Poulan Chainsaws FAQ

The fuel-oil mixture ratio for all Poulan two-cycle products is 40:1. You can obtain this ratio by mixing 3.2 oz. of oil with one gallon of regular gas. If you have other brands of equipment that require different fuel/oil ratios and you don't want to mix separate fuel cans, you should use the lowest numerical ratio. For example, if you have products requiring 40:1, 50:1, and 32:1 ratios you should use the 32:1 ratio for all products. This may cause slight smoke increase in the exhaust in the 40:1 and 50:1 products due to more oil in the fuel, but it won't damage either of the engines.

The size of the plug varies from unit to unit. We recommend checking with your Poulan or Poulan PRO servicing dealer for exact details. Follow the spark plug replacement procedures in the operator's manual if doing the work yourself.

The spark plug gap on all products is .025-inch.

The fuel filter is located in the fuel tank.We recommend changing the fuel filter yearly. To remove the filter, drain your unit of fuel and remove the fuel cap/retainer assembly from the tank. Pull the filter from the tank and remove it from the end of the fule line. Install the new filter and reassemble.

The air filter on your unit should be checked and cleaned every 5 hours of use. Before removing the air filter, clean the top cover and the area around it to keep debris from falling into the carburetor chamber. Remove the top cover of your saw. Remove the air filter and clean it in warm, soapy water. Rinse it in clean water. Allow the filter to dry completely before reinstalling. If the filter is foam, lightly oil it before reinstalling. Install the filter and top cover.

Mix 3.2 ounces of Poulan 2-cycle air cooled engine oil to one gallon of fresh unleaded gasoline to obtain the recommended 40:1 fuel to oil ratio.
Over a period of time oil will separate from gasoline. To properly insure oil and gas mixture,we recommend thoroughly shaking your oil and gas mixture before refueling your unit.

Our units run on 87 octane regular unleaded gasoline. Remember to use fresh gasoline and to mix it with the recommended 2-cycle oil.

All Poulan two-cycle products require oil to be added to the gas. Unlike engines that have separate gas and oil reservoirs, two-cycle engines run on a gas/oil mixture that keeps the engine lubricated at all times. Never use straight gas in a two-cycle engine; straight gas will ruin the engine within minutes. Don't forget your chain saw also has a bar oil reservoir. Bar & Chain oil is used in this reservoir only. Do not fill the Bar & Chain oil reservoir with 2 cycle engine oil.

No,fuel should not be stored in the unit. It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in the fuel system. If the unit is to be stored for longer than 15 days - drain the fuel tank, retighten the gas cap, and start the unit and let it run until it stops.

Starting most two-cycle engines is quite simple. Use the procedure outlined in your operator's manual if it differs from the following:
1. Move the choke lever to the full position
2. Hold or lock the throttle in the on position
3. If the unit has an on/off switch, move it to the on position (usually indicated by the symbol "I", not "O")
4. If the unit has a primer bulb, depress it 4-5 times to draw fuel from the fuel tank into the carburetor, this removing any air from the fuel lines
5. For chain saws with a step-through rear handle, set the saw on the ground, place the toe of your shoe through the handle, and hold the handlebar with your left hand. If the saw doesn't have a step-through rear handle, simply hold the handlebar and firmly press the bottom of the chain saw against the ground
6. Make short, brisk pulls on the starter rope until you hear the engine try to start. This should happen between 1-6 pulls, but no more than 10 pulls. If the unit doesn't respond, it may be flooded or have another problem. See Why won't the engine start?

There are several things that would cause an engine not to start. The following are a few items that you can check.
Make sure the on/off switch is in the on position (I).
Make sure that you are using a fresh fuel mixture mixed at the proper ratio. DO NOT store and use fuel mixture from previous seasons.
IF YOU SMELL FUEL AFTER TRYING TO START THE UNIT:
If you smell fuel, the unit is most likely flooded. Go to How to start a flooded engine
Check the air filter and fuel filter . See General Maintenance
A fouled or incorrectly gapped spark plug will also cause an engine not to start. Remove your spark plug and clean the electrode with a small wire brush.If the spark plug electrode is wet fouled with gasoline, replace with a new plug. The gap should be set at .025”.
If the weather is hot, and the saw will not start after sitting for 15-30 minutes, the carburetor could be vapor locked, which is caused by hot gas evaporating in the carburetor and preventing the correct amount of gasoline mixture from reaching the carburetor.Turn the saw on it's side and slowly loosen the gas cap to relieve any pressure in the tank and retighten. Push the primer bulb several times until the bulb fills with fuel.The saw should now start. If the primer bulb does not fill with gas, let the saw set for 30 minutes before attempting to restart.
A major cause of this condition is using stored gas, that was purchased in winter, on a hot day.
If after checking the above causes the unit still will not start, it would be best to have an authorized service center check the unit over.

If you smell gasoline after unsuccessfully trying to start your unit, it is most likely flooded. There are two ways to clear the unit of the excess fuel and get it started.
The first is to let the unit sit for 15-20 minutes to allow the fuel to evaporate from the engine and then to repeat the starting instructions. This will work with a mildly flooded engine.
The better way is to turn the choke off, activate the fast idle ( by engaging the throttle lock/trigger assembly or pulling the choke out and pushing it back in—depending on the model saw you have), turn the on/off switch on, hold the saw firmly on the ground as you do during normal starting, and pull the starter rope sharply until the saw starts. Remember not to pull the starter rope out to its full length. Short, brisk pulls are recommended. If the engine does not start in 15 pulls, the spark plug is probably wet fouled.
Remove the spark plug and look for moist wet deposits on the electrode. If it is wet, replace with a new spark plug. While the spark plug is removed,turn the engine upside down and allow any fuel in the engine to drain from the spark plug hole into a suitable container. Install the new spark plug and repeat the starting instructions.

The bar and chain require continuous lubrication. Lubrication is provided by the automatic oiler system when the oil tank is kept filled. Lack of oil will quickly ruin the bar and chain. Too little oil will cause overheating shown by smoke coming from the chain and/ or discoloration of the bar. In freezing weather oil will thicken, making it necessary to thin bar and chain oil with a small amount (5 to 10%) of #1 Diesel Fuel or kerosene. Bar and chain oil must be free flowing for the oil system to pump enough oil for adequate lubrication. Genuine Poulan bar and chain oil is recommended to protect your unit against excessive wear from heat and friction. Poulan oil resists high temperature thinning. If Poulan bar and chain oil is not available, use another brand of bar and chain oil. Bar and chain oil is formulated to stick to the chain as it spins around the bar. The oil retained on the chain protects the bar and chain from overheating caused by friction.
* Never use waste oil for bar and chain lubrication
* Always stop the engine before removing the oil cap.

First,stop your engine. Check to make sure that the chain brake isn't engaged.The chain brake can activate automatically by a sudden movement or impact. You can disengage the chain brake by pulling the chain brake handguard back against the front handle and releasing slowly.
If the chain brake is disengaged and the chain does not turn, you should check the drive links on the chain, the bar grooves or the sprocket nose on the bar. A burr on the drive links will bind the chain in the bar. If the bar has been pinched, the chain will not pass freely through the groove. If a sliver of wood has gotten into the sprocket nose, it will not turn at all. Also, look at the drive sprocket on the saw itself to see if it has a groove worn into it.

Several things may contribute to why your chain is not cutting properly.
If this is the first use of the saw and it appears that the chain is burning the wood, it is likely that the chain has been put on backward.
If the saw has cut fine in the past, but now is having problems, it is likely that you have dulled your chain. This can easily happen when you hit dirt with your saw or after several hours of normal operation.
Is your saw cutting crooked? First, check the cutters on the chain and the guide bar rails. If one side of the cutters is sharper than the others, the sharper side will cut into the wood deeper. If the rails on the guide bar are uneven, the chain will ride deeper on one side and will cut crooked.
Is the engine running, but your chain is not turning? First, you should check the drive links on the chain, the bar grooves or the sprocket nose on the bar. A burr on the drive links will bind the chain in the bar. If the bar has been pinched, the chain will not pass freely through the groove. If a sliver of wood has gotten into the sprocket nose, it will not turn at all. Also, look at the drive sprocket on the saw itself to see if it has a groove worn into it.

Poulan branded chainsaws have a 1 year warranty against manufactuers defects when used for Household purposes.

The warranty covers manufatuers defects. Parts and labor are covered under the warranty.
Some items that ARE NOT covered include; improper maintenance, old or stale fuel, or the use of accessories or parts not specifically recommended by Poulan Weed Eater

**Please Note: Ordertree is a Factory Authorized Distributor for Husqvarna Outdoor Products & their associated brands (Poulan, Poulan Pro, Weed Eater & more) in both the U.S. & Canada. U.S. customers (& international customers) should select the “PWE” part for Poulan & Weed Eater handheld products & “AYP” for wheeled goods. Canadian customers should select “HOPC” for both handheld & wheeled products. This allows us to order the correct parts from the correct factory partner to reduce lead times on parts not in inventory.