Underwhelmed by my 036

If you want my junk parts, I'll send them to you. Would you like my Poulan Wild Thang also? I can't complain, it's been very good to me.

 

Did you check the compression of your other saws? Did the gauge have a schraeder valve? Seems like awfully low compression for not being scored.

 

I didn't check my other saws. It was a NIB cheap comp tester with a schrader. It did hold the comp until I pressed the schrader. I have access to another comp tester, Ill try it and also test my other saws.

 

In my brief experience with fixing up saws, I've already seen a big difference between the "good" AM products and the "bad" AM products. One of the 034s I picked up had a scored-up AM cylinder. It was bad from the start; casting problems, no beveled edges, lacking the overall "clean" look that a good cylinder should have. The Hyway kit I replaced it with looked 100x better and is a really good runner at this early point in its life.
If you have running issues like you described and have found evidence of low compression (sounds really low, surprised it runs), you have every right to tear it down and figure out what's wrong.
I may have missed the question, but did you take a peek through the plug hole? Any scoring on the cylinder wall?

 

I've looked through the exhaust port, looks perfect.

 

Hmm... if the guy replaced the piston there could still be some aluminum transfer on the cylinder or there could be a cut in the plating. Looking through the plug hole may give you a view of the cylinder wall around the exhaust port.
Did the saw tune pretty well?

 

It tunes perfectly. Idles and runs perfect. Cuts perfect, just not as fast as I had expected.

As far as the sellers honesty, if he were going to lie why not say it was a new OEM piston instead of, "I can't remember the brand. I buy cheap (non oem) pistons off ebay".

 

Good point there... keep us updated if you decide to tear into it. Good luck man!

 

More testing:

All tested saws run perfect and were tested cold at WOT.
036-110 lbs
Echo cs510-120 lbs
Friend's (good) old Husq 350-110 lbs
Friend's like new 290- 130 lbs

I'm doubting the comp tester. It is made in the USA though. Correction: it's old in box not NIB. It does hold the pressure until the Schrader valve is pushed.

 

Looks like the tester is the problem, not the saw.

Time for a 70 cc saw

 

O-rings looked good. Also tried a second comp tester, it- 90 lbs.

We cut wood all day yesterday with all four saws that were tested, all started/idled/ran perfect. I don't think a saw with 90-110 lbs of comp would start worth a crap would it? At least one gauge is wrong, I'm doubting both of them.

After a day of cutting, I have a new found respect for the 036. I used the 290 for awhile, then switched to the 036 Night and day difference, I could tell the difference in the first few inches of the first cut. I had never had both saws out cutting wood at the same time back when I owned the 290 or after the friend bought it. But I don't know why I didn't notice the obvious difference of the 036 before.

As for the cut speed #'s that I posted above from memory- I guess I'm getting old, drink too much, etc.

The neighbor also bought a new 460 rancher a few weeks ago and we could hear him cutting. After we were done, we drove over to say hi. He had rocked his 460 earlier so there was no side by side competition, but I let him try out the 036 on a nice 20" red oak he had fallen. He made two cuts, shut the saw off and grinning like a monkey said, "holy &*%$". Lets just say he liked it.

 

I expected to see a plug where the decomp button goes on the pro model. Is this an aftermarket jug?

 

I didn't look. I thought all oem 036 jugs where drilled and tapped for a decomp, and the non pro models had a plug in the hole.