Try running RC car glow engine fuel through it (nitro methane/methonal mix). It'll have some serious balls.quote:
Originally posted by 04SpecV:
I got a Stihl FS 80 last year. It kicks butt. It started on the first pull after sitting all winter. I think it has a bit too much power for my needs, though. We have some cheap one. I didn't realize a smaller cc motor could have that much more power
First gas weed trimmer, what a piece of junk!
- Thread starter drive it forever
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Drive it forever, here iis quality trimmer for the price you are going to pay for that troybuilt AKA MTD boatanchor. This one will have way more power and will be lighter to boot.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4302109452&category=71277#ebayphotohosting
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4302109452&category=71277#ebayphotohosting
I bought a huskey 325 "I think I use it for the lawn and to trim 2,000 feet of fence line along an irrigation ditch and 2 acres of weeds in the spring ,the horses won't eat, the motor starts after sitting all winter "around 4 months" on the first or second pull . during the summer when trimming around the lawn the only time is when it doesn't start on the first pull is when I forget to turn the igniton on of the choke.
I had a cheap Weedeater trimmer and small Mac chain saw but replaced them both with commercial Stihl equipment. I live on five acres out in the woods and run my OPE for hours in end....
There is no comparision in the engineering and servicability of these commercial products, compared to cheap consumer stuff. The Stihls are easily serviced in the field; they run much longer on a tank of fuel and they have tons more power.
Tooslick
There is no comparision in the engineering and servicability of these commercial products, compared to cheap consumer stuff. The Stihls are easily serviced in the field; they run much longer on a tank of fuel and they have tons more power.
Tooslick
drive it forever:
Blano offered a good option. I have two Kawasaki trimmers. Very nice, powerful and well built.
good luck
Blano offered a good option. I have two Kawasaki trimmers. Very nice, powerful and well built.
good luck
If you are going fourstroke for reasons of exhaust smell, smoke and fuel economy. Why not go for a lighter, more powerful Redmax startocharged two cycle, or a Stihl fourmix? Both are oderless and are better on fuel than a comparable four stroke. They are also light er to boot.
There are a couple Redmax stratos on Ebay right now for a very reasonable price.
There are a couple Redmax stratos on Ebay right now for a very reasonable price.
I've never tried one, but I cannot imagine a 4 cycle trimmer/chainsaw/blower to be nearly as light or as powerful as a quality 2 cycle. Too many parts, not enough power strokes...
I have an OLD Ryan trimmer that a coworker gave me because it didn't run. I got it running and it's a HORSE! It also has a blade attachment on it. It needs a lot more work before it sees daily duty though.
My daily-use trimmer is an ages-old Weed Eater brand. I've never had a Poulan product to treat me bad. This Weed Eater is at least a decade old. It's a GTI15 model -- they don't even make it anymore. It's so old, it's not even on their website, or in their database for user manuals, parts lists, etc.
You do get what you pay for, but that Featherlite trimmer SHOULD run right. Obviously, if they all ran like that, they wouldn't sell any of them. If you can't get it to run right, exchange it for a new one. If you only spent 100 bucks for it, you probably weren't comfortable spending any more for a "nicer" one. I'd do exactly the same thing. If my Weed Eater ever dies, I'll replace it with another Poulan product. True, they're not commercial quality, but they should last you decades if well-maintained and used in a residential environment.
My daily-use trimmer is an ages-old Weed Eater brand. I've never had a Poulan product to treat me bad. This Weed Eater is at least a decade old. It's a GTI15 model -- they don't even make it anymore. It's so old, it's not even on their website, or in their database for user manuals, parts lists, etc.
You do get what you pay for, but that Featherlite trimmer SHOULD run right. Obviously, if they all ran like that, they wouldn't sell any of them. If you can't get it to run right, exchange it for a new one. If you only spent 100 bucks for it, you probably weren't comfortable spending any more for a "nicer" one. I'd do exactly the same thing. If my Weed Eater ever dies, I'll replace it with another Poulan product. True, they're not commercial quality, but they should last you decades if well-maintained and used in a residential environment.
I guess I'm lucky (knocking on skull) with the cheap Craftsman trimmer I have.
The 23cc engine starts easily; press the prime bulb five or six times, full choke/full throttle...two pulls and it burps. Go to half choke/full throttle and it fires up on the first pull. Open the choke after 10 seconds or so and it'll idle all day. No bog when going to WFO either.
And this is a CA spec'ed engine. Must be the synthetic Craftsman brand oil I use.
The 23cc engine starts easily; press the prime bulb five or six times, full choke/full throttle...two pulls and it burps. Go to half choke/full throttle and it fires up on the first pull. Open the choke after 10 seconds or so and it'll idle all day. No bog when going to WFO either.
And this is a CA spec'ed engine. Must be the synthetic Craftsman brand oil I use.
That's pretty much how mine starts too, although interestingly, mine doesn't have a primer bulb. Full choke and full throttle for two pulls. Then half choke and full throttle and it fires. Let it run for 10 seconds to warm up, open the choke fully, and get to work. I don't know how big the engine is in it. The GTI models are so old, I can't really find any product information on them! I imagine it's in the 18-25 cc range, although I have no way of finding out for sure. Anyone happen to have a manual or other product information for an old Weed Eater GTI model?
I have an old Ryobi trimmer I inhereted that works great. I even store it outside all winter, just kept the gas tank full (and has some FP and LC in there too).
3 pumps on the prime bulb, 2 pulls on full choke/throttle, one pull on no choke/full throttle, and she's going. I think it's 31 or 32cc, curved shaft, used to have a blade attachment, long since lost. The model is discontinued.
The funny thing is I won't even use a gallon of gas in it all summer my yard is so small.
My father has a 25cc Weed Eater that is much more difficult to start than my old Ryobi, but runs like a scalded cat when it does.
3 pumps on the prime bulb, 2 pulls on full choke/throttle, one pull on no choke/full throttle, and she's going. I think it's 31 or 32cc, curved shaft, used to have a blade attachment, long since lost. The model is discontinued.
The funny thing is I won't even use a gallon of gas in it all summer my yard is so small.
My father has a 25cc Weed Eater that is much more difficult to start than my old Ryobi, but runs like a scalded cat when it does.
ive gone through two weedeaters before settling on my third one, a huskvarna 123l
the first one....was a joke. a cordless weed eater from black and decker. I cant even begin to explain how much of a pos this thing was...after one year, i could barly trim air.
the second was from home depot. One of the cheaper models, but i thought it was good. ANyways, the thing ran liek ****, but was 100x better then the **** corldess on ei had. I was having starting problems and returned it. I decided to check of Antlers ( a small yard equipment shop) and they recommended that if i wanted anythign that would last me more then 3 years, to go with a full crank weedeater. i bought the cheapest thing they had their, the huskvarna 123l. Full crank, and has 0.65 hp @ 7,900 rpms i believ and redlien at 10,500. Best part is, its a small shop and they know exactly what they are doing. Plus they do a final carb adjustment after 6 tanks of gas to get everyhtign running properly.
I would not watse your time and just shell over the cash and get a good two stroke weedeater from a smaller local shop. Youll get amazing customer service and youll have a machine that lasts.
the first one....was a joke. a cordless weed eater from black and decker. I cant even begin to explain how much of a pos this thing was...after one year, i could barly trim air.
the second was from home depot. One of the cheaper models, but i thought it was good. ANyways, the thing ran liek ****, but was 100x better then the **** corldess on ei had. I was having starting problems and returned it. I decided to check of Antlers ( a small yard equipment shop) and they recommended that if i wanted anythign that would last me more then 3 years, to go with a full crank weedeater. i bought the cheapest thing they had their, the huskvarna 123l. Full crank, and has 0.65 hp @ 7,900 rpms i believ and redlien at 10,500. Best part is, its a small shop and they know exactly what they are doing. Plus they do a final carb adjustment after 6 tanks of gas to get everyhtign running properly.
I would not watse your time and just shell over the cash and get a good two stroke weedeater from a smaller local shop. Youll get amazing customer service and youll have a machine that lasts.
I've had the same experience as paulo57509 -
My inexpensive Craftsman 2 stroke trimmer starts on the 2nd pull and runs great at all rpms. I use the Craftsman brand syn 2 stroke oil. It does vibrate quite a bit so I ziptied foam motorcycle handlebar grips on it - problem solved!
My inexpensive Craftsman 2 stroke trimmer starts on the 2nd pull and runs great at all rpms. I use the Craftsman brand syn 2 stroke oil. It does vibrate quite a bit so I ziptied foam motorcycle handlebar grips on it - problem solved!
I have to retract my good comments about my cheap Homelite trimmer. The recoil spring is broken and it doesn't have more than 4 hours use. I should have known better and bought an Echo.
Stihl FS80. I'll be the third to specifically mention this model. I actually trim every week now to get my "fix".
Happy trimming,
Jack
Happy trimming,
Jack
I went thru the same sequence from electric to cordless to cheap Weedeater from Walmart. If I had bought a quality Brand instead of the last two items, would not only have saved money but also a lot of swearing and frustration. I haven't thrown the Weedeater out yet but start it with ether and run it on half choke all the time. It dies at idle and the only adjustment is idle speed.
I have a Ryan trimmer and it always starts and runs. I have also bought Both a 230 and a 260 Shindaiwa and have never been happier. The pro stuff is just built better and well worth the extra cost. I run premiun gas and "Mobil One MX2T" or as it is now called "Racing 2T" at 32 to 1 and they love it. I also have Stihl saws and a echo hedge trimmer and pole pruner.
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