Poulan 42cc
 

After reading a thread a while back suggesting that Poulan 42 cc was an easy conversion, I picked up a used chain saw on ebay. Now I have already done a 32cc Homelite chain saw conversion, and expected this to be similar. The engines are much alike in their general design, but the 42cc has a pecular way of mounting the mag coil, that I have not seen before. The coil is mounted to the plastic case of the chain saw, and not on the engine at all. So it looks like I will need to fabricate a bracket of sorts. Has anybody else ran into this and worked out a solution. This is my first post to the forum, I will try and post a couple of pictures.
I poste a couple of pictures to my gallery.

Okay, never mind, I did a search on Poulans and came up with some more stuff, I guess I have to come up with an electronic ignition.

But who is RCIM?

RE: Poulan 42cc
 

Another engine conversion Mike?! Sheesh, I thought you had your plate full. See you tommorow at the field ;)

RE: Poulan 42cc
 

RCIGN is a guy that makes electronic ignitions for engines. He also sometimes converts engine for people. CH ignition is another source for your needed ignition system.

Enjoy,

Jim

RE: Poulan 42cc & JB weld now
 

Thanks, but I don't want to spend the money for Ch ignition system. The coil mag pack on my Hommie 32cc if flatter than coilpac on the 42cc, and therfor might fit on the cylinder in the usual place if there was anything to attach too. I could make up a simple bracket to hold it, but how to attach to the cylinder fins. Contemplating using some of that ...... what do you call the gray epoxy that supposed to be like metal.... oh Yeh, JB weld. Anybody ever tried any on a cylinder head befor, wonder if it would hold up. Of course have to use only a little on a small nut, between the fins so as to effect the cooling as little as posible. After that I would have to retime the flywheel. because the coil pickups would be about 90degrees from where they should be, but cutting another keyway in the crank wouldn't be too hard for my brother in law (machinist). Say guys if you ever have the chance to marry into a family with a machinist, who is an alright guy....... jump at it. He is great addition, to my beautiful wife, sometime I wonder who I love more.
The other guys in the club, myself included, have been working on converting 25cc Poulans from leaf blowers @ $50. But we are finding them not as powerful as we hoped. One is currently on an G.B. Ultimate Bipe, swinging 15x9 prop around 7k. At full bore, it flys, but limited vertical, looks pretty in the air, but still hole burner, though he did burn some worms the other day doing an inverted pass. Another is on a big Robin, and flys it very nice I was told, but didn't see it myself.


So any thoughts on JB weld on a cylinder head?

RE: Poulan 42cc & JB weld now
 

I bought a muffler for a MAC 32 and as you know, the original is held on by a sppring. The installation kit included two dowel rods and a paper template. You drill ed down through the fins and inserted the rods down through the holes. The rods were drilled and tapped for the muffler bolts. I just used the spring to hold the muffler on.

I was looking a Lowe's yesterday and all the Poulan saws there had 42cc engines even though on the outer box it may say 33 or 38cc? The little I.D. tag said 42cc on all of them. They didn't have any 20" saws.

Good luck

Jim

RE: Poulan 42cc & JB weld now
 

Speak for yourself Mike. I love the power that the 25cc has on my ultimate.....ok, so it could be more. But for 46.50? You should have gone out to the field with us yesterday. John put the Robin in...........it will be missed. I on the other hand, had a great flight. By the way,I have some ideas about mounting your mag on the 42cc. Give me a call later tonight.

RE: Poulan 42cc & JB weld now
 

Thanks for the info. on drilling down through the fins, and dowel insert. Might be a good way to mount the bracket.

RE: Poulan 42cc
 

I ran in to problem with 42 cc's engine.When i read about 'bolting out' an engine from chainsaw and use it for airplane i was about to jump in it.It,indeed sounded sweet.Went in the same place-Ebay and found a ton of cheap ,relatively cheap chainsaws.Then made some search here and found out about the problem with magneto...Gave up on it.You see I think electronic ignition is nice and cool but if I buy motor for 40-50 $$ there is no way i spend another $$100-150-200 for electronic ignition.