Author Topic: Poulan 3450 Carb issues  (Read 6972 times)

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Offline rockfishon

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Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« on: October 06, 2014, 08:44:06 am »
Just finished replacing the tank assembly, now I need to tweak the carb. 

The saw will idle for about 10-15 seconds then bog down and die.  It will start right back up.   If I feather the throttle every few seconds it will idle forever.

So I leaned out the L needle up until the chain starts to moves. Much better, idles longer. But still dies.

If I turn the L needle in some more, it makes the chain move, I can turn the IDLE needle out some. It seems that I can't set the idle low enough with the low needle tuned.  It wont idle any lower, the chain still moves. BUT it will run like this for 3+ minutes.

Any Ideas guys? It has fresh fuel.

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Offline 660magnum

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2014, 10:23:16 am »
A air leak will cause them to idle fast

Do you have the idle speed screw all the way in? There's the "H" & "L" screws then there is a big idle speed screw
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Offline rockfishon

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2014, 11:55:54 am »
Yes, the large black screw.  I have the idle screw all the way out to the point that it does not change the idle speed.  I will check for a leak with some carbcleaner.

Offline 660magnum

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2014, 12:25:23 pm »
The leak is likely around the "boot" or rubber connector between the cylinder and carburetor.
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Offline Cut4fun .

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #4 on: October 06, 2014, 01:15:38 pm »
Where is the L side set at?   Not the I idle

Have you put new diaphragms in the carb? Rebuilt.

Offline rockfishon

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2014, 02:24:03 pm »
The boot seemed flexible and sound when I swapped out the tank.  I will check again.  I have never had to rebuilt the carb.  Bought new in ~1998.  Maybe a symptom of something in the carb going south?

When I slowly lean out the L needle, the saw seems to run better and start to pick up rpm to the point where the saw seems to be running at 1/4 throttle.  Riching it out to bring the idle down, the saw seems to idle normally but then dies after 15-20 seconds.

Offline brokenbudget

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2014, 02:39:18 pm »
clean and rebuild the carb.
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Offline 660magnum

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2014, 02:40:54 pm »
The "L" mixture needle should be used to make the engine run correctly at the lowest speeds.

The big idle speed screw should then be used to control the idle speed.  The correct idle speed is just slower than where the chain begins to spin.

I have a Poulan 3500 that is a lot like your 3450 (the same age) and I had to replace the carburetor diaphragms three years ago. I've had to replace the fuel filter in the tank three times over the years.
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Offline Eccentric

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2014, 04:39:17 pm »
Sounds like it could be another misbehaving HDA164....

Offline brokenbudget

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Re: Poulan 3450 Carb issues
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2014, 04:56:33 pm »
Sounds like it could be another misbehaving HDA164....


I think he needs to rebuild it to rule that out considering he hasn't touched it since the saw was new. ;)
when I grow up, i wanna be an adult.

 

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