McCulloch Chain Saw

[BobL]

. . . .Poulan are great. If I ever replace it - it'll be with a Poulan.

Before you get too excited, if you take a closer look at what has happened to poulan you'll see they have gone the same way as McCulloch - ie to that great asian factory in the north.

Your Poulan 306A (made between 1970 and 1980) was a 59 cc reasonably solid beastie (your story testifies to this fact) with a bit of torque and staying power. Today's poulan is not designed to last anywhere near what a 306 can take, and are considered no better than any other cheap saw by people that know saws.

The typical poulan of today is a 33-40 cc plastic not-so-fantastic with the largest capacity made today being 46 cc. In 1979 $270 was equivalent to $760 today but today's poulans can be bought on ebay for the same $149.95 price tag as those other one-season wonders.

With $760 today, you can probably look at a dolmar or jonsered but I would most definitely not be looking a poulan. An alternative would be to look for a used Stihl or Husky in the 60 cc class.

[q9]

I can still remember dad throwing his at the tree after half an hour of trying to get it to start...

[Shedhand]

Before you get too excited, if you take a closer look at what has happened to poulan you'll see they have gone the same way as McCulloch - ie to that great asian factory in the north.

Your Poulan 306A (made between 1970 and 1980) was a 59 cc reasonably solid beastie (your story testifies to this fact) with a bit of torque and staying power. Today's poulan is not designed to last anywhere near what a 306 can take, and are considered no better than any other cheap saw by people that know saws.

The typical poulan of today is a 33-40 cc plastic not-so-fantastic with the largest capacity made today being 46 cc. In 1979 $270 was equivalent to $760 today but today's poulans can be bought on ebay for the same $149.95 price tag as those other one-season wonders.

With $760 today, you can probably look at a dolmar or jonsered but I would most definitely not be looking a poulan. An alternative would be to look for a used Stihl or Husky in the 60 cc class.

Well, there you go. I'll stick with old girl then. Bloody Globalisation, who's idea was it anyway.

[woodbutcher1965]

Recently bought a Poulan-Pro Model 6120, its 60 odd cc engine, purchased from the local Husky dealer. So far apart from some bad luck with a faulty chain brake which was replaced under warranty it seems to be a quality saw.

My old saw is a (vintage) Stihl 08.

Most importantly in relation to this thread the Poulan-Pro is manufactured in Italy, and is clearly marked as being a subsidiary of Husqvarna.

So I think its a bit premature to deem all Poulan products as being made in China.

As others have said and I agree, the big green box seem only to deal Chinese made out door power tools, e.g. chainsaws. I think that is because they have to get the stuff at rock bottom prices to make up for all their overheads.

[Tony Morton]

Hi Ed

I picked up a ex bunnies chainsaw for $25 at a garage sale took in into our local serviveman and hre said that these were made for the big hardware stores on the cheap and not to expect more than about 20 hours trouble free from them. this one is handy round the shed but I wouldnt use it for firewood or anything heavy.

Cheers Tony

[Ash240]

...
Bunnings didn't want to know me - "You'll have to take it to the service centre yourself, or we can but it will cost you the courier fee". Bloody consumer laws in this country.
..
Cheers,
Dave

That's got nothing to do with the law. You have a contract with the retailer you bought it from. If they did not want to stick with that contract you could ask and push for a full refund. This sort of crap goes on because most just take it and have no idea.

[Ozkaban]

That's got nothing to do with the law. You have a contract with the retailer you bought it from. If they did not want to stick with that contract you could ask and push for a full refund. This sort of crap goes on because most just take it and have no idea.

Fair enough, but you'd have a hard time pushing it any further. If the numpty behind the desk stonewalls you (and so does their manager, etc), the only recourse you've got is expensive legal issues. Sod all else you can do. Small claims, etc are no value here.

Cheers,
Dabe

[petersemple]

Fair enough, but you'd have a hard time pushing it any further. If the numpty behind the desk stonewalls you (and so does their manager, etc), the only recourse you've got is expensive legal issues. Sod all else you can do. Small claims, etc are no value here.

Cheers,
Dabe

If you get stonewalled by the store, my next recourse would be to print out one of the brochures that are available on ACCC and consumer affairs dept type websites. They very clearly spell out legal obligations that the retailer has, and what they have to do in the case of faulty goods. They spell out very clearly that the retailer is the one who has to fix the problem, not the distributor or manufacturer. I would take one of these brochures in and ask to speak with the manager. If this didn't work I would speak to consumer affairs before starting any legal action.

Peter

[Ash240]

Fair enough, but you'd have a hard time pushing it any further. If the numpty behind the desk stonewalls you (and so does their manager, etc), the only recourse you've got is expensive legal issues. Sod all else you can do. Small claims, etc are no value here.

Cheers,
Dabe

Not really. First step is to go way above the persons head. If the manager has no idea "suggest" they ring Dept Fair Trading right then. After that you make some notes of who you spoke to and times. Then lodge a formal complaint. At worst the store will ignore it and you lodge a claim in a small claims court. Costs about $50.
I'm currently going through this process with a retailer who has ripped me off.
FAR worse situation than anyone is likely to see.

"They" will often do whatever "we" let them.

[BobL]

Recently bought a Poulan-Pro Model 6120, its 60 odd cc engine, purchased from the local Husky dealer.

Most importantly in relation to this thread the Poulan-Pro is manufactured in Italy, and is clearly marked as being a subsidiary of Husqvarna.

So I think its a bit premature to deem all Poulan products as being made in China.

Yep this is correct Husqvarna own PoulanPro and McCulloch factories in Italy to supply their el-cheapo consumer level saws end of their market. Both brands of saws are probably made at the same factories. Take a look at the poulan website wwwDORpoulanproDOTcom/node4028.aspx?nid=166587 and you will see the latest poulan pros look like clones of the recent $300 McCullochs.

But being manufactured in Italy is hardly anything to crow about. These are still consumers saws made to a price and not to standard and knowing a little about Italian manufacturing I know that ferrari factories are few and far between and that manufacturing quality control in some parts of Italy only rates about the same as in China.

It's interesting that I cannot see any reference to a PP6120 on any of the chainsaw data bases I have access to, and the only entry on the web is to a NZ ebay type site?. There is no reference to the PP6120 on the poulan website or their user manual data base. What is the model number of this saw?

[Ozkaban]

Not really. First step is to go way above the persons head. If the manager has no idea "suggest" they ring Dept Fair Trading right then. After that you make some notes of who you spoke to and times. Then lodge a formal complaint. At worst the store will ignore it and you lodge a claim in a small claims court. Costs about $50.
I'm currently going through this process with a retailer who has ripped me off.
FAR worse situation than anyone is likely to see.

"They" will often do whatever "we" let them.

If you get stonewalled by the store, my next recourse would be to print out one of the brochures that are available on ACCC and consumer affairs dept type websites. They very clearly spell out legal obligations that the retailer has, and what they have to do in the case of faulty goods. They spell out very clearly that the retailer is the one who has to fix the problem, not the distributor or manufacturer. I would take one of these brochures in and ask to speak with the manager. If this didn't work I would speak to consumer affairs before starting any legal action.

Peter

All fair comments. I guess in the end, when I cam to buy a line trimmer I skipped Bunnings and bought it from my local store (the one I wanted to buy the chainsaw from in the first place). So yes, bunnings wore me down and I gave up and spent the effort to go to a repairer myself. But the next $400+ purchase wasnt from them...

[Foo]

My brother owns a Tallon with a 14inc bar.Brought it from Big W for $95,and goes a treat.We use it for camping and 4wding,for clearing fallen logs.He has had it for just over 18 months.We have cleared logs up to 600mm in diameter,with it.For that price you can't complain.

[Kyle]

I think these saws are pot luck.

I bought one of these saws 10 years ago at Mitre 10 for $250. 38cc McCulloch with a 18 inch bar, I have seen the same saws over the years recoloured and stickered as Talon's, Polan's, Ryobi's, ect.

Bought it originally for 4WDing and camping and is now used for cutting fire wood and pruning at home. First thing I did was replace the bar with a 14 inch one which made a masive improvement. Always run 30:1 fuel using your run of the mill 2 stroke oil and always follow the start instructions and let it warm up.

10 years on I've been through 2 chain sprockets, 2 spark plugs and a couple of bars and chains (don't try to cut through railway spikes) and still going strong, well past it's 20 hour life. Go figure?

MY father inlaw and I also have those Ebay Husky rip off saws. 62cc 22 inch bar delivered for $125 each. My inlaws lost their house, sheds, everything in the Black Saterday bushfires. We bought a saw each a few days after the fires to clean up the property (they have 20 acres in St Andrews). They both leak fuel and bar oil everywhere, chains need tensioning a bit and the on/off switch rattles off while using it. Ther've got a heap of grunt and got a fair work out clearing the property. I still use mine but my father inlaw lasted a week with his. He's only ever owned Stihl's so this thing was junk to him, went and got himself another 390 Farmboss.

Thanks to a friend selling his property I should come into possesion of a 20 inch Dolmar very soon

[woodbutcher1965]

Yep this is correct Husqvarna own PoulanPro and McCulloch factories in Italy to supply their el-cheapo consumer level saws end of their market. Both brands of saws are probably made at the same factories. Take a look at the poulan website wwwDORpoulanproDOTcom/node4028.aspx?nid=166587 and you will see the latest poulan pros look like clones of the recent $300 McCullochs.

But being manufactured in Italy is hardly anything to crow about. These are still consumers saws made to a price and not to standard and knowing a little about Italian manufacturing I know that ferrari factories are few and far between and that manufacturing quality control in some parts of Italy only rates about the same as in China.

It's interesting that I cannot see any reference to a PP6120 on any of the chainsaw data bases I have access to, and the only entry on the web is to a NZ ebay type site?. There is no reference to the PP6120 on the poulan website or their user manual data base. What is the model number of this saw?

As you say there is not much information out there on this saw, I suspect that general lack information on the internet is at least partly due to Husqvarna not wanting to disadvantage their flagship products - Jonsered and Husqvarna itself.

I made a mistake and omission in my orignal post, the engine is actually 59cc and it is old stock.

The details that are on the saw it self are:
Model - 6120 P.Pro
PNC - 953900712
Type - MS 60
ML - 02
Engine Code - CS_59_05_A
Year - 2006
Engine Family - 4EOP.59SH305

The manual it comes with is useless, and I'm trying to find more information on it.
That said this saw is extremely well made.

I have seen it mentioned in an U.S. based chainsaw forum that the engine is parts wise compatable with the equivalent Jonsered Model (2159 I think).

My perpsective is that its worth trying a cheaper saw like this, at around $450 (with a very generous discount) its got a lot of capability for the money. I would have got very little change out of $1000 to get an equivalent saw from one of the top name brands.

[kwaka]

Whatever you do DO NOT buy a cheap McCulloch chain saw! I bought one from Bunnings for some back yard work. I just had some trees to cut down and some general cleaning up to do.

Bunnings sell these chainsaws for around $200 so I thought hey may as well get one. Here's what happened. Get it home, put it together, start it up, 20 seconds later the chain comes off.

I dismantled and put it back together. Same thing happened after 4min use. Dismantled again, tried tightening whatever I could. Same thing after about 5mins. I take it back. Staff member says "well sorry you have already used it too much we cant exchange it"

Staff member suggested a few things which I did. Started using again, engine started to stall. I had the right mix so it wasn't that. More stalling, chain comes off again.

I take the whole thing apart, checked fuel lines, everything else - came to the conclusion its a piece of junk so I threw it in the bin. $200 down the drain!

Ed

I know this ones been dead and buried for a while ( bit like workchoices?) anyway just thought id chuck in my 2 cents since I had a very similar incident recently. Bought a 38CC/16" McCulloch M3816 from the big shed and must have got about an hour solid cutting in (over a couple of sessions) when it completely seized up. They sent me off to an approved repair agent and a couple of weeks later the repairer sends me a text mesage saying that the motor was unrepairable and it "looks like it's been run on fuel with not enough oil recently". I asked how they test this since I used 40:1 2/ as per the instructions (the tank was 1/2 full). They don't test but made the assesment based on the damage. Anyway I don't want to get into the following drama's about warranty etc. but figure since I never want to go through this kind of crap again, I'm thinking of going and paying up the extra dosh and getting a brand spanking new husky or stihl. Seems like they are the only way to go after reading some threads on here. I'll put it down to an expensive lesson learned and move on.

Good thing the McC's yellow since mine turned out to be a big lemon.