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.

[Dean2]

I have other saws for actual wood cutting too, but it is impossible to find a saw and case that is close to as small as this one. I am just stubborn enough that I keep at something until I finally figure out how to make it work right. Have to admitt that 45 years is stretching stubborn a bit, but I did discover the turn it upside down and rock it about 35 or so years ago, and that made the saw a whole lot easier to start cold, particlarly from a dry fill up.

[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.

[esher]

I had a stihl, 3 tanks later 1000 pulls later 5 warranty trips later i told my son take it to school and give it to his buddy who sold firewood. He took one look at it and said i will hang it on the shop wall close to the door so the thieves take it first.

[ghfalls]

The old poulets are neat saws. I’d like to get my hands on a nice big ole countervibe 3400 or larger. Back in the day, they were on par with Stihl for quality.

[NCC]

Originally Posted by esher

I had a stihl, 3 tanks later 1000 pulls later 5 warranty trips later i told my son take it to school and give it to his buddy who sold firewood. He took one look at it and said i will hang it on the shop wall close to the door so the thieves take it first.

Was it a 170?

Thx for the tip Dean.

[waldedw]

I happen to have one of those Poulans and yes they are tough to start sometimes, I'll have to have a go at it and see if your fix works, thanks for the tip Dean

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Dean2

I have other saws for actual wood cutting too, but it is impossible to find a saw and case that is close to as small as this one. I am just stubborn enough that I keep at something until I finally figure out how to make it work right. Have to admitt that 45 years is stretching stubborn a bit, but I did discover the turn it upside down and rock it about 35 or so years ago, and that made the saw a whole lot easier to start cold, particlarly from a dry fill up.

I haul around a Stihl one handed arborists saw. Probably not as small as your little green chicken, but definitely a small saw.

[NCC]

Originally Posted by X-Treme

I haul around a Stihl one handed arborists saw. Probably not as small as your little green chicken, but definitely a small saw.

How do you like that saw? I think a top handle pro series saw would be the ultimate horse/quad packable saw for camping and hunting.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Nowadays I just pack my little DeWalt saw. That way if I have to do some quick trimming or trail clearing I don't need to wait for it to cool down before tossing it back into the truck.

No gas to worry about either. So far, the only thing I don't like is that it tends to leak bar oil.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by NCC

How do you like that saw? I think a top handle pro series saw would be the ultimate horse/quad packable saw for camping and hunting.

As far as for hauling around goes, I don't think you'd find a better option.

Obviously, you're not gonna run an 18" bar on it though, so it has it's place, and does it VERY well.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Nowadays I just pack my little DeWalt saw. That way if I have to do some quick trimming or trail clearing I don't need to wait for it to cool down before tossing it back into the truck.

No gas to worry about either. So far, the only thing I don't like is that it tends to leak bar oil.

How long will it run on one battery. Might be a good answer but have had to do a fair amount of cutting to make a trail into a downed moose.

X-Treme

I looked at a couple of the arborist saws but most of them are not at all friendly to left hand use. The top handle is designed to be held in your right hand and the grab bar is only on the left side of the saw handle. I hold a saw handle and trigger with my left hand so would have to cross over my right hand to hold the grab bar.. Both this Poulan and my Echo CS-352 work very well right or left hand use.

[JustBen]

I was curious...

I have a MS271 from Stihl that I haven't ran in about 2.5 years. So, I went out to the garage and tried it.

3 pulls until it stumbled at full choke. 2 more pulls at half choke, and we have a running saw.

I don't know if any Poulan I ever handled started on a good day in less than 5 pulls, let alone being neglected for more than two years.

[X-Treme]

Originally Posted by Dean2

I looked at a couple of the arborist saws but most of them are not at all friendly to left hand use. The top handle is designed to be held in your right hand and the grab bar is only on the left side of the saw. I hold a saw handle and trigger with my left hand. Both this Poulan and my Echo Cs-352 work very well right or left hand use.

Touche!

Definitely not made for a southpaw.

[Dean2]

Just in case other lefties are interested. Echo 352 Rear Handle





Echo Arborist saw

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Dean2

How long will it run on one battery. Might be a good answer but have had to do a fair amount of cutting to make a trail into a downed moose.

It really depends on how far you need to make that trail, and if you're just cutting saplings, or have 20" downed trees to cut a gap through. Other factors are type of wood, chain condition, ambient temperature etc.

I've just been using it for clearing established trails and bucking up logs for firewood as I go. So far I haven't run a 5AH battery down during a trip yet. But I pack extras when I'm out for a few days. Some guys will recharge the batteries from a portable supply (Bluetti, Jackery etc.) which they charge up from solar on longer trips. Either way, I do have a gas saw for when I'm expecting a longer cutting session.

Originally Posted by Dean2

I looked at a couple of the arborist saws but most of them are not at all friendly to left hand use. The top handle is designed to be held in your right hand and the grab bar is only on the left side of the saw handle. I hold a saw handle and trigger with my left hand so would have to cross over my right hand to hold the grab bar.. Both this Poulan and my Echo CS-352 work very well right or left hand use.

I have the Stihl MS-170 and the only thing that affects me from a handedness perspective is starting. But it isn't temperamental to start, so that's not a big issue. The DeWalt handles well from that perspective too.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

So far, the only thing I don't like is that it tends to leak bar oil.

I bought the Milwaukee version, which is obviously better , and it leaks bar oil too. Got to the point were I just put a little in at a time or if I let it sit for a month there won't be any in it anyway... When your done, opening the cap, to depressurize it, then closing it, may help.

Originally Posted by Dean2

How long will it run on one battery.

Not a huge amount, but I did this, double layers, on about 1.5 5 amp batteries.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Trochu

I bought the Milwaukee version, which is obviously better , and it leaks bar oil too. Got to the point were I just put a little in at a time or if I let it sit for a month there won't be any in it anyway... When your done, opening the cap, to depressurize it, then closing it, may help.

Oh, that's a good idea, Trochu. I never thought to depressurize it. Will give that a shot.

At the moment, I find it leaks less if I store it lying down on the bar side.

And Milwaukee... Well... I just... I mean, um... Well... We can still be friends, I guess.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Nowadays I just pack my little DeWalt saw. That way if I have to do some quick trimming or trail clearing I don't need to wait for it to cool down before tossing it back into the truck.

No gas to worry about either. So far, the only thing I don't like is that it tends to leak bar oil.

Battery power has come long ways in the last few decades.