Is Electric-Start Gas Trimmer a new concept?

[hill]

My wife saw and pointed out to me that Ryobi, Troy-bilt, and Craftsman (all MTB?) have models of electric starting gasoline powered string trimmer available. I'd spent half of yesterday cussin' at my Stihl FS80 that has been a big PITA this year.

Like this: Ryobi Touch Start Gas Trimmer | Tool Snob - ToolSnob.com

Troy-Bilt offers a seperate electric starter that plugs onto some models, kinda' like how racecars and some airplanes are fired up while the above Ryobi uses an integral starter apparntly with a pushbutton.

I've got to admit that I think this is a great idea and wonder if any of the quality makers like Echo, Husky, Stihl (nah) or Tanaka(?) are making any version of an electric start trimmer if anyone knows?

My Stihl feels like it might be fixing to sieze up. It is stiff or tighter than I ever remember it, especially when first pulled and I think I might have heard it squeek like maybe it's piston is scored. It's not the subject of this but it means I might be in the market soon and if these electric starter jobs are amongst one of the quality maker trimmers I'll look there first. Not sure I want to risk buying a Ryobi....

 

[Travelover]

Pull off your muffler and look to see if the piston is scored or the rings seized in their lands.

 

[Bird]

Apparently the electric start string trimmers have been around for awhile, but I've never seen one.

 

[2458n]

I have seen a Tanaka at a public auction five years ago. I was not smart enough at the time to buy it. The gentleman that owned it had suffered a stroke and this allowed him to still do alittle yard work which he enjoyed. If the product is still available it would be a time proven idea. When the weed eater is running right they are not to hard to start. Maybe it is time for a new weedeater. Fixing junk is either enjoyable or not -today I am not in the mood.

 

[roamerr]

The Troy-bilt at Lowes also has a $10 bit that you can put in your cordless drill. That seems better to me than buying the electric attachment that requires 120V for $35.

I have a Stihl trimmer that takes 10 or so pulls. My old Jonsered trimmer takes only 3 but has gotten weaker on power. At this point I see the electric start as a gimmick. I do consider buying one so the wife will use the trimmer... :thumbsup:

 

[5030]

To me, needing an electric start weed whacker is the paramount addiction to sedentary lifestyle.

How hard can a tiny engine be to pull start?

 

[mjncad]

To me, needing an electric start weed whacker is the paramount addiction to sedentary lifestyle.

How hard can a tiny engine be to pull start?

I had a Ryobi gas trimmer, and it was the biggest POS I ever owned next to my long gone '83 S-10 pickup. No matter how one set the choke, it would take 10 - 15 minutes of non-stop pulling to get it running. I threw it in the garbage after only 2-seasons. I sure wouldn't waste my money on anything made by Ryobi.

This year was the first time my Deere trimmer gave me any grief starting, and it turned out to be stale gas causing the problem; but I sure thought about an electric start for it because I was getting worn out trying to get it going.

Yes, I am a wimp and freely admit it. Always have been, always will be.

 

[Bird]

To me, needing an electric start weed whacker is the paramount addiction to sedentary lifestyle.

How hard can a tiny engine be to pull start?

Or some might say "Work smarter instead of harder":laughing:

 

[rocker1]

I bought a used electric start Tanaka in 1995. The guy selling it had lost the charger to it so I got it for $150 (retail it was $359 back then). I used it for 4 years using the push button start before the battery went out completely and I had to pull start it. It took 1.5 seconds to start with the push button and after that it took three pulls of the string to start, unless it'd been running within the last 24 hours; in that case it only took 1 pull. My wife loved it because it was as big as any large weed eater on the market, yet as light weight as the smallest, and she could just push a button to start it. After 11 years of use it finally went bad & since it'd been discontinued , I had no way of getting parts to fix it. Today, if they still made it, I'd gladly pay a thousand dollars or more for one because it'd outlast ANY other weed eater on the market by far. After all, 11 years of good use for a "used" weed eater just can't be beat.

 

[Eldubya]

I bought the Ryobi electric start about 4 years ago cause it was on sale and cheaper than some comparable. Not that I was looking for an electric start. So far, the trimmer itself is so-so. I do like that you can change the ends on it for various attachments. The electric start however just adds weight for me to pack around. The battery won't hold a charge for long, but will work if your stopping and starting many times a day, or job. So it's a good idea if you're maybe a p/t landscaper who uses it frequently. If I really wanted an electric start on my next one, I'd be looking for a model that uses and external drill to crank it. - My $.02

 

[Gunny]

I've had a couple of pull start trimmers, 2 cycle, and it always seemed that after a year or so the carburetor would get so gummed up that they would get very hard to start, I had one that would start great when cold, but if you shut if off while using it, you'd have to wait until it cooled off before it would restart, so I started doing some research on trimmers.

I looked at a few that were electric start (on board battery), but I didn't like the weight and balance, plus I figured I'd have to buy a replacement battery every other year or so, not what I was looking for.

Finally wound up with one of the Troy Bilt 4 cycle trimmers and got the attachment that fits in a drill. Man, what a difference that thing made! No pulling a rope for what seemed forever, just shove it in the top, make sure it's primed, hit the drill trigger and that bad boy is running! Then if I'm away from the drill and have to shut down for something, I've got the rope start to get it going and on a warm engine, it's just one pull.

The starter may seem frivolous to some, but if my trimmer disappeared today or suffered damage beyond reasonable repair, I'd have a new one tomorrow. Life for me is too short to be fussing and fooling with a pull start trimmer that doesn't want to start.

 

[5030]

I own 2 Tanaka chainsaws that I bought from Bailey's and I have to say that for the price versus quality and ease of starting, Tanaka is heads above all the rest (including Husky and Stihl). 1/3 the price and run better.