Just another junk chainsaw

[blkqi]

Good news: the symptoms I described yesterday have gone away. I never did diagnose the problem for sure, but I've done a few things to the saw since yesterday:

- my vent line came a day early, so that was installed
- checked torque on the crank case bolts (OK)
- opened up and checked the muffler; some carbon buildup but no oil
- rechecked my carburetor adjustments (if anything I may have gone slightly more rich on the high mix)

Ran the saw for a little while today and no evidence of spitting oil at all. I was going to suggest maybe it was flooded, but think I would have seen oil mix in the muffler in that case. Now I think it must have been something silly like "someone" spilled bar oil under the muffler.

Haven't done any tough work with it yet, but did get to use it today. Had to knock over a small maple, a job for which the tractor was used. Then used the "new" saw to limb and buck it into small enough pieces for the burn pile. Loving it so far... Many thanks for convincing me to bring it back to life.

 

[Gregster613]

You guys seem to know a lot about saws. I have a Poulan Pro PP3516AVX and lately it's been suffering from the chain getting loose after about 4 - 5 cuts. For some reason, I can't seem to keep it tight? Looked on youtube without much luck except for suspecting that the chain adjustment mechanism may need replacing. Could that simple screw be my problem? I can't think of whatever else it might be? I have always been leery of the tool-less adjustment; but until lately have had zero issues with it. Could someone throw a thought or two my way?
Appreciate it if so. Thanks Greg

 

[MossRoad]

You guys seem to know a lot about saws. I have a Poulan Pro PP3516AVX and lately it's been suffering from the chain getting loose after about 4 - 5 cuts. For some reason, I can't seem to keep it tight? Looked on youtube without much luck except for suspecting that the chain adjustment mechanism may need replacing. Could that simple screw be my problem? I can't think of whatever else it might be? I have always been leery of the tool-less adjustment; but until lately have had zero issues with it. Could someone throw a thought or two my way?
Appreciate it if so. Thanks Greg

I don't know about that specific model. I do know when I got my 18" model from Poulan, we couldn't keep the chain tight either. Found an offer from Poulan where for one time, they would send you a manual tensioner for free, as they had so many complaints about the tool-less tensioner. I had several friends with the same model. Some of their tensioners worked, and some didn't, like mine. We all took advantage of that free offer and got the manual ones anyway. Maybe it would be worth looking into for your model? :confused3:

 

[goeduck]

I don't know about that specific model. I do know when I got my 18" model from Poulan, we couldn't keep the chain tight either. Found an offer from Poulan where for one time, they would send you a manual tensioner for free, as they had so many complaints about the tool-less tensioner. I had several friends with the same model. Some of their tensioners worked, and some didn't, like mine. We all took advantage of that free offer and got the manual ones anyway. Maybe it would be worth looking into for your model? :confused3:

Reminds me of my pressure washer where the house connection vibrates loose and sprays water all over if I do not keep tabs on it. :shocked:

 

[xyz123]

If you have the tooless side cover. The little gears get stripped. You can buy them and replace but in time you will do it again.

I advise folks to switch over to the normal clutch cover and tensioner set ups.

Your saws IPL Poulan Gas Chainsaw | PP3516AVX | eReplacementParts.com

 

[xyz123]

Check and make sure that I got right one. IPL with normal clutch cover and tensioner set up. Might work for your saw? Check and make sure. Poulan Gas Chain Saw | PP3516 | eReplacementParts.com

 

[Gregster613]

Thanks for the tips MossRoad & xyz123, The inner tooth on my tool-less looks as if worn and is probably the root cause.
I was going to go to ereplacement 1st, but wanted to double-check my thoughts prior to just buying parts and hoping they would fix my problem.

I hadn't heard/read about problems with the tool-less; course as long as mine was working fine I had no reason to search for solutions then!

I do have an 18" also (bought @ TSC when it was on sale) I have never yet used. It has the old style screwdriver adjustable cover on it. I will probably just try switching the covers 1st and if that does fix the issue - I'll just buy a new [old style] cover and be back in steady business. Thanks for the suggestions! Greg

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks for the tips MossRoad & xyz123, The inner tooth on my tool-less looks as if worn and is probably the root cause.
I was going to go to ereplacement 1st, but wanted to double-check my thoughts prior to just buying parts and hoping they would fix my problem.

I hadn't heard/read about problems with the tool-less; course as long as mine was working fine I had no reason to search for solutions then!

I do have an 18" also (bought @ TSC when it was on sale) I have never yet used. It has the old style screwdriver adjustable cover on it. I will probably just try switching the covers 1st and if that does fix the issue - I'll just buy a new [old style] cover and be back in steady business. Thanks for the suggestions! Greg

I've had the 18" for about 10 years. It's a bit underpowered for full cuts in locust. Works well in cherry an softer wood like sassafras. I'd put that 16" bar on the 42cc saw and it would probably be a pretty darn good saw. The only reason I haven't done that myself is that I had two older 18" saws, several bars, and half a dozen 18" chains.

 

[Gregster613]

MossRoad, That was my plan when I bought the 18". I've just been unable - yet - to get the smaller one to completely die! As long as the motor and all still runs good I'm satisfied with how it cuts. I just need to fine-tune getting the chain to stay tight and the info about the tool-less tighteners becoming weak was "very" helpful to me. Once the little one goes dead; the bar and chains (I have several 16") are getting transferred to the bigger guy. This way I'll always have a working saw available at a moments notice [I hope!].

 

[MossRoad]

MossRoad, That was my plan when I bought the 18". I've just been unable - yet - to get the smaller one to completely die! As long as the motor and all still runs good I'm satisfied with how it cuts. I just need to fine-tune getting the chain to stay tight and the info about the tool-less tighteners becoming weak was "very" helpful to me. Once the little one goes dead; the bar and chains (I have several 16") are getting transferred to the bigger guy. This way I'll always have a working saw available at a moments notice [I hope!].

:thumbsup:

I inherited a Craftsman 18" saw from my dad back around 1995. Never used it much. Around 10-11 years ago we started heating with wood and I bought the 42cc 18" poulan factory reconditioned for $100. And about 4 years ago my neighbor gave me his 18" Craftsman. So I'm kinda stuck on those 42cc 18" saws. :laughing: I cut about 6 cords per year for us + an occasional windfall for family and friends with the Poulan. It's been a good saw. Only problems I ever had was the coil cracked. That was darn near $50 after shipping. And the fuel line went mushy inside the tank. That was 20 cents. Both Craftsman saws seem to be a bit more powerful than the Poulan, but they don't have chain brakes, so I only use them once in a while, and maybe if I get the bar pinched on the Poulan. However, the last time I got the bar pinched, I just took the saw off the bar, put on a spare bar and chain, and used that to free the stuck one. It's nice having spare bars and chains in the field. I keep everything in a kitty litter bucket. I think I have 6 chains currently. I sharpen them on a cheap harbor freight sharpener and put them in a ziplock freezer bag with a couple drops of oil. I just swap them out rather than sharpening in the field.