String Trimmers

[OrangeGuy]

Coasterez,

I share your pride/luck/enthusiasm for McCulloch string trimmers. I purhased a 105 model in the late '70s and it still works well today. I purchased two model 65s in the '80s, one for me and one for my father. Both still work like new. I like the 65 for most yard trimming because of the light weight. The 105 is my pasture trimmer.

I also own two McCulloch chainsaws, 610 and 310, and a McCulloch hedge trimmer. All work well.

The most important service tip on these two cycle products is to remove gas after using and run engine dry.

OrangeGuy

 

[dirtydan]

I have had a Honda 4 cycle trimmer for about 7 years I believe. Runs great, starts easy. It will bog down in heavy grass or big weeds but usually not a problem. I bought a gator blade for it and replaced the string. It cuts much better now. At that time they were making 2 different models. I bought the lighter of the two. I don't know what they have to offer now.

Dan

 

[Joe1]

Whichever brand you buy, if you're going to let it sit for a long time, drain the gas/oil mixture, restart it and let it run itself dry so the carb doesn't get gummed up. Since mine will sometimes sit for weeks at a time, I drain the fuel each time.

I've got a straight shaft Stihl and have been very pleased with it. My neighbor has been buying Craftsmen trimmers with extended warranties and has been getting replacements because he wears them out.

I inherited a curved shaft Ryobi with interchangable heads. I keep the blower head on it and use the Stihl for the real work.

Good luck on your purchase.

 

[crbr]

Straight shaft Stihl here. Crapped out with a broken fuel line asembly.

Replaced with the Red Max ( RedMax - Home ). Does circles around the Stihl. Hopefully it will hold up very well. Stihl stealers hold a unit hostage for repairs way too long for my patience and needs. Just bought a new one instead.

 

[Mike5252]

I bought a Ryobi straight shaft trimmer back in the late 1990's (I don't know if they even make them anymore, haven't seen any for a while).

Anyway, it has all the interchangable options (blower, edger is all that I got). Neither is probably as good as a dedicated unit, but plenty good for casual homeowner use.

I really like the idea of eliminating a few engines to maintain by sharing the powerplant for multiple attachments.

Good luck

 

[EddieWalker]

Anyone have thoughts or experience on 4 stroke trimmers? Personally I hate mixing up a half litre of 32:1 fuel and would gladly carry the extra weight for the 20 mins of trimming I have to do.

My last trimmer was the Troybilt 4 stroke engine. It's heavy, but you already said that's not an issue. It was to me after awhile, but I stuck it out for about four years. It started easy and ran strong.

Other then the weight issue, my biggest issue with it was having to have it at full throttle to cut anything. It was much slower then a 2 stroke. Less responsive and kind of awkward.

I bought it for the same reason. Same gas as my my lawn mower. No mixing, no extra containers, just fuel it and go.

I've had enough of it and I'm looking at trimmers right now. Both Echo and Stihl look like the best bets in the $200 to $250 range for straight shaft units. The Echo is a pound heavier, but has a gear head twice the size of the Stihl.

I still haven't decided.

Eddie

 

[Bird]

Eddie, I think as long as you have it narrowed to those two; Echo and Stihl, you can't go wrong. I have three good dealers close by who sell Stihl and Toro equipment and that's what I'm using. Only one of the three also sells Echo, and he's the farthest of the three from me, but still close enough. So it boiled down to the weight question for me and I went with Stihl. You're younger and stronger, so that little weight difference might not matter as much to you.

 

[davemhughes]

When it come to equipment like this go with what people use to make a living with.

BIG vote for Echo.....not cheap, good equipment never is.

 

[wushaw]

I have an Echo 251 (straight shaft) I inherited last year and it is just the **** It is light, easy to handle and easy to start with plenty of power, I really like it...I also like the fact that my Sthil saws are the same mix ratio so I only have one mix ration to deal with.
I had a McCullah (sp) with a curved shaft for @ 10 years that I just hated...heavy, hard to start...let me rephrase that...it was a complete ***** to start every time, my back would hurt everytime I was done using it, I was never so glad to get rid of a piece of equipment in all my life as I was that thing.

 

[stayalert]

another vote for shindawa. My father in law gave me a used one a few years ago. It had a few hours on it and sat for many years. I replaced the fuel hose and got it running but varnish in the carb was sufficient to keep it from running properly. I took it too a dealer I saw one day (Charlie crown in/near woodstock vt.) talked to him about" it and this is what he said "I have hundreds of trimmers out back for parts. I think I have 2 shindawa's. I spent close to 60 bucks for a carb kit (installed) and a thorough PM. Now it runs and works beautifully.