Providing cutting-edge features to help you power through jobs both big and small, the Poulan Pro 400E 18-Inch 4.0 HP Electric Chain Saw arrives fully assembled, so it's ready to go right out of the box. Great for yard maintenance and cleanup, this powerful yet lightweight tool gives you the flexibility to cut at various angles without the mess or hassle of gas. | The 400E 4.0 HP Electric
Chain Saw offers:- An 18-inch steel bar for dependability and versatility
- Reliable electric power--no priming or gas required
- An inertia blade brake, anti-kickback bar tip, and wrap-around handle for safety
- Double insulation construction for electrical protection
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A four HP electric engine delivers clean, efficient power. View larger. |
The 400E is designed for safety and comfortable handling. View larger. |
Powerful Four HP Motor Tackles Yard Maintenance and Cleanup
Powered by an efficient four HP electric engine, the Pro 400E is perfect for cutting firewood, pruning thick tree branches and bushes, cutting through fallen trees, and tackling other around-the-house chores. It also has a lightweight, portable design that minimizes strain on your body, even after extended use.Electric Power for No-Hassle Maintenance
Because the 400E is an electric saw, it doesn't require priming pumps or gas, which can cause messes and strong odors in your yard. And thanks to the automatic chain oiler and large sight window, it's easy to maintain the proper lubrication level while you work. The 400E also operates at a lower noise level than many other models, making yard work more pleasant for you and your neighbors.
Innovative Features for Precision, Control, and Safety
The 400E includes an 18-inch steel guide bar for precision and control, a comfortable trigger for instant power, and important safety features like an inertia blade brake, anti-kickback bar tip, and a wrap-around handle to help protect users from injury.
Double Insulated for Safety
For additional safety, the 400E is double insulated to help protect against electric shock. Double insulation construction consists of two separate layers of electrical insulation instead of grounding. As a result, if you use an extension cord with your saw, it can be plugged into any standard 120-volt electrical outlet.
The 400E is backed by a one-year warranty.
About Poulan: Diverse, Powerful Yard Maintenance Equipment
The Weed Eater, Poulan, and Poulan Pro lines of yard maintenance equipment are backed by a long heritage of innovation that traces its roots to 1944. From powerful riding mowers, lawn mowers, and tillers, to trimmers, blowers, snow throwers, and chainsaws, the Poulan name is synonymous with a dedication to quality and maximum effectiveness. These products utilize the most robust engines from the industry's leading suppliers for long lasting operation. The sheer power of a gas two-cycle handheld will help you get the best looking lawn in the neighborhood, while Poulan's line of electric trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws tackles those clean-up jobs around the house.
What's in the Box
Saw, scabbard, bar, chain, warranty card, and manual.
....read more
5 out of 5
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Bad Design – Poor Warranty Service
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I also read many of the positive reviews about this electric chainsaw before making my purchase. An electric chain saw for me would be used very infrequently but I still did the research. I received the 400E saw and tried it out without cutting (running no-load). It sounded good. That was the last good experience I had with that chainsaw.
My first advice is to stay away from this saw like the plague. As others have pointed out, it is very poorly designed. My first usage of this chainsaw was halted after cutting about 32 feet of 6 inch maple tree trunks to 16 inch length. The trees were downed by a recent wind storm. The saw just stopped dead.
Since I only paid about $90 for it, and being an engineer, I decided to look into the problem myself. I found that the motor brushes when under load of any kind, became hot and would hang up or stick, opening the motor circuit shutting the saw down. I freed the brushes up, tested the unit and put it away until the next time thinking this was just a fluke and that would be the end of it.
Well, needless to say, this happened 3 more times in one day about 7 months later. I was not abusive to the chainsaw. I let the saw cut at its own rate. I even used a #12 gauge extension cord. Every 30 to 35 feet of cutting 16″ firewood this same problem would occur (brush hang up).
I had only used the saw on two events during about a year’s time. I finally called Poulan warranty services and explained the entire situation to them. The spokesperson agreed that this was a factory defect and said that it would be covered under warranty. I took the name of the spokesperson, his number, and other information to an authorized Poulan repair center that he referred me to.
Finally, after the 400E had been in the repair shop for about 5 months, the repair center called me. They had called the Poulan number that was given to me to verify the warranty coverage. The result of the call was that the coverage promised to me was denied by the Poulan Warranty Center.
My biggest complaints are:
I am without an electric chainsaw.
The 400E was a worthless piece of junk to me.
My credibility with the local repair center was damaged directly through the guidance of the Poulan warranty spokesperson.
I will post again if anything changes.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Like a hot knife through butter
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Nothing to complain about does what it is supposed to and the price is right. Chopped up some large oak logs and it never even hesitated even when I hit some knots. It is almost frightening hot it cuts so smoothly, makes you a bit more relaxed than you probably should be with a chainsaw.
We’ll see how it works in a year from now….
January 28th, 2010 at 12:00 am
My Husband Gives It 5 STARS!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
When I am looking for something, whether it is for myself or my husband, I look for several things before I push the Add-to-Cart button. And in these tough economic times, the last thing you want to do is throw away your money.
So, here goes my review. First this chainsaw had a great price and with the Amazon Prime, we received it in just a couple of days. We had a Craftsmen gas powered style, which my husband just found annoying to use. The starting of it was temperamental, the weight was cumbersome and the running to buy gas and the special additive was just a pain.
Second, we had already purchased a smaller 16 inch electric Remington chainsaw and he wanted another one with a longer chain and more power.
Third, he found this one easy to use right-out of the box. The much lighter weight allows him to cut more wood, because you are not fighting fatigue. A much easier start-up, just the push of a button and its running and also a useful sight-glass for the chain oil.
Fourth, the electric is much quieter than the gas ones.
And just for your information, my husband likes to split wood, with a maul ax. He only uses the chainsaw on really difficult pieces and I do mean difficult. His biggest challenges in our neck of the woods is Eucalyptus. It is very hard wood and very heavy and both of our electric chainsaws have worked great.
He has replaced the chain on the Remington once, but has not had to change the one on the Poulan yet and he has been using it, mostly on the weekends for over 6 months now.
February 6th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Great value and a real workhorse of a saw.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this saw in July of 2009 and I used it quite a bit until the weather turned cold. It is a real work horse, I have used it to cut down 4 medium size trees, several large bushes and I have cut up 3 very large stumps. The saw does tend to trip the 15 amp breakers when I cut anything more than about 5 inches in diameter, but if I plug it in to a 20 amp circuit it is fine. Also you will need a 12 awg or thicker chord. The saw does not include any bar & chain oil in the box. I did not have to tighten the chain until I cut up the third tree. Since then I have used it on another tree and a friend used it on some large branches at his house. It comes with a tool for adjusting it, or you can use a regular wrench and screwdriver. It also comes with a manual that gives some good tips on how to use it safely. It is loud so make sure you have ear plugs. I also use gloves and safety glasses to prevent problems. It is nice not having to worry if the saw will start up and I think the electric one is lighter than a comparable gas model. I also learned that Poulon is made by Husquavarna.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Good replacement
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Chose this saw after reading other reviews. I needed to replace a 25 year old sthil saw. Since my usage of the stihl had drindled to about once a year, I decided that the expense and upkeep of gas units was not worth it. If I’m out of range of the extension cord I will either rent of hook up to a generator.
Product received in a timely manner. It would have been nice to have a blade guard with the saw.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Lady loves the saw!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I live on an acreage & cut wood for heating. Love to use this saw up near the house for the final cutting of logs. I use a 100 ft heavy-guage cord with it. It is light weight & easy to use. I’m a 5-ft.tall 105 lb. 60-yr-old woman & have no trouble using this saw. It is also very easy to service–tightening the chain, adding oil, cleaning, etc. The 18 in. arm handles most trees. The motor is powerful enough to do the job.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
big job, big saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had one very large dead tree on my 5 acre property when I bought it. Not wanting this tree to come down on anyone, I used a 14″ electric saw to start out, but it quit working under the load. The 18″ Poulan from Amazon not only cut the tree down, but kept working all the way from bottom to top and is still working after replacing the chain with another purchase from Amazon. She runs fine on a small generator when I’m not near the house to get power. Great machine.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Terry, Colorado
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This Poulan chain saw is great.Worked flawlessly right out of box.Very good saw for price . Plenty of power& works well plugged into 100′ 12/3 cord.
March 6th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Good value
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I only had this for one month, but have cut up a cord of seasoned wood with it. Of course its not as powerful as a gas model, but it did the job well enough. The trunk of the tree was 20″ in diamater. By the way, mine was also shipped with the brake on, so its best to check to see that its off before using the saw. Did not find mine that noisy (compared to gasoline models). Does use a little bar oil, but thats ok.
March 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
High Power
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Right out of the box this unit had the power to cut about 1/2 cord of wood to length for my stove. While I like the light weight and power (I am used to a big 58cc gas saw with a 20″bar) the chain does not seem as aggressive as my other saws. I am sure my neighbors liked the fact that I did not have my gas saw out…
After an initial cut time of about 15 minutes, I tightened the chain and it seemed to be fine through the rest of the cut. The auto oiler works to the point that it seems to have too much oil coming out and this, combined with the chips and sawdust, required a complete teardown and cleaning after I was finished. The plug did not have any type of connector to keep the extension attached and even with the typical jury-rig of knotting the plugs I still had it come apart from time to time. The chain brake works well and I did not have any kickback problems in hard or soft wood. It looks like some routine maintenance and keeping the chain sharp will keep this saw going for a long while.
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
A Lot of Saw for the Sawbucks
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this saw to deal with a fallen tree on my property that had smoked by previous electric saw. The price seemed right, and the reviews were mostly very positive so I went ahead and bought it the same day that the old saw went belly up. I gave the new saw a test run on the first day, and it made short work of the problem tree. It wasn’t a huge tree, but it took a dozen or so cuts through a 12-14” diameter trunk to whittle it down to manageable size. Every cut was quick and clean, and the motor seemed like it was just loafing along. This is a far more capable saw than the one it replaces, and I think I paid about $50.00 more for my previous electric. It’s only a 1/2 horsepower more powerful, but it feels like much more. Can’t speak for it’s durability at this point, but based solely on performance it’s an easy 5-stars.
March 24th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Great for $90…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For $90, it’s an amazing deal. Really it is.
But it’s still a crappy underpowered saw. No really, it’s not that powerful. I’ve used 4hp gas chain saws, this thing doesn’t come anywhere near that kind of power. But then again a good 4hp gas saw costs FIVE times as much so really can’t complain.
With that said, it’s not 4hp, it won’t cut fallen trees nearly as well as you may hope. It will go through enough oil in a cutting session that you’ll buy it in gallons. It’s poorly balanced, feels flimsy and is loud enough to require ear plugs.
But hey, you can buy 5 of these for the price of a saw that would be noticeably better.
March 25th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Not so good
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I got about a half an hour out of the motor cutting some small pine trees into firewood. I think I got four wheelbarrows of cord wood before the brushes started throwing sparks and the motor slowing down. Then the GFI tripped and I was done. Sent it back for a refund.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Works great – until it doesn’t!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I needed to section a 14″ black cherry log and bought this Poulan 18″ electric chain saw because of the number of positive reviews. The first one arrived and I made one cut in the log and then failed – pulled the trigger and nothing. Sent it back to Amazon for a replacement and the second one made more progress – I made 8 cuts 2/3 of the way through the log but when I stopped to turn the log and finish the job, saw #2 failed in precisely the same way. Pull the trigger and nothing.
Perhaps I got two lemons but, regardless, 0 for 2 with 9 cuts is NOT a good product. I would not purchase this saw.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:00 am
My first chain saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this chain saw about 2 weeks ago based upon the price and the reviews. I must say that I’m very pleased with the purchase. It arrived intact and ready to go. All I had to do was add chain oil – check the chain adjustment and go saw some wood. I made sure I had good eye and ear protection. The saw initially cut very quickly but soon seemed to bog down. I surmise it’s because the wood I’m cutting is still wet and at about 16 to 18 inches in diameter – rather thick. I purchased the Dremel chain saw sharpening attachment (#1453) for about $12.00 and was able to sharpen the chain in about two minutes. I highly recommend this attachment! If you need a chain saw and don’t want the hassle of the gas engine and don’t need to use it remotely – I recommend this saw. It really will do the job with power to spare.
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Quite for the neighbors
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Worked great for me. When I needed firewood for my Franklin stove, that I had bought from Ben himself, my friend brought me a dumptruck load of fir logs that were as large as 18 inchs. I did’nt want to run my gas saw that would have maded a lot of noise to disturb to neighbors. Now they are borrowing it from me. Lots of happy people with this saw. BURT
April 7th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Didn’t last more than half an hour
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I hadn’t been cutting for more than 30 minutes when the motor fried. Yes, I was using the correct gauge wire/length. I was disappointed to say the least.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:00 am
PLEASE READ BEFORE RETURNING!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
YOU MAY NOTICE THAT ABOUT 90% OF THE REVIEWS FOR THIS SAW ARE GUSHING WITH PRAISE, AND THE REMAINING 10% SAY SOMETHING LIKE “QUIT WORKING AFTER 20 MINUTES.” WELL, I THINK I HAVE SOLVED THE MYSTERY…
TURNS OUT, UNLIKE MOST ELECTRIC CHAINSAWS, IT HAS A “CHAIN BRAKE” WHICH IS DESIGNED TO STOP THE SAW QUICKLY IF YOU BUMP IT, AS YOU MIGHT IF YOU LOST CONTROL OF IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNER’S MANUAL DOESN’T SHOW THE CHAIN BRAKE IN THE DIAGRAM, IT REFERS TO IT AS A “HAND GUARD.”
ALSO, THE TROUBLESHOOTING SECTION DOESN’T MENTION TO CHECK THE CHAIN BRAKE (I.E., HAND GUARD) POSITION EITHER. TO USE, IT NEEDS TO BE PULLED TOWARDS THE USER.
I WAS PERPLEXED DURING MY FIRST USE WHY AN EXCELLENT SAW JUST DIED. I CALLED AMAZON AND THEY PROMPTLY SENT A REPLACEMENT. WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR IT TO ARRIVE, I TOOK ANOTHER LOOK AT THE “DEFECTIVE” SAW AND REALIZED THE HAND GUARD HAD MOVED FORWARD, ENGAGING THE BRAKE.
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT SAFETY FEATURE FOUND ON ALL GAS SAWS, BUT I WOULD HAZARD A GUESS THAT MOST OF THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE OWNER’S MANUAL, NOT A DEFECTIVE UNIT, SO CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE RETURNING YOURS TO AMAZON!
AS FOR THE SAW, I LOVE IT. I’VE USED MANY GAS AND ELECTRIC CHAINSAWS OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ELECTRIC SAW I’VE EVER OWNED. IT IS QUIET, POWERFUL AND AFTER FAIRLY STEADY USE, HAS YET TO REQUIRE CHAIN RE-TENSIONING. I’VE OWNED REMINGTON SAWS THAT WERE PRETTY GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE TENSIONER.
THIS SAW DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF LUBRICATING THE CHAIN. JUST BE SURE TO EMPTY IT WHEN YOU’RE DONE SO IT DOESN’T DRIP DURING STORAGE.
I’LL UPDATE THIS REVIEW AFTER MORE USE, BUT SO FAR, I’M IMPRESSED!
April 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Very powerful but somewhat flawed
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
OK, I’m a bit ambivalent about this chainsaw. I’ll start by stating it’s a VERY good value and I’m glad I purchased it.
The good:
Tremendous power
Tremendous power
Did I mention the tremendous power?
The bad:
Lack of electric brake and heavy flywheel effect makes this chainsaw a bit hazardous
VERY loud
Slightly misbalanced (to the left) due to the heavy motor
No vibration isolation.
Chain adjustment somewhat antiquated (compared to the near instant adjustment available on a new Husky)
Did I mention it’s VERY loud
I was absolutely shocked at how loud this pup is. It’s much louder (skreeeeeetchs actually) than my Husqvarna 450E gas powered chain saw. I wear hearing protection when using either but this Poulan makes an awful sound. I was also a bit unnerved at how long this thing takes to flywheel down (much more than the Husky). Anyway, this is a VERY good value in an electric chainsaw. If Poulan (owned by Husky ) could put a few more bucks into this product it would be top notch. i.e. electric brake, less noise, maybe some vibe isolation.
After using this chainsaw a fair bit (I bought it as a backup to my Husky) I’d say only go this route if you’re looking for a decent chainsaw on the cheap. A good Husky chainsaw is a MUCH better tool ……………… at a significantly higher price.
April 24th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Everything as advertised
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I needed something to take care of large limbs that fall in my yard, so something that I use only periodically that doesn’t need a lot of upkeep or effort to use. Took a little getting used to, in particular the cleaning and adjusting the chain. But all in all it seems a good buy. I used it once for several hours. Probably more this fall. Eats up oil, but performs well. No complaints.
May 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Seems good
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
In about 4 hours of use, the chain has come off 3 times. New to chain saws, so could be user error, but it is annoying. Other than that, it cuts really well.
May 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Outstanding!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought this saw expecting to ruin it cutting crossties for a landscaping project. But was I surprised—-this chainsaw outperforms more expensive gas chainsaws that I own. None of the hard starting, gas-mix problems, etc. This saw has the power, chain design, and cutting power to keep the gas models on the shelf. I rather use a remote generator if I have to in order to use this saw. I was expecting a wimp of a tool with a short life—-but this one is a “for real” chainsaw!
May 11th, 2010 at 12:00 am
great product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Ater haveing 2 gas saws that may or may not start when you need them , this saw is always ready
May 13th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Poulan 400E is great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this saw because it was reasonably priced and had very good reviews. I am glad I did. I had a big pine stump left in my front yard where I had a tree taken out a couple of years ago. It was about 17″ in diameter and a couple of feet high and had been hidden in an azalea bed. The 400e had no trouble with it even though the stump was still very dense and heavy with sap. This saw chewed it up with very little effort, even when I had to squat at weird angles and cut sideways. It was over pretty quickly thank goodness. Plenty of power for the job. Only one small beef – no case. I would have paid another $20 or so to get a nice case or zip bag for storage. The plastic bar sheath is hilarious. Also, watch your extension cord lengths. I originally bought a 100′ cord. When I saw the 400e’s user guide did not recommend cords over 50′, I bought a 50′ 12 gauge cord. The freaking thing would not reach my target by about 4′ – can you believe that? I kept it anyway and decided to use the 100′ cord after all since other reviewers commented that they went this route and had no trouble. No problems on my end either – no power loss or heating up. The longer cord worked just fine. I highly recommend this saw – the 8 lb. weight is great as well when you’re working on a big job…
May 13th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Great Power
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was very pleasantly surprised at the power this saw actually has. I have & use my 18″ gas powered chainsaw but wanted one a little bit easier to use, however, I was concerened about the power of an electric one. This saw is AWESOME!!! The only thing I would change is the chain cover that comes with it. WHAT A JOKE! It’s a cheap piece of plastic about as thick as a sandwich baggie. I guess safety wasn’t a concern when they designed that. Other than that, this is a great saw.
May 20th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Poulan Pro 400E 18-inch 4.0 HP Electric Chain Saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent product, easy to use and priced extremely reasonably. Excellent built-in safety features. If you’ve never used a chain saw before (I hadn’t) you may be a little frightened by the rather extensive cautions given in the instruction booklet, but they amount basically to keeping a firm grip on the saw when using it. It may be worthwhile to start out for a few minutes together with someone who has used a chain saw before. You need to separately purchase chain-saw oil for using it. I would recommend using some kind of ear plug for protecting your ears against the noise, but that would apply to any chain saw.
May 29th, 2010 at 12:00 am
A great machine!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this a year-and-a-half ago; and it’s still going strong. Follow the directions carefully. It’s so nice to find a piece of machinery made by a company who pays attention to safety, quality, and longevity of their product. This is a great chainsaw. It’s not a toy. Be careful.
June 7th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Pleasantly surprised !!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this in the box for some months now. Was reluctant to get to the job of cutting up several fallen trees on my property. Wasn’t expecting too much from it, but was influenced by the number of positive responses. So, I headed out back and proceeded to cut away. The only thing that prevented me from cutting down all the trees on my property is the local ordinances protecting them. I didn’t want to put the saw down. What power and the ease of cutting was superb. So smooth and quick. Yes, I know the cutting chain is new, but after 12 ten-inch trunk trees, the chain was cutting as though it was just out of the box. Loved it and would buy another one if had to. Good Luck !
June 14th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Nothing gets the job done like a Poulan Pro 400E!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Hi. Allow me to introduce myself. I live in a remote village located in the rural outskirts of Spain. It’s a nice little place, and me and my people have thrived there for countless generations.
Lately, however, an American agent of some sort has shown up. He seems to be looking for some missing girl judging from the picture he once showed us. Now, I’m not gonna lie, my people are aggressive. We’re not infected monsters or anything like that, we’re just aggressive. So, when the agent kept trying to break the language barrier and inform us of this missing girl, one of villagers kinda lashed out a little. I don’t think that justifies a gunshot to the head.
So, the agent gave up on communicating with us and is now just killing on sight. I took refuge in my barn and thought desperately of a way to dispose of this American. A few minutes later and I had devised a genius plan. I opened my tool shed and got out my Poulan Pro 400E. Just holding it made me feel stronger! And then, almost without thinking, I emptied out a nearby sack of flour and placed it over my head. I don’t know why I did this, but I realized how menacing I would look once I poked eye holes out of it.
There I was, with my Poulan Pro 400E, ready to bust some heads. Finding the American agent was easy, all I had to do was follow the sound of gunshots. I eventually found him capping my people outside the chief’s home. I revved up my Poulan Pro 400E and began my pursuit. The second he heard this baby running he got a terrified look on his face. He quickly switched his handgun out in favor of a machine gun and pointed it my way. Ha! Those puny bullets merely tickled my body! It was as if I had became three times stronger just by holding my Poulan Pro 400E. The agent ran out of ammunition and switched back to his handgun. This time he took careful aim at my sack-covered face. I was amazed, the flour sack provided protection from the bullets, so much that they didn’t even phase me.
As I approached ever nearer, the agent turned and headed upstairs. I can only assume he ran out of ammo and began searching for the many boxes of ammunition that we villagers like to randomly place. I followed his trail up the stairs and caught him with his back turned. This was it. I lunged as fast as I could towards him, and he turned around just a moment too late. He was now on the receiving end of my Poulan Pro 400E with a look of pure pain on his face. After seconds of futile resistance, his head was sawed off with a nice clean cut. It dropped and bounced on the floor, much like how his limp body did soon afterward.
That’s my story. What it all boils down to is this; No matter the situation, a good Poulan Pro 400E can always help. It most certainly helped me!
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
very impressed
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m sure the most common concern for long time gas powered saw users such as myself is “will it have enough power?”. The answer is yes, unless you are a logger, this thing has plenty. I’ve been cutting some fairly dense russian olive wood and this saw melts right though. My only issue was that I have always used motor oil as a bar lube (used motor oil actually, and never had a problem) but when I tried it with this saw it simply refused to pump the oil. After switching to the Poulan bar oil, it works like a charm. I recommend using hearing protection, its not overly loud, but I don’t want to end up as one of those guys who always says “whats that?”. I love this saw.
July 1st, 2010 at 12:00 am
Go Ahead and Lose the Gas Can
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This particular Poulan electric is an excellent tool. It can quickly dispatch and process real trees. It’s surprisingly light and well-balanced. For heavy work…whether pulling from an AC outlet or a generator…be sure to use a short, heavy (10 or 12-gauge) power cord because its motor is capable of drawing some serious current if the blade starts bogging down for some reason. For light duty work like pruning, a general-purpose outdoor extension cord (14-gauge) will probably suffice.
July 11th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Piece of Junk
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
What a piece of junk. It made two cuts and then quick. Dead in the “water”. Won’t run. Won’t do anything. Owner’s manual suggests this could be a problem with the power switch (it does feel like the switch is broken) – so apparently this is a common problem.
Had to get out my “toy” 16 inch Homelite chain saw to get some work done, and the Homelite works just fine, except the cutting bar is too short.
Poulan? Junk!
Hey Amazon, how do I get my money back?
July 19th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Poulan Pro 400E 18-Inch 4.0 HP Electric Chain Saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent powerful chain saw. Only minor complaint is owner’s manual does not recommend using the saw with an extension cord over 50 feet. I have very successfully used it in heavy duty operation with 300 feet of heavy duty outdoor extension cord. Highly recommended.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Adequate for small occaisonal jobs
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Poulan is one of my least favorite brands, after buying a Poulan lawn tractor that is hard to maintain and with service centers distant and impractical. However, I figured how could Poulan screw up a simple electric saw, so I took a chance.
That said, I found it to be a simple and lightweight tool that has worked well for cutting up an old corral fence and for trimming branches.
I’m no longer cutting down trees for firewood and my old Homelite gas saw was worn out and clogged up, so I wanted to try an electric chain saw just for trimming.
There is no parts / schematic manual. If something goes wrong, the cost of repair and shipping probably exceeds the value, so buy this with the idea of using it until it quits and then throwing it away, unfortunately.
As someone else warned, if you take it apart be careful. Mine stopped working so I opened it up.
It’s fairly simple; the pump that puts oil on the chain is a cute tiny plastic piston that gets pushed as it touches a plastic disc that turns with the chain sprocket and thus bumps the piston apparently squirting a tiny bit of oil with each revolution of the sprocket. Simple steady oiling.
When the back lash safety bar gets tripped, the bar not only turns off the power; it releases a powerful spring that securely tightens a metal band around the chain sprocket, quickly stopping the chain. I now realize that mine had been tripped, though I don’t remember any real backlash. I tried playing with the spring to re-set it, but the spring is surprisingly powerful and would be near impossible to replace if I removed it. So I mostly reassembled the saw and pushed the back stop bar all the way forward and the spring popped back into standby position and released the drive sprocket. It had not looked like that would work but it did. There is just enough allowable motion for the spring lever to snap back and forth. I put the rest of the saw back together and it worked fine.
When using it with two 50′ extension cords, one of them burned out. It was an older cord so no loss. Unless you have a really heavy extension cord, 100′ seems about the maxim usable distance from an outlet.
For light use it seems fine. For me the big benefit is that it has no carburetor to clog up while stored.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Wonderful product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It just works. Easy to use and refill oil. Works great for around the house.
August 11th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Plenty of power without the hassles of gas.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve used a small electric chain saw for 15 years around the house. In my opinion, an electric chain saw is the way to go for most people as long as you do your work within 100 feet of the house. My neighbor has what is supposed to be one of the best gas models out there, and he always has trouble getting his started. I think most homeowners use a chain saw once in a while, and then it sits on a shelf for months at a time. With an electric model this isn’t a problem. Mine always starts as soon plug it in and push the trigger. If a gas model isn’t used on a regular basis, it gets even harder to start, not to mention the trouble and mess of mixing and using gas. This electric saw is very powerful and does all I want it to. It has a good quality feel except for the cheap saw blade cover which isn’t worth using. Overall, I highly recommend this saw.
August 18th, 2010 at 12:00 am
18 inchs of Electric power.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was my second unit. The first was replaced by Amazon which was awesome. This is the perfect saw for trimming and cutting up downed trees.
August 22nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Better Than Expected
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly surprised. I expected more of a toy than a tool. This is a real value.
August 28th, 2010 at 12:00 am
A powerplant with teeth…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Plenty of HP & well balanced too. Limbed and dropped a 20″ diameter apple tree like it was a stick of butter. Tree to stacked cordwood in about 20 minutes.
September 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Better than expected
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was a little sceptical about buying an electric chainsaw but I didn’t want the noise or fuel mixing hassles of a gas powered one. This saw has definately exceeded my expectations for how well it cuts, it’s easy to control, and doesn’t bog down even with a full bar length cut. The only 2 minor issues I have are it does use a lot of oil (when you stop cutting and set it down there is so much oil on the chain its dripping), and the kickback brake feels a bit flimsy but works fine when I tested it.
September 11th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Poulan Pro 400E chainsaw
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This saw has plenty of power for the type of cutting I do. I use it to cut up deadfalls and broken branches for outdoor camp fires, and it works great for this.
September 16th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Chain Saw Good
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this electric chain saw for a couple of years now. It’s been perfect so far. I don’t use it a lot, but when I do it works great. I had some huge old arborvitae in my back yard. They were about 20 feet high and the diameter of the trunks were between 12 and 19 inches. The saw cut them down in short order, with my help, of course. P.S. Don’t even think about buying a gas-powered chain saw if you care about the environment at all. A gas-powered chain saw pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late-model cars. That’s a lot of pollution.
September 21st, 2010 at 12:00 am
1st time user
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had to cut up a wind-downed Ponderosa Pine approximately 14″ diameter trunk with 6″-10″ limbs. I have a Husquvarna gas saw that I was constantly repairing and as usual it wouldn’t stay running when I started this project. In frustration I thought I would give an electric a try and the Poulan handled the job without a single problem. Although I have only used it this one time so far, in my opinion, for the active homeowner this saw is a perfect choice. Simple to use,more than adequate power and easy to clean. A real value. The blade cover is laughable but there are several after market choices including a $30.00 case from Poulan.
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
best chain saw I ever had
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is really a great chain saw. I cut five trees down with it and it had plenty of power to do the job with ease. The saw is well made handles easily and being electric all you do is add oil and never have to worry about it starting.
October 1st, 2010 at 12:00 am
Owned 2- good bargain
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We purchased the first of these in a refurbished unit and did quite a bit of work on it before it started having trouble. The repair was minor but the bench fee was nearly the price of replacing so went ahead and bought a 2nd one – used the chain etc from the first as spares. Pleased with the purchse. For a fraction of the cost of having tree trimmers come out for one visit this gets the job done fast. Strong enough to make quick work of most jobs plus, living in a hurricane prone state means we often need to remove limbs, large branches or even trees that come down during a storm. Rather than wait days or even weeks – this allows us to move about the yard without danger. A must own – great price. reliable product.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Great saw, very powerful
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this saw 18 months. I use it to cut firewood in my back yard. I have cut hardwoods thicker that the 18″ bar. Never gave me a bit of trouble. Goes through the chain oil quick, but I figure that’s good because is means the chain is staying wet. Chain oil is dirt cheap. Amazingly powerful.
October 13th, 2010 at 12:00 am
whaat a saw
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
i was just looking around for a saw to cut some trees around my yard that had gotten to big for comfort and i came upon this fella. when it arrived i just took it out of the box, read the instructions ans was off to fell my first tree in a matter of hours. by the way, this was the first time i was using a chain saw, much less to be an expert at cutting trees.it worked like a dream. i could feel the power and effort being exerted by the saw and realized how much work this was saving me had i decided to use an axe or hand saw. soon i was saying ‘tim–berrrr’ thanks to the well written manual and efficient saw. i would have never expected an electric chain saw to be this good…it really is….perfect for all your round the house cutting needs….
the oiler works well and i was surprised that 1 quart of oil allowed me to fall and cut to pieces, 6 trees 12-15 feet tall and at least 9-11 inches thick.
what i am also pleased with is the fact that i can start and stop the saw safely without any effort unlike a gas powered saw…not forgetting the burden of the additional oil and gas to have it run….
i totally recommend this saw….. i wish the blades never got dull though….lol
October 22nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Worth its weight in gold (well, maybe not gold)
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Right out of the box this saw impresses. Filled the tank with oil (about 8 oz.), and felled/chopped 2 30′ trees in about 20 minutes.
It really likes to drink the oil, it used about 3/4-7/8 of the tank in the process of taking the 2 trees down and making firewood.
The chain needed tensioning every few minutes, but it was easy as any other saw. It came with a T-handle tool with a socket on one side and a flat headed screwdriver on the other. I expect the chain to stabilize shortly.
The stock chain isn’t very aggressive, but it doesn’t slack at cutting speed either.
Just make sure you have plenty of oil on hand (2 qts for a long day of cutting) and a spare chain handy.
Have ordered the case for said saw (poulan case.. it DOES NOT FIT in the Northern Tool / Husq cube looking case (tried at Northern tool today)).
Edit:
Having ordered the Poulan “Fits All” case, it does not, in fact, “Fit All.”
It may “fit all” gas powered units.. but.
The case needs to have part of the innards removed so the saw fits down inside sitting neatly. It’s not hard to remove, a simple razor knife does the job, but it’s annoying.
October 25th, 2010 at 12:00 am
3rd Time’s a Charm
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is the 3rd chainsaw I bought and it is amazing. I had borrowed an electric Remington and it was a piece of junk. I bought an electric Ryobi and the first time I used it, the chain became undone. I exchanged it for a gas one and beside the noise and polution, it didn’t cut well. After reviewing numerous chainsaws on Amazon and reading the reviews, I decided to try the Poulan Pro 400E and I am glad I did. True to what other reviewers have said, this is a GREAT chainsaw. We have a huge backyard with lots of mature trees and we have been trimming them and have cut a couple of dead ones down. This chainsaw is able to cut the longer and thicker pieces down to firewood size. The only problem I have found is after about 15 minutes of use, the cutting power isn’t as it is when it is cold. Can it be overheated? The chain DOES stay nice and wet, and you can tell because you can see the oil coming off it when you start the chainsaw. Overall, I recommend the Poulan Pro 400E. Great product.
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Oil Pump Failed after a few hours use
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
With all the great reviews, I bought this saw from Amazon. Worked great for a while until the oil pump quit pumping. This saw was never run low on oil and the oil was always fresh and clean. I disassembled the saw, everything was clean from the oil tank to the pump to the chain bar. I removed the oil pump, and it had clearly failed. Inside the housing I was suprised to find that the ring gear, which reduces motor speed, was not metal but a light tan nylon like material. My previous electric saw worked for over 20 years and cut a LOT of wood. I was disappointed at this early failure. I do not recomment taking your saw apart unless you know how to put it back together. Springs easily fly, and re-assembly is a bit of a trick.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:00 am
works great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
bought this for hubby – he loves it – works like a gas one, but no oil/gas to deal with – also, no worries about letting it sit for periods of time with no use. auto chain oil works great too.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Great performance and value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
First off, know that this electric is the Consumer Reports #1 of the genre. Those folks know more than me, you or any other Amazon reviewer. So, take that for what it’s worth.
In practice, this saw has more than enough power to take down small to medium trees. Any job that is large likely will necessitate a gas-powered saw. The automatic chain oiler works so well that you don’t notice or think about it. The chain itself will require attention, especially early on, to ensure it stays tight and doesn’t slip off. Manufacturer does not recommend using an extension cord longer than 100′.
I’ve read several reviews that suggest electric being much better than gas from an environmental perspective, but if you’re cutting down trees, does it really matter what kind of saw you’re using? As long as you don’t use your saw to ignite a tire fire, I think you’ll be OK with a gas or electric.
So, if your workload is only moderate and you’d like to save a few dollars on an electric as opposed to a gas saw, this one is perfect. When I shopped (April 2009), Amazon had the best price on a new saw. Some used saws are available on other sites, but saving money that way is not a trade-off I’m willing to make.
November 28th, 2010 at 12:00 am
waste of money
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Purchased it 3 months ago, used twice for about 1/2 hour total to cut some 6″ diameter downed logs, light use. It wouldn’t even start for me this weekend. Too late to return to Amazon, we’ll see how good the customer service is at Poulan.
December 6th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Unexpected Satisfaction
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Owning a gas Saw before buying this one, I wasn’t expecting much performance.
I WAS WRONG!!. This baby melts through 4″ logs like butter.
You can hear the power. It’s nice to be able to stop and go without hearing all the noise or breaking my back starting it over and over again.
December 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
power!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Poulan Pro 400E Ideal for felling small trees, cutting firewood and light cleanup A chainsaw that every household must have for day to day use. You gonna save a lot of bucks . Overall, this is a reasonably fast saw with good vibration isolation at the handles.Two thumbs up