[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Recommend a string trimmer (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 4/14/2010 9:01:44 AM EDT
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My POS electric Weed Eater died again, and I've run out of parts to scavenge off of the previous POS electric Weed Eater. Having learned my lesson, I need to buy a decent trimmer, preferably gas. So far all I really know about them is that:
1) Curved shaft is more comfortable, straight shaft is more powerful and reliable 2) 4 stroke is much better than 2 stroke (more power, more efficient, regular gas), but prices reflect this 3) Local stores mostly stock Poulan/Troy Built's on the low end, Husqvarna middle, and Honda as highend/commercial grade. My yard isn't huge but I have a lot of wire fence that eats string quickly and some very tenacious, woody weeds that take some chopping to knock down. That's it, recommend away. |
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Quoted: My POS electric Weed Eater died again, and I've run out of parts to scavenge off of the previous POS electric Weed Eater. Having learned my lesson, I need to buy a decent trimmer, preferably gas. So far all I really know about them is that: 1) Curved shaft is more comfortable, straight shaft is more powerful and reliable 2) 4 stroke is much better than 2 stroke (more power, more efficient, regular gas), but prices reflect this 3) Local stores mostly stock Poulan/Troy Built's on the low end, Husqvarna middle, and Honda as highend/commercial grade. My yard isn't huge but I have a lot of wire fence that eats string quickly and some very tenacious, woody weeds that take some chopping to knock down. That's it, recommend away. I bought a reman from Northern Tools 3 years ago for $19.00...it works... |
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I have a troy built gas 4 cycle with electric start. The electric start is a motor you stick on the gas motor and push a button to start. Runs great and it has mutiple tool heads to give the weed eater more versatillity. The differnt tool heads are a cultivator, blower, strait cut head and chain saw.
154 buck on sale at Lowes. |
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I had a Craftsman that was pretty decent, but as everyone has mentioned, get the straight shaft. I had the curved one and it sucked. You feel like the string is whipping around right in front of your feet. There's a reason all the yard guys use the straight ones.
Somewhere back in the archives there's a "I weed whipped my leg" thread from several years back, I still have the scar from that... |
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I have Toro and it works fine. It is two stroke but i just keep a 1 gallon can and use up all the gas/oil mixture and then fill it up and use one of the small bottles. So no worrying about the mixture ratio.
I wanted to buy a Echo but for the straight shaft model with the ability to change attachments it was double the cost of the Toro. Since I don't have a huge yard and only use the weedeater once a week or less I didn't feel like paying double for something that will last me several years anyway. I'm going on 3 years now with zero problems. It starts easily and has decent power. My only real complaint is restringiing the spool is a PITA. I already had an edger attachment from my old Ryobi and it's the same one the Toros, Troy builts, etc all use so it worked with my new weedeater. It's certainly no commercial quality unit like Echo but it works well. |
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I can tell you what not to buy-a Ryobi straight shaft. Well not unless refill it each use with super fresh gas or like to rebuild carbs Mine won't stay running after 5 yrs. Sucks cause I got a number of those EZ attachments to Gonna be looking for a stihl or echo (which ever takes the attachments) |
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Quoted:
I can tell you what not to buy-a Ryobi straight shaft. Well not unless refill it each use with super fresh gas or like to rebuild carbs Mine won't stay running after 5 yrs. Sucks cause I got a number of those EZ attachments to Gonna be looking for a stihl or echo (which ever takes the attachments) My Ryobi leaf blower works ok after 2 seasons but with all gasoline engines, try to start it up once a month and use Stabil in the gas for long term storage. On a mower, close the fuel valve towards the end of your work to drain the carb. I hated absolutely HATED my Troy-Built 2 cycle but the 4 cycle is much better. Still takes a while to get started but not as bad and I can actually use the 3rd position on the choke, or off position. I had to leave the 2 cycle on 2 and it smoked during use. |
Freaking garbage.
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Quoted:
I have a Toro 725cs,but cannot for the life of me figure out how to respool it.It is great with a sling and has a lot of optional attachments.Be sure to use commercial string;don't skimp on that. I had the same problem with mine. Turns out I was just really stupid. Look at yours and see if it works like this: insert the replacement string line into one side of string head, pull the line through the string head to the middle point (make sure there is equal lengths of line out both sides), and turn the yellow dial to wind the string up. |
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This one
I have one, I had a Poulan and a Bolens before, if I ever need another trimmer it will be another Stihl. I will own nothing but Stihl power products ever again, ever since I started buying them I don't dread yard work nearly as much. Compared to the crap brands that are sold elsewhere the Stihl tools are more like appliances, they work, no muss, no fuss, no drama. Believe it or not when you use Stihl products you spend more time using the tool than tinkering with it. The most important part of buying Stihl is to find a good dealer, I buy all of mine from Pennington Power Products on Lumpkin Road, and if you live within a hundred miles do the same. The dealer I buy from has very competitive prices, and their support is the best I have ever even heard of, they are what a small family owned business is supposed to be. |
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Stihl, Husqvarna, or Echo. In my opinion you can't go wrong with either.
I have a husqvarna myself for about 5 or 6 years now. After not being used all winter even with last years fuel in it: 1. Put on full choke and pull once 2. Put on half choke and it starts. 3. Turn off choke and bump throttle. Runs like new. Just fyi it is commercial grade straight shaft. If i am correct I think i paid about $300 including tax for it at lowe's. |
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Echo for the Ultimate win.
TWENTY years ago, I bought a used Echo straight shaft from my father- in-law, who did lawns on the side and was upgrading to larger Echo's. I think it was about five years old when I got it from him. The only thing I have ever replaced, other than the string, was the head; it finally cracked after years of slamming it into the ground to feed out line. I have never replaced the spark plug, and it cranks up quick after sitting in the outbuilding all winter. I paid $100.00 for it in 1990; best money I have ever spent on a yard tool. I'm gonna cry like a bitch when it finally goes tit's-up. I would get another one in a second, and recommend them to anyone looking for a GOOD weed-eater. You might say Echo is the "Colt" of weed-eaters. |
| We have 5 Echo trimmers with the oldest being about 16 years old. When the fuel line isn't cracked and leaking it runs great and still starts on the first pull. The others range from 12-5 years old and all of them run excellent and start on the first pull. We would only have 3 ( one for the house and 2 for the farm) but when we closed an acct with a local farm supply house we had a lot of $ credited on our acct still so we picked up a few more trimmers and chainsaws and an extra blower. They are the best we have ran and I would say the same quality as the stihls, even though I prefer the stihl chainsaw a hair bit more. I LOVE Echo and have never had a bit of trouble with anything echo brand. |
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Quoted: I'll go against the grain and suggest CURVED shaft. There. I said it. I find them more comfortable to wield, and the cable has lasted for 8 years in my $99 Craftsman. It starts in the second or third pull every time. you must be about 5'10" I am 6'6" and mow 6 yards as a part time job I could not stand up at the end of a days mowing if using a curved shaft trimmer |
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Quoted: I'll go against the grain and suggest CURVED shaft. There. I said it. I find them more comfortable to wield, and the cable has lasted for 8 years in my $99 Craftsman. It starts in the second or third pull every time. I'm going to agree with you. I worked for a commercial lawn care business for several years as a teenager. Used a curved shaft Homelite, and later a curved shaft John Deere string trimmer. Neither gave me problems, and they're so light you can wield them with one hand if necessary. Straight shaft for home use is probably over kill. Sure, you'll probably never have to buy another one, but chances are something else will go wrong long before the benefits of straight vs. curved shaft are realized. If you're going to be mowing down acres of swamp grass with this thing, then a straight shaft may be a better choice. If you're just putzing around the estate on a Saturday afternoon, a curved shaft should do fine.
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