Buying a new String Trimmer
- Thread starter NETWizz
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I bet 0.095" string is the maximum recommended or even fittable into the head of that thing. Drag is the deal breaker with something like that. As for grass being hard on the string... it's not the grass but rather everything else that gets in the way while trimming. Surely to goodness we've been edging and doing lawn work long enough to know what is detrimental to our equipment.
Stihl fs-91R or the next model up. I know a fww on here look down on Stihl but ive had great results with mine. Last weekend I finally needed a new bump head and nut. The Stihl associate found me an upgraded quick feed head. Now I'm mechanically inclined but have never used one. He took five minutes and grabbed a similar trimmer to what I have and showed me how to use it. Most places would've just said "read the manual ". Little things like this is why I'd buy another one tomorrow.
It fits. I’m hard on mine - 3 heads in 5 years.
Yeah I see what some people to do 4x4's and trees etc with string
People grossly underestimate the power in a 5 Ah 80V battery is all I am saying, I can tell your disdain for battery whackers the way you type. I get it, you're a pro and you have your bias. Me? Seems stupid to have a gas powered weed whacker.
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I can adjust the carburetor on my Echo. I just remove the cover plugs from over the adjustment screws.
Not sure. I purchased it at Costco about two years ago for around $200. It’s not a bad unit just an awkward and bulky head that is slow to accelerate. Also to get it to feed line, you have to bash it crazy hard against the ground. It’s basically a very, very bad clone of the Echo Speed Feed 400 only thicker and does not really work.
When you bash it into the ground hard enough to feed line, it stays depressed and to get it to pop out you need to stop and yank on it or pry it wirh a flat blade screw driver. Adding line you basically need to step on it applying maybe 120+ lbs of force to depress it, then turn it until the marks align. At that point eventually wirhin a half dozen tries the line goes around and through and can be wound up.
Other than that it just weighs probably what a 30 CC gas unit does wirh the power of 75% that if a 20 CC unit. In short it works, but I would not buy it again.
I called the company and they told me everything I am saying is normal but that the head cannot be changed. I was just going to swap,it wirh an Echo Speed Feed
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Honda HHT35, HHT25, or the Makita MM4 25cc trimmer. All four-stroke -- I believe the Makita runs a robin engine.
Might be a bit hard to find, but they run exceptionally well, and they last forever. SO easy to start. Also seem to never have issues.
I run a HHT35, and it's over a decade old -- probably closer to 15 years old; Never given me any trouble. While there are some 2-stroke units nowadays that have a little more power than mine, it has plenty of power for everything I've thrown at it. I recently switched over to rotary scissors on this unit and it's a perfect combo.
I agree the 4 stroke units with oil sump and no pre-mix fuel are great but are no longer being made. The 4 stroke powered units with a oil sump like the Honda, Makita MM4, and the Husqvarna 324L (with the Honda 25cc GX engine) are my first choice but when looking a few month ago to add a unit for my son, none of those are still being produced. Leftover Honda 25cc and 35cc Versa attach Power heads are still available some places but I could not find the line trimmer attachment except for a aftermarket brand that I did not feel was worth buying on amazon. The Honda Dealer suggested going Stihl since he has no way to get the attachments.to sell with his one remaining powerhead.
Stihl continues to makes 4 cycle units (used to marketed as 4Mix) that require mixing 2 cycle oil into the gas at 50:1. I believe they have the early issues worked out since they have iirc been in production close to 20 years. The commercial powerhead units (KM91R, KM111R, and KM131R) are fairly reliable from the commercial users I know. I see them used often and the other comment the owners make is that the exhaust note being 4 stroke is less offensive to many of their customers.
I wanted the ability to use the different Stihl attachements (line trimmer, blade edger, bed re-definers, pole saw) so went with a Stihl KM131R powerhead. So far it has shown good power and great low end torque which is what I wanted since I usually do most of my weekly line trimming at lower RPMs to avoid throwing grass debris into mulched areas and on me. The KM131R we purchased has 1.9 bHP and is the same weight as the lower displacement versions. It has a MSPR of $529.99 but have seen some stores showing it for $499.00 and if you go online and select authorized dealer based on your postal code Stihl offers 5 percent off order code. Dealer said that was fine to go that route to order on line and pick up in their store)
Someday I would like to go battery power but the commercial batteries are very expensive. With the Stihl System I can always move into the KMA135R or KMA200R battery power heads and keep my attachments in the future.
That said my most favored line trimmer for light grass trimming is the Husqvarna 324L with the 25cc Honda 4 stroke engine. Lighter than the Honda units with the same great engine. 2.7 ounces of 05W-40 HDEO and about 90 minutes run time per tank for my application. We have three total with the oldest around 5 years old and estimated 100 hours per year use. No adding oil between 50 hour oil changes.
I have two Echo trimmers. I bought a Milwaukee M18 battery trimmer a year ago and the Echo trimmers just sit. I prefer the battery powered trimmer. My lot is four lots, so it’s about an acre. Battery is the way to go.
True story- Hurricane Ian, cat4/5, ripped all the tops off the oak trees and left a HUGE mess in my yard. Tree companies were quoting something like $15,000 to clean it all up. I have a 16” gas powered Echo chainsaw and a Ryobi 10” 18V battery chainsaw. I used the battery saws to clean it ALL up. I used the Echo saw to make perhaps 5 cuts. And then used the battery saw for the rest. I ran that Ryobi saw for 4 straight 8-10 hour days and it chugged along perfectly.
Battery lawn tools are really the way to go for an average homeowner.
If you already have Dewalt, Ryobi, Makita, or Milwaukee, etc tool batteries I would highly recommend looking at the battery powered weed trimmers.
True story- Hurricane Ian, cat4/5, ripped all the tops off the oak trees and left a HUGE mess in my yard. Tree companies were quoting something like $15,000 to clean it all up. I have a 16” gas powered Echo chainsaw and a Ryobi 10” 18V battery chainsaw. I used the battery saws to clean it ALL up. I used the Echo saw to make perhaps 5 cuts. And then used the battery saw for the rest. I ran that Ryobi saw for 4 straight 8-10 hour days and it chugged along perfectly.
Battery lawn tools are really the way to go for an average homeowner.
If you already have Dewalt, Ryobi, Makita, or Milwaukee, etc tool batteries I would highly recommend looking at the battery powered weed trimmers.
Never seen the hondas in the wild. I'm sure they are awesome.
The MM4 Makita 25 is really sweet and of course the attachments all fit with every powerhead from the 18/36 & 40V so if the OP venture into battery power you can use the same attachments.
I'm 3 years into a MM4 52CC(?) backpack blower and the thing starts and runs like a boss - the wife has no problem starting and handling it.
Unlike Stihl, Husky or Echo, or even Muruyama, if OP goes the makita direction hed have hundreds of tools available.
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It doesn't just screw on? String heads are pretty universal, there are a few different thread sizes and left-hand vs. right hand rotation.
Another SRM-225 fan. That said, mine doesn’t get much use anymore since I switched to Echo’s 56V trimmer about 7 years ago. One battery is able to do all the trimming my 2 acre yard needs and it s has Echo’s exceptional feed head.
Had a Stihl trimmer which did a good job, but have switched to battery powered. Gave the Stihl to my son. I bought into the Ryobi 40v ecosystem quite a few years ago now, starting with their mower. Now everything is Ryobi 40v except for a 3600psi pressure washer, although you can get them battery powered now, also. Their string trimmer is okay, adding edger and power broom attachments. Convenience goes a long way with it.
If I was starting new into the battery world, I'd buy into Milwaukee's 18v ecosystem, although more recent reviews are not as positive as they used to be for Milwaukee in general. I've had good luck with all of mine... so far. Your mileage may vary.
If I was starting new into the battery world, I'd buy into Milwaukee's 18v ecosystem, although more recent reviews are not as positive as they used to be for Milwaukee in general. I've had good luck with all of mine... so far. Your mileage may vary.
I have a Makita 4 cycle leaf blower that I absolutely love. It starts so easy, and runs great.
Paid a fair bit of money for a Dewalt electric weed whacker, and the speed controller died under warranty. Got it fixed, only to have it die after a few more years. It seemed that every time I needed it, the battery was low, also. My bad. But I don't want batteries on the charger in the garage overnight. A guy on a different forum burned down his garage that way.
About a year ago, I couldn't find a Makita 4 cycle weed whacker, so I bought a Honda UMC425LAAT VersaAttach power head. Bought the string trimmer and edger attachments to go with it. Believe it or not, but the Honda doesn't start as easily as the Makita, but it's not too bad. With the string trimmer head, the Honda is heavy and cumbersome. The Echo 2620T is much lighter and easy to use in comparison, so the Honda is demoted to edging use only at this point.
Paid a fair bit of money for a Dewalt electric weed whacker, and the speed controller died under warranty. Got it fixed, only to have it die after a few more years. It seemed that every time I needed it, the battery was low, also. My bad. But I don't want batteries on the charger in the garage overnight. A guy on a different forum burned down his garage that way.
About a year ago, I couldn't find a Makita 4 cycle weed whacker, so I bought a Honda UMC425LAAT VersaAttach power head. Bought the string trimmer and edger attachments to go with it. Believe it or not, but the Honda doesn't start as easily as the Makita, but it's not too bad. With the string trimmer head, the Honda is heavy and cumbersome. The Echo 2620T is much lighter and easy to use in comparison, so the Honda is demoted to edging use only at this point.
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Great leaf blower, I have the Dolmar version of it and due to my ridiculous OCD it gets abused almost daily!
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Maruyama Quick Connect is the best and I've used all the Combi systems from every major player.
https://maruyama-us.com/product-category/multi-cutter-systems/
https://maruyama-us.com/product-category/multi-cutter-systems/
I put a speed feed 400 head on it.
Thread drift alert....
What's everyone's favorite string? I've been loving my new Echo 2620T, which comes with .095 Black Diamond string, and it seems to be pretty durable. On the Echo website they state that their Cross Fire string is the most popular. I suspect it doesn't matter a whole lot, but feel free to share your opinion...
What's everyone's favorite string? I've been loving my new Echo 2620T, which comes with .095 Black Diamond string, and it seems to be pretty durable. On the Echo website they state that their Cross Fire string is the most popular. I suspect it doesn't matter a whole lot, but feel free to share your opinion...
I am pretty sure the Costco units are made specifically for a price point. I have read this, at least. Different models maybe explains why I am pleased with mine. Wife bought the 80V stick blower at Costco and I notice the online units are different, and of course this model is weak compared to the 80V Greenworks Backpack blower which is a monster with the 5Ah battery on my back. Really blows!!
Great questions. Seems as if I find a brand I like, then it changes next buy.
Crossfire .095 string has been fairly decent.
Arnold .105 not bad.
Good old Oregon green .080 is my go to .080". Better than that MaxPower junk
I think freshness counts! Old hot dry stored string gets brittle.
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