Chainsaw Repair

Quote from: fastleo151 on November 25, 2013, 09:22:37 pm

I change mine to 1/2....

I tried that, but the new husky bar nuts wouldnt go on the poulan bar stud threads.      I didnt check the thread difference of the studs, but figured something was up with that.   
I just said freak it and put the 9/16 back on.

The metric thread Husky nuts won't work on the Poulan studs, despite being 1/2" hex (actually 13mm..............but that's close enough to the 12.7mm that 1/2" actually is to work with a 1/2" or 13mm scrench).

The Poulan studs are 5/16"-18.......same as Homelite E-Z/Super E-Z and XL-101 series saws.  The Poulans have a 9/16" hex, while the Homelites have either a 5/8" or 1/2" hex. 

5/16-18 nuts flanged (with a 1/2" hex) are relatively easy to find, although they're usually serrated.  Smooth faced nuts are the way to go.  Be careful to not buy locknuts.  Do you have a Fastenal near you?  They'll have the nuts you need.

Here's an ebay listing for the right nuts.  They'll have a 1/2" hex.  Most 5/16-18 flange nuts found in an ebay search are either serrated, locknuts (either stover or nylock type), extremely expensive, or a combination thereof...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quarter-Midget-5-16-18-NON-Serrated-Flange-Nuts-40-PK-/320730313747?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item4aad043413&vxp=mtr

McCulloch 10-series saw studs are 5/16"-24 with a 1/2" hex.  They won't work on a Poulan or small stud Homelite because of the thread pitch difference.

This is the 3400 that I put and 'S' stud spacer, bar plates (slightly modified), and 5/16"-18 (5/8" hex) bar nuts from an early Homelite Super XL-12 onto.  It's also wearing a chainbrake clutch cover that came all the way from a friend in Australia to me.  Sold the saw on ebay (wish I'd kept it, but the $$$ helped last Christmas).  I kept the chainbrake cover (now on my 4000), 'S' spacer, and Homelite bar nuts.  Discovered that 1/2" or 9/16" hex nuts work better on the 3400-4000 Poulans as there's not much clearance between the larger 5/8" hex and the clutch cover (on the rear stud).



Same saw after being stripped of the 'keeper' stuff.  The MMMM (ModifiedMark Muffler Mod) visible here.  Interesting that the Homelite bar plates work fine with the addition of a slot (on the outer plate) for the adjuster peg.  The Homelite has the adjuster in the bar pad, while the 3400-4000 Poulan has it in the clutch cover.  A 306/245 or 361-451 Poulan could probably use the Homelite bar plates (early 5/16" stud versions that is) as-is, as their adjuster is in the bar pad.  Going off on a tangent here......

You tell me the exact size I'll find some at work. 9/16" head would normally be 3/8" 16 or 24 depending on the thread pitch .

If they're Poulan bar nuts with a 9/16" hex, then they'll be 5/16"-18.  Weird, but that's what Poulan did....


Kevin could of course use 5/16-18 nuts with a 1/2" hex instead.


The larger Homelite XL series studs are 3/8-16.  Large frame McCulloch studs are 3/8-24.