looking for a new weed whacker

[gregoryd]

I have a 4 Stroke Honda Brush Cutter, it does the job but here is what I have found--

Pro's -- Doesn't vibrate your fillings out
Much Quieter than than 2 Stroke
No mixing Gas and Oil

Cons-- Just doesn't have the power that my Home Cheapo
Ryobi line trimme has

 

[gregoryd]

I have a 4 Stroke Honda Brush Cutter, it does the job but here is what I have found--

Pro's -- Doesn't vibrate your fillings out
Much Quieter than than 2 Stroke
No mixing Gas and Oil

Cons-- Just doesn't have the power that my Home Cheapo
Ryobi line trimme has

 

[dknarnd]

Few years back I bought a Stihl trimmer/brush cutter that is their largest model before getting into the dedicated brush cutters. Each spring I use the blade to go after the brush and such around the property then put the line head on for the summer. Every two weeks I trim grass along about 75 yards of a small stream with PLENTY of rocks. This thing powers through thick knee high grass like nothing with the line head on and the blade will go through two inch wood with no problem. Actually I have used it to cut Christmas trees down also, just have someone hold the tree and pull it over while I cut through. That isn't something I would recommend because it is really pushing the limits but we only need a few trees each year and it beats crawing under the tree with a chain saw. When I bought it I also got a harness to wear and snap it onto which supports some of the weight. It isn't heavy but when using it for an hour straight it is nice to have some support from the harness at times.

Guess one could say I am a Sthil fan because I have three of their chainsaws, one trimmer/brush cutter, one trimmer, one backpack blower, and one pole saw. They always work well for me.

 

[dknarnd]

Few years back I bought a Stihl trimmer/brush cutter that is their largest model before getting into the dedicated brush cutters. Each spring I use the blade to go after the brush and such around the property then put the line head on for the summer. Every two weeks I trim grass along about 75 yards of a small stream with PLENTY of rocks. This thing powers through thick knee high grass like nothing with the line head on and the blade will go through two inch wood with no problem. Actually I have used it to cut Christmas trees down also, just have someone hold the tree and pull it over while I cut through. That isn't something I would recommend because it is really pushing the limits but we only need a few trees each year and it beats crawing under the tree with a chain saw. When I bought it I also got a harness to wear and snap it onto which supports some of the weight. It isn't heavy but when using it for an hour straight it is nice to have some support from the harness at times.

Guess one could say I am a Sthil fan because I have three of their chainsaws, one trimmer/brush cutter, one trimmer, one backpack blower, and one pole saw. They always work well for me.

 

[jgh]

20060604

Farwell, let me 2nd you on the Shindaiwa 2510, which uses a kind of hybrid 4 & 2 stroke technology. I believe emission requirements prompted this but there are other advantages.

I bought the power head one, for attaching things to it, call it the Skid steer of trimmers--edger, tree pruner, trimmer, etc. Yes, it requires mixed gas/oil, but it is powerful, starts MUCH more reliably than my Stihl, flood-every-time chain saws (and YES I do follow stihl starting procedures!!), smokes less, less noisy (but see Honda below) than any other 2 stroke, you name it. If that engine technology was availb for their chain saws, the Stihls would hit the Trading Post.

In fairness but without having any recent experience with other chain saws, the Stihls are incredibly powerful once you do get them running, though I find myself going thru chains right often, and in general they have required what seems like a lot of fussing with. And their exhaust is stupifyingly obnoxious.

One nagging problem with the Shindaiwa tree pruner--it leaks chain oil, in spite of being worked on several times. You just have to keep it level when transporting it. And to my mind, it goes thru oil very fast but cuts very well.

I also have a Honda 4 stroke trimmer. I like it and it is VERY powerful (much more so than ANY 2 stroke I have used), as 3 broken windows from BIG thrown rocks on my 1st use can prove. It is also so quiet you almost cannot hear it run at low RPMs. It starts VERY easily and reliably.

It is DAM@ heavy (take that, profanity filter!). Use the harness and still feel it. At least 3 or more # more than say, the Shindaiwa.

It has not been that reliable (which experience coincides with same on my $900 Honda lawnmower--been in the shop many times and with suspect build quality IMHO), the latest being a $74 rebuild on the carb after only 3 yrs of light use.

But pair that Honda with an Oregon 10" saw blade or with 0.155 wire center line, and watch out! Literally!!

It may be a coincidence but my small gas tools with squeeze bulbs for kicking the fuel flow before starting (incldg my Stihl hedge clipper) are far and away the most reliable starters. I just have to think that my Stihl saws would be better starters with that feature. In fact those 2 are the only hard to start engines I have.

Hope these experiences are useful if windy,

Jim

 

[jgh]

20060604

Farwell, let me 2nd you on the Shindaiwa 2510, which uses a kind of hybrid 4 & 2 stroke technology. I believe emission requirements prompted this but there are other advantages.

I bought the power head one, for attaching things to it, call it the Skid steer of trimmers--edger, tree pruner, trimmer, etc. Yes, it requires mixed gas/oil, but it is powerful, starts MUCH more reliably than my Stihl, flood-every-time chain saws (and YES I do follow stihl starting procedures!!), smokes less, less noisy (but see Honda below) than any other 2 stroke, you name it. If that engine technology was availb for their chain saws, the Stihls would hit the Trading Post.

In fairness but without having any recent experience with other chain saws, the Stihls are incredibly powerful once you do get them running, though I find myself going thru chains right often, and in general they have required what seems like a lot of fussing with. And their exhaust is stupifyingly obnoxious.

One nagging problem with the Shindaiwa tree pruner--it leaks chain oil, in spite of being worked on several times. You just have to keep it level when transporting it. And to my mind, it goes thru oil very fast but cuts very well.

I also have a Honda 4 stroke trimmer. I like it and it is VERY powerful (much more so than ANY 2 stroke I have used), as 3 broken windows from BIG thrown rocks on my 1st use can prove. It is also so quiet you almost cannot hear it run at low RPMs. It starts VERY easily and reliably.

It is DAM@ heavy (take that, profanity filter!). Use the harness and still feel it. At least 3 or more # more than say, the Shindaiwa.

It has not been that reliable (which experience coincides with same on my $900 Honda lawnmower--been in the shop many times and with suspect build quality IMHO), the latest being a $74 rebuild on the carb after only 3 yrs of light use.

But pair that Honda with an Oregon 10" saw blade or with 0.155 wire center line, and watch out! Literally!!

It may be a coincidence but my small gas tools with squeeze bulbs for kicking the fuel flow before starting (incldg my Stihl hedge clipper) are far and away the most reliable starters. I just have to think that my Stihl saws would be better starters with that feature. In fact those 2 are the only hard to start engines I have.

Hope these experiences are useful if windy,

Jim

 

[Iowachild]

<font color="blue">Guess one could say I am a Sthil fan.... </font>

I guess I am too. I have no idea if they make a four-stroke brush cutter. Mine is two-stroke, but it uses the same mix as the chainsaws and the blower, so that's not a problem. I have owned other brands, but now I own the best. I highly recommend Sthil! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Iowachild]

<font color="blue">Guess one could say I am a Sthil fan.... </font>

I guess I am too. I have no idea if they make a four-stroke brush cutter. Mine is two-stroke, but it uses the same mix as the chainsaws and the blower, so that's not a problem. I have owned other brands, but now I own the best. I highly recommend Sthil! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[sonofczechgun]

4 years ago I got one of the cheaper whackers from HD - and the engine seized in an hour or so. And yes, I was following exactly the manual. I took it back and exchanged it for JD - back than HD carried Deere to. It still runs great, starts first time everytime even after long period of no use.

 

[sonofczechgun]

4 years ago I got one of the cheaper whackers from HD - and the engine seized in an hour or so. And yes, I was following exactly the manual. I took it back and exchanged it for JD - back than HD carried Deere to. It still runs great, starts first time everytime even after long period of no use.