No complaints

I needed a pruner and was trying to avoid yet another gas engine. The Poulan 810EPT seems to be a good contraption for the money. I was concerned that it might be underpowered but I have used it to cut limbs as big around as a grapefruit {about 5"} with no difficulty; it will likely cut a limb several inches larger. It cuts fast. My only concern with it is that, when you take it apart, have it on a flat surface like the ground or a bench because it is so long that it is hard to control when it comes apart as there is weight on both ends.

THIS POLE PRUNER IS THE REAL DEAL!

We bought a cordless Black and Decker pole pruner which initially was very good while the battery lasted. I'm retired, but not that retired! And also not that patient! Having to recharge the battery after approx 15 cuts through hard wood, we soon realized we would need a corded electric or gas. ^M
^M
After reading all the good and especially bad comments about the Remington and McCullough I decided to look at one locally. I could see that the safety switch combination would be an irritation for my wife with gloves on. We looked at a Ryobi gas, but at 16 pounds, and my wife asking if she had to pull anything, that was out. I happened to find the Poulan listed without any reviews that I could find anywhere. Were the Poulan 810 users so happy and busy cutting tree limbs they didn't have time to comment? I was almost ready to spend more for a gas commercial pruner at much more money and noise. What I really wanted was a real pruner, preferably electric. AND nothing to pull to make it go.^M
^M
When I looked at the Poulan's shipping weight of 21 pounds, I was initially turned off. However, I discovered that a string trimmer attachment, lube oil and tools, also came with the product so that was the extra weight and a surprise bonus. The unit itself is actually only 8-10 pounds. ^M
^M
When I unpacked the Poulan 810, and inspected the product I was surprised at the quality. My first impression was that this product was made by a chain saw outfit. The chain actually has a roller nose in the tip, little holes for pumping in lube, and a standard chain saw type chain and bar assembly. The pruner came with the chain properly tightened. It is interesting that the chain has less teeth than other electric chain saws. The lack of teeth is compensated for by the high speed of the saw. ^M
The oil reservoir has a cap that fits tight. The power switch does not have a safety so caution is called for. The motor makes some noise due to its high speed, so those midnight pruning sessions are definitely out. The metal tube/shaft that connects the chain head to the power assembly goes together well. There is almost no flexing of the tube. Wife says electric motor is noisy. ^M
^M
I initially made the mistake of telling my wife that this was a great product and how we should use it. After I hooked it up and plugged it in ready to go under the trees, I went into the house to get something. Darn, she got the first cuts! I could hear the whirring of the motor. The tree took a couple of bad initial hits. Oh well, its a hawthorne tree, it will more than recover. This baby is way to easy to use! ^M
^M
We both used the chain saw all afternoon. I frequently checked the chain and other parts for tightness and no adjustment was needed. It was very fast cutting. The pruner was very easy to use from the ground, a ladder and a step ladder. The chain lubricator metered out the lube at a good rate. For those that care, the oil cap stayed on tight. The chain worked flawlessly and required to further tightening. ^M
^M
The negatives: no safety trigger lockout and a protective scabbard for the chain.^M
^M
If the Remington and other pruners get 5 stars, the Poulan should get 9 stars. There really is no comparison in the $100 consumer use market.