So, after several years of owning a Weedeater trimmer, it’s time for a new unit. I’m tired of having to disassemble and clean the carb, tweeking the mixture screws and it’s annoying habit of hard starting. The FW agrees.
I’m looking for any brand recommendations, maybe why you chose it over the others and how it’s been performing for you.
Equally important, any brands to stay away from.
Any help is appreciated,
thanks,
Don
stihl straight shaft!!! had mine for a few years now and love it!! thin k it was $199 I little more than usual units but you can actually work on it if need be, not just throw it away and get another
I have two Ryobi’s and one is very old (21 years). Still works. It’s now at the cabin.
Just bought a Stihl trimmer – started on the first pull. Replaced my old (another brand) trimmer that required pouring fuel into the carb to start and multiple pulls to get it going.
bestfishes – jim
I switched over to a lithium model. It’s Lowes brand, Kobalt. Very powerful and no engine to dink around with. I’m gonna buy the blower that runs on the same battery.
Just grab it and pull the trigger.
I have a Stihl combi unit. You can multiple attachments to fit one engine unit. I have string trimmer, blade trimmer, blower, edger, and extension limb trimmer. Gas never gets old because you use different units all the time.
How much string trimming do you do?
For the average city/suburban home, I’d tend to favor the battery pack powered LI units. If trouble free is the goal, you can’t get any more trouble free than these units and they have plenty of juice for even a larger yard’s trimming requirements. Put on the battery pack and pull the trigger.
If you trim a very large yard or have to go “off road” by keeping down ditches or other tall grass areas, you’re going to be better off with a quality gas trimmer.
Personally, I cannot recommend Stihl. I, too, got sucked in by the “legendary German quality” and I haven’t been impressed. My last 2 Stihl machines, failed completely and required dealer service, both before they were 6 months old. The blower had a cracked seat in the carb requiring a month long wait for a new carb. The straight shaft brushcutter became very hard to start despite running non-ox with Stihl brand oil and that allegedly has stabilizer in it.
If you do buy Stihl, be aware that there is for all practical purposes no warranty on Stihl machines nowadays. There is an exception in the warranty that excludes “fuel-system related problems”. Of course as we all know, almost any failure can be blamed on “bad fuel” so the customer will be on the hook for most repairs even for new machines. I had to pay $75 to get my $900 Stihl trimmer/brushcutter fixed even though it was 6 months into the 3 year extended warranty. Nice! These are personal use machines, not commercial, and both were high-end models, not the bottom end of the line.
I’ve had much better service from Husqvarna and Echo trimmers. If I were to buy now, I’d buy an Echo like my father has. Extremely light, straight shaft, huge amounts of power, and starts in 2 pulls from stone cold. Although I don’t recommend this, my father doesn’t even drain the fuel in the winter.
Grouse
I have a Shindaiwa that I have owned for at least 15 years that has been flawless. Tons of power and always starts, and haven’t had to replace anything yet. I haven’t tried to start it yet this year. Probably just jinxed myself now.
I have a snapper model that has been running for 23 years now but I think it’s not going to last a lot longer. Last year I picked up a new Tonaka and have been very impressed with it so far. This starts easily and runs smooth.
Dave
My Stihl has been used and abused for 4 years and has been bullet proof. Starts every time and mows down just about anything. I have not had to fix anything so haven’t had the same experience as grouse regarding the warranty. If they are truly doing that, its a good way to lose a lot of customers to echo.
We have Stihl FS45 trimmers were I work that are used daily during the summer months with no real issues. These units are used by high school and college students and you know how they will use(abuse) stuff.
My Stihl has been used and abused for 4 years and has been bullet proof. Starts every time and mows down just about anything. I have not had to fix anything so haven’t had the same experience as grouse regarding the warranty. If they are truly doing that, its a good way to lose a lot of customers to echo.
My Stihl servicing deal was absolutely adamant on this point. No “fuel system problems” are covered by warranty.
It made no difference to him that I had purchased the most expensive trimmer / brushcutter they carried in stock. I still had to pay $75+ tax to get a 6 month old $900 machine with a 3 year warranty fixed.
I was doubly mad at this situation because I had gone in to buy an Echo, but they didn’t have the model I wanted. So I let myself be talked into the legendary German quality and got screwed again.
Grouse
Stihl straight shaft. Owned a lawn care company 10 years ago. Still got one of those and still rocking strong.
I used to have to work on my carbs a lot as well.
After I went to non-oxygenated fuel and maintenance levels of Stabil.
Can’t remember the last carb tweaking I needed to do. years.
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