Please help me make a few Poulans run again

[n240sxguy]

I did some looking today on oregon's website trying to decipher chain info. I kept looking in unbelief because it just said it was 3/8, and I know my echo is 3/8 and is bigger. The residential chain was called 91 lo-pro, but the "yellow" label stuff didn't say anywhere that it was 3/8 low profile. I went through several forum pages before I finally landed at bailey's and saw that it really was 3/8 low profile, and oregon's website is just confusing. I'll probably get the 91vxl or maybe try the stihl RM I think it was. Whatever i can find cheaper.


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[dannyupsolate]

stihl calls lo pro picco and make it in .043 and .050 thousands drag link thickness. make sure you get .050 and right number links for poulan since stihl chainsaws use different number of links. stihl will likely cost more. Anything will cut so much better than shark fin safety chain you will be tickled.

 

[n240sxguy]

Yeah, I was comparing prices at bailey's. I've never ordered from there, but they were all pretty close. I think it was $18 or so for the stihl. I have Oregon 72lpx on my echo. That's some good stuff. I haven't tried the stihl chain on my echo. I got a recommendation to try it right after I ordered another Oregon as a spare. This safety chain is just so dumb. We're gonna make a tool to cut wood, then put bumps in it so it won't do it's job very good. Perfect


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[n240sxguy]

I worked on the next 4218 today. I cleaned it up all over, sharpened the chain, checked the plug, and took the carb apart. The carb filter had a bunch of crap in it, so I cleaned it out. I didn't do that on the first one, but I'll probably check it soon. Anyway, the first one is running pretty good. Now, the second one seems to be doing about as good. Here's my question. The carb settings are worlds apart. What gives? The first one is set at L 1.5+ about an 1/8th H just shy of 2-1/4. The one I did today is at L 3-1/2+1/8 H 1-3/4. If I turn the L in 1/4 turn, the chain starts spinning. I've adjusted the throttle just enough to have control with the L jet on both. Why is their such a huge difference in the settings? You think the one I did today may have some blockage in the adjustment jets somewhere? It was bright shiny aluminum all except the screen. Not tarnished or gummed up at all.

Edit: checked the carb screen on the first one, and it was clean. Just a couple specks of dirt. That carb had a little tarnish that I wiped off.

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[dannyupsolate]

you may have to unscrew idle as you lean up L screw. all you need is enough gas coming through L for easy hot starts and good idle. cold starts controlled by choke throttle lock.

 

[n240sxguy]

I'll mess with it again in a little while, but I don't think the idle is open hardly at all. I reset it when I took the carb apart. What you're saying makes sense, and is what I was striving for yesterday, but I just couldn't get there. It would stumble and die if I turned out the idle screw. Maybe I just didn't get quite to the sweet spot. I'll try turning the L in til it idles up, then turn the idle screw out to see if I can catch it.


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[n240sxguy]

OMG this thing is frustrating. It was running halfway decent yesterday. Today, it wouldn't turn over at all. It was so rich there was fuel in the muffler. I leaned it back to about a turn and a half, and dried the spark plug, and finally got it started. Had to have the throttle open to do that. I don't know if I'm any closer to getting it tuned, or just in a different spot. I got the H lined back out and made a couple cuts. The L is hopefully a little closer. Maybe tomorrow I can give it a shot again from a cold start and see if it'll start easier.

I got this one from a guy in the Christmas thread. It's a cool little saw that'll round out my collection size wise.

It needs the same fuel side treatment I gave to these others.


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[dannyupsolate]

got one doing same thing it has bad needle in carb

 

[n240sxguy]

I have a chain question this time. I bought a 91vxl so I could see what a Poulan will do with good chain on it. I got to looking at the other chains, and one of them is weird. In the picture, the 91vxl semi chisel is on the saw. The one at the bottom is typical safety chain. I guess it's a semi chisel or their chamfer chisel. The middle one has two bumper links between each cutter instead of just one. Is this some kind of semi skip safety chain, or just an even more dumbed down safety chain? Gotta be safer if it has 30% less cutters, right!

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[n240sxguy]

21 vs 31 cutters.


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[dannyupsolate]

just when you think you have seen the worst skip tooth safety chain. sucks worse than regular safety chain

 

[n240sxguy]

Maybe I can learn to do ice sculpting with it. So, out of three chains I got with those two yellow saws, one is actually functional, and that's using that word loosely. One safety chain, another safety chain with a broken cutter, and this skip tooth chain. I'm gonna save em all. They'll work for cutting stumps and other dirty crap I don't wanna mess a good chain up on.


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[dannyupsolate]

how did the vxl cut.

 

[n240sxguy]

I haven't cut anything yet. There's ice all over my yard. It was 74 and raining yesterday. Dropped to 18 last night. High of 24 today. It looks like the LPX I have on my echo, just smaller. I suspect it'll cut pretty good.


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[n240sxguy]

I couldn't take it anymore. I was cleaning the garage, and the saw was staring at me, so I went and made a couple cuts. The vxl chain cuts so much faster than that crap safety chain.If you could buy these things like this one sits now; muffler mod, good chain, and tuned properly, these saws wouldn't have the reputation of being a pos that they do. Hell, if I had one that ran this way, I never would've spent the money on a nicer saw last year. I can tell you this saw will have a home with me for a while. I'll have 29.5cc, 42cc, 47cc, and 60cc. I think that's a good spread.


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[dannyupsolate]

ha ha that is what I told you from the start. There is a lot of good in these cheap saws but it takes a little tinkering to bring it out.

 

[n240sxguy]

Now if I can only get the other yellow one running. A guy gave me a little 1800 woodsman in the Christmas thread. Omg. I love that little guy. Ive gotta get a new chain, but it's an awesome little saw. I had to do fuel line, filter, plug, and carb kit. Fires right up in just a couple pulls after he told me the secret. I'm very proud of these two Poulans. The other yellow one, and the 2150 still need more work. One day they'll be doing good. The yellow one with the new chain is gonna be my backup/loaner. I have a feeling that on smaller jobs I'm gonna grab it before my echo because my echo is my baby, and I recalled clean her up after every use. I don't care if this one keeps a few chips on it.


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[dannyupsolate]

what is this secret. if a micro family poulan has sit more than a month I prime carb with mix so I do not have to pull a lot.

 

[n240sxguy]

Just hold the throttle open. After sitting overnight, it took 30+ pulls to get it started. Holding the throttle open got it down to 5-6.


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[dannyupsolate]

yes if I was younger and both shoulders worked right I would do that.