Gas Cap Expanded and wont fit, Poulan Chainsaw

SPIKER · Aug 6, 2005

Hey All:

anyone ever seen this happen befor? My poulan wild thing bought at wally mart works well but this week I started on some storm damage removal. dug out the saws (2 of them) opened & filled one up easy like normal the other one I marely got the gas cap off and once off it expanded and wouldn't go back on. I ran one then the other by wapping the good fitting cap for now. Didn't get to talk to them (Poulan Custermer help) yet but I remember this happeneing to my brothers oLD dirt bike except it shrank and wouldn't fit. and never did again. I want to know if anyone has had this happen and if they got a new one or fixed the old one? would soaking the cap in something make it shrink back down? I would HATE to try and trim it down to fit againe /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

anyhow some suggestions?

MarkM

cup149 · Aug 6, 2005

I had the same thing happen to my Stihl S10, but it took almost 40 years to swell so much I couldn't screw it back in.

cphilip · Aug 8, 2005

( I had the same thing happen to my Stihl S10, but it took almost 40 years to swell so much I couldn't screw it back in. )

SEE!!! THEY JUST DON"T MAKE NOTHIN LAST ANYMORE!!!!

LOL.... just kidding. I think after 40 years a new cap might just be in order! My guess is that was an old German made Stihl. I still got an O24 that was from the era. Still runs like a champ.

Drago · Aug 8, 2005

Same thing happened on my Poulan. It's been that way for over a year. I can still get it on an off with the help of channel-locks but it's a pain. Every time I use it (which is rare), I tell myself to call Poulan customer support and complain about it. I always forget. However, I am calling as soon as I finish this message.

Drago

JazzDad · Aug 8, 2005

Yes, both my gas cap and oil filler cap are difficult to remove. The air filter also does not fit properly; allowing saw dust to get into the carb. I have not been happy with this purchase, and although inexpensive, it was not a good value. I spoke with their customer service, and they were not helpful. I have tried to purchase replacement air filters and have not been able to find them.
I do not think these folks will be calling me any time soon to endorse their product. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

mark1 · Aug 8, 2005

I also fould some of my machines the gas cap/primer bulb and whatever is in contact with fuel has changed it's shape..I wonder if it's related to some fuels having 10% alcohol in them..I know I act differently with 10% alcohol in me??!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SPIKER · Aug 8, 2005

( Same thing happened on my Poulan. However, I am calling as soon as I finish this message.

Drago )

Hey How about telling them to send me a NEW one too /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mine actually screwed back in this weekend, cooler temps it goes better.

as for the air cleaner, mine works well and I have it off and on in a snap. I'm happy with them for the price I paid, (138 for rthe 18" and 47.00 for the 14" K-Mart close out I should have bought 2 at that price! the 14" seems to run like crazy.

One thing I've noticed that I like to buy "Re-conditioned stuff" which whil maybe has a bit of run time on them they are repaired by guys knowing what they should be run like and tweekeing them the right way to fix what every problem might have been wrong when it was returned...

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

frank_f15 · Aug 8, 2005

I have had my Poulan 16" for 4 years now, and no problem with the gas cap, only i do have to lossen it with channel locks ,but then it screws in and out with no trouble.

fig · Aug 9, 2005

Spiker,

I have a McCullah (sp?) chainsaw that the oil cap will not seal. I don't think it is in the cap though. It actually looks like the "neck" on the oil tank is warped. One other poster mentioned that he forgets about his until he uses it. I am the same way. Got mine out this past weekend and ended up with oil all over me. It's ok if you can cut everything with the oil/tank facing up.

Fig

SPIKER · Aug 9, 2005

I have a 12~14" mcCulluch spelling/ too it is OLD like a 70 or so. it was my GF's dads orriginal owner. it was setting 15 yrs, I cleaned it up put chain back on new gas & it fired up after a small bit of tinkering to get it going wouldn't run right though very poor. so after pulling off carb & cleaning it intrenally & re-assy it stillwa sn't right, then my brother worked it over got it going good but it cracked the coil after it's first good running session. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif it still runs for a few then cuts out...

for a seal on warpped one I think I would add a section of rubber intertube to help it seal...

MarkM

fig · Aug 10, 2005

Spiker,

I did not think of that. I was thinking about taking the cap and running a beed of silicone around it and let it set up to form a thicker gasket. I need to do something soon. I will be cutting down some sizeable penoak's before fall comes. I am tired of those danged leaves getting in the gutters...not to mention trying to bag them with the mower!

Fig

SPIKER · Aug 11, 2005

Pin Oaks are not nearly as bad as White Oaks, the pin oak leaves are smaller, and a little less slippery when wet. those white oak leaves are nearly a foot long and have as wide, and very glossy with a good fall leave drop you can ice skate on dry leaves on a smooth deck, (don't ask how I know this.) only problem wiht the skating is the danged acorns that are even harder on the head when they fall form about 40' /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif anyhow I'm gonna take a wrasp to mine I think to get it fitting a bit better. maybe heat it with a flame (away form the tank mind you, to soften it a bit afterwards and smooth out any rough edges. I did notice a larger casting bump in the thread vally that may bhe causing some of the problems, a good razor will remove that first them proceed cutting out a bit more and checking fit each little bit...

MarkM

fig · Aug 12, 2005

Mark,

Let those pin oaks build up on the ground a little and they will get pretty slick; at least under my feet they do /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif!

Fig

SPIKER · Aug 17, 2005

Hey all:

I thought I would ppost back to let everyone know what was up

I took my pocket knife and trimmed the cap a bit after letting it set out og the saw for a few days. it was soft plastic and I was able to get it to fit again with out much problems. I tried to smooth the cap out after trimming using a torch, was too hot a flame and would cause the polastic tro bubble too quickly but a colder flame or a soldering iron would smooth it out probably pretty well
After taking the knife to the casting nub at the front I found the cap was cracked there too, the torce was used initally to try & melt the cap crack closed and did work for that though. I've done plastic welding before wit success this was little different as normally I would have gotten out the adjustable temp soldering iron I had but that is here at home and not at the farm where I was working on the cap...

ok anyhow I think letting it be away form the gas fumes may have helpped it some too??? I trimmed the width of the thread down as well as slightly the height of the thread. removed all parting lines/ casting defects too. after I was all done the thing turned in better than it ever did even when NEW.

MarkM /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

jerrybrown11743 · Apr 25, 2009

I have a Poulan Pro PP4218AVX. It's only 2 years old. When I went to use it for the first time this spring, I could hardly get the gas cap out. There was about a half tank of gas left from last fall. It was very dark. Something had disolved in it - probably part of the cap. The cap had swollen so bad that I couldn't get it back on. Furthermore, the o-ring seal had been shredded by a sharp ridge (probably flashing from the molding process) on the lip of the opening.
Betcha they're made in China. We need to wise up and start paying the price for quality. That's one way we could fight outsourcing.

jerrybrown11743 · Apr 27, 2009

Well, I took off the cap and put it on a shelf to dry out. This morning I could get it into the opening without pounding on it and actually twist it one turn. In another day or two it should be useable. So, I'm going to order a replacement O-ring and sand off the burr on the sealing edge of the opening. From now on, I'm draining the tank and leaving the cap out to dry when the saw's not being used.

Countrygent · Oct 31, 2010

I have 2 Poulans an older 2150 and a newer 3516 with the same swollen gas cap problem. It is caused by the ethanol in the gas. Poulan customer service sent me a new cap for the 2150 and it screws in and out OK but has not been exposed to a lot of gas yet so can't really say if it is fixed. For the 3516 I have to use channel locks to get the cap in and out.

The ethanol is damaging most all small engine equipment. It has ruined two weed eaters for me as well, a Homelite and a Weedeater.