by Arkie » Sat Dec 26, 2015 6:25 am
I've suspected leaking seals on erratic acting chainsaws, especially if idling issues, but very seldom find that crank seals are the problem, but if seals are leaking on a Poulan the saw needs salvaged. (you are whipping on a dead horse)
I use a mityvac 4000 series pressure/vacuum pump that I bought as a kit few years back as a kit, came with brake bleeding kit, several hose adapters, still has new extra re-build kit for the pump, extra in-line pressure/vac gauge, carrying case all for like $40.
I would only do a seal test on a Poulan saw if it were my own saw, especially not a customers. I would tell them too go buy a good saw and I own some Poulans/Craftsman saws myself, when I go to the woods with a Poulan/Craftsman saw I take a Stihl also so as I can get er dun in one trip. (always have a back-up plan when trying to use a Poulan chainsaw and this should be stated on the front page of the owners manual) Takes too much time to rig a cheap chainsaw for a seal test and if seals are bad or not bad you have already spent too much time on the saw anyway, probably already installed a carb kit, fuel lines, trying to analyze and adjust carb, new spark plug and you are working on a disposable type saw. You can very easily get blamed for a saw that is a POS even when new.
It's wrote right on the front of most owners manuals that the saw is for OCCASIONAL USE ONLY
One thing that Poulan/Sears Craftsman saws are good for is if you need some learning experience for working on chainsaws, no great loss if you can't repair it and it won't give good service for very long if you think you have repaired the Poulan.
You will then recognize a good chainsaw when you see one.