I just bought my first chain saw tonight. I've never really had much of a need before, so always borrowed one. However at this time I have several junk trees that have blown down and I need to cut them up and dispose of them, the wood is not worth burning.

I found a practically new Poulan, looks like only used a time or two, in a pawnshop and got an exceptionally good price. It starts and runs easily.

My question is, any advice on how to maintain it, what to look for, to do and not to do, etc etc etc ?

Thanks and be well

Gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), October 23, 2001

Answers

I just got a poulan "wild thing", not a bad little saw,, mine is self oiling, the bladed does wear out kinds quick, so I bought another one, easy to change. Wish mine was a bit larger, bubt ti works. not much to maintane

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 23, 2001.

Gene, I have 2 poulan chain saws and have had good service out of both. I bought 1 of mine at the pawn shop and found the manual on following wev site. http://www.weedeater.com/customer_service/manuals_results.asp? strModel=poulan Good Luck, Bart

-- Bart (Dominickwb@dot.state.sc.us), October 23, 2001.

Go to a Web search engine and search for things like "chainsaw safety", "chainsaw maintenance" or "felling a tree". I just did that last month and found more good information than I could ever read. I have been using chainsaws off and on for most of my life (I currently own two, a Poulan and a Stihl) and still found plenty of safety information I did not know about.

Other things that'll help are: 1. Always take at least 2 sharp chains into the woods. 2. Bring a chain sharpening file to touch-up a dulling chain. 3. Adjust your chain oiler to a higher setting and check the reservoir frequently. You can't use too much chain oil IMHO. 4. Always bring a come-along and some cables to pull down hung-up trees or branches. 5. Always look the tree over above you for dead branches (they don't call them widowmakers for nothing). 6. Buy and use a chainsaw safety helmet (the kind with the integral ear protection and face screen). 7. Don't cut alone if possible. A severed leg artery out in the woods could spell death.

-- Steve in So. WI (Alpine1@prodigy.net), October 23, 2001.

There are a lot of things that effect chainsaw performance, the chain its self is in need of constant monitering, mainly for looseness and sharpness. Pull the chain away from the bar ina middle area, if the usually unseen part, the parts that engague the drive sprocket are seperating from the chainsaw cutting bar, then the chain is too loose. Adjust this by loosening the two bolts that attach the bar to the body, turn clockwise the screw located just ahead of the two bolts to tighten the chain, retighten the bolts. Sharpening the chain is tricky in that the distance between the cutting teeth and the area where the raised backs of the non cutting links ride on the wood must be maintained in correct ratio. Get this information from someone who can show you in person. There are different styles of chains for different purposes and a chain must be for your model saw.

There are two fluids used, bar oil and fuel; the fuel must have the correct ratio of 2 stroke oil to the gasoline well mixed in a container before adding to the saw. Bar oil needs to be in its tank anytime the saw is running to ensure long life for your chain and bar. Lack of bar oil will cause the bar to wear and reduce in size enough that a totally tightened chain is still too loose.

There is an air filter, usually under the cover on top of the saw, it will need cleaning often. Keep all bolts tight, all guards in place, and ear and eye protection when useing the saw. If your saw is acting grumpy, 90% of the time it is due to bad fuel or weak spark, carb adjustment is the last thing to approach. Using compressed air to blow away saw dust and dirt is a common practice.

There is common sense issues that need addressing; no loose clothing, no children or pet near the cutting area, how will both pieces of wood react when the cut is completed, ect. ect......

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 23, 2001.

If you need parts for your poulan I think you will find the Sears are the same thing just painted Grey and a higher price.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), October 23, 2001.

What Steve said, definitely. There are more ways to kill yourself, that's KILL yourself, with a chainsaw than you can possibly imagine unless you've done some serious reading. Really common things like drop-starting and cutting above shoulder can land you not in the hospital, but in the morgue, easily. So go do some reading. If you're not a little scared now, you surely will be after you have read for a while. These machines deserve ALL your respect and attention, and then some. Be safe! We'd like to keep you around a while. (end of lecture :o) )

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), October 23, 2001.

Oh, in case you should consider me an anti-chainsaw fanatic, I forgot to say, I just LOVE my chainsaw!

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), October 23, 2001.

first thing you want to do is shitcan that poulan then run down to home depot and get an eccho 3450 this will serve you well for years and please use commen sense because achainsaw will turn bone and flesh into a fine red mist in seconds

-- BEN TOOK (mcvaysculpture@WHIDBEY.COM), February 02, 2002.

All good advice above, to which I would add: YOU CANNOT OVERCLEAN THE AIR CLEANER!

Wash it with soap and water, gasoline or whatever, then let it dry. Brush it off with an old toothbrush. But KEEP IT CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.

I knew a young, damned fool once who destroyed the engine on a nearly new $400 Stihl by never cleaning the air cleaner. Just kept leaning out the carb to compensate for the over-rich mixture caused by the pathetically clogged air cleaner.

Result: Overly hot combustion, fried engine.

-- Hank in Oklahoma (hbaker@ipa.net), March 21, 2002.

The best thing you can do is take your Poulan chainsaw back or sell it. I have nothing but terrible luck from mine. I went to get a part for another peice of equipment at the repair shop and noticed at least 10 Poulan chainsaws to 1 on the shelves waiting to be repaired. Ask any service man, I did!

-- Jeff Turner (arborforge@mindspring.com), April 06, 2002.