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CB Retail Stores Review of Wen 38cc Lumberjack Chain Saw
Wen 38cc Lumberjack Chain Saw

Wen 38cc Lumberjack Chain Saw review: DOA 14

K
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8:44 pm EDT
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Menards 38cc Lumberjack chain saw leaked gasoline right out of the gas cap before even getting started. Never pulled the recoil since I didn't want to catch on fire. This is a low end saw for a homeowner like me but it is garbage. And, of course, you can't return it to Menards, you call some toll free number and are placed on hold. Don't buy this product. Retails for only $108 but you get less than what you paid for.

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14 comments
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Ripped Off Again 2
, US
Jul 19, 2016 11:20 am EDT

Should have known to purchase this from Menards, I swear everything they sell are seconds! Cheap Plastic recoil broke and WEN went out of Business shortly after buying, needless to say no parts available now. Chinese junk!

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R B W
Davenport, US
Mar 20, 2012 9:32 am EDT

2 year old use. 4or5 time The carturetor is no good

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jackpack
sobieski, US
Apr 25, 2012 12:15 am EDT

against my better judgement, p/u 3816 at a rummage sale $50. was like new looking. had no gas in so couldn't start, but had compression, so i thought what the hell. put fresh gas in etc., would start but not keep running. after a # of carb resets, dawned on me to check gas filter in tank. upon pulling out line, the line literally fell apart! replaced line w/ some of my own, and it runs good since. local wrencheswere no help. i too get too much chain oil. there's an adjusting screw underneath unit but seems unresponsive.

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foxwood
Spencerville, US
Oct 29, 2011 9:26 pm EDT

i bought a 3814 wen lumberjack at menards and after running it for about 30 mins it started running bad so i looked into finding the problem and found the carb was falling off so i tightened it up and cut about a cord of wood and it started running bad again so i checked the carb and it was loose again so i put lock washers on it and tightened it up and it ran great cut about a cord of wood with it and oil started pouring out of the oil tank and the muffler bolts were loose and melted the oil tank, took it to menards and they said ohh u have to send it to be fixed and i called the place to get it fixed and was on hold for 30mins and nobody every talked to me so i hung up went back to menards and bought another one and three days later i took the one that messed up back and got my money back . so the first thing i did to the new one was to put lock washers on carb and muffler and i dont have any problems out of this one . it has the power you espect for a small saw and sometimes it doesnt like to start when its hot so i just let it cool down for 10 mins and it will fire right up . so if your saw runs bad check carb and muffler bolts and put lock washers on them ...

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silver1882`
Terre Haute, US
Aug 24, 2011 11:31 pm EDT

I would say check your fuel line to. I just had to replace the fuel line on my model 3818. I had only used the saw once before not sure if they just used the wrong type of hose or what. I runs great now. I am having problems with the fuel cap though it leaks trying to find a replacement one.

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Lumberjackdon
Audubon, US
Aug 18, 2011 3:46 am EDT

Well I bought the 3818 model from Menards and went straight to work. Knowing about saws I was able to get the saw running on the second pull. After falling about 30 trees and cutting up about 5 cord of trees I was impressed. I put the saw away for the winter and stored the saw after fogging it and running stabil through it. Come the next spring I removed the saw from storage and filled it with fresh fuel and oil. The saw again fired up on the second pull as I started falling trees for a friend. The trees were small cottonwood that presented no problem for the saw. I cut the logs into firewood length and as I finished up the last few logs the saw began running terrible. I had just filled the saw up with fuel and I was puzzled. I poured out the fuel into a container and to my suprise I was staring at the fuel line the fell apart inside the tank. I replaced the fuel line myself and have not had a single problem since. Perhaps all of these problems with starting the saw or keeping it running are related to the bad fuel lines. Don

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Jeff60
, US
Apr 13, 2011 2:55 pm EDT

I bought a wen 3818 model chainsaw from menards, After 2 months of use I could'nt get it to start, I had finally took off the muffler to check the piston only to find that the piston and cylinder wall scatched up. What a piece of crap this thing is. I agree with fredjh this thing is best used for a boat anchor but my chainsaw too leaks too much oil to do so.

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Skippy C Foreman
, US
Aug 10, 2018 1:34 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Jeff60

do you have the saw I need a gas cap let me know ok thanks

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fredjh
Pine City, US
Mar 10, 2011 5:40 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Got the 16" from Menards- I can't keep it running despite everything. Fresh gas- and 3 different sets of instructions on how to start it. Customer service is nothing but double talk about the warranty and help. This saw is really crap and I guess I should have know better. I have had other chainsaws but this one doesn't even deserve to be on the shelf of the store. Can't return it- and the warranty doesn't cover carb issues as the "customer service suggests is the problem"
If it didn't leak so much chain oil I use the saw for a boat anchor but I don't want to pollute!

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Skippy C Foreman
, US
Aug 10, 2018 1:33 pm EDT
Replying to comment of fredjh

do you still have the saw if so what would you take for it thanks

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TrampDrafter
Menominee, US
Sep 28, 2010 11:54 pm EDT

I just bought an 18" version from Menards. It was the display model because they were sold out. There was one in a box just returned, but I didn't want a used new saw.
Brought this one home, added mixed gas & bar oil. After priming and a couple of pulls, she came right to life, but the chain didn't go. I shut her down & checked it out. I had no owner's manual or warranty card or anything, but I do have a bit of experience with chainsaws. Well, it was assembled incorrectly. I took it apart and put it back together the way is't supposed to be and went to adjust the chain tension. GRRR! The tensioning bold was bent to hell and would just barely turn with a lot of force. After forcing it to turn, it began to straighten out a little. Now everything is assembled correctly and tensioned properly.

So I prime again, give one pull and holy cow! The RPM's went through the roof. I fingered the throttle and she idled down to what seemed just a little high. After a minute or so to warm up I began to cut through some 6-8" logs that were just a little too long for our small wood stove.

I must give credit where credit is due. The Oregon blade and bar are great. We finished off about 2/3 cord of wood and took turns cutting & positioning on the jig I had built to cut the long logs. The blade held up and is still sharp. My wife was able to handle the saw just as easily as I did. The only complain I have at this time is that I don't have an owner's manual and can't seem to find one online. The automatic oiler forr the bar oil puts just a little too much oil out and I need to back off on it a tad. I'll figure it out, but it would be much easier with an owner's manual.

IMHO, it's a great little homeowner's chainsaw. I wouldn't want to use it for professional use as it's power is limited until it gets up to full throttle. My gut feeling is that after being broken in (4-5 cords of wood), it'll be everything we expected. For $119, it does the job (so far) and I'm looking forward to cutting a lot more with it.

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ladywmj
Macomb, US
Jul 04, 2010 5:03 pm EDT

Wish I would have found this site earlier - bought a WEN 16" chain saw. used it once, but it in the shed. Went back to use and it was setting in a puddle of chain oil. Took to Menards - told me I had to take to Oneida to service center to be fixed. What crap... Will never buy from Menards whose sign says "Dedicated to Service and Quality" Ha Ha right - NOT!

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Skippy C Foreman
, US
Aug 10, 2018 1:30 pm EDT
Replying to comment of ladywmj

do you still have the saw if so would you like to get it off your hands thanks

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Rich221
Onsted, US
Jun 22, 2010 10:03 am EDT

Purchased the 42.2 cc version of same "lumberjack" saw from Menard's in Jackson, MI. Absolutely could not get it to start even though I carefully followed all the directions for starting in the owner's manual--used fresh gas etc. Worked on figuring out how to start it until 30 days ran out. Now am stuck with a pile of metal that doesn't work. Don't buy it!