Originally Posted By: Panzerman
Stihl 4 mix at about $369 v.s a typical two stroke for about $89(I think I paid $59, about 16 years ago) anyway Imagine how good a two stroke weedeater you could build for that much. The best two stroke, Ill go with Echo, is still almost $200 cheaper-get real. I dont think I will be ever trying one for that much change. Seriously more than $350 for a weedeater. I will just have to rely on my wits and deal with the two stroke. I was talking about the POS 4 strokes you buy v.s the POS two strokes you buy, two strokes win. Alot of quick affordable horsepower in a small package. Did I say simple too. You are talking about top of the line(and price). Play apples to apples and you lose everytime with a four stroke.
I understand your philosophy if you will and your NOT alone..
MANY peeps have similar thoughts and buy those $89.00 string trimmers. Only spending $89.00 is prolly a BIG consideration and may be the main reason they sell so well & the Box stores know that.. People LOVE CHEAP and many homeowners simply refuse to drop the $$ needed for quality equipment.. I spend a LOT of time taking care of a decent sized yard as well as my Folks place down the street.. If I can use a quality pc and it helps me to do a better job faster it gives me time to do other things and that reason alone makes the extra cost a good value in my mind.
Peeps LINE UP with them darn things wanting them repaired but it's often simply not cost effective to do so at $70.00 per hour.. If it's anything other then a Fuel line or spark plug your better off throwing it in the dumpster and buying another one. If you have gotten 16 years of use out of yours consider yourself fortunate, these units are designed to live for 50 hours and to be honest most of the time that's a stretch. I would have to add that your unit couldn't have seen any real usage. At least not like the use our trimmers see with our grass here in Florida. If you have any mechanical inclination at all you would LAUGH if you saw the INSIDE of that little Two stroke engine.. They are absolute junk, heck they don't even have a real con rod or bearings..
These little units are "OK" for very light use or for retired folks trimming around a flower bed but man they REALLY show their weaknesses when pushed as they run out of power quickly. Use a line with any diameter at all, or fill the spool all the way up and and they fail miserably. Many of them have the R/S (recoil starter assy) in the NOSE of the unit requiring almost complete dis-assembly to repair which is something I will never understand.
My hope is that someday you get a chance to try a REAL Trimmer (even a real 2-stroke) because I'm pretty certain you would smash that old trimmer with a hammer ifya did..
