Side by Side Comparison of: Poulan Pro vs Husqvarna

Ignore the 1 & 2 star ratings on this Poulan saw because those reviews never read the instructions and now want to blame Poulan or Amazon for their not wanting to take the time to read. Those who had broken recoil ropes after short use are the ones that didn't read Page 10 that says DO NOT pull the recoil rope all the way out, the saw will not tolerate this abuse. I replaced my 15 year old Poulan 2450 with this new Poulan. My 2450 was frustrating for the 1st three years because i didn't read the manual as I should have and learned the hard way. My father gave me this saw the last Christmas before he died. Once I read through the manual it worked for great for 12 more years. This Poulan Pro started on the 3rd pull; these were short quick pulls. You have to pay attention to the choke positions because there is very little movement between full choke, 1/2 choke and no choke. This saw is a fantastic bargain for $200.00 with case. Read the reviews, not just one or two. All the 4 and 5 stars will tell you what works best for them.

I was uncertain about this saw because of the mixed reviews, but after using it I'm extremely satisfied. The first time I used it I cut down 7 maple trees and it sliced through them like butter. The saw is a little heavy, but that worked out great when I cut the trees into 12 to 18 inch long pieces.

I used the saw for 2.5 hours without a single problem described by some of the other reviewers. It started every single time, it did not overheat, and it had plenty of power.

My next project is the remaining 11 trees that are coming out on my next weekend off. I'm confident that this saw will do the job without any trouble.

I have been borrowing chainsaws for the last few years to cut up firewood. I finally got the go a head from the wife to get one but was limited on the $$ allowance. I looked at Craigslist but you never know what you are getting yourself into. I also looked at refurbished ones but decided I wanted a new one. This saw came completely assembled, in the case and with oil for mixing with a gallon. First day out I had this saw along with a Stil 044. I felt that the Stil was a bit more powerful. The PP5020AV is only 1/3 the cost of the still and is very comparable to the power. The chain that comes with the saw is ok if you are not in a hurry, my suggestion is to buy a better chain the difference is definitely noticeable. I ran it on and off for several hours (three tanks of gas) and never had a problem starting it. The people that are giving poor reviews for this saw due to starting need to learn how to start small engines. I have worked with gas power tools for over 20 years and they all have their quarks. You just need to get use to the tool and the proper way of starting it. The build quality is nice for the price and I can see it lasting me many years as long as I take care of it and empty the gas when storing it for a period of time. I cut nothing but hardwood (white/red oak, maple, ash) and this saw had no problems with it. I harvest 6-10 face cord of wood a year and have used many upper end saws. For what I do I just cannot imagine spending the cash for the other saws when this one can hold its own at a much lower price. Plus this is a Husqvarna saw wrapped in a Poulan Pro case (Husqvarna owns Poulan and this saw has a Husaqvarna motor in it). I would definitely recommend this saw to anyone. You just cannot beat it for the price.

This is the AV model. The AV model has the "normal" chain tightening method and is very reliable.

The choke has two settings. The full choke setting for cold starts, the half choke for warm starts. Both choke settings release when you squeeze the throttle. It starts very easily and, when flooded by a slight over priming, recovers quickly at the half choke/higher idle position.

The case is square and large with a protruding plastic bar cover that separates from the case when you remove the saw (the cover stays on the saw bar until you pull it off). It looks sort of goofy with the saw bar cover sticking out the side of a sqare box as compared to a clamshell case which is one piece and more rounded. The case is enormous. The sides of the case are snapped onto the rest of the case so they can be removed which colapses the case into a flat....thing. I'm not disappointed, the case means little to me.

I was able to take the saw through a 40" apple tree with little resistance. The clutch cover provided plenty of room for wood chips to pass through and remained clear of debris. The bar oil consumption was equal with the fuel consumption which seemed contrary to some reports that it goes through oil quickly. The carburator tuning seemed right-on from the factory. The carb requires a special tool to tweak it. You can pick that up here or at Sears.

After some cutting, the chain began to stretch and required constant attention (tightening). I expected that from a new chain and was on top of the task. I'll be fitting this saw with another chain and bar by next year. The chain provided is sub-par and in my opinion, isn't worth sharpening. I was happy to have a 20" bar and I believe this saw would perform better with a 18". Don't get me wrong, it does very well with a 20, but a 18 would make this thing a real contender. The saw maintained a high, steady RPM in the wood and provided plenty of torque using the stock bar and chain.

It's not exactly a light saw but then again, this saw wasn't meant to spend every day in the forest. It is well balanced and easily maneuverable considering its overall weight. Big saw for the right price. Couldn't pass it up.

Several recent storms destroyed a bunch of mature bradford pear trees in our yard. These trees are 40 plus feet tall and solid hardwood. This chainsaw made fast work of them. Easy to handle and control. The case it comes in is actually useful.

Minor negatives: Can be hard to start when the engine is warm but has been left to sit for 15 min, such as when you break for lunch lunch. ALso somewhat heavy to wield and does wear your left deltoid out.
Major positives: comes packaged great. Included case has real functionality. Easy to use, no assembly required, just pull it out of the box and add fuel and bar oil. Instructions are clear and in good english. Gets the job done quickly and safely. not too loud. For any job short of professional, this is it.
BTW, I had a factory assembly problem with the first one they sent me, and Amazon fixed it right away. No hassles Dependable after sales service.

Shipping was on time and very well packed. And as for the product, it runs super, has plenty of power for its 18" bar and I've gotten much more done than expected with it already. Haven't tried a longer bar but I'd expect it to easily handle a 20". Starts easily every time hot or cold. I'd gotten a second chain, but I'm still on the original. Goes all day on the pine I've been dropping with a little hand file touch up at the end of the day. No need to swap out chain in the field yet. A lot of oak coming up next so I'm expecting it will get used.

Following the clearly printed instructions, is starts quickly and easily. I immediately put it to work felling, limbing and bucking a couple 12" firs. About 1/2 way through the first tank of gas I adjusted the chain and kept going. So far I'm very impressed. It starts well, handles well, and has plenty of power for assisting in thinning and grooming a 25 year old reprod fir stand. Unlike the picture, the bar that came mounted on the saw does not have a grease hole for the sprocket. I'm not sure how I feel about that, yet. I'm also not sure about the non-adjustable oiler. I've read in a few places now that the Oregon Power Match Bars work well on this saw, so I may be upgrading sooner than later to a 20" bar.

I've had 5 different chainsaws in my life, all used except my Homelite XL12, which was a good saw in it's time.The others were Stihl, all used, some were fairly new, all were temperamental. So I can't really compare this saw to those used ones, but I can tell you it has a lot of torque, it feels lite, starts right up, it's comfortable and cuts amazingly fast. It doesn't come with a case but that didn't matter to me. I'm not saying it's better than the other top brands, but to me, this is the coolest, trouble free saw I've ever owned. But I need to remember the only other new saw I've ever owned is 38 years old now.

If you are thinking of buying this from Bailey's Power Equipment. wait, I purchased one for 339.00 with only 7 left, a week later they are selling for 319.00 with 15 left, yes I feel ripped off. Saw gets 5 stars. --------------update------- the plot thickens, it's not Bailey's it's Amazon.

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Bailey's.
I'm afraid Amazon chooses and changes the prices on a cycle.
We have no say on their pricing decisions.
I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

Marketplace Representative
Bailey's Inc

I bought this because a 75ft tree about 4-6ft wide got ripped up in a pretty bad windstorm we had. Previously I had a cheap 40cc craftsman chainsaw that the motor seemed to die after a couple years (used to use wood furnaces solely for winter heat - so it got used heavily for 2 years), also a couple cheaper electric saws. This thing blew them all out of the water.
Things I like:
* It's not any heavier then the craftsman, for 50cc i was really happy with how light it was. Easily climb 20ft up a tree with this to cut down some limbs.
* It cuts about twice as fast as my previous chainsaw (even when the motor and chains were new)
* It usually doesn't take more then 3 pulls of the cord to get it started.
* 2 year warranty - but given Husqvarna's name and quality of product I expect it to last a decade.
* Has a built in container and auto release of chain/bar lube - so you dont have to manually apply.
* Low emissions (not like it matters much since i'll just be burning that wood, lol).
* Decent price if you compare to Stihl, but still more then just about every other brand out there.
* Came fully assembled.

All in all I couldn't be happier with this saw. Buying this over another one has saved me many hours of labor, and I'm quite confident will last me several time longer. I'll probably put the 20" bar on it, and just use the 18 when I need a lighter saw for climbing.

Can be a pain to start initially but after its warm it's very easy to start again. a little heavy but not too heavy. good power. use it for cutting firewood to heat home all winter. as stated in other reviews it's made by husqvarna & many parts are stamped with the H logo. great value at about $180, unlike husqvarna & stihl saws at $300-500. can use an 18 inch bar too. convenient carry case. It uses a lot of bar oil but i'm not really familiar with chainsaws so don't know how unusual this is. my only real complaint is that the chain seems to tighten when using for several hours- unlike other chainsaws whose chains loosen. it gets to the point that it won't spin & bogs down the motor. i have to stop it & loosen chain. I'm still very happy with purchase. I think maybe the bad reviews got lemons. based on other reviews i did take a few precautionary measures: i used silicone caulk to build a gasket around the lip on the air filter- it seems to keep dust out well. use mid grade gas & only get enough to last about a month- if it sits for more than a month the ethanol can start to separate & i've been told this is the most common cause of chainsaw breakdowns today. burn up all the gas you put in the chainsaw- don't let it sit for weeks with the same gas in tank. I've cut for about 16 hours so far with mine & i clean it with compressed air after each time to remove sawdust before it can dry & permanently cake itself inside the mechanical parts. in my opinion as long as you take care of it, it will serve you well. Probably not for "Pro" use but great for firewood.

The PP5020AVX Chainsaw is an excellent all around medium duty chainsaw ideal for general property management and firewood cutting. It features a 50 cc, 2-cycle engine with Super Clean air filter system, aluminum Professional style clutch cover for more durability, automatic gear driven oil pump, tool-less access to the air filter and spark plug, reduced vibration handle with effortless pull starting system, a double post chain brake for added safety and an on-board locking wrench holder is built into the rear handle. 20" bar length. Fully assembled. Includes carry case. 2 year limited warranty.

With that said, here are my initial thoughts. This thing is big! I have used a 16 inch Homelite with good results in the past. My reason for buying the Poulan was because the Homelite was destroyed in a fire. I figure this time I would try something a little bigger. Inside the box you will find the chainsaw, 40:1 oil mix, and instructions. The carrying is a nice touch. While it may not be a deal maker/breaker it was really nice to be able to carry the saw, bar oil, chain resistant chaps, safety glasses, gloves, and an extra chain all in one box.

After gassing up I attempted to start the chainsaw. Pull out choke, pump bulb 6 times, pull rope.....nothing. When pressing the gas primer bulb something didn't feel right. It didn't seem as enough gas was getting through to the carb. I press bulb 3-4 more times, pull rope about 20-25 times. Then......nothing! I try again, this time the engine sputters. O.k. We are getting somewhere. Pull again...push choke in half way....sputters. Arrrrrggg!!!!! My arm is feeling every pull at this point. Push choke in, tug rope 3 more time.....YES!!! Engine starts. I let it idle for 30 seconds while I put on my safety gear. I quickly get started dismantling a 30 foot tree with a 24 inch base. This saw is AMAZING! Like a hot knife through butter, it does it's job and does it well. I didn't have any problems with it bogging down. With 50cc's of power this thing had plenty of torque to fell three trees one after another. The chain is good for felling 3-4 medium size trees before making adjustments. My biggest gripe was the primer bulb. It was sucking air and not pushing gas into the carb. When the gas tank drained to about halfway it just wouldn't start at all. I bought it from Amazon and with one quick phone call I had another one on the way. This was the first time I had to return something to Amazon. They were incredible. I explained what was happening with the primer and the sales rep said she would have another one delivered by tomorrow and that I could just hand the defective one to the U.P.S. driver and it would be taken care of. Sure enough, 24 hours later I was back at it. This time the saw started up perfectly and I have had zero problems with it.

Edit - It has been a year since I have owned this chainsaw and it has met every expectation. My only complaints are the chain and the gas cap. First, the replacement chain I purchased was the D72. The chain has 72 links. It is easy enough to replace but I found that it stretches quite a bit. Once the chain stretches it makes it a safety hazard to continue to use it. I am going to try the D70 to see if 2 less links will allow me to continue to tighten up the chain.
My second complaint is the gas cap. For some reason the gas cap is incredibly hard to get back on. I dread running out of gas because putting the cap back on takes a minimum of 5-6 tries before it will finally seat and then it takes a lot of strength to tighten it down.
A word of caution. Never take off the cover with the chain brake engaged. I made that mistake and ended up with a $40 repair bill. This is not covered under the warranty. The repair shop told me they make $200-$300 a week on this type of repair. In their opinion, it is a design flaw but it is a safety feature you really need. I noticed that the brake stop on the inside behind the cover is plastic. It is starting to shear but it still holds. To me, this is a design flaw. Plastic will not hold up in the long run and I dread the day when it finally shears off but for now I figure it will hold up another year or so. Even with those problems I still feel this product is well worth the money. If you are looking for something just to clean up small stuff you might want to look for something smaller. For bigger trees you can't beat this. I have yet to find a tree that is too big for this saw.

Update - I have owned this for almost two years now and overall I am still extremely satisfied. I still have the same issue with the gas cap but to work around this I just use a pair of pliers to open and close it. The gas bulb is now split and I am having a hard time finding a replacement. The only other flaw I can find is in the breaking mechanism. It is a metal to plastic design and the plastic is about all chewed up. The only way for that to not happen is to let the saw idle down to a stop and then engage the break.Makes sense but as a safety feature you will find at times you need to set the break in mid operation. It happens. Just be aware if you need service good luck. I called customer service for an authorized repair facility and out of the four within 125 miles none were taking poulan products. Just so you know, your warranty does not include anything related to the fuel system, which is almost everything. Fortunately I have had minimal parts go bad. I can honestly say I have put this saw through the works and it is still running. I would advise buying a bar adjustment kit and keep it as a spare because I have broken two sets getting my saw bound in a tree. You can find them on e-bay for less than $5.00 including shipping.

On the fence about this one. I bought it because it has better ratings or just as good as the more expensive brands. This thing is powerful. I was lopping up a lot of huge red oaks with no problem, but then less than 30 days old it stopped running ( turns out the piston is scored and hasn't enough compression )and the choke and on/off button started to snap off !!!! I am going to give it a 4 star rating though because Husqvarna who owns Poulan is sending me a brand new saw. Sometimes you just get a defect and I hope that is the case here , because this is a nice saw for the money...... If the new one is the same I will update this review appropriately , and if its better I will do the same ....

The owner's manual declares "for occasional use"; that tells me it's good for home owners, hobby farms, or someone like me with a wood burning stove that wants to cut their own firewood. Probably not sturdy enough for a landscaper, rancher, forester, or for industrial use; chainsaws for these uses cost considerably more. I like this saw, it started well right out of the box and for a 50cc engine it was easy to pull start. I let it warm up 10 mins. it didn't rev up well at first, it stalled. The owner's manual has a toll free number to call and admonished not to return to the store. I figured the engine needed some break in time but I had it in mind to call the Poulan if it didn't do better. After it set an hour or so I started it again and started and reved up perfectly. I cut some good sized logs and it cut very well. I cut firewood for my own use and some on occasion for others. I will use it mostly in spring and fall cutting a few hours at a time reducing logs to a size for splitting and stacking. I cut about 8 ricks per season; I think the saw will do well for this purpose.The past seven years I used a 14" Poulan Wild Thing chain saw, it did well and was working well last fall but I found the fuel line had disintegrated over winter, the old fuel lines were apparently not suitable for modern gas with ethanol. Since the new saw may sit as much as the old one with fuel in it, I will try to remember to drain the fuel tank and use non-ethanol fuel, good 2 cycle oil, and a fuel stabilizer in the mix. Other than that I would say the saw really seems to be worth the cost to me.

Chainsaws are funny things - it is amazing and surprising the amount of brand loyalty. Stihl is a great brand (I think the best) but very expensive, and honestly the last one I had could be a real bear to start, same as many cheaper saws. After a fair amount of research, and actually holding various saws in my hand, I decided to go with this 5020AV which is their newest version saw including many design upgrades. It is a tough little saw with a quality feel overall. Note : the older model Poulans are being clearanced out everywhere, they are "AVX" models featuring a potentially troublesome finger controlled chain adjuster (plastic that can break). You can find lots of negative reviews regarding the AVX models because of that and some other durability issues. The "AV" models on the other hand have the old style chain adjuster which is tried and true. In the end, I chose this saw because of the 50cc engine,and newer, tougher design and materials, and of course an excellent price point. $179 - $199 is doable online, and my next choice would have been an ECHO but for +$100 more and less engine displacement. Husky owns Poulan and many of the parts and literature say Husqvarna on them. I spent last weekend cleaning up a lot I own, out of the box the saw performed great (nothing like a new chain with 50cc behind it). It also, comes with a plastic case to keep the mess in one place. Tips : (1) Don't ever eyeball the gas/oil mixture (measure it).(2) Order a carb adjust tool (easy access from outside the saw) to fine tune the carb to your elevation. (3)Always drain the remaining gas out of the tank and then run the engine out of gas before you store the saw for anything longer than a month.

Time will tell, but this is a lot of saw for the money, and since I am only an occasional user, it should last me for many years. Yeah, if I was making my $$ cutting timber I would spring the extra $2-300 for a Stihl pro model, but for my needs this appears to be a very good deal.

Plenty of power, works great. Sometimes hard to start. Make sure safety handle is locked in the normal position before removing chain access cover. If not, it will be extremely difficult to reassemble. Instruction manual is written in pictures, and is hard to understand sometimes.

Saw working well so far under hard use on a land clearing job. Long term reliability and effectiveness still under review.

My thoughts after cutting up several oaks. Forget about placing your toe in the handle to hold the saw to the ground when starting. Maybe a five year foot would fit but certainly not a boot toe. You do wear boots while cutting, right? Starting is very easy anyway. No more sore arm before making the first cut. Two things I don't like. One is the vibration damping. My old saw didn't have such a thing and I miss being able to feel when the wood is about to bind the chain. The other is the chain stops when it hits the wood. I find I have rev up and softly begin each cut even on 2" limbs. This gets very tiring. I don't know if this is due to the chain brake or anti-kickback mechanism.

Update: I called Amazon customer service, lady was nice and is sending new saw to me. She said has no idea how this happened because Amazon doesnt even sell used or refurbished products. If thats true, Im still trying to think of a scenario where a used chainsaw would be put on the shelf with the brand new ones for resale. Ive had lots of positive dealings with Amazon, this one is a head-scratcher.

Update: Received the replacement saw next-day air. It is brand new. Ive raised my review to 4-stars and will erase some of the original review because it had nothing to do with the product itself. This saw fired right up and cut AMAZINGLY. As far as restarting while hot, at first I couldnt restart it, but then I decided TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. The real key to restarting while warm is to follow the steps in the instructions EXACTLY and also hold the trigger slightly giving it a little gas and it cranks right up. I am very very impressed with this saw on day one. I'll update after a week or so, Im dealing with a giant tree trunk/stump that Im cutting out. This could easily be a 5-star review if she holds up.

This is a very nice unit. It even came with premix fuel and a T-shirt. I have used it once and it worked as advertised. My initial experience was not without incident. The chain cover nut was not tight when I received the unit and the cover thus came off while cutting causing the chain to jam. It took me a while to find the nut in the brush. I cleaned up the unit, filed the chained teeth and put it back together and it worked fine. So check all the bolts and nuts before use. My one other complaint though would be that they use a knob instead of the nut that came off. I think the next model up has the knob and they should standardize on that.

worked the saw fairly hard. used pre mix fuel and maintained the sir filter regularly. motor bogs down now. I cleaned carb still bogging down, Im ordering the Husq 455 rancher now and will be selling this one used to recover some of my money.

Doesn't seem to keep the power as you are cutting. It wants to bog down and I have to back off cutting to get the power going again. It was a little hard to start in the beginning but I think it is getting better now. I wish there was a way the manufacturers could figure out how to keep the chain tighter without having to stop and tighten it all the time but I think this is the case with any chainsaw.

I've had mine since Sept. 2011. It gets a few hours homeowner use per year -- not enough for me to make any claim about durability. The saw has good power for its weight.

So far, it has been a decent saw except for two things. The gas cap is some kind of friction fit plastic where (on mine) the plastic surfaces grab and bind requiring pliers to take the gas cap off and put in on. I do not have that problem with the oil cap; but then, that is thoroughly coated with chain oil.

The big problem is that the factory carburetor settings might or might not be right. You find a substantial number of reviews complaining about hard starting, or the saw won't stay running. Mine was that way when received. You need to get a carburetor adjustment tool and start the trial and error process of getting it adjusted. If you succeed, then the saw will start, run, and idle well. If not, then you'll be constantly frustrated. If you are not up to this task, then note the number of reviews that say it runs great compared to those who say it doesn't, and consider that ratio to be your odds of getting a winner.

Powerful little chainsaw.can't beat the price.Gave this 3 stars because it's suppose to come preset to crank up without adjusting carb.You have to have a special tool for this and it cost about $40.Well,I got a bic pen and cut end back that has the ball point and you can adjust idle rich and lean with it.El Cheapo but it works.Then the pullcord broke and all the inside parts that make it work.I took it to Home Depot and had it fixed.After replacing everything in the pullcord assembly they said they wouldn't fix it again.IT RUNS FINE NOW.It's good for standby but spend a little more and get a stihl or echo or husky.

Needed a bigger saw that didn't break the budget for firewood collection. Expediently handled the bigger trunks with absolutely no problems.

Update -after 2 seasons of use the saw exhibits the same mechanical problem as I had with my low end Husqvarna saw which is really an orange poulan.The saw is hard to start after it uses up a tank of gas and needs to cool off before I can start it again. Ideally you need a backup saw. I have cut approximately 4 cords of firewood with this saw to date.

The saw also uses approximately twice the gas for the same volume of firewood as my lower cc saw but it does save time with bigger logs.

Hard to start, once it gets going it runs great. Chain didn't stay sharp long, so didn't get more than 4 hours cutting out of it. Will keep it, but changing out chain.

I'm very happy with the saw, but I'm still waiting for the extended warranty that I purchased.

hard to start

Had difficulty starting in the end took it to local dealer to be informed that the machines are factory started and left with oil in the carburetor therefore they are hard to start. Perhaps I will purchase such items locally in the future.
Alternatively Husqvarna should inform customers of this fact .....

Purchased off Amazon. Used it for two days and it jammed. The brake would lever was locked so could not use the saw. Took it to a local repair saw who suggested sending it back since he has seen such issues and they are tough to fix. Called Husq customer support who suggested I take it to a local service center. They say its going to cost me. I purchases this four months ago.
Recommend use it immediately so it can be repaired under warranty.

Great the first use but then it started leaking oil everywhere and will overheat and die on us like it has no gas left. I need to know who to contact for warranty information.

I bought this saw to stay on my property in Alaska. When it runs, it's perfect. Very hard to start even when it's warm. Biggest problem/ flaw is that it kept vapor locking. It'd run fine for 20 minutes then it would die. Release the fuel cap then prime & choke (even after it was warmed up) then pull 5-10 times and it would start back up. It was mid 80's when I used it but still no reason for it to act this way. I will be buying a Stihl.

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH THIS CHAIN SAW. TOOK THE COVER OFF TO PUT THE CHAIN ON, MY GOD THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE COULD NOT GET THAT COVER BACK ON. WE GOT THIS CHAIN SAW RUNNING ONE TIME, AFTER THAT, NO LUCK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT I HAD NO LUCK WITH THIS THING. THE GOOD THING WAS THE SALER WAS UNDERSTANDING AND REFUNDING MY MONEY. I DONT LKNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS REFURBISHED OR IF POULAN JUST MADE A BAD CHAIN SAW. THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME, NEVER AGAIN.

It's sturdy and easy to work on. Metal which is nice but makes it very heavy after few hours. Chews through thick trees. If you use a lot spend on higher quality but for occasional work on big trees works for me. Used Husq's and Stihl in fire department and no comparison but 1/3-1/4 the price so no complaints for price

Follow up: 2nd season and lots of broken limbs after bad ice storms on our 11 acres. The Poulon started dying while cutting. Eventually lost all compression. Bit the bullet and got a Stihl Rancher Pro. I still wouldn't knock this for occasional sawing but in the end, even thrice the price later, I have no regrets about the extra cost because I'm using instead of working on the saw.

I purchased this because of the good to great reviews. The product was shipped fast and as promised, carrying case included (which I did like). The bad; after about 20 minutes of use, two 15-18" trees, the clutch failed. I disasembled and found the plastic safety gear was stripped. Not much I can do so I called the number for Poulan which is just an endless customer service automated shuffled, ended up at the parts warehouse in Washington. They gave me the name of an authorized dealer. It took over a month to get the replacement part. To be fair the dealer did say Poulan has a better reputation. However he didn't have any expirence with this model.

Will give it another try tomorrow.

Hard to start

Ran for half a tank of fuel then popped and shut down. Amazon doesn't offer a return policy for the saw. I talked to the local dealer and he said a common problem is the spark plug is loose. Sure enough, the plug had come out with a several rows of threads from the head. He said the repair was not covered under warranty because it was an assembly error. I received the product new in the box without any assembly required so I don't see how this should not be covered. I am very disappointed with the product and generously gave it 2 stars because my last two Husqvarna saws ran good for many years.

The engine works well. However the chain keeps getting loose even after a short time of use. And the big problem is that the chain does not get enough oil. There is no way to adjust the oil flow (like other models have). In order to convince the manufacturer about the problem you have to go through a tedious process of cleaning various parts. But I have used this chainsaw only a few short 3 times.... How in the world am I supposed to spend an hour to clean it after every short 30 min use, just to prove that the oil flow is not good?
If I would have to buy another chainsaw, I would not buy this one.

replacement saw for both a Craftsman saw and a Stihl. CAREFULLY researched it and wanted something that would be an easier start. My husband, although healthy and very active, is 78 and I didn't want him struggling to start the unit. The Craftsman was 37 years old (he KNOWS how to use and take care of equipment) and the Stihl was a smaller (shorter) blade so we opted for the 18 inch. Occasional use w/small trees, hunting cabin clearing small trails, etc. NOTHING major or heavy prolonged use. Took a lot of "figuring" out to get it started w/the "easy start" system. Used it once. Turned it off and EVERY time we tried to use it again it was a battle. Struggled for multiple times trying to start, adjust etc. Next step is to call manufacturer, which from another reviewer tells me I may run up the proverbial brick wall. Sigh.... Makes me want to 1) cross Husqvarna off my approved product list and 2) IF I have ANY unsatistactory issues w/returning it or getting it repaired and properly operational, based on the claims made in the descriptions on Amazon, and via manufacturers' info, I will not use Amazon again for purchase of products like this. I have used them with better success in other areas, but this was a big time disappointment.

I purchased this saw and immediately had a problem with the sprocket tip not turning. After getting a new bar I was not impressed with the performance. It may be an OK saw with a 16" bar for home owner scale limbing but not large tree cutting. Go with the 455 or a Stihl equivalent.

Like all Poulans this saw is hard to start and likes to stall. I've used them before and get the choke and half choke and primer bulb. Still I've learned to expect to need lots of pulls to get it started. i've also figured out that it will stall and need to be restarted, which may or may not require a little fooling with the choke and primer bulb. The biggest problem with this saw is the delicate bar. When I unpackaged it, I noticed that the chain sat a little cockeyed. I used it a little, but decided it wasn't safe the way the chain spun around the bar. I had the uneven sides ground down and replaced the chain. It still clogs up very easily at the tip. I have to take it apart, clean and lube the rollers; let the chain cool before I can use it again. The clutch cover is a little difficult to work with as well. I waste a lot of time trying to use this saw. i always keep my stihl handy.

This thing is a piece of junk. Very difficult to start and will not run for more than 10 seconds after finally starting. I used there fuel 40:1 not a gas oil mix, there fuel for $9 a quart and it does not run. Forget about trying to get it to cut. I than dumped out their fuel put fresh 91 oct. with the 40:1 mix in a gallon and still just as difficult to start and won't run. I will never but any gas power item from Amizon because there is no return on this item. Now I have to bring it to a repair shop. What a pile of junk!!!

We used this chainsaw less than a total of 6 or 7 hours in the past 2 years, and it stopped working completely. We did everything we're supposed to do in terms of gas/oil mixture, storage, air filter, and spark plug. Last fall, it would work for a few minutes, and it'll die. This spring, we wanted to cut a few little trees, so we put freshly mixed gas in it. The chainsaw started, but died after it got warm and would not start again. We checked everything, and kept trying to start it to no avail. The chainsaw is 2 months and 20 days past its warranty, so Poulan doesn't need to bother with it.

First and foremost, Amazon is great. This Poulan product blows - poor quality out of the box. Per the reviews this is made by Husqvarna, supposedly one of the better brands on the market. If this is any indication of Husqvarna's quality, I won't give them a second thought. More specifically, after following the instructions for mixing oil and gas, and the starting instructions to the letter, I found this saw difficult to start and to keep running. After one cut it would stop, restart attempted and again one cut, stop....... then repeat the same process over again. After 6 cuts with this saw I gave up. I borrowed my buddies Stihl and it worked GREAT using the same gas. It's a few years older, perhaps broken in. But the Stihl is what I will be buying next.

This Poulan chainsaw ran very well for about two hours then would not start again. The $60 repair was not covered under warranty with the excuse that the fuel was the problem. However, the fuel was fresh and runs my other 2 cycle engines just fine. I was also told fuel containing ethanol is part of the problem, but it is next to impossible to find ethanol free fuel. Clearly, the chainsaw was not made to use today's fuels even though that is all that is readily available. The fuel cap swells and tightens itself between refueling. Poulan indicates it is due to the ethanol. It requires pliers to remove the cap for refueling. The manufacturer suggests draining the fuel after use, but there isn't a fuel shutoff nor drain.

Also the handle on the pull start broke. The $2.62 handle was covered under warranty, but the labor to replace it was not.

Overall, I am very dissatisfied with this Poulan chainsaw and Poulan's warranty policies.

The one-bolt system on this saw simply won't hold the chain to a proper tightness. Ruined two chains.

This chainsaw has never worked right over the past 3 years. It doesn't start half of the time. Oil and gas are filled to specifications so it is another issue. Customer service with Husqvarna is terrible, when you call they don't answer or put you on hold until you give up.

Not the Husqvarna experience I've come to expect from past purchases. Leaked all chain oil overnight, had missing parts and wasn't easy to start. Currently in for repair after a few days ownership.

Worked for one small sapling and have had nothing but trouble from it since. All of the small engine repair places I take it to say they don't understand what is wrong and that I really bought a doozy, then they laugh when I tell them I bought it online. Live and learn I guess but that is an expensive lesson.

This review is not about any piece of the ordering or delivery process. All that gets five stars. Easy and quick as drinking a cold beer on a hot day.

No, this is about Husqvarna. Two days ago, if I had written a Husqvarna review it would have been a five star review. I had a Husky saw I bought in Colorado that I used for well over a decade. As a matter of fact, I would probably be using it now were it not for an idiot I hired to cut some deadfall who put unmixed gas in it.

But I am here to tell you that Husqvarna has slid far, far downhill. The saw that arrived on my doorstep had a chain adjusted so tight it was immobilized. The chain adjustment screw must have been tightened down with a pneumatic screwdriver in the Legal Department, because I had to take great care and use my own tools (not the little piece of junk packed with the saw) just to avoid stripping the screw. I adjusted the chain, put some Husqvarna mix and chain oil in the saw, and went out to cut some wood. The saw - my brand-new, expensive saw - simply would not start. In fact, it never has started.

I called Husqvarna Customer Service to see if there was something I was doing wrong. They had no idea. None. Couldn't provide any Customer Service beyond answering the phone, reading a seemingly interminable verbatim line of legalese written to disclaim any responsibility for anything at any time under any circumstances including the product they sell, and providing somebody else's phone number. They told me I had to take my brand-new, expensive saw to an Authorized Repair Center. I did. This morning. The tech couldn't start it either. So this was not a case of Stupid User Syndrome. This was a case of poor quality control. A brand new saw, never started, and I'm driving an hour both ways to put it in the shop. With a two week (minimum) wait. And pay a $21 "deposit" in case I decide to skip town and run out on a justifiably $0 service bill and don't come back to pick up my $400 brand new saw. Makes sense, eh? I suppose I should consider myself fortunate there is an Authorized Service Center within driving distance, because the Warranty clearly states that "costs to transport or ship the product are your [the purchaser's] responsibility". Get this straight: if Husqvarna doesn't keep up their quality, YOU pay. Inspires confidence, doesn't it?

When I spoke with the Authorized Service Center employee(s), they were careful to state that IF the work required was under warranty etc etc.... Since it was a brand-new, unsullied, sawdust-free, immaculate saw that had not even spun the chain one revolution because neither I nor the Authorized technician could start it, I asked "What could possibly be wrong with the saw that IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY"? A reasonable question, I thought, under the circumstances. The response was "I don't know, sir." This Authorized Service Center was obviously hand-picked with great care by Husqvarna corporate to ensure a positive customer experience and hire personnel who encourage trust by exhibiting a professional knowledge of the product.

I could go on and on about the poor quality control that delivers a dead saw, the miserable state of the User's Manual, my experience with the local, Authorized Service Center selected by Husqvarna, and the totally witless, unhelpful, and derriere-covering customer representative parrots at the toll-free number, but what would be the point?

Bottom line: I will never buy another Husqvarna roduct.