees and hauling them out for the old wood burner stoves. All we had was a mcculloch and a poulan chainsaw to chunk it up and they just kept purring. Managed many years of winter wood with those saws.

Appreciate the advice, both negative and positive.

And yes, the chain oil res has a slight leak...

Pokee · #26 06-22-2015, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverdoctor

Popped the plug tonite, don't know how someone managed it, but the side electrode was crushed up against the center electrode. The center electrode is pushed to the side. I gapped it, installed it and it's still free pulling, seems to be lots of compression. Spark is flying everywhere but where it's supposed to be. It tried to start with the regapped plug but it's definitely not getting the spark it needs. Definitely getting fuel.

Thinking back, we spent alot of time in the woods felling trees and hauling them out for the old wood burner stoves. All we had was a mcculloch and a poulan chainsaw to chunk it up and they just kept purring. Managed many years of winter wood with those saws.

Appreciate the advice, both negative and positive.

And yes, the chain oil res has a slight leak...

My advice is chuck out the Poulan and save up for a new Stihl MS 170,great little camp saw! There usually around $200 mark.

HyperMOA · #27 06-22-2015, 09:15 PM

Now that you know it runs, go and get yourself a file and tune up that chain.

silverdoctor · #28 06-22-2015, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

Now that you know it runs, go and get yourself a file and tune up that chain.

That's something I haven't done in a long time. Need to find a basic gauge, used to be able to do it by eye. Can't complain, I'm into a saw for $27.

benamen · #29 06-22-2015, 11:07 PM

Glad to hear you got it going. Are you sure about the mix. I have a 30 year old saw and it takes 24 to one. Newer Poulans are 40 to one.

silverdoctor · #30 06-23-2015, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benamen

Glad to hear you got it going. Are you sure about the mix. I have a 30 year old saw and it takes 24 to one. Newer Poulans are 40 to one.

The manual calls for 16:1 fuel mix on the poulan super xxv deluxe. Found it a bit weird but it seems to work.