Please tell us about this "mod"?
Ah, google on muffler mod for the poulan. Basically, the exhaust side is restricted pretty badly by the muffler. All you have to do is find each tight spot in the exhaust path through the muffler and widen each cross sectional area by about 50%. There are a couple tight spots as the flow goes around a couple directions. You don't need much, just bigger holes at each small hole. You do have to adjust the carb settings after this to run it a little more rich else it would run a little too lean (which will destroy any small engine fast). Mine has a nice growl now and sounds like a little Harley bike!
The newer ones I think don't have the adjustable settings without special tool but you can bypass that by fitting an electrical **** connector on the end of each screw, pounding it on lightly, then turning the screws all the way out. Then use a dremel to put a slot in the end of each screw to work with a normal screwdriver. Put them back and away you go. If you ever took the saw to be worked on by anyone legal, they will remove your screws, put in the originals again and charge you for that process. This is required by law by our friendly Democratic leadership in the Presidential position, along with many other new recent Government regulations and overbearing controls on free society such as gas cans that don't work too well anymore.
I got about 20% more power out of the 42 cc when I did this, making it more like a 46 cc easy or maybe almost a 50cc stock saw. See this here thread where I talk about almost everything I've learned about these saws.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290203&highlight=Poulan
I have two of them, both from garage sales. One for normal cutting and one for light chainsaw milling believe it or not. I've since got a new Echo CS-590 60cc for more efficient milling and bigger cutting, but anyone interested in the joys of making your own wood from your own trees and learning about milling could do much worse than starting out with one of these little Poulan's to learn the ropes safely before getting into it with a bigger saw. These are also great to learn how to work on small engines a bit, as they are easy to work on. But if you get one, you should almost PLAN on working on them a little. I got several other saws too, including some vintage McCullochs, and older Stihl, a Ryobi, and also a 50 cc Poulan. The Echo above is the best saw I've ever had and best deal in a pro-class saw in 60 cc size out there--got it 30% off from Zoro flash sale last Christmas time. Super deal. If anyone has any chainsaw or milling type questions, feel free to send me a PM on it. I'm new to milling but have used saws since the 70's when I was a wee lad. I just did some milling this last weekend on some Ash and Walnut. That walnut was just beautiful when cut and the slightly spalted Ash had unique grain beauty too. I'll do some good woodworking on that when dried in a couple years. Woodworking is my "workshop" in my name, but also small engine hobby. I'm an ME by trade, so licensed, heh, to putz with small engines at will. I also got my first patent this year in my real job work, so that is something to hang on the wall !
Anyone that uses any chainsaw should go buy a set of good chaps made to take a direct running saw hit and not cut through your legs. Also, get a good full face shield at least or shield and helmet combo and hearing protection. I find the Harbor Freight clear full face shield is great for milling work. That is good for any Dremel work or grinder work too. Don't risk your safety ever. If new to chainsaws, do NOT think you can just go use one. Get some training from a class or friend knowledgable as they are terribly dangerous if you don't know exactly what you are doing and what to do when something goes wrong in a split second. - Paul
