Chainsaw Won't Start - 10 Years in Storage - Poulan Woodshark - DIY Repair

In this video I repair a Poulan woodshark Chainsaw. It has been 10 years since this saw last cut wood. The owner said they couldn't get it started. This is how I got it running.

[kittyramos]

Hola. The rope return mechanism is not working on my Poland pr5020. The repair guy charged me $40 to replace a coil inside the starter housing. I was able to start it twice and by the 3rd time I pull the starter rope it did not rewind. Called the repair guy and he said he could replace the coil again (another $40). I don't know about repairs, but replacing a part is not necessarily repairing. So I'm reaching out to you in hopes that you can help me understand what is happening to my saws return mechanism so I can actually repair the problem. As a female I have to deal with these bozos a lot. It looks like the actual housing area of the coil itself is not straight and perhaps that's what is causing that coil to stretch out and not rewind or return the rope. Help!

[mattwaters]

Just finished inspecting my P3314 (2009) and after draining the old gas and cleaning it up, filled it with fresh premix fuel she fired right up after 7 - 10 pulls. Excellent video and information. Thanks so much!

[dgriffin]

Know why it's called a Poulan?. Because when you want to start it you grab that cord and keep "Poulan and Poulan and Poulan" until your arm falls off.

[stevenclay]

I've been running mine summer and winter for 7 yrs. I love this saw

[dontswin]

Just got done using my Poulan 42cc on a neighbors tree that had fallen onto a gnome house in their backyard. My saw was sitting for at least 5 years, sadly I've neglected it. Bought new gas and mixed up a batch, filled it nearly all up. Got it running in about 5 mins.! I was shocked I got it running. Now I'll run it dry(someday soon) and get some bar oil (lol). I can't stand the chain tightening mechanism with the plastic knob, yours with 2 nuts is way better. It's tricky to get the tension right. I have the PP4218AVX. Thanks your video helped me immensely!!

[thomasthompson]

Thanks for not bad mouthing the Poulan saw as so many do. I am a native of logging country in Washington but I spent 12 years in the South and found so many loggers down there that used the Poulan's every day and with great success. I have had 2 of them myself and had no trouble but like you said use the straight gas and that helps a lot. Like any small machine you need to be careful and take good care of these saws and they can make you money or save you a lot as well. Thank You for your skill and I am sure your customers appreciate your service and honesty.

[crushmash]

Excellent job explaining the saw to rookies like me
🇨🇦

[jeffreygoodson]

What an AWESOME tutorial and video!!!
Thank You so much!!!
I have the same chainsaw and (like you described) it wont start.
(It hasn’t been used in nearly 15 years)
Thanks to you I plan on trying to repair it.
I think you’re an awesome technician.
The fact that you not only repaired this chainsaw but cleaned it so the customer would be happy shows me that you truly do take great pride in your work.
I’m looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Thank You!

[evankoch]

Very nice. Thank you. I have an older Poulan that quit on me yesterday after running well. I'll follow your instructions and see what happens.

[chadclaude]

Thank you so much! I used this video to get the chainsaw that hadn’t been started in 5 years to fire up on the third pull. I had been trying after replacing the fuel line with no luck. This helped me get it going in 15 minutes. Awesome video!

[blueplasma]

Yep, I was leery at first, but you know your stuff. great instructions. Thank you

[dwaynejoleun]

Very thorough walk through of checking out a Poulan chainsaw before trying to start it. I was given one after being told by the previous owner that it was a POS and wishing he had never bought it. The one I was given was in way rougher shape than the one you are working on in the video and hadn't been used in five years. The thing was covered in sawdust, there was at least an 1/8" alone on the air filter. The exhaust manifold had burned a hole in the cover and the bottom was caked in mud. The biggest complaint he had was it wouldn't stay running. I followed your video exactly, gave it a good cleaning, and it started right up for me. And it stalled. The one thing I would have added to your video was how to adjust the set screws on the carb and adjust the idle. Overall I was impressed with your step by step process. Thanks for video.

[richc]

Ive had my Poulan for 20 years and it still runs great. One thing i would like to see is how to check the carburetor and what may need replacing if that ever becomes a problem. Great video.

[mtarkowski]

Wish I lived close to you. You seem passionate about your work and it's very hard to find respectable people like you nowadays.

[ceedub]

thank you for this informative video. you took the time to show people what they should do if they are having this problem, no shortcuts, plane and simple. thank you

[Ocalaman]

Thanks, I have a small Homelite chainsaw that I have not run since 2004, when we had hurricanes that knocked many limbs down. You have guided us in getting a small 2 cycle engine running that sat for several years.

[nickgarza]

You take a lot of pride in your work. A sure way to get your customers back!

[kennycybertron]

Bought one these to cut up a fallen tree....ran great 1st day...2nd day and beyond...total jumk....took it back and bought an Echo cs-400 ...absolutely love it...cranks on the 2nd pull cold, 1st pull if its warmed up....GREAT VIDEO...THX

[Georgemac]

Very well live in the country, and my wife came home a few weeks ago from taking trash to the dump and she had a Poulan saw with the case...thing does not look like it has been used that much, but someone had just set it out at the dump....will be interesting to go through the motions and see if it will behave as this one did. Picked up a nice wet/dry shop vacuum cleaner the same way....all it needed was a new filter and it has worked perfect ever since.

[michaelandcolinspop]

Another happy little Poulan and probably a very satisfied customer. I’ve had my 3314 for six years and use it all the time. It starts and runs like the day I bought it. A lot of people rag on these saws as being “disposable”, but when you care for them, they repay you with honest, hard work. I’d buy another without reservation.