Poulan 3400 Throttle Lock

[Ga old man]

My brother just passed and his son gave me his Poulan 3400 bow saw. Now I've watched him use this saw for years and know that for bucking clean log's on the ground it can't be beat, but the throttle lock dosen't lock and the only way you can start it is by holding above the ground with right hand and yanking with left while depressing the trigger (lot of blade waving around). I would prefer to start on the ground as it would be a lot easier and safer. Took handle apart and both mating surfaces (trigger & Lock bar) look like they should mesh firmly. Only thing I can see is a little slop in the old bushings. Anyone familier with this series of saw got an idea how to fix?

Thanks

 

[LD1]

Sorry to hear about your brother.

I cant offer much help on the trigger. It is one of them things that is going to be extremely difficult without seeing it in person. And since you already said you took it appart and found nothing wrong:confused2:

My only suggestion (not all saws even have a trigger lock) is set the saw on the ground, and stick your foot through the handle, and you can hold the trigger with your toe-portion of the boot:thumbsup:

for bucking clean log's on the ground it can't be beat,

I wouldn't go as far as to say that

 

[xyz123]

Cheap fix till you find parts.

Take a zip tie and fit it loosely where you can slide over throttle trigger and set to how much gas you want given like throttle lock.

I used to do this on cold start racing racesaws WOT though so they start wide open throttle for 3 cuts and then slip it off.

Found a pic where you can see zip tie on rear handle to give you idea. Now take it and slide up and over throttle as you depress it. When done using it slide back down. Remember to set to proper throttle amount for your start up uses, not WOT is needed for you.

 

[xyz123]

I was just at a GTG with a bunch of poulan bow saws.

I dont think bowsaws were meant for bucking cuts from my understanding even though people do it now days.

 

[Ga old man]

That's a great idea on the tie wrap, and for now I'll use that approach, but I would still like to get it working the way it was designed. Racing saw? Is that for real or are you pulling an old man's leg? Muffler exhaust pointed back at operator.

I currently own a Husquvarna 480 (Beast) and also a cheap Poulan 4218 limb saw. Thinking of buying another 3400 or 3700 in case the husky gives up the ghost.

 

[Ga old man]

Maybe using the wrong terminology. I'm referring to cutting a fallen limbed tree into short pieces while it's laying on the ground. Very popular in South when pulpwood was cut into 4' lengths. That bottom photo look's like my saw minus the top chain guard. Wish I could find one somewhere but I'll probably wind up having to fabricate one.

 

[xyz123]

Here is my stroked 3120 my 3rd hotsaw. No I'm not pulling your leg. Racing in Murray KY on this one. I got 5th with my slow run and guy I was racing got 1st, rest his soul RIP.

MOV280.MOD - YouTube

 

[xyz123]

4th place run with my Partner 5000 49cc 3ci class on muffler.

MOV23D.MOD - YouTube

 

[xyz123]

Chardon Ohio, chainsaws, bowsaws, crosscuts, axe chopping, last year for me doing this stuff. Just got old and expensive traveling and was seeing my weekends taken up for a few years ahead etc.

2010 chardon Qualifying 1.mpg - YouTube

2010 Chardon Qualifying 2.mpg - YouTube

 

[Ga old man]

Wow, you smoked that guy. I see now what speed sawing is all about.
Thanks

 

[xyz123]

I had a stihl 084, dolmar 166 and husky 3120 all on tuned piped hotsaws and had a tuned piped for a 5000 that a friend raced in SC and got 2nd with. I didnt want to travel 12hrs to a race. Cant find pic of tuned piped on 166 except in video.

 

[xyz123]

You bore 52mm and stroke crank 2mm husky 372xp you get 81cc saw. I didnt have my crankshaft stroked for $525 extra so I got 76cc saw I never raced. I quit before it was ready to race.

 

[xyz123]

Wow, you smoked that guy. I see now what speed sawing is all about.
Thanks

I'm the guy that got smoked. I got 5th he got 1st. That guy was the KY state champion. You should see the 10 to 15 behind me. 1st place guy usually has a good fast run. My run sucked and I was scared of the saw first time running it, I never got over being scared of it though, it was that fast compared to my other 2.

 

[xyz123]

LD1 here is a woods ported work saw I raced for fun. Makita Dolmar 7900 7901

Up in Luther and Fife lake MI. 2007

Ohio medina fair

 

[Ga old man]

Oops sorry about that but I figured you were in the front. Believe me I have a healthyrespect for this 3400 bow saw. I've seen it in use and read a lot of safety articles in aborist about bows, but it's still a whole bunch of sharp tear you apart cutting blades.

 

[xyz123]

I have a 3700 parts saw on the shelf with bad topend. Been stealing parts from it for others if you figure out what you need.

I kept it around because I have a 4000 I run every now and then.

 

[Ga old man]

The odd exhaust, is that a venturi system that increases the speed of the gasses?
Appreciate the parts offer but really can't pinpoint problem. Throttle release bar and the trigger have corresponding noch's on the inside half of each.
They should lock togeather untill trigger is pulled after starting. Mine catches but instantly pops loose. Like I mentioned earlier, if you put the handle joining screws through the bushings they wobble around which would explain why they don't stay locked. If you took the handle apart you would see how it should work.

 

[xyz123]

The odd exhaust, is that a venturi system that increases the speed of the gasses?

I'm not understanding the question? The normal looking woods ported exhaust outlet or the tuned piped on racesaws?

You got the same tractor as my dad 135. You had any steering problems? He has and had to put in the new parts and seals.

 

[Ga old man]

I was talking about the long pipe on racing saws, never saw that before tonight. About the MF-135 got about 1/8 turn slop. Going to post on tractor side about losing all oil pressure later.

 

[xyz123]

I'm not the one to ask how they work. It was explained to me awhile back. I cant really remember to put into words but will give you some info. If I remember right, I was told by pipe builders they needed the numbers of exhaust etc to build a pipe suited for that saws porting.
Maybe this 2 stroke pipe talk on motorcycles will help explain the effects of the expansion chamber etc.

How Two-Stroke Expansion Chambers Work, and Why You Should Care.