Customer Reviews

Poulan P3314 14-Inch 33cc 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Chain Saw

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I picked this saw up at a local clearance sale for $70.80 . . . I thought what could I lose for such a low price. I will admit however I was skeptical . . .having run Stihl and Husqvarna my whole life . . .What a pleasant surprise this little saw was! It started easily and cut fast. I cut three cords of firewood with it the first week I had it and the little green beast did not fail me once, even biting into 20 inch logs. My only complaint is the lack of a vibration dampening handle bar system . . .after running the saw for several hours the hands feel slightly numb . . .the verdict: unbeatable consumer saw for the price!

As indicated by another reviewer it is very tempermental to start after it's been run. You can follow their directions to the letter and it won't help. It came with a defective fuel cap O-ring and there is no easy way to get it replaced. The number in the manual goes to a third party who can only sell you parts. You have to go to a service center, in my case a 1 1/2 hour drive. Haven't found a way to talk to Poulan direct.

I just purchased this chainsaw for some light limbing work. There's a sticker on the back which instructs that to start the chainsaw, you need to:

1) Push the primer button 6 times
2) Pull the choke out all the way
3) Pull the cord 5 times
4) Push the choke in to half
5) Pull the cord again

That should be warning enough. The above procedure works about 10% of the time. Sometimes the chainsaw will start, and then stall in 2 seconds. It will stall if you try to give it gas (which automatically pops the choke back in). Usually, it takes 15-20 pulls, alternating the choke in, out, pushing the primer button every now and then.

Once running, it's a nice little chainsaw (that also stalls about half the time if unused, but perhaps I can tweak the idle) that works rather well. I only had a few times where debris lodged in the chain, preventing it from going.

I was using the chainsaw at 7,000' altitude, so *maybe* that explains the starting troubles. Mostly dissatisfied, because my arm hurts from trying to start it so often.

For the occasional user, you can't beat this little gem. There is plenty of power for the size, and the price is right. When the unit is cold, just follow the directions and it will start every time. No problem starting when it's hot, either. When it's just warm, you may have to play with it. Generally, it will start without priming on half-choke. All-in-all, this is the same with all of my 2-cycle engines of this size.

Let me start by stating that I did not buy this from Amazon but one of the large chain home improvement stores. The first day I had it, it did pretty well. I started it as in the instructions and ran 2 tanks of gas and chain oil through it. Two days later, I ran another tank of gasoline and oil through it, ditto 2 days later. On the fourth day, it did not crank at all. I pulled, I cursed, I primed, I cursed, etc., no joy. On the fifth day, I went through the same procedures again and had no luck with it. On the sixth day, same thing, no work done. That was the end of the line for me as I took it back to the store where I was offered either replacement or money back. I took the replacement.
The next day, I went through the starting procedure and the new saw hit on the third pull. It started on the second pull after the choke was pushed half way in. I let it idle for 30 seconds per the instructions and hit the throttle once. It died. It did not start again.
If you're looking for a light to medium duty chain saw, look elsewhere. The Poulan P3314 is not what you need.

We have just built a new home but before we could build we had to clear the lot so we went and got this saw for about $100. It cleard this whole lot with little problems. The automatic oiler striped out and we had no troble with service for it. It runs evry time we go to start it. The other people that rated this product must be doing something wrong becuse this one starts on about the 5th pull even after a whole year of hard work. Just keep the chain sharp and the air filter claen and you shold have no trouble. Its been a geate saw!

Amazon does not let you return things that are gasoline powered. You have to contact the manufacturer. This chainsaw started up, made an awful sound and stopped running. It broke within 5 minutes. We are really having trouble getting it replaced and it looks like we're stuck with it. We're going to have to pay out of pocket expenses to have it repaired. DON'T BUY IT! And just be warned that products like this should not be purchased at Amazon.

Never owned a chainsaw, bought one, used it to cut a few trees already, so I feel I got my money's worth, and while not the environmentally good thing to do, will probably toss it.

I am glad to see that it is not just me; this is the most finicky gas powered tool I have ever owned (runner up is my Poulan weed trimmer). If you must get one of these, use around home. You can go inside and have a cup of coffee when it won't start. When you return, you might be lucky and have it start. I would not want to haul this into woods - it is not dependable enough for that.

Now that I found I like having a chainsaw, I will get myself a good one.

(since originally entered, I consider my saw officially dead - won't start at all, and I won't even bother trying to have it serviced).

This saw was new and was shipped very fast.
It seems too have a hard time idleling but cut good.
It may get better after it is broke in.
Over all it seems too be a good saw just have to keep the gas reeved up.

I grew up on an acarage selling wood in the winters for extra money, and I have always trusted homelite machines with my sawing. I have run this machine for just over 2 years now and it works like a charm everytime I go to use it. I purchased it in a pinch (my homelite's at my mother's place) after a big storm to clean up a tree that fell on my house (4 hours away). I was initially very upset with this, difficult to start, and difficult to keep running. However, after about the first 2 tanks of gas through this, the little woodshark was earning it's keep. Now it's follow the start up instructions and off it starts, and will run until the tank is empty or you shut it off. I've cut many a cord of wood with this and I reccomend this, a good value for a now occasonal user like me.