I'd finally had it with my Ryobi 890 four stroke. It was a decent weedeater for the first 4-5 years of ownership. Decent power, decent on fuel, a bit heavy now that I've had something to really compare to. Started well too, That is when the carb wasn't giving a fit. I've tried stabil, running it empty, ect. It never failed if it sat unstarted for more than a few weeks I'd have to clean it out. Sometimes it would run well through half the yard then loose the upper 1/4 of its power. (Ran well until you pushed it past 3/4 throttle) I'd usually finish trimming at 3/4 or less throttle.
Well a few weeks ago I tried the usual stuff. My results weren't usual though. It would start and idle great. I must have cleaned the carb at least 3 times. There's something wrong other than trash. The primer bulb is new yet won't pump fuel. (bad check valve? or diaphragm) Who knows? Who cares! I wasn't going to spend anymore on fixing it! I was going to get what use I could without spending anything on it.
I scanned nearly every page of the small engine forum for posts of trimmer, weedwacker, weedeater, and such. And seen LOTS of posts mentioning Echo trimmers. Several posts about the SRM-210. I read up on it. Thought I'd like one a bit bigger but the 210 was in the price range I'd like to spend. I went to my local dealer. (one I didn't really like) Surprise, None in stock... In fact not one piece of Echo power equipment!
I've had issues, and several others that I know has as well with this dealer.
Road trip, Next town over. Dealer tells me the 210 was replaced with a redesigned unit. Eh... no thanks. It might be a great unit. I'll let someone else test the first 1000 or so.
Recommends I buy a SRM-230 instead... Only the county road department had bought 6 earlier that year and one of the guys had lost the air filter cover of one the day before I showed up. The only one he had was on his last SRM-230 in stock. He pulled the cover off the one on the floor and let them have it. (I guess if you have a customer that buys 6 $270 trimmers at a time you try to keep em going. I don't blame him, I'd have done the exact same!)
Granted I'm not having much luck at this point. Its late in the mowing season so I understand dealers not having 3-6 of each unit in stock. So I ask what the possibility of locating a 210 still in a warehouse or nearby dealer. He called his district rep and he was told no such luck. Rep hadn't seen one in several months. I thanked him and told him if I didn't find a 210 or 230 that day that I would be back for a 230 in a few days when his replacement filter cover was in.
Stopped in a nearby Home-Depot. And there was a refurb SRM-210 right up front! Marked down to $119. WoW! Snatched it up and took it home. This is been the absolute easiest starting trimmer I have ever seen! There wasn't much signs of use, scratched up but no real grass stains. Several screws on the engine showed some rust. (Left outside perhaps) Wonder why it was returned??? My 5 yo son can start it! Once warm you can slowly (I mean very slowly!) pull the rope out and it usually will light off on the second compression stroke.
I've always hated the smell and smoke of most 2 strokes. So I also done some poking about oil here in this forum. I bought some of that Mobil 1 2T. I have to say I can't tell the exhaust smell from a four stroke even with my nose right in the muffler! NO smoke at all at 50:1. Sometimes a short puff at cold start.
Well a few weeks ago I tried the usual stuff. My results weren't usual though. It would start and idle great. I must have cleaned the carb at least 3 times. There's something wrong other than trash. The primer bulb is new yet won't pump fuel. (bad check valve? or diaphragm) Who knows? Who cares! I wasn't going to spend anymore on fixing it! I was going to get what use I could without spending anything on it.
I scanned nearly every page of the small engine forum for posts of trimmer, weedwacker, weedeater, and such. And seen LOTS of posts mentioning Echo trimmers. Several posts about the SRM-210. I read up on it. Thought I'd like one a bit bigger but the 210 was in the price range I'd like to spend. I went to my local dealer. (one I didn't really like) Surprise, None in stock... In fact not one piece of Echo power equipment!
Road trip, Next town over. Dealer tells me the 210 was replaced with a redesigned unit. Eh... no thanks. It might be a great unit. I'll let someone else test the first 1000 or so.
Recommends I buy a SRM-230 instead... Only the county road department had bought 6 earlier that year and one of the guys had lost the air filter cover of one the day before I showed up. The only one he had was on his last SRM-230 in stock. He pulled the cover off the one on the floor and let them have it. (I guess if you have a customer that buys 6 $270 trimmers at a time you try to keep em going. I don't blame him, I'd have done the exact same!)
Granted I'm not having much luck at this point. Its late in the mowing season so I understand dealers not having 3-6 of each unit in stock. So I ask what the possibility of locating a 210 still in a warehouse or nearby dealer. He called his district rep and he was told no such luck. Rep hadn't seen one in several months. I thanked him and told him if I didn't find a 210 or 230 that day that I would be back for a 230 in a few days when his replacement filter cover was in.
Stopped in a nearby Home-Depot. And there was a refurb SRM-210 right up front! Marked down to $119. WoW! Snatched it up and took it home. This is been the absolute easiest starting trimmer I have ever seen! There wasn't much signs of use, scratched up but no real grass stains. Several screws on the engine showed some rust. (Left outside perhaps) Wonder why it was returned??? My 5 yo son can start it! Once warm you can slowly (I mean very slowly!) pull the rope out and it usually will light off on the second compression stroke.
I've always hated the smell and smoke of most 2 strokes. So I also done some poking about oil here in this forum. I bought some of that Mobil 1 2T. I have to say I can't tell the exhaust smell from a four stroke even with my nose right in the muffler! NO smoke at all at 50:1. Sometimes a short puff at cold start.
