Poulan Rider

[jd5105]

Any of you have a Poulan riding mower? I bought one 4 years ago, 38" deck. It is THE roughest riding mower I've ever owned. The seat had a rough texture and was very hard. If you hit a hole while turning with it, it would almost "rip you a new one". I got a good seat from Northern Tool and that fixed that problem. The mower had a problem when turning left, it would cut low on the right side. I checked deck level and tire pressure and nothing was out of whack. A couple weeks ago, I took the blades off to sharpen them and after a closer look at the righthand blade, I noticed the the blade had a subtle curve to it. After replacing the blades with new ones I didn't have any low cut problem. I think when they assembled the mower, they didn't get the blade on the star shoulder and when it was tightend, it warped the blade just enough that it would gouge when making a left turn. This mower was made by AYP, It's the same as a Craftsman. It is easier to service the belts on than my MTDs, but I like MTD better.

[Birdman]

I have a Poulan Pro 24 HP, 48" mower. Got it 4 years ago.
It is the biggest mistake I've made in purchasing equipment. I only keep it for cutting around trees in the yards where my Kubota won't fit.
It has been in the shop three times each summer. The second year they replaced the engine (less than 200 hours on it) w/ a 26HP. It's also had electrical problems.
It's a gas hog. I'm lucky to get a gallon an hour.
The air filter is a major design flaw; when you take off the cover dirt that is stuck in the crack, and not visible, drops into the carb throat. I keep a pair of surgical clamps handy to remove the crap from the throat.
Now I'm getting misses after it warms up. I'm not a mechanic, but religious in maintenance, so to have so many problems w/ a simple machine is a hassle.
I would never buy a Poulan again.:Stop:

[tractorkid94]

Just posted this in an above thread:

I've had awesome luck with my Poulan. Bought in 2000, used and abused (hard), and it runs perfect to this day. Only time Sears needed to be called was to fix a flat under warrenty. Original belts, battery, fuel filter, air filter, plugs, and yes even original oil/filter! I'm doing a full tuning and replacing all of the above things except the battery next weekend. I've just never had time to take care of it as I should. But my point is that after 8 years of hard-core abuse, it's still running as well as the day it was delivered.

On a side note I guess I'll be replacing the grill assy next weekend too, and I'll be installing a bumper!

[barefootpoet]

You haven't replaced the air filter on your Poulan riding mower after 8 years? I find that hard to believe!

[tractorkid94]

Never replaced, just blown out every once in a while. Like I said I'm doing a full service this weekend, this tractor has been neglected for far too long.

[Argee]

I have a Poulan with a 42" deck and 15 HP Tecumseh. It serves me well for cutting grass. It's not as comfortable as my Craftsman, but that'll change when I get a new seat for it.

[Birdman]

Almost all the problems I've had are engine problems. 8 years on an air filter? Not for me and the B&S 25 HP Intek Twin OHV, which was repaired under warranty, or the B&S 26 HP ELS 725 series OHV which they used as a replacement when the "fixed" 25 HP died (I paid labor); the 26 HP is the engine with the stupid air filter cover I mentioned earlier. I replace the foam filter at least once per season (clean it regularly), and the paper filter every other season (also clean regularly) but the engines are less than I'd expected. It's also gone through one battery.
And I do the oil/filter/fuel filter per schedule.
Could have been a bad couple years for Poulan and B&S?