Poulan makes the best saws

[millerlite]

Now that I have got your attention, poulan sucks. I just ported a non strato crapsman/pull-on my buddy gave me that was mostly junked. I have no use for it so I decided to port it and give it back to him as an intro to modded saws. It runs pretty good for a Crapsman, but it doesnt even have a plated cylinder.

How long do these bare alum cylinders last? Im suprised it made it this far. Seems like a bad idea.

Thing has some gremlins with the idle. Seems to be the week for carb issues this week. Its not a WT89, the carb has just a hole for the H jet. I did bore it out on the lathe, works good on the H but low jet seems like the screw does nothing. I cleaned and rebuilt it, twice. New primer bulb, but as the saw runs primer fills with fuel and tune changes it seems. I checked the check valves in the primer and they hold and seal, its pushing to tank like it should. What would cause this? Leaking needle? Metering lever height looks good.

Heres a video of a few test cuts:

Freeballed this one but the numbers turned out decent when I checked after. Saw has a fancy muffler mod, bored out carb to .515", exhaust widened and raised to 98, transfer sweeps at 121, mains at 124, intake at 77. Set squish to 22 thou. Piston wash looks good. I do clamshells in the lathe. Bore the bearing pockets back out with a jig I welded up that holds the cylinder with the cap on, can dial in the pockets and re cut them in the 4 jaw in a few mins.

 

[hacskaroly]

Now that I have got your attention, poulan sucks.

I guess it all depends on who you ask and what you are doing with it. Seems like a fun little saw to mod on...

 

[millerlite]

When I was a kid I thought the wild thing was the coolest saw ever. I think the older poulans are great saws. The new strato poulan saws arent great. This craftsman is basiclly an old 2375 wild thing with AV. Ive never done anything with these but it wasnt hard to improve power wise. Are the aftermarket olated cylinders any good?

 

[Bill G]

Many years ago there was a GTG over on the Illinois/Indiana line. I believe it was in Indiana. The host was a man on AS that went buy the name "Outdoor Livin" or something close to that. They had a Poulan Wild Thing build off contest ahead of the GTG and ran them there. It was quite impressive what they got out of them. Mark @heimannm may still have a video/pic, etc

 

[oper8r_error]

Many years ago there was a GTG over on the Illinois/Indiana line. I believe it was in Indiana. The host was a man on AS that went buy the name "Outdoor Livin" or something close to that. They had a Poulan Wild Thing build off contest ahead of the GTG and ran them there. It was quite impressive what they got out of them. Mark @heimannm may still have a video/pic, etc

Empire Workshop touched on a competition where someone reed valved a wild-thing beneath the crank. He said the vast majority were not fun to watch though. Link:

The color scheme on them is so 90s it hurts. I wouldn't mind getting one just to play around with to the point of failure...

 

[millerlite]

Empire Workshop touched on a competition where someone reed valved a wild-thing beneath the crank. He said the vast majority were not fun to watch though. Link:

The color scheme on them is so 90s it hurts. I wouldn't mind getting one just to play around with to the point of failure...

Gees I think this ol crapsman would smoke most of these. Must have done something right, maybe Ill do my wild thing next lol

I took the wild thing and craftsman apart at the same time as they both needed crank seals and bearings. I havent ran mine in a while, but you could grab the flywheel and clutch and rock the crank back and forth. Took them apart and discovered both saws had good bearings still. I think the rubber cups around them compress over time with heat and vibration, and start leaking and developing play. These were never meant to last long I dont think.

 

[hacskaroly]

These were never meant to last long I dont think.

Probably meant for the homeowner who needed a saw for a project/emergency and then they typically sit in the shop until they need it again and the fuel lines are rotted.

 

[Wood Doctor]

On the other hand, go back a few years and check out this one:

Poulan 4000. Tough as nails if I do says so.

 

[millerlite]

On the other hand, go back a few years and check out this one:
View attachment 466374
Poulan 4000. Tough as nails if I do says so.

Those were the good ones!!! Real poulans

 

[millerlite]

Where is the best place to get a chromed ring for these things and not a china ring for plated cylinders?

 

[jacktheripper]

Where is the best place to get a chromed ring for these things and not a china ring for plated cylinders?

Wiseco maybe? They make chrome rings

 

[Bill G]

Hastings

 

[jakethesnake]

I cut firewood for years with a wild thing. Used to cut every day and load a 6 wheeler. My father bought me a husky 55 that I couldn’t believe was so much better. I still have and use the he’ll out of the 55. I’ve had it since I was 14 or 15. I’m 38 now. It’s been a great saw. The wild thing is somewhere in pieces. Probably could get it running but probably won’t

 

[jakethesnake]

I guess my point is those cheap cylinders will run a long time not sure how may 6 wheeler loads I loaded with that thing but it was lots

 

[Dub11]

They're tuff critters!
Heres one with a broken crank still singing

 

[millerlite]

My wild thing has a hollow rod. How much can those things even take...