Though perhaps unknown to those outside the world of chainsaws and power tools, the Poulan brand name has a long history of a quality and innovation. For more than 100 years, the name Poulan has been associated with quality and affordability. We hope that you will find our review of the Poulan Pro PP5020AV helpful.
The Poulan Pro PP5020AV chainsaw is a mid-range, but highly powerful chainsaw that comes with a rather affordable price tag. In fact, for around the same price range, you are not likely to find a chainsaw that has as much power and performance as the Pro PP5020AV.
But is it right for you? With our complete Poulan Pro PP5020AV review, we’ll go in-depth to take a look at all the ends and outs this chainsaw has to offer. This should give you all the information you need to know to decide if this is the right chainsaw for your needs.
Great value for money.
What Are the Features of this Poulan Chainsaw?
If you’re looking for a decent middle range chainsaw for common household uses like pruning, lopping branches, or cutting firewood, the PP5020AV is a great option. It has all the power you’ll need with a price tag that keeps it from being too highly commercial. That means, if you are looking for a chainsaw for professional use, this probably is not the model for you.
Engine
The Pro PP5020AV comes with the specially designed DuraLife 50cc engine. The composition of this DuraLife engine is chromium plated cylinders which will last much longer than other engines and will better withstand wear, pressure, and damage. The engine is the heart of the chainsaw and the powerful engine in the PP5020AV makes this model stronger and more reliable than comparable models.
The engine can also be started with Poulan’s “effortless pull starting system” that reduces the amount of power and energy needed to get the engine going. Anyone who has pulled and pulled at a chainsaw knows how frustrating this can be. Nothing is can be more exasperating than having a job to do and wasting half your energy just getting your tools up and running!
With the starting system included on the PP5020AV, you should have no trouble starting the engine even when it is cold.
Bar and Chain
The Poulan Pro 20 inch chainsaw comes, unsurprisingly, with a 20-inch bar and chain that is considered a “light-duty” chain. It comes with a chain brake that is inertia driven. This means that if the chainsaw experiences a resistance that triggers “kickback” it will engage the brake so that there is not a running chain coming at you.
The brake can also be engaged while moving the chainsaw. It is often necessary to set the chainsaw down while it is still running, so this keeps you safe from accidentally starting the chain.
The bar and chain assembly comes with an automatic oiler that will keep the chain properly lubricated. This is a nice feature so that you do not have to worry about oiling the chain constantly since the chainsaw will do that for you. All you have to do is make sure you keep enough oil in the chainsaw so that it can keep the chain slick.
For tightening the chain or securing the bar, Poulan has equipped the PP2050AV with a “scrench” (screwdriver / wrench combination tool) that locks onto the body of the chainsaw. This keeps the tool ready at hand should the chain become loose for some reason. It also makes it convenient to change the bar so that you do not have to go looking for the proper wrench.
Air Filter
Given that you will need to routinely check the air filter (see maintenance below), Poulan has designed this model with a tool-less cover for the air filter which can be removed with the turn of a knob. A clogged air filter is one of the surest ways to kill an engine, or even worse, damage an engine.
With Poulan’s Super Clean Air Filter System is specially designed to keep large debris and dirt from getting anywhere near the engine. This will allow plenty of clean oxygen to get to the engine for optimal performance.
Handle
Poulan has equipped the Pro PP5020AV with a special anti-vibration handle. This is an important feature since vibrations from a chainsaw can be seriously harmful to the user. A serious medical condition known as “vibration white finger,” “hand-arm vibration syndrome,” or “dead” can be caused by using equipment like a chainsaw. People who suffer from HAVS can suffer from a range of problems from finger numbness to loss of muscle control.
Other Features
Because of its overall size and power, this machine is not exactly light. It weighs in around 15.5 lbs., so if you are someone who will be doing a lot of work with this chainsaw and is lighter on the muscle mass, you might find that it grows heavy after some use.
It is also has a decibel rating of around 102 dB. This is comparable to other models in the same range. It is loud enough that you really should wear ear protection when using this chainsaw, this protection comes combined withseveral other features when you opt for a quality chainsaw helmet. This is particularly true if you plan to use it over time. The more you are exposed to high levels of noise, the more damage you can do to your hearing. Cut resistant gloves and boots are also recommended while operating a chainsaw.
The fuel tank has a capacity of 15 ounces. That should be enough to run the machine at full throttle at least 30 minutes continuously.
Since you will not be laying on the throttle the whole time, it will last much longer. Like all engines of this types, it requires a 40:1 gas to oil fuel mixture to run properly, so you should have a gas can dedicated only to this type of fuel mixing.
A great bonus that Poulan includes with this model is a protective case. Many companies do not include this feature for some reason.
Keeping the chainsaw in a case is a necessary way to safely transport the chainsaw and protect it from damage. Without a protective case, you are liable to cut yourself on the chain or otherwise damage the chainsaw.
What Kind of Warranty Is Offered on this Chainsaw?
There are three different levels of warranty offered on this model depending on how you use the chainsaw. All three warranty the chainsaw against any parts defects or manufacturing errors, but not against abuse, user errors, accidental damage, or normal wear and tear.
If you use the PP5020AV for individual, household purposes, it is warrantied for 2 full years. If you plan to use the chainsaw for commercial use, which would mean a lot more use than normally intended, Poulan will only warranty the chainsaw for 60 days.
This suggests that this particular model is not really intended for commercial use. Finally, if the chainsaw is used as a rental, it is only warrantied for 30 days.
If for some reason your chainsaw does become defective, Poulan will require you to take it to a qualified dealer for inspection and possible repair. Labor is fully covered during the warranty period. There are many qualified dealers throughout the United States, so you should not have any trouble finding someone close to work on your chainsaw.
Finally, if you order the chainsaw through Amazon, you have the option of adding either a 1-year or a 2-year extended service plan for very little cost. These extended plans include labor and repairs for anything that happens to the chainsaw after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. This can be a great way to protect your chainsaw beyond its years.
Another great benefit of the extended warranty is that it is entirely transferable while the original warranty is not. So, if you sell or give your chainsaw away, the extended warranty transfer with it while the original warranty will become void.
Poulan has a fairly decent track record with their customer service, so you can have confidence they will honor their warranties well. This gives you some peace of mind that should anything go wrong with your chainsaw, you will be fully protected.
Who Is Poulan?
Unless you have been in the chainsaw world for some time, you have probably not heard the brand name “Poulan.” The company was founded in 1912 by Claude Poulan in Shreveport, LA. It was one of the pioneers and leading manufacturers of chainsaws for more than sixties years until it was bought out by Emerson Electric.
Today, the Poulan brand name is owned and manufactured by Husqvarna. Husqvarna is a well-established brand in the power tool industry and their chainsaws are top of the line. Husqvarna uses the Poulan name to market a mid-level range of chainsaws that carry brand recognition for those who know their chainsaws.
Many Poulan chainsaws are made with the exact same parts offered by comparable Husqvarna models. You will often find the trademark “H” stamped on many of the component parts inside Poulan models.
Fun Fact: A Poulan chainsaw was featured in the cult horror classic, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.”
What Maintenance Is Required on the PP5020AV?
You should consider the varying maintenance requirements for different chainsaws. This can be a good way to decide if a chainsaw is right for you. Higher maintenance requirements may not be good for those seeking a light-duty chainsaw, while those that do not require as much maintenance are probably less likely to handle heavy-duty jobs.
For the Pro PP5020AV, the maintenance schedule is typical for a chainsaw that is not exactly intended for commercial use. To keep the chainsaw running well you will need to conduct a visual inspection of the all the parts on the chainsaw and feel for chain tension and sharpness.
After every five hours of use, you will need to inspect the air filter to ensure that it is clean and that air can pass through it without difficulty. This may require replacing it from time to time (but not that often). In addition, you will need to inspect and clean the chain brake to ensure that it is in proper working function. A faulty chain brake could be seriously dangerous should you get some kickback and the brake does not engage.
After every 25 hours of use, you will need to inspect and clean spark screen and the muffler. This helps ensure the engine is still in proper working order.
Lastly, you will need to change the spark plug and the fuel filter every year. As we said, this maintenance schedule if fairly typical. You should expect something similar for models of similar range. There is nothing in the recommended maintenance that is unreasonable or unexpected.
Are There Any Downsides to the Pro PP5020AV?
One possible downside that you should consider is that Poulan is a mid-range chainsaw, but it comes with a low-range bar and chain. You will likely find that the bar and chain cannot handle anything that is going to require a bit of power. The best solution for this would be to upgrade both the bar and chain so that it matches the quality of the chainsaw itself.
You might also find that the PP5020AV goes through a bit more oil than other models. If you do not use the chainsaw constantly, this probably will not be too much of a problem. However, if you plan to use the chainsaw a lot, you should plan to have some extra oil as backup.
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a good chainsaw for everyday use such as lopping limbs, cutting wood, or clearing logs, the PP5020AV is a great option for the price. For a medium-duty chainsaw, it should get all the jobs done that you need.
If you upgrade the bar and chain, this Pro PP5020AV can handle a good amount of work. The effortless starter system makes it easy to get going even when cold. With proper maintenance, this model can last many years of quality service.
For the same price point, there are not many models that can compete with the Poulan Pro PP5020AV. With the brand name of Poulan behind it and the manufacturing quality of Husqvarna, you know you are getting a quality tool that you can trust.
Great value for money.
We hope that you have found our Poulan chainsaw review helpful. If you think that this is not the chainsaw for you, please check our reviews of some of the best 20 inch chainsaws here.
Last update on 2024-04-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
