Hard Starting Poulan Chainsaws

[Dean2]

Poulan made a long line of low cost, consumer chainsaws. They were never the answer for cutting a lot of wood, but if you needed a saw once every two years, or a small saw to carry on a quad, they were a good option. I have had a Poulan Mico XXV, 25CC, 10" bar for over 45 years. Its only job was to ride on the front rack of my quad for clearing downfall on trails or cutting my way in to recover an animal.

For the whole time it has always been REALLY hard starting when cold. I carry the saw empty in a protective case, along with a small 1 gallon container of fresh mixed gas. I only gas it up when I need to use it, and dump any leftover gas at seasons end and run the saw dry, so there are no gas varnish issues.

Well, this year it was its usual tough starting self when cold. Unlike previous years, it ran about 10 minutes, cut great, then died out. It would start, but then fail to keep running and sounded like gas starvation. When I pulled the fuel filter out of the tank, the fuel line broke off and the line and filter came right out. Easy fix, replace the fuel line from carb to tank and put in a new filter. What I had never previously noticed is there is a very small joint just before the thank that allows the tank to be removed from the rest of the run of line. I broke that joint taking the fuel line off it. That joint had a REALLY TINY orifice. I ran straight fuel line from the carb to the tank and left that joint out as I didn't have another one handy.

Well wonder of wonders, not only is the saw back to running great once it is started, it also starts on the second or third pull. So for any of you that have a hard starting Poulan saw, you might want to try taking that tank joint out of your gas line.

Looks just like this one except in better shape.

[Koschenk]

I have that exact same saw and the same problem, thanks for the tip!

Speaking of tiny orifices, I wonder who thought the bar oil fill cap size on that saw was adequate?

[antmai]

I sold mine before i could try this fix. Too bad.

I conceded to the saying, ‘buy a poulan and youll ALWAYS be pullin!’

[Lefty-Canuck]

That’s why it’s called Poulan…

You pull and pull and pull and it still won’t start.

LC

[Dean2]

A trick I learned a long time ago on the Poulan is to cover the tank vent hole with a finger and turn the saw upside down and rock it back and forth. The gas line goes up through the handle and doing this helps pre-fill the gas line rather than trying to pull the gas through with the short stroke of the starter rope.

They also start best with choke on, trigger pulled to wide open. First sign of ignition, if it doesnt fire and run, choke off, trigger still pulled to wide open. It now starts second or third pull, even dead cold.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

That’s why it’s called Poulan…

You pull and pull and pull and it still won’t start.

LC

You keep Poulan, and Poulan, and Poulan. After
a few episode,s I bought a Stihl.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Great discovery, Dean! Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

You keep Poulan, and Poulan, and Poulan. After
a few episode,s I bought a Stihl.

That's what I did as well.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

That’s why it’s called Poulan…

You pull and pull and pull and it still won’t start.

LC

I call mine the Poulet, as in chicken. Wife found it in a ditch decades ago, always wondered if that was by accident ?

[CBintheNorth]

I have 2 Poulan pro saws. Never an issue other than the primer bulb. One is 20 years old.