Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor Replacement
So your Poulan chainsaw is not running correctly, and you need a new carburetor, but you do not know which one to buy. Do not worry, this guide will help you select the correct carburetor for your chainsaw based on the model number.
First, you will need to find your chainsaw’s model number. This should be located on a plate or sticker on the chainsaw’s body. Once you have found the model number, refer to the chart below to find the correct carburetor.
| Poulan Chainsaw Model Number | Carburetor Part Number | Replacement Carburetor |
| PP4218A, PP4218AVX, PP4218AV, PPB4218, PP4218AVHD, PP4218AVL, PR4218, PR3816, PP4018, PPB4018, PP4018AV, PP4018WM, PP4018WT, PP4018WTL, P3314, P3314WS, P3314WSA, P3416, PP3416, PPB3416, P3416PR, PP3516, PP3516AVX, PP3818AV, P3816, PP3816, PP3816AV, SM4218AV, SM4218AVX, SM4518AVX, PR4218 | 545070601 | Here on Amazon |
| 222, 262, 1900, 1950, 1975, 1975 wood shark, 2025, 2050, 2050WT, 2055, 2075, 2075c, 20750c, 2150, 2150LE, 2150 Predator, 2155, 2175, 2250, 2350, 2375 wild thing, 2450, 2550, 2550LE, PP220, PP221LE, PP260, PP260LE, SM4018, S1634, S1838 | 545081885, 530069703, 530071820, 530071821, 530071618, 530071620, 545006057, 545006058, 530035343, 530071603 | Here on Amazon |
| 2200, 2750, 2775, 2900, 3050, 2500, 2600, PP255, PP295, PP310, PP315, PP4620AV, PP4620AVHD, PP4620AVL | 530071693, 530035382, 530035330, 530071492, 530071345, 530035482, 530069629, 530071987, 530071692, 530035291 545102801, 545126401 | Here on Amazon |
| PP5020AV, PP5020, PP5020AVX, PP4818A | 573952201, 573 95 22-01 | Here on Amazon |
Why Does My Poulan Chainsaw Die When I Give It Gas?
One possible reason your Poulan chainsaw dies when you give it gas is that the carburetor is not set correctly. The carburetor mix screws may need to be adjusted.
Please refer to our post on How to Adjust a Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor for more information on adjusting the carburetor jet screws.
Another possible reason your Poulan chainsaw is dying when you give it gas is that the fuel line could be clogged or broken.
Over time, the fuel lines can become gummed up with residue from the gas and oil mixture. This can cause a loss of suction, which prevents fuel from reaching the carburetor.
Clogged fuel lines can not be cleaned and must be replaced. If a fuel line is broken, it will need to be replaced as well.
What Do L and H Mean On A Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor?
L and H refer to the low and high-speed jets on the carburetor. The low-speed jet is responsible for fuel mixture at idle and low throttle. The high-speed jet is responsible for fuel mixture at higher throttle settings.
If your Poulan chainsaw is running too lean (not enough fuel), you will need to turn the low-speed jet out (counterclockwise) approximately 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn. If your Poulan chainsaw is running too rich (too much fuel), you will need to turn the low-speed jet in approximately (clockwise) 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn.
If your Poulan chainsaw is running too lean at high throttle, you will need to turn the high-speed jet out (counterclockwise) approximately 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn. You can learn about adjusting a Poulan Carburetor here in more detail.
How Can You Tell If a Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor Is Too Lean or Rich?
If your Poulan chainsaw carburetor is too lean, the symptoms are:
-Chainsaw runs at excessive RPMs
-Chainsaw surges
-Chainsaw produces excessive vibration
-Chainsaw overheats
If your Poulan chainsaw carburetor is too rich, the symptoms are:
-Chainsaw runs at low RPMs
-Chainsaw smokes excessively
-Chainsaw produces wet spark plugs
If a chainsaw is incorrectly adjusted, there can be catastrophic consequences for the chainsaw. If a chainsaw is set to lean, it will run too hot and can cause seizure of the piston, rings, and cylinder. If a chainsaw is set to rich, it will not run as efficiently, foul spark the spark plug, and will consume more fuel.
How Do I Know If My Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor Needs Adjusting?
The most accurate way to know if your Poulan chainsaw carburetor needs adjusting is by the throttle response on the low end and engine RPMs on the high end.
If the engine bogs down when you give it gas and seems to lack power, it is too rich. If the chainsaw revs up too high when you give it gas, it is too lean.
The ideal setting is where the chainsaw runs smoothly without bogging down or surging.
Another way to tell if your Poulan chainsaw carburetor needs adjusting is by the color of your spark plug. If the spark plug is too black, it is running too rich. If the spark plug is too white, it is running too lean.
The ideal color for a spark plug is light to medium brown.
If you are still unsure if your Poulan chainsaw carburetor needs to be adjusted, take it to a qualified technician for examination.
How Can You Tell If A Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor Is Bad?
If your Poulan chainsaw is having any of the following problems after proper adjustment, it could have a bad carburetor:
-Hard to start
-Doesn’t idle smoothly
-Idles too high
-Lacks power
-Bogs down when you give it gas
-Surges
-Produces excessive vibration
-Overheats
-Smokes excessively
-Produces wet spark plugs
If your chainsaw has any of these problems after being adjusted properly, replacing the carburetor will, in most cases, correct these issues.
How Do You Clean A Carburetor on a Chainsaw Without Removing It?
The short answer is you CAN’T properly clean a carburetor without removing it.
However, you can flush the fuel system of the chainsaw with fuel treatment or a carbon cleaner, but this is not cleaning the carburetor properly and will more than likely not help the chainsaw.
The best way to clean a carburetor is to remove and disassemble it and either soak it in a carburetor cleaner or use compressed air to blow out all of the passages. In some cases, new diaphragms, gaskets, and a screen will need to be installed.
Reassembly is the reverse of removal, and you will need to readjust the carburetor settings when finished.
Do You Have To Drain Gas Before Cleaning A Poulan Chainsaw Carburetor?
Yes, you will need to drain the fuel from the chainsaw before cleaning the carburetor. Fuel can degrade and turn to varnish, which will clog the carburetor and cause the chainsaw to run poorly or not at all.
You do not want to take the time to clean a carburetor and then fill it with old spoiled fuel again.
Always take the time to drain and properly dispose of fuel before cleaning a carburetor. This will save you a lot of time and headaches in the future.
Wrapping Up
When selecting a new replacement carburetor for your Poulan chainsaw, always use the model number to ensure you get the correct carburetor.
If you have any doubts about which carburetor to select or how to install it properly, seek the help of a qualified technician.
Thank you for reading, and be safe out there.
