For several years now, Poulan chainsaws have been gaining popularity in the timber market and other markets with the same purpose. Part of the leading role that this chainsaw’s brand has generated is its excellent value for money, as they are quite affordable and reliable for heavy-duty work. Also, a rather curious fact that you may not be aware of is that Poulan belongs to the giant Husqvarna Company, which means that when you buy one of these products, you’re getting a product of excellent quality, but at a lower price than a Husqvarna.
Poulan Chain Saw Advantages and Disadvantages
As mentioned above, Poulan offers a wide range of chainsaws and similar tools for cutting trees at low prices. They are one of the cheapest on the market, but one of their disadvantages is that they do not usually cut trees with exceptionally thick trunks.
Advantages
- Excellent value for money.
- The bar can vary from 30 to 45 cm in length, allowing them to be easily carried anywhere.
- Thanks to the length of the bar and its other dimensions, it is straightforward to maneuver the chainsaw, even in small places.
Disadvantages
- It doesn’t cut down large trees or take on hefty work.
- They tend to take longer to start than other chainsaws, and in the winter season, they require more time to warm up.
- They don’t have an anti-vibration function, so we recommend that you wear gloves when using them.
Materials You May Need
– Work Gloves
– Rags
– Wire Brush
You may also require the following materials:
- New spark plug.
- New carburetor/carburetor cleaner.
- New ignition coil.
- Rewind spring.
- Recoil starting pulley.
How to Fix Your Poulan Chainsaw If It Won’t Start
1. Check your chainsaw
Check the saw for spills, flooding, or even if you’ve had fuel in your tank for a long time. Any details you may notice during this inspection will allow you to find the problem concisely. If your Poulan saw has been running for a while, and when it is turned on, it tends to shut down, it may be leaking fuel or air into the engine.
This type of failure usually occurs because the filter or some part of the vent, or the fuel system is somewhat dirty or clogged. There are times when the fault is caused by an air leak in the combustion system.
To check the air supply, you must locate the air filter, which must be above the carburetor. This is responsible for cleaning all the air that enters the carburetor. If either of these two areas is dirty or obstructed, they will limit the air inlet or outlet, limiting the engine’s ability to start and run properly.
2. Clean the carburetor
When there is fuel left inside the chainsaw, and it is not used for a long time, this fuel tends to dry out and could clog the carburetor. To clean it, use carburetor cleaner and be sure to remove any oil or gasoline residue that might be causing the blockage. If the carburetor no longer works properly, you may need to replace it with a new one.
3. Check the spark plug
You may have cleaned or changed the spark plug at least once, but if not, you should check it and see if it still generates sparks. To check if it sparks, once you have removed it, connect the spark plug wire and rub it with a metal part of the chainsaw. If the engine has been flooded, the spark plug will also be wet.
In case the spark plug no longer generates a spark, then you will have to replace it. You could also clean it thoroughly with the wire brush, but try to do it carefully, lest you cause more damage. Just try to remove the dirt gently, but my recommendation is that you replace it with a new one.
4. Check the ignition coil
In case the chainsaw does not start yet, you may have to check and replace the ignition coil. This is what sends electricity to the spark plug, and if you have returned the spark plug with a new one and the fault continues, then you should try to replace the ignition coil as well. Try to use clean rags at all times to avoid spills or excessive dirt.
5. Check the starting system
Many Poulan chainsaw models are known to be a bit tedious when starting, as they have to be pulled very hard. However, over the years, this starting system is susceptible to damage. And in case you have already changed the spark plug, coil, and carburetor and the fault continue, then you may have to change the starter pulley and the recoil spring.
6. Check the fuel supply
This step should be one of the first to be taken, because when fuel is left in the tank for a long time, the gases it emits tend to foul the hoses and other parts of the saw, keeping the engine from starting. So it is good to check and clean the fuel tank, as well as the filter, hoses, and carburetor. If you find broken hoses or the screen is too dirty, it is better to replace them with new parts.
You can use the brush or some rags to clean all the surroundings, including the carburetor and the cylinder cap. Now unscrew the fuel cap, position the engine so that it is tilted, and drain the gas in the fuel tank. These gases or fuels stored for so long also cause the engine to shut down. Clean the tank with a brush or cloth as well.
Now start the engine and let it run for several minutes. Place the carburetor screws next to the engine, on some Poulan models it is required to move the cylinder cover and air filter to be able to access the carburetor screws.