Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Poulan => Topic started by: jcsmith on January 11, 2016, 04:02:09 pm

Title: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: jcsmith on January 11, 2016, 04:02:09 pm
   I was reading some old posts recently about putting a new cylinder and piston from a PP260 onto a 42cc Wild thing type saw. The post said the 260 cylinder is chromed with a plain piston , while the wild thing  is plain cylinder with a chrome piston. If this is the case what are the pros and cons of chromed vs plain cylinders.

  Also, if this was done is a new crankcase cap required? I have an '04 Craftsman 42cc saw ( 358.360280 ) that runs great . I'm just doing research in case it craps out in the future.

   I've compared part numbers and my saw appears to be identical to a '04  PP262 except different color. Both are non AV.  Appreciate any info.

                                                                                                                                                  Chris
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 11, 2016, 06:05:07 pm
The Poulan Pro 260 is a non strato type design for the carburation.   I do not know if your wild thing is a strato saw or not.   One thing you can look at on your saw is does the carburetor have a top piece with a tube and then the bottom of the carb where it bolts on.   The reason I bring this up and that you may have to swap over the carburetor plus the intake.   I really do not know if the intake from a 260 will fit on a strato wild thing.

I believe there are some other guys on here that may have more insight in to this and they will eventually post some more info.
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: jcsmith on January 11, 2016, 08:32:50 pm
 My 42cc is non strato.  It is also non anti-vibe. After looking at lots of IPLs, my saw is identical to a 2004 PP262, which also appears to be identical to a 2004 2375 LE Wildthing Type 2. Obviously the 3 are different colors, but all engine parts share the same numbers.

 I also noticed my saw and the PP260 share the same crank assembly. Different piston and cylinder numbers tho. So I'm wanting to know if the 260 cylinder is indeed chromed and what the advantage is over the plain cylinder.

  Thanks for the response.
                                    Chris
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 11, 2016, 09:17:57 pm
Yes The PP260 is a chromed cylinder with a plain piston.    I have a couple of them.  One I woods ported and modified the muffler on.  It is a good strong running saw.   As far as the bottom half of the crankcase fitting from a wild thing to a 260 I do not know since I have never taken one of the wild things apart.   If your going to get a PP 260 cylinder and piston look for something used with the bottom half of the crankcase with it.  Then just put new rings in it.   With some patients you could find something on ebay.   

As far as the Chromed cylinder goes I think it wears better for one and will have better compression.   That is just my opinion based on what experience I have had with the non chromed cylinders.
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: dannyupsolate on January 11, 2016, 10:51:45 pm
Most always the unplated part melts or scars first.  Sometimes you can save a chrome cylinder. Proper care like 32 to1 good oil, fresh gas, good air circulation ,correct carburetor mixture a aluminum cylinder will last a long time. That said a chrome cylinder will take slightly more abuse. I have seen old wild things with every other part wore out and still a good engine.
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: jcsmith on January 12, 2016, 12:15:47 am
 Thanks fellas for the info. Just what I needed to know.
  Danny, even tho my saw is labeled for 40:1, you think I should run 32:1?  I've heard using too much oil is just as bad as not enough. I've got a  Craftsman 3.7 from 1983 that I've used Opti and another single mix oil in. It's labeled for 16:1 , but it runs great on modern 2 stroke saw oil.
   What do you guys think of the single ratio mix oils? My older Echo and Stihl trimmers work great on it also.
     Thanks again for the responses,

                                                      Chris
       

Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: dannyupsolate on January 12, 2016, 01:24:32 am
As far as I know good modern oil at 32 to 1 is good in all saws. Should make that aluminum cylinder last far longer than manufacturer intended. You are correct to much oil can cause problems but 32 to 1 is not to much. I scrap out lots of poulans its always fuel lines, bad gas,carburetor trouble, or lean mixture and every ones favorite straight gas. Once in a while bad magneto. Adjust your carburetor to where it four strokes a little at wide open throttle and cleans up to two stroke in the wood. Put some of the good stihl chain on the guys here been testing and let your poulan rip
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 12, 2016, 12:42:33 pm
260 is chromed cylinder bare piston. I have thread on one shown here.

I had always wondered if the pp 262 was bare bore like the 2375. 

I run 32:1 but have no problems running 40:1 either. Either or IMO 32 or 40. Just stay away from that epa 50:1 IMO. JMO
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 12, 2016, 12:48:56 pm
262 2375 220 260  tid bits http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/poulan/poulan-pro-262/msg21090/#msg21090

260 pics rebuild  http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/poulan/poulan-pro-260/msg47045/#msg47045

Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 12, 2016, 07:28:21 pm
We had a thread on this at one time that listed a bunch of the Poulan saws that came with a chrome cylinder or a bare cylinder.



 Which Poulan Pro chainsaws have plated cylinders?

 

I think it is a given that all the Poulan Pro yellow saws are going to have a chrome cylinder.  Where it gets confusing is the green saws.  Also this does not always apply to craftsman saws as some were labled 3.7 meaning 3700 and were actually 3800.
Poulan 1800    A reed valve
Poulan 2000    A reed valve
Poulan 2300    A reed valve
Poulan S25DA  C reed valve
Po Pro  205      C reed valve
Po Pro  260      C
Po Pro  285      C
Po Pro  295      C
Poulan 306A    C  reed valve
Po Pro  4620    C
Poulan 3300    A
Po Pro  305     C
Po Pro  325     C
Po Pro  330     C
Po Pro  335     C
Poul Pred 335  C
Poulan 3450    C
Poulan 3400   A
Poulan 3500   C
Po Pro  365    C
Po Pro  375    C
Poulan 3700   C
Poulan 3750   C
Poulan 3800   A
Po Pro  380    C
Po Pro  395    C
Poulan 4000   C
Poulan 4200   C  reed valve
Po Pro  445    C
Po Pro  475    C
Po Pro 5020   C
Po Pro 505     C
Poulan 5200   C  reed valve
Poulan 5400   C  reed valve
Poulan 6000   C 

C= Chrome   Cylinder
A=  Aluminum Cylinder
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 12, 2016, 08:11:45 pm
My Craftsman 3.7 was 60cc in the PP365 yellow, green 3500 with Chrome cylinder.
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: jcsmith on January 12, 2016, 10:33:49 pm
 Thanks again for the responses.Some great info. I remember that post about the chrome or plain bore. Thanks for the refresh.
   Appreciate the links Cut4fun.
  I've been using Opti and Pro Mix single ratio oils with good results. What oil do y'all use?  I'll have to do a search on 2 stroke oils.

  Thanks fellas, Chris
Title: Re: cylinder / piston interchange
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 12, 2016, 11:14:58 pm
Thanks again for the responses.Some great info. I remember that post about the chrome or plain bore. Thanks for the refresh.
   Appreciate the links Cut4fun.
  I've been using Opti and Pro Mix single ratio oils with good results. What oil do y'all use?  I'll have to do a search on 2 stroke oils.

  Thanks fellas, Chris

I use a 100% synthetic oil.  It does not matter the brand but I also mix at 32 to 1.