Well actually my dad is...
His considerations:
- residential use, home plus a cottage
- no brushcutting, but he will be cleaning up a ravine behind his house a couple of times a year which doesn't get mowed and have some more "wild" grass
- he's sold on a split machine - partially because he thinks it'll be easier to transport in the car to the cottage, partially because he's jazzed about "attachments" (even though I don't think he will use anything more than a string often enough to justify the cost of said attachments), and he likes toys.
- he's got solid steel shaft on the brain
- gas powered (duh)
- quality product, reliable, parts availability, serviceable not discard, solid performance
- he likes warranties and Echo has a great one for consumers
- he's probably into bump-feed line
- dealer locations reasonably close to home and cottage for parts (nothing you guys can help with)
My added considerations:
- dual string for balance and lack of vibration
- clutch
- good weight and balance
- *** adjustable carb if at all possible *** we are not under EPA/California restrictions
I have a 2003 Echo SRM-210 he's used a couple of times so he's starting looking with Echo. The SRM-210 had more than enough power for everything he tried to do when he borrowed it, but brochures call out to him how he needs more power.
I also pointed him to look at:
- Stihl
- Redmax
- Shindaiwa
Stihl and Shindaiwa are pushing a four stroke technology that runs on pre-mix for lubrication with no oil sump. I would assume these are heavier, more complex, more failure prone, and the long-term prognosis is unknown. The machines he's eyeing all seem to have this technology but I don't know that I trust it.
I threw Redmax in the list because of murmurs here and another forum which led me to believe I would have been happier with a Redmax myself, had I known they existed when I bought my Echo. Now that I'm running on better two-stroke oil (Amsoil Saber) and have the starting trick figured out I'm happier, but it still doesn't run as well as others I've seen pros use. It would likely be better with a real adjustable carb.
I seem to recall reading a message somewhere, maybe not here, talking about different engines in the Stihl lineup and some being outsourced or of significantly lower quality but with the Stihl badge slapped on it like it's the same thing. Am I dreaming? Any models to avoid?
Any serious considerations on who has the most options and best-performing options in the add-ons for the split machines? Stihl has the most impressive looking accessory catalog (multiple kinds of edgers, blower, a bed edger (scoops dirt) etc....)
I perfectly understand that any of them will be "fine" and probably overkill for a homeowner, but several of them are all in the same price ballpark and if coughing up the bucks I'd like to know more than just what the glossies say. For instance, maybe all the brochures will say steel shaft, but they won't say how many bearings support that shaft. Someone here may know and this would be key to longevity and comfort in the long run.
Thanks!
His considerations:
- residential use, home plus a cottage
- no brushcutting, but he will be cleaning up a ravine behind his house a couple of times a year which doesn't get mowed and have some more "wild" grass
- he's sold on a split machine - partially because he thinks it'll be easier to transport in the car to the cottage, partially because he's jazzed about "attachments" (even though I don't think he will use anything more than a string often enough to justify the cost of said attachments), and he likes toys.
- he's got solid steel shaft on the brain
- gas powered (duh)
- quality product, reliable, parts availability, serviceable not discard, solid performance
- he likes warranties and Echo has a great one for consumers
- he's probably into bump-feed line
- dealer locations reasonably close to home and cottage for parts (nothing you guys can help with)
My added considerations:
- dual string for balance and lack of vibration
- clutch
- good weight and balance
- *** adjustable carb if at all possible *** we are not under EPA/California restrictions
I have a 2003 Echo SRM-210 he's used a couple of times so he's starting looking with Echo. The SRM-210 had more than enough power for everything he tried to do when he borrowed it, but brochures call out to him how he needs more power.
I also pointed him to look at:
- Stihl
- Redmax
- Shindaiwa
Stihl and Shindaiwa are pushing a four stroke technology that runs on pre-mix for lubrication with no oil sump. I would assume these are heavier, more complex, more failure prone, and the long-term prognosis is unknown. The machines he's eyeing all seem to have this technology but I don't know that I trust it.
I threw Redmax in the list because of murmurs here and another forum which led me to believe I would have been happier with a Redmax myself, had I known they existed when I bought my Echo. Now that I'm running on better two-stroke oil (Amsoil Saber) and have the starting trick figured out I'm happier, but it still doesn't run as well as others I've seen pros use. It would likely be better with a real adjustable carb.
I seem to recall reading a message somewhere, maybe not here, talking about different engines in the Stihl lineup and some being outsourced or of significantly lower quality but with the Stihl badge slapped on it like it's the same thing. Am I dreaming? Any models to avoid?
Any serious considerations on who has the most options and best-performing options in the add-ons for the split machines? Stihl has the most impressive looking accessory catalog (multiple kinds of edgers, blower, a bed edger (scoops dirt) etc....)
I perfectly understand that any of them will be "fine" and probably overkill for a homeowner, but several of them are all in the same price ballpark and if coughing up the bucks I'd like to know more than just what the glossies say. For instance, maybe all the brochures will say steel shaft, but they won't say how many bearings support that shaft. Someone here may know and this would be key to longevity and comfort in the long run.
Thanks!
