String trimmers

[ArlyA]

You need to ad seafoam to your fuel. All gasolines go bad without it. I own many battery powered tools and do love them but, sorry to say that batteries do fail.

I gave up on gas trimmers, they get occasional use and the carbs gum up I spent to much time pulling the cord and swearing at them.
Purchased a Echo 58 volt battery powered one, had to look for one with the higher capacity battery, it goes for over an hour and charges in less, with two batteries you can go all day if you want. Way quieter, always goes when you pull the trigger, plenty of power, easy string reload and you will never burn your arm on the exhaust.

 

[looch]

I'm on year 2 with a Stihl FS111r with the 4-Mix engine (4 stroke, mixed gas). It's a beast and runs like a champ. I still have my old RedMax which now serves as a dedicated brush cutter with a triangle steel blade, but it's a PITA to start ad keep running. The DR Trimmer Mower doesn't get used much these days - it's a real workout on bumpy or sloped land and the Stihl is just as fast at cutting larger swaths where the tractor can't reach.

 

[Monster5601]

My neighbor has owned three different Stihl trimmers and spends most of his time going back and forth to the repair shop.

I have a much different experience than your neighbor. Four years ago I finally broke down from frustrations with Echo chainsaws/trimmers and one Homelite trimmer (that one was the worst), just one thing after another. I have a very old Echo 14" chainsaw that still runs good but the newer stuff, ug! So I went to my Stihl dealer, picked up a blower, two chainsaws, and a Kombi system with several attachments. I run pure gas (easy to get around me because of the marinas) and Stihl's 2-cycle oil. The problems to date, zero. No more little gas bulbs to press, no more endless rope pulling to get the thing running, no more stalls, the Stihl equipment just plain works, every time.

 

[ArlyA]

Echo and Stihl both build good machines. Neither companies are perfect and will put out a orange or lemon now and then,,, but in general do build them with integrity and quality.

 

[Oaktree]

I gave up on gas trimmers, they get occasional use and the carbs gum up I spent to much time pulling the cord and swearing at them.
Purchased a Echo 58 volt battery powered one, had to look for one with the higher capacity battery, it goes for over an hour and charges in less, with two batteries you can go all day if you want. Way quieter, always goes when you pull the trigger, plenty of power, easy string reload and you will never burn your arm on the exhaust.

You need to ad seafoam to your fuel. All gasolines go bad without it. I own many battery powered tools and do love them but, sorry to say that batteries do fail.

Yeah, especially one-cylinder 2 strokes. I only mix up small batches of fuel (non-ethanol) and run them dry. Some engines are more tolerant of stale fuel than others...my Echo equipment (chainsaw & straight-shaft trimmer) are better in that regard than the cheap Bolens string trimmer I got a Walmart, downside is the Echo stuff is heavy.

I've considered a battery trimmer for my next one, but availability/cost of replacement batteries when it comes time is always a concern.

Echo and Stihl both build good machines. Neither companies are perfect and will put out a orange or lemon now and then,,, but in general do build them with integrity and quality.

I've had my Echo chainsaw for 20-odd years and it's been great. Only problem with it was when it had maybe 5 hours on it...apparently there was a run of them that ran too lean and mine was one. Repaired under warranty, no problems since. Dealer recommended 40:1 mix instead of the 50:1 the manual said.
Never had any pros laugh at me (at least to my face) about it, so it can't be too bad...

 

[MESSMAKER]

Echo,Stihl,Shindaiwa,Husqvarna are all good. I have the last 3. My favorite is the Husqvarna but I use them all.

 

[bmg88201]

I have a real good, honest Echo dealer/small engine repair guy just 3 miles from the house. So, I'll stick with Echo products. I guess it's like a Ford/Chevy preference (Echo or Stihl). All I know is I have owned a Husky blower that I threw in the woods for the field mice to chew on and a Husky 455 Rancher chainsaw that would make a good boat anchor. I use non-ethanol premium gas in everything, and FYI I have had three different small engine mechanics tell me that they would never use Stabil additive.

 

[ArlyA]

Years ago I ran stabil in a few small engines and later found gray balls of gummy material in those tanks. No more. Seafoam is not flashy but it works and much less $$ than cleaning out fuel systems.

FYI I have had three different small engine mechanics tell me that they would never use Stabil additive.

 

[Tennsawdust]

Echo and Stihl both build good machines. Neither companies are perfect and will put out a orange or lemon now and then,,, but in general do build them with integrity and quality.

I haven't owned an Echo in quite a while, but I know the older Echos were good trimmers. The Stihl I have now has been great. No complaints at all about it. I've tried some cheaper models and they might go two years then they are done.

I also have a Cobalt 60V electric. It isn't as light as some, but will take any of the universal quick attach accessories (it runs a pole saw well enough). The battery will last for the entire lawn, but falls a bit short if you ask it to do much heavy duty work like fence rows. The biggest upside is that there is no rope to pull. I think if I had it to do over again I might go with one that is a lot lighter, but overall it has been a good trimmer. My wife is definitely sold on the electric route because of it's convenience, so it is worth it just for that.

 

[two_bit_score]

I stopped into a new hardware store in a kinda upscale area the other day. They had an extensive selection of Stihl products. I always check them out.

Took me a few minutes to realize EVERYTHING was battery/electric. NO gas engines at all. The only oil they carried was bar and chain oil.



TBS

 

[aczlan]

Echo and Stihl both build good machines. Neither companies are perfect and will put out a orange or lemon now and then,,, but in general do build them with integrity and quality.

And a poor mechanic can ruin (or fail to fix) either in a hurry...

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

I stopped into a new hardware store in a kinda upscale area the other day. They had an extensive selection of Stihl products. I always check them out.

Took me a few minutes to realize EVERYTHING was battery/electric. NO gas engines at all. The only oil they carried was bar and chain oil.



TBS

This is what I am seeing at full line Ace Hardware stores... they sign on for a promotion and get a package display with inventory.

I did ask how long to get more chain and was told they need to be able to make a minimum order to place an order.

 

[bmg88201]

I think it is good idea to buy equipment at a place that also does the service. If you buy from a big box store or a hardware store and then have troubles, they will use another place to get it repaired, might take a week to get it picked up, then if it still doesn't work, then you wait another week or so and never get to talk to the person that worked on it. I like talking face to face to the person that does the repairs, no third parties.

 

[ArlyA]

We only buy from shops with a good service history.

 

[Doofy]

We only buy from shops with a good service history.

I try to buy things that I can repair myself or mail away for repairs. It getting harder to find repair parts or companies that will even mail you parts. Maybe a 3D Printer would come in handy.

 

[Atchuuu]

Went to Tractor Supply Co last week and noticed a bunch of Dewalt 20v trimmers had been marked down. Someone went in and stole the batteries so TSC was selling them as is. Since I have a couple of the 20v batteries I thought I would give it a try and the price was right.

I'm really disappointed in the run time of this trimmer. It just didn't hold a charge long enough. I used two batteries and still did not finish the job which really surprised me because my Dewalt battery operated chainsaw goes all day.

I really like the concept of battery operated tool. No mess, no mixing, no warm up. Just ready to go when you need it provide you have a charged battery. Like Dewalt products but for my use the 20v just isn't the right tool.

 

[ultrarunner]

Blowers and Shaft Trimmers sap batteries...

I have been pleased with the chainsaw and hedge trimmer... I think it is the on and off cycles as opposed to the constant drain... nothing scientific just my thoughts.

 

[two_bit_score]

I think it is good idea to buy equipment at a place that also does the service. If you buy from a big box store or a hardware store and then have troubles, they will use another place to get it repaired, might take a week to get it picked up, then if it still doesn't work, then you wait another week or so and never get to talk to the person that worked on it. I like talking face to face to the person that does the repairs, no third parties.

We only buy from shops with a good service history.

It's been my experience that Stihl only sells through dealers who have a service department available in- house. This hardware store does have a central location where all service work is done.

I too like to buy at a dealer who does the work on site. Preferably buy it directly from the guy to services everything himself. There still are a few guys like that out there in the Stihl family.



TBS

 

[Evets Tsorf]

Went to Tractor Supply Co last week and noticed a bunch of Dewalt 20v trimmers had been marked down. Someone went in and stole the batteries so TSC was selling them as is. Since I have a couple of the 20v batteries I thought I would give it a try and the price was right.

I'm really disappointed in the run time of this trimmer. It just didn't hold a charge long enough. I used two batteries and still did not finish the job which really surprised me because my Dewalt battery operated chainsaw goes all day.

I really like the concept of battery operated tool. No mess, no mixing, no warm up. Just ready to go when you need it provide you have a charged battery. Like Dewalt products but for my use the 20v just isn't the right tool.

I have noted that battery powered equipment is changing rapidly, tried to by replacement batteries for four year old Porter Cable tool set, 20 volt as I recall. These are now only available on line. All the newer equipment is all higher voltage to cram more energy density in the packs. This is changing things for the better, the new Echo trimmer with the higher amp hour pack is good for about an acre of property, a battery powered trimmer from a couple years ago was marginal for a small yard.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's been my experience that Stihl only sells through dealers who have a service department available in- house. This hardware store does have a central location where all service work is done.

I too like to buy at a dealer who does the work on site. Preferably buy it directly from the guy to services everything himself. There still are a few guys like that out there in the Stihl family.



TBS

More local Hardware stores are carrying Stihl Homeowner line of Battery Garden Tools...