Help me resurrect my old Craftsman chainsaw

[wavinwayne]

Pulled my old saw out of my FILs storage shed this morning, where it has sat since the mid 2000s. The primer bulb disintegrated when I tried to press it. Please help me source a new primer bulb, and give any other suggestions you have for getting this bad boy fired up again. I've got some fallen limbs that need cutting up. I'll probably junk this thing if I can't get it running again.

 

[Boomer]

Go to Partstree.com. They have diagrams of all kinds of Craftsman stuff and show and sell parts for many, many brands. A very helpful Web site!

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I got a replacement primer bulb for my Ryobi blower off Amazon.

Just my $0.02

 

[wavinwayne]

I'm going to start taking it apart today. It probably needs more than just a primer bulb. The more I think, it probably needs air filter, spark plug, fuel lines...

 

[Sequoiasoon]

My dad's old Craftsman was a Homelite relabel when I searched. I think Poulan did them also if you search on some the tree sites like Arborist.

His always started hard, still does. I had to take it apart and out new fuel lines in it and something else. I think it's at least 45 years old now. I still use it.

I also have an electric one from Harbor Freight that was very cheap and is real easy for cutting stuff.

 

[SHOZ]

That looks like Poulan made saw.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Poulan. Good saw.

 

[97K15004WD]

Go here for help:

https://opeforum.com/forums/chainsaws.33/

Great forum

 

[Nukeman7]

It's a Poulan saw relabeled as Craftsman. Take apart the housing and match up the primer bulb on Amazon.

Poulan Primer Bulbs on Amazon

I'd certainly change the fuel lines, fuel filter, air filter and spark plug. I'd also use canned 50:1 premix fuel (e.g., TruFuel, VP Racing, Stihl MotoMix, Echo Red Armor, etc.) for the startup run.

 

[wavinwayne]

This 1997 saw is going to need some work. After some disassembly, found the fuel lines are completely shot. Then when I was pouring the old gas out, the old fuel filter and an unidentified tiny plastic in line coupler looking piece fell out. I've got a project. I found a good video on YouTube of a guy working on this same saw so hopefully after a little research I'll have it running again.

 

[andyd]

Similar operation on a 20 yr old Husqavarna 322L weed wacker. I have ordered a HIPA kit: carb, fuel lines and filter, air filter and plug for 15$

 

[andyd]

I've had no luck cleaning out the little carbs once the E 10 gets left in it too long. Engine starts and runs good until the prime runs out.

 

[jeepman3071]

It should run, but will probably need a new primer, new fuel lines, and a carb kit. If you have the model/serial number I can send you links to the kit you would need.

 

[wavinwayne]

It should run, but will probably need a new primer, new fuel lines, and a carb kit. If you have the model/serial number I can send you links to the kit you would need.

Here's a picture of the tag on it.

 

[jeepman3071]

Here is the carb kit you would need:

https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Carburetor-Repair-Kit/530069826/1987717

The site has a listing of parts for that saw here:

https://www.repairclinic.com/ProductDetail/1156612

I have bought parts from them before with good customer service.

 

[wavinwayne]

For starters, I'm going to replace the fuel lines, primer bulb, and air filter. Then if I can't get it to run, I will order the carb rebuild kit and try my hand at that. I am intimidated by rebuilding the carb, since I've never done one before and would rather not. I don't want to dump too much money in this thing, since I only paid $99 for it new, maybe less, I think I had a coupon.

 

[jeepman3071]

For starters, I'm going to replace the fuel lines, primer bulb, and air filter. Then if I can't get it to run, I will order the carb rebuild kit and try my hand at that. I am intimidated by rebuilding the carb, since I've never done one before and would rather not. I don't want to dump too much money in this thing, since I only paid $99 for it new, maybe less, I think I had a coupon.

The carb rebuild is really pretty straight forward. The best thing you can do is take pictures of everything as you take it apart, and lay the screws out in order as they come apart. Worst case scenario there is Youtube to help you put it back together.

 

[Fordiesel69]

So this will be old enough that it is not a strato port. It should just be a single venturi carburetor. Shockingly these were good little saws with low power and decent reliablity. A new carb kit will most likely fix it BUT make sure you remove the needle valve and blast the screen back and forth with cleaner, and make sure the viscosity of mixed gas will pass thru the screen. I cant tell you have many time this little screen will get a slight layer of something on it, and prevent flow.

If you ever see of these craftsman / poulan saws from 2006+ with strato port carburetor, place it in the closest recycling center.

 

[wavinwayne]

@Fordiesel69 After I get the fuel lines, spark plug, and fuel filter replaced, I'm going to see if it will fire up before I attempt rebuilding the carb. I really don't want to do that unless I absolutely have to. We'll see what happens. Hopefully I can get around to it over the weekend.

 

[Nukeman7]

@Fordiesel69 After I get the fuel lines, spark plug, and fuel filter replaced, I'm going to see if it will fire up before I attempt rebuilding the carb. I really don't want to do that unless I absolutely have to. We'll see what happens. Hopefully I can get around to it over the weekend.

Be sure to take photos of how the fuel lines connect to the carb inlet, purge return, filter and tank return. Don't trust the instructions shown in the YouTube videos since half of them are wrong with the routing path. The tubing paths can vary from one saw model/carb to another.