Can you recommend a string trimmer?
vanderpooch
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
Hey all,
I need to replace a string trimmer which was given to me a couple years ago (Bolens). It has not been very reliable and I’d like something different.
I don’t really have any experience with these kind of tools. I don’t have a large property or use it more than once a week, but we do have a couple wild patches that require a decent amount of power. I’d like to stay with a gas model and try to keep it around $150-$175. Reliability is the thing I’m most concerned about.
Anyone have any experience with these? They’re on Craigslist all the time here, but I don’t really want to inherit someone else’s problem machine.
Thanks,
– Kit Camp
Technique is proof of your seriousness. – Wallace Stevens
Replies
Stihl. 'Nuff said.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Do not get a Weed-eater; their customer service is non-existant. Ditto on anything with a Tecumsah engine; their guarantee is worthless.
I'd suggest a Stihl straight-shaft model with handle-bar controls. Much safer and more comfortable to run. At least 25cc, more if your budget can stand it. They have some now that are modular systems you can turn into all sorts of different tools once you buy the engine....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....
Thanks boys.Dino, is there a reason the straight shaft is better? Looked briefly at these two models:http://www.stihldealer.net/productdetails-dealer-021947-prodid-485-toplvl-16-catid-16-subcat-16-catprods-68.aspxhttp://www.stihldealer.net/productdetails-dealer-021947-prodid-490-toplvl-16-catid-16-subcat-16-catprods-68.aspxThe curved shaft is a little less and I wonder why...Thanks,- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
Ditto on the Stihl; bought one two years ago after a few cheapies. I'm not sure on the curve, but I assume they have a flexible shaft as compared to a straight shaft and gear arrangement at the bottom. Either way, all the landscapers I know said Stihl or Husky (I won't even try to spell that one at 8:30 pm) I've been very happy with mine. The model that will take other accesories was a little pricier as I recall, but pretty neat to switch heads and go.
Bing
Now that I read frontiers post, I do remember Echo as being well reccomended as well
Edited 4/21/2008 8:38 pm ET by Bing187
I have a Stihl FS55 straight shaft and have been happy with it. Carb needed a little tweaking after the first two tanks of fuel. Other than that, no problems. Lots of power. Starts easily.
The FS55 is the cheapest straight shaft trimmer Stihl makes and is a high end homeowner or low end commercial model. Can be had brand new for right around $199.
Thanks,That's one of the one's I just asked Dinosaur about.- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
Edited 4/21/2008 8:25 pm by vanderpooch
I prefer the straight shaft for two reasons-The first is comfort and reach. I find I can reach under things (like pine trees) easier with the straight shaft and it is more comfortable for me to use and requires less hunching on my part.The second is that fact that the straight shaft will take a brush blade and the curved shaft won't. If you anticipate needing a brush blade, this is an important distinction. The FS55 is already set up with a flex shaft connected to the gearbox at the business end of the shaft. The blade just bolts right on and away you go. The curve shaft unit does not have the gearbox and won't take the blade. Echo makes a similarly priced and featured trimmer to this one. But if you want a blade on the Echo, it requires and additional kit in addition to the blade. The Stihl doesn't require anything extra. I suspect the $30 difference in price is in the shaft drive / gearbox setup. The curve shaft model has a flexible shaft drive that connects directly to the trimmer head.
The FS55 is already set up with a flex shaft connected to the gearbox at the business end of the shaft. The blade just bolts right on and away you go.
I have the FS 80 trimmer also w/ the flex cable in the straight shaft, it was about $259 here.
I do not thing you can use the metal blades on the flex cable, only the solid nylon ones.
The metal blades have to be used on the solid shaft models FS 90 and up, last look @ $329.
http://www.stihlusa.com/trimmers/FS90R.html
PS. Stihl all the way......I have had the leaf blower, two chain saws, a hedge trimmer, and this trimmer for 3 years now. I never have any problems with any of them.
Edited 4/22/2008 8:07 pm ET by pickings
Consumer Reports recently had a test of string trimmers and their top choices were Stihl and Echo. I had a bad experience with a Stihl chainsaw so I am prejudiced against them, but have had no experience with their string trimmers. I have three Echos and think they are great. Always start on the first couple of pulls no matter how old the gas is. One of the Echos is a string trimmer, the second one has a brush cutting blade, and the third is a convertible model that allows me to use other accessories, such as a pruning saw that I use quite a bit. If I had only one of them, I would get the convertible unit.Oh, and all three of them are the straight shaft models, which I think are superior to the curved shaft. I have noticed that most of the commercial lawn care companies around here use Echo, with more than a few using Shibaura (sp?).
Edited 4/22/2008 9:14 pm ET by CaseyR
Another reason to go with the straight shaft is the rotation moment you get with the curved ones when you hit something like thick weeds, it tends to use that curved part as a lever.
Dealer claimed I could use metal blade on the FS 55 with just a bolt on. I will admit though that I haven't done it, so will look into it. Thanks for the heads up.
I use my wife's scissors when I trim string. :)
Har Har :)Technique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
Stihl. There is no other choice. Go with the Stihl
Stihl is good as they get, I have a Shindaiwa (Japan) trimmer and it's fantastic also.
I'll go against the grain here and say Echo straitgh shafts for reqaons already noted. Bought mine from a shop down the road from here. No mtc issues other than running out of gas & string. Got an Echo blower as well and able to use the same gas mix. Let it sit all winter and Spring start after only 2 pulls.
Ditto Stihl.
Make sure to get the Easy2Start system if anyone that will use it has trouble quick-pulling a 2-stroke engine. Then all you have to worry about is getting them to understand how the choke works!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, just open it up to see how it works!
One more thought is dealer support. Especially if you are considering used. If there is an Echo dealer close but no Stihl? I'd go with what I can get service/ parts / support on. I'm a Stihl loyalist, but for homeowner use you really cannot go wrong with Stihl, Echo, RedMax, Shindaiwa, or Husqvarna.You can buy the Echo at HD- but make sure you can get dealer support, because you sure won't get it at big orange. Likewise for the Husqvarna that you get at Lowe's. Make sure there is a dealer to get parts from. Or better yet, just get the trimmer from the dealer in the first place- it will likely have the same price tag on it anyway.
I second all that.
One thing I would add is make sure you get the long shaft, look at most of the HO versions and the shaft is about 6-8" shorter than the Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo. Your back will thank you.
I have a Cub Cadet that was pretty good but I have some clutch/shaft issues and have the add on pole saw, hedge trimmer. I bought one of the Ryobi straight shaft jobs that will use the same attachments at HD for around $100. Not bad but certainly not great.
These new carbs do not have a mixture adj I can find. It has to have the choke partially on to get full rpm.
stihl is great.
I second the Echo. I have a straight echo unit which I use mostly with brush blade.
"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
Shindaiwa or Stihl
I bought my Stihl FS-76 new (older model #) about 12 years ago, mostly because my chainsaws are Stihl and I didn't want to fool with the gas mix.
I have 50 acres of woods, pasture, garden, yard, weeds and Himalaya blackberries and I use it a lot, with string, steel blades and the plastic blades.
It always starts easy, even when it's been stored with gas in the tank for a couple of months.
All I've ever done is change plugs and clean the air filter.
Mines a straight shaft. I used a curved shaft some, prior to buying the one I have now and found (other than the attachment abilities of the straight shaft)that the curved shaft is a little easier to use on banks and steep hills, but I've gotten used to the straight shaft in that application.
I prefer a 4 cycle trimmer. It is more eco friendly than the oil/gas mix type trimmers and more convenient. They are not perfect yet but the one I got last year from Lowes has been reliable.
Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK
Thanks to all of you. Looks like Stihl is the vote. I believe the place I take my blades to be sharpened is a Stihl dealer, so that would be easy. There is also a place that carries the Shindaiwa nearby.I plan to avoid the big boxes for service reasons.- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
Husky makes a nice tool also.
I use a 22 year old Toro curved shaft trimmer. It has a Tanaka engine. The trimmerr is quite heavy, and old, and the engine has become temperamental probably due to the carb wearing out from use. Once it gets going it's a monster.
So 2 or so years ago I treated myself to a weedeater straight shaft I bought at the end of the year at Walmart, on clearance for around $35. I used it a while, but sold it to someone that needed a trimmer, and I am used to the old Toro. I liked the weedeater, but doubt the thing is as durable as the old Toro. My weedeater had the old gearhead which was made from aluminum and had forged gears. The new ones have a delrin gearcase ad nylon gears if my memory is correct. I don't know how good it is, but I remember reading how much cheaper it was to produce.
So now I'm kinda jonesing for the Tanaka TBC-340PFD. It's about $400, so it's in the same category as the big plasma TV I would like to have. I bet it would be a nice jobbie for the lawn service guys.
http://www.tanaka-usa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TBC-340PFD