What's the preferred flavor of weed-trimmer??

[deeter16317]

I have a Gravely walk-behind for general trimming like that...this is for bank-work and ditches, places you cant get a wheeled mower; as well as for general trimming.

This is a new-to-us house we bought earlier this summer. I have about 2.5 acres of grass, but the trimming required is rapidly increasing as the Wife and I plant shrubbery and trees (it was mostly an open field when we moved in). Its enough that a rechargeable probably wouldn't handle it. Probably an hour's worth of trimming a week?

I was considering a Stihl, my father has pretty much all Stihl and has had good luck with them...he did wear out a trimmer of theirs, but that was after 20 years of mowing.

You just don't know what's good until you ask, and this thread has pretty much narrowed it down to a few brands. I was also thinking of trying to pick up a used one this fall, if the opportunity arose.

 

[boraticus]

I own a lot of two cycle equipment and have learned from experience where the value is. The old (1984) Stihl trimmer/brush cutter I have has been great but it's too heavy for trimming grass. I bought an Echo several years ago for a fraction of the cost of the Stihl and it's a fantastic piece of equipment. Light, easy starting, reliable, powerful and fairly quiet.

Personally, I don't think the newer Stih or Husky products deliver the same value as Echo. I'm so impressed with their products that I also bought a leaf blower and chainsaw made by Echo. I also own a 20 year old two cycle Echo lawn mower that hasn't missed a beat.

From my experience, you can pay more but you won't be getting better.

 

[Johnny]

boraticus, anyway you can post a picture of your 2-cycle Echo mower. I've never seen one of those.

 

[boraticus]

You know, I don't actually have a picture of it. However, I do have this video I took a year or so ago when I was playing with the engine to get more speed out of it. At over 6000 rpm, I almost had to trot to keep up with it. I ended up slowing it down to a max of 4500 rpm and normally run it at around 3500 rpm unless in some serious wet, thick grass.

The engine on it looks suspiciously a lot like a Suzuki. It's 140 ccs and has been stone axe reliable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggeVrfl1o2U

 

[gd9704]

My Echo SRM210 has been A-1 for 9+ years. I like it!

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: boraticus

You know, I don't actually have a picture of it. However, I do have this video I took a year or so ago when I was playing with the engine to get more speed out of it. At over 6000 rpm, I almost had to trot to keep up with it. I ended up slowing it down to a max of 4500 rpm and normally run it at around 3500 rpm unless in some serious wet, thick grass.

The engine on it looks suspiciously a lot like a Suzuki. It's 140 ccs and has been stone axe reliable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggeVrfl1o2U


Looks like and sounds like a Suzuki mower engine. Best darn engine ever put on a Toro. Darn EPA.

 

[cronk]

Stihl or Echo.
My Stihl is 10 years old and no issues. I think I may have to take the carb apart and clean this year, darn ethanol.

 

[mechanicx]

If I were going to buy a weed trimer again, I think I'd get a straight shaft bump-feed and probably a Stihl.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Shindaiwa trimmers all the way.. It's proven with thousands of hours of usage. Currently looking at the Maruyama line with a 5 year commercial warranty. The Shindaiwa has been phased out and can no longer be purchased here but parts are available.

For example a home user would not be happy paying the high cost of a Shindaiwa since it's for commercial usage you just aren't putting that much hours on it..but you get what you are paying for.

The Maruyama trimmers are cost effective but commercial quality...it maybe a good choice if you decide to go that route.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: deeter16317
In the market for a new (or newer) weed-trimmer...figure heavy grass, some weeds, no brush (I have a rotary mower for that).

What's the best bang for the buck right now? Is a 2-cycle still preferred, or is the 4-cycle catching on?


I'd stick with the 2cycle...you need to be specific on your needs, is trimming that is needed frequently .. there are good quality trimmers on the market that will fill your needs for home usage. Balance with good power...just don't buy a trimmer that's made not to last for even a decent home application ... it's out there.

 

[Shannow]

I've got a homelite 2 stroke that I've run for 12 years or thereabouts.

Under the plastic, it's almost identical to FIL's Ryobi.

Had the muffler off the other day (spark trap clogged), and could still see the hone marks on the bore - I run around 32:1.

Be careful with chinese stuff, the exhaust gasket was asbestos, and one of our asbestos removal contractors does good business pulling gaskets of chinese ebay motorbikes.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

FWIW, almost all the pros here in Vegas use Echos. I've had to replace a number of them from my wife's landscaping business, but it's always the fault of the crews (improper handling or transportation usually). I havn't heard of one wearing out, even with high commercial usage in very hot weather.

 

[prs]

I prefer the commercial grade straight shaft types. Stihl, RedMax, Husky. The quality pays off when they still run like new 20+ years later with hard use.

prs

 

[Spazdog]

Wow! 12 years.

My half-crank Homely-lite lasted about 6 years. Actually, the engine still has good compression and spark. The Zama carburetor is garbage. A new carburetor costs 5/6ths as much as a whole new Homely-lite. So I won't be buying a new carb.
I have a donor Walbro from an old McCulloch. The linkages look identical. Just haven't put it on yet.

I bought a full-crank Troy-Bilt from Lowe's when I had enough of the Homelite. To match the dollar-per-year performance of the Homelite, I'll have to have this one for about 12 years.

If I had bought a Shindaiwa, I would have to keep it for about 43 years

 

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay
Shindaiwa trimmers all the way.. It's proven with thousands of hours of usage. Currently looking at the Maruyama line with a 5 year commercial warranty. The Shindaiwa has been phased out and can no longer be purchased here but parts are available.

For example a home user would not be happy paying the high cost of a Shindaiwa since it's for commercial usage you just aren't putting that much hours on it..but you get what you are paying for.

The Maruyama trimmers are cost effective but commercial quality...it maybe a good choice if you decide to go that route.


It might be of some impact in the future, Maruyama might be a contender in NA down the road.

 

[Deltona_Dave]

I am having a tough time deciding between an Echo SRM-225 and a Husqvarna 223L. I have had good luck with both brands, and the old gray echos were tanks. I like the Echo's 5 year warranty, but the Husky's light weight and Farm/light Professional use rating is more my style.

Dave

 

[borgward]

Stay away from Ryobi. Ryobi is kind of like Harbor Freight. If you need something cheap for a one time use, it,s OK. Actually, it is not even OK. A neighbor gave be a 2 year old Ryobi. Fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. $60+ for a new tank I aggie engineerd that. Carburetor problems as well. I found a lot of complaints about Ryobi.

Check out http://www.techsupportforum.com/automotive-center/small-engines/

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Stihl, echo, shindaiwa, husky but not their cheapest stuff.


X2.

Run of the mill Homelites and Ryobis are mostly garbage. Lots of cheapo parts to break...[censored] recoils, plastic cams on some 4 strokes, not so great carbs, etc.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: ArrestMeRedZ
FWIW, almost all the pros here in Vegas use Echos. I've had to replace a number of them from my wife's landscaping business, but it's always the fault of the crews (improper handling or transportation usually). I havn't heard of one wearing out, even with high commercial usage in very hot weather.


Same here in my area. See alot of Echo weed wackers hanging on the side of lawn service trailers. My Echo is 10 years old and runs great on Amsoil Saber.