String Trimmers

[slowrev]

A question on the 4 cycle string teimmers.
How do they oil properly when operated on their side and other wierd positions ?
I use my trimmer as an edger quite often...
Ben

 

[mjfox6]

The 4-mix system from Stihl still requires you to mix your gas and oil. It's a 50:1 mix, but they recommend a special (About $0.30/gal more expensive) 2-cycle mix (white bottle, not orange). You can, however, run the new mix in your 2-cycle equipment.

 

[LBrown59]

I looked at Stihl & Echo.
Went with Stihl because it had one more main engine bearing than the Echo.
The real thing I like about my Stihl is it's nearly impossible to get weeds tangled up around the head and the shaft and when and if that happens it's also the easiest and quickest to untangle by just moving it out of the weeds and revving it up a few times and it will fling the weeds off the shaft and head 95% of the time.
Sure beats shutting down the trimmer and spending 5 to 10 minutes cutting out the tangled mess of weeds with a knife and removing them by hand...I don't know about others but as for me when I'm trimming I want to spend the time cutting the weeds not untangling them from the trimmer.

 

[slowrev]

The 4-mix system from Stihl still requires you to mix your gas and oil. It's a 50:1 mix, but they recommend a special (About $0.30/gal more expensive) 2-cycle mix (white bottle, not orange). You can, however, run the new mix in your 2-cycle equipment.

OHH 4 cycle, but still a gas oil mix to lube the cyl and bearings.

 

[Shimon]

I had a Stihl FS45 from when I lived on a small city lot but now that I'm on 2.5 acres, that little guy wouldn't cut it. Sold it for $100 and bought me an FS90 with the handlebars. What a difference! I can hold it all day with the harness on and the only thing that gets tired is my right index finger from holding the trigger. It has lots of power too (and is $$$). I looked at the Echo equivalent to the FS90 but the handlebars were not very comfortable for me; they weren't wide enough.

 

[chrisjbell]

A question on the 4 cycle string teimmers.
How do they oil properly when operated on their side and other wierd positions ?
I use my trimmer as an edger quite often...
Ben

My vote on the 4 cycle trimmers - they stink. A trimmer motor needs to be small and torquey, which the little 4 cycles are not.

I've had a couple - thought it sounded like the wave of the future. Mine died and I suspect that part of the problem was oil starvation. I use my trimmers hard and frequently turn them sideways. They didn't like to keep running unless they were right side up...

As far as weed eaters go, my recommendation is buy a good one. It'll last forever, so purchase price shouldn't be the only determining factor. Two brands I'd recommend - Tanaka and Husquvarna.

 

[workinallthetime]

hmmm lots of thoughts on this subject and experiences
you can get a stihl fs 45 for 139.95 and a fs 55 for 199.99 here in tulsa at a mower shop (smith farm and garden) if i was in your shoes thats what i would be looking at.
3 years ago i bought a 200.00 echo from hd, ran good for about 2 months then started losing power, and now after a tune up and even being in the shop it still has a mind of its own and its pretty week.
so this year i went out and droped a 1000.00 on new power equipment. All stihl just like my chainsaw which has never in 5 years let me down.
you asked about combo units and someone said the 4stroke stuff is junk well i bought the 4mix km-110r (head unit) 330.00, the edger 174.00 and the string trimmer 89.00. i also bought the br550 4mix backpack blower. i have used the rest and now im using the best !!! i use this stuff everyday and the 4stroke stuff is awsome. never bogs down, starts quick, quiet, and hardly any vibration. this stuff blows away any other trimmer i have ever used, its just like a 4 stroke you dont have to have it going full bore to work like a 2stroke and i like that.
the one echo purchase i made will be my last, i was reading in another forum about problems with clutches on trimmers from running to much string out or trying to operate a brush blade on one. keep that in mind when you are looking at atachments.
i burned 6 gallons of diesel in my zd326, filled the trimmer up 3 times and the blower up 2. everything went great and working for yourself is all its cracked up to be !!

i have found that not buying the best to start with will cost you more in the long run.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have the Stihl 4-Mix on a pole pruner, and am very happy with it. Starts easy, minimal vibration, and plenty of power. I own a lot of small engines, most of them professional grade, and this starts easier than any of them.

 

[chrisjbell]

Now days they put golf wedges and irons on those thinks and make it a game!

Some elevate it to an art form...

IT'S IN THE HOLE! WHAT A CINDERELLA STORY!

 

[cherron]

You can pick-up several of the Echo String Trimmers like the SRM-210 at the Home Depot for $199.99 (1.1 HP). Echo just extended their consumer warranty to 5-years and these units are fully covered.

I happened to find a website Lawn Mower Parts where they are clearing the Kawasaki KTR27A String Trimmer for $239.99 - all-in. This includes free shipping, no taxes for a HD commercial unit that typically retails for well over $300.00. The best price on Ebay is $279.99. This is a powerful 1.6 HP unit and carries the following commercial ratings when directly compared to Redmax, Stihl FS80, Stihl FS100RX, Sindaiwa T231 & 261 and comparable Maruyama commercial models.

Weight to Power Ratio: A+
Comfort: A
Durability: B-
Ease of Start: B-
Value for Money: A (and this was at an over $300.00 price point)
Source (Lawn Care)

If you're interested there are only a limited number of these units still available at this price.

Happy trimming,

Chuck Herron