Author Topic: Craftsman 358.35098 20"-50cc Chainsaw (Poulan 5020)  (Read 1849 times)

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Offline Revpop

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Craftsman 358.35098 20"-50cc Chainsaw (Poulan 5020)
« on: April 26, 2016, 02:12:03 pm »
I purchased a Craftsman 50cc chainsaw new a couple of years ago with the 20" bar and have played with it for a while now. It is a nice unit for the money and is most of the components seem to be reasonably durable.  But to be honest armed with my splined carb tool in my back pocket and after many attempts I have tried to get this saw to where I can bury it into the wood without it bogging the chain down.  It just will not hold enough RPM's to keep it there.  Also there seems to be significant amount of clutch/drum slippage pushing moderately heavy into the cut going on and although it probably is working as it is designed, it seems like a weak link in keeping the high RPM power delivery sustained.  Maybe it is just in my head, but when the chain bogs, the engine still seems to going fairly strong.  Too bad it is a nice sounding power head and has a nice Poulan big saw burble from the engine.  So I have concluded as equipped this saw is not going to power a 3/8" chain with any degree of heavy push into the cut, I am NOT a fan of shorter bars, but a .325-.050 x 78DL setup should be on this unit similar to what came on the Poulan 3300 is appropriate in my opinion.  There is a lot of scattered information in other posts on this chainsaw but nothing which compiles any data on what it would take to get it there, and a list of the components (rim sprocket/drum/bar mount pattern/bar) modification required to get it there as well.  Has anyone performed this modification successfully?  If so what did you use that worked reliably and is using industry standard parts readily off the shelf?  If it was just a matter of finding a correct rim sprocket and a bar with minor mods this would make it simpler I would think.  Maybe I should try a skip tooth chain first and see if it improves things?  Anyone tried that here? 

Pictures of chainsaw when new:       

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Offline Cut4fun .

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I liked the poulan 5020 with a 16" and 3/8. 

Here is a thread on the PP5020 and on how I went about 325 for testing.  http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/poulan/poulan-pro-5020/

I would agree with trying 3/8 FULL SKIP on the 20". I used to do chains up like that for a friend running 20" on a partner 500.

Offline Revpop

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Thanks- my research with the skip tooth theory has led me to this Oregon loop P/N:

72JPX070G

Offline Cut4fun .

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Offline Revpop

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Same place the internet led me to for that chain, and looks like they have some very good prices indeed. 

Out here in the PNW not much need to cut any really dirty wood so skip tooth option may be the economical choice for me in my attempt at upping the cutting performance of this particular saw.  Lots of things I really like about this chainsaw for firewood cutting, it oils the chain real nice, and after a tank of fuel burned up you are ready for a break.
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Offline 3000 FPS

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I agree that the 3/8ths chain on a 20" bar is just to much for a 50cc saw.    I think a shorter bar is the way to go myself.
PP 505, 475, 445.
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Offline deezlfan

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Gotta agree with 3000 FPS. Too much bar.

But I have to ask. It sounds like you want to muscle the saw through the cut by exerting moderate to heavy pressure.  With a sharp chain that shouldn't be necessary, and you may be expecting more grunt than 50cc can provide. 
We just drag them down..... Until they're just like us !!!  BNL

Offline Revpop

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New Oregon D70 chain, never hit the dirt on the Craftsman 50cc 20" saw.  For my go to saw comparisons: Green Craftsman w/black muffler 46cc 20" bar c2001, Poulan 3450 chainbrake model w/20" same chain, Poulan Pro 330 w/22" D76 setup, and Husky 55 Rancher w/20" bar (D72) setup.  I know, not fair comparing dirty saws to strato but I am a big guy and admittedly, it does not take a whole lot of effort for me to make a saw work.  The saws above take considerably more push to make them bog and are very powerful by comparison.  I agree I need to reevaluate my expectations from a strato power head, but they really crippled this one with the factory 3/8" setup.  So that has me thinking, when I got my Rancher new it had an 18" bar on it.  I still have it with the chain, never used it- I wonder if that bar is the same bar mount pattern setup as the Craftsman?

Of note I have a well tuned Poulan 4018WT and that saw is a little beast and practically impossible to bog down the chain and it is a 42cc strato saw.

edit- forgot to throw the Mac PM605 as another "no bog" go to bucking saw. 

Offline Cut4fun .

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The 5020 is K095 bar mount. The husky 55 K095 too.  Remember need to change if the 55 18" bar is 325, if 3/8 your good to go.

Offline Revpop

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Thanks for confirming the bar mount on the Husky.  That's takes like two whole barley pops out of the equation to figure that out in the garage tonight now.  :D

I believe the Husky 18" bar had the fat 3/8" chain setup on it as it came.  I don't remember messing around with a new drum, and the current Husky 20" bar is the 3/8" version-no .325" skinny stuff on it.  If it works I'll have to post up some pictures of it installed on the Craftsman chainsaw.   
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