Looking for a string trimmer deal....

[Recoil Rob]

End of year lawn tools, any recommendations for a good solid string trimmer? I've been using a Troy Bilt I got at Lowes about 4-5 years back and have had to rebuild the head twice and will now need a 3rd time. it's too underpowered for an aftermarket head (tried that already).

Most of the pros around here seem to use Shindaiwa (sp?). I have an unruly of land with lots of rocks that need to be trimmed before I cut the grass with the mower so I need a good machine and seems like this may be the time to buy.



thanks,

Rob

 

[01ss]

Im running the home depot Echo and I LOVE it. Runs around $200ish.

 

[sselander]

Shindaiwa was bought by Echo a while ago.
I don't think they are the same as they used to be.

Edit,
it was a merger of the 2 companies. The parent company is now the Japanesese company Yamabiko.

http://www.yamabiko-corp.co.jp/our-business/brands-of-yamabiko?lang=en

 

[Basstracker34]

Im running the home depot Echo and I LOVE it. Runs around $200ish.

Same here. ECHO SRM 225. Runs great, cuts great, tons of power. I got it earlier this year when it was on sale during their trade up and save event. I think it's cheaper online as they show 2 identical products.

 

[rlitman]

You have rocks that need to be trimmed? What kind of rocks are these? Lol.

I love my Stihl KM110 but they don't do end of season sales. Stihl often does a beginning of season "dealer days" sale though but that's about it when it comes to discounts.

 

[jmscollinsiii]

I bought a sthil fs 95 I believe is the model number. A little over $230 and if u bought a 6 pack of 2-cycle mix they extended the warrenty by two or three years.

 

[upgrading]

High end, new, is tough to find a deal for.
I bought my Echo backpack blower at HD years ago on a sales tax holiday and was happy I saved the 5%.
If you choose an HD Echo maybe get the gift cards at 8%-10% off and then see if you can use a Lowes or HF coupon to get a further discount.
Same would apply if you choose a Lowes high end model.

 

[kngelv]

I have a Stihl FS 90 R and an Echo PAS-225 Combi Kit. The Echo kit consists of a powerhead plus an edger and string trimmer attachments. and it was $30.00 cheaper than the Stihl. . A standalone edger was nearly the same price. I think the Echo does a better job even though it has a smaller motor. The Stihl is definitely more powerful but doesn't work as well. I bought the Echo at an independent dealer, not Home Depot and it came with a free accessory kit.

James

 

[Digital4n6]

Stihl FS-90 is light enough to use all day and still has plenty of torque. Have the dealer upgrade the head to an easy loader bump style, called "EasySpool".

 

[lilscorpion]

Since I purchased my first home I've had a variety of trimmers. Some lasted a couple years some a little longer but none were made like the Shindaiwa I used to trim all day with when I worked for a commercial landscape company during summers in college. Three years ago I got one for the house and it will likely be the last one I have to buy. A little more expensive but are completely serviceable with all parts readily available. If you want a quality trimmer that will last, check out http://www.shindaiwa-usa.com/Products/Trimmers.aspx

 

[W_KY]

Check out the Red Max brand as well. I used to run Shindaiwa but at the last place I lived, there wasn't a dealer close by. There was a Red Max dealer and I would say the two are very comparable.

We've been hiring our mowing out for two years but I still kept my trimmer. About once a year I'll dump out old gas, pour in some new an start it up. I did this just two days ago and after sitting a year, it started on third pull.

 

[Starjammir]

As weird as it is winter is coming I would wait until spring. I always find a few out at the trash and fix them by cleaning the carbs out. Hell, I even found a stihl out this year.

 

[ishiboo]

I have the 4-cycle Craftsman which has been flawless, might be the same as your Troy/MTD you don't like though.

 

[RRich]

Last year when I needed one after years of Ryobi and Homelite junk, I was about to buy the Echo SRM225 for $199-10% at HD when a Honda appeared on CL for $75. One of the best deals I've ever gotten. After using the Honda all summer, I wouldn't buy anything else. If i needed another one, I would pay the $345 for a new one.

 

[MN4x4]

I got tired of the whole "Drain the gas, treat the carburetor, fight with it in spring" battle. I decided to go cordless.

I looked at the Stihl but found it ridiculously overpriced - like $600 for the unit, one battery, and charger. I decided to keep looking.

I finally decided to go for the GreenWorks G-MAX 40-volt Cordless String Trimmer, 13-Inch. The link at Amazon is here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3KJN48/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This thing is amazing! One battery lasts for our entire yard (over an acre) and it is amazingly quiet.

I will never purchase another gas trimmer again.

 

[DrunkSmurf]

Stihl or Echo is mainly what I've owned. Currently I have an Echo that I've been happy with for almost 10yrs which BTW, I've never drained, treated or anything else. I've actually had it lay out all winter once on accident and still had no problems starting on the second pull with falls gas.

 

[dakotart1984]

I owned a Stihl FS-55R and its been a complete pain to keep it maintained. I drain the gas every fall in prep for winter along with all my other gas tools and this thing has been the only one to give me issues in the spring. This year I did a tune up on it as a precaution, used exact OE plug and filter and it flooded on the the first pull. If you don't do the starting procedure right it will flood every time. And pulling the plug, blowing the cylinder out wont do it. The pull start cord broke, and Ive rewound countless recoils with new rope.. this one was the biggest pain in the rear to redo. In fact I never got it right and wound up having to purchase a new one off ebay. The local stihl dealers didnt even have replacements on hand. The auto feed on the head has never worked properly and I have tried many premium trimmer lines including the stihl stuff. If I bump it, it will jam up every time. I never had that problem on the $50 poulan it replaced. I thought id get a quality name like stihl and not have many issues, that was wrong. My Echo PB-500T blower on the other hand, serious business and has been worth every penny. Not one issue ever starting it. 3 primes and one pull and it starts every time. Just my experience, do your research before buying.

 

[beamrider]

whatever you get, do yourself a favor and use ethanol free gas, and a little sta-bil.

 

[Recoil Rob]

OP here, looks like an Echo may be in my future. I've had one of their back blowers for 11 years , never a problem.

BTW, my Troy Bilt is a 4 stroke and I never have a problem with the motor, just the heads. I always put Sta-Bil in my 5gal. gas can when I fill it up for all my tools. Never have any problem starting after a year off.

 

[Basstracker34]

Echo's speed feed head and their warranty were things that helped me choose them. They get great reviews for a reason. I've never had a problem with the bump feed head at all. Super easy to reload it too.

 

[stroked80z28]

I owned a Stihl FS-55R and its been a complete pain to keep it maintained. I drain the gas every fall in prep for winter along with all my other gas tools and this thing has been the only one to give me issues in the spring. This year I did a tune up on it as a precaution, used exact OE plug and filter and it flooded on the the first pull. If you don't do the starting procedure right it will flood every time. And pulling the plug, blowing the cylinder out wont do it. The pull start cord broke, and Ive rewound countless recoils with new rope.. this one was the biggest pain in the rear to redo. In fact I never got it right and wound up having to purchase a new one off ebay. The local stihl dealers didnt even have replacements on hand. The auto feed on the head has never worked properly and I have tried many premium trimmer lines including the stihl stuff. If I bump it, it will jam up every time. I never had that problem on the $50 poulan it replaced. I thought id get a quality name like stihl and not have many issues, that was wrong. My Echo PB-500T blower on the other hand, serious business and has been worth every penny. Not one issue ever starting it. 3 primes and one pull and it starts every time. Just my experience, do your research before buying.

I've had an FS-55 for almost 14 years. Good gas, grease in the head and new plug and filter every year; still runs like brand new. No issues at all.

 

[getbent4x4]

seen this go down to $186. I remember reading it was rated well, similar to a higher end stihl homeowner series. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200586183_200586183

Husqvarna Straight Shaft Trimmer — 25cc, 17in. Cutting Width, Model# 223L Recon

 

[boiler7904]

I have a Stihl FS 90 R and an Echo PAS-225 Combi Kit. The Echo kit consists of a powerhead plus an edger and string trimmer attachments. and it was $30.00 cheaper than the Stihl. . A standalone edger was nearly the same price. I think the Echo does a better job even though it has a smaller motor. The Stihl is definitely more powerful but doesn't work as well. I bought the Echo at an independent dealer, not Home Depot and it came with a free accessory kit.

James

James,

What attachments do you have for the PAS-225? Is it underpowered for the attachments that you do have? I'm in the market for a trimmer in the spring and thinking that the Echo PAS-225 VPB combination unit package is the way to go. The local dealer I talked to said that he's had fewer engine problems with Echo units than Stihl units the last couple of years - mainly due to the carburetor and ethanol fuels in our area. As much as I'd like to get ethanol-free gas, it isn't readily available here from what I've seen.

 

[kngelv]

James,

What attachments do you have for the PAS-225? Is it underpowered for the attachments that you do have? I'm in the market for a trimmer in the spring and thinking that the Echo PAS-225 VPB combination unit package is the way to go. The local dealer I talked to said that he's had fewer engine problems with Echo units than Stihl units the last couple of years - mainly due to the carburetor and ethanol fuels in our area. As much as I'd like to get ethanol-free gas, it isn't readily available here from what I've seen.

I have the edger and string trimmer. They work great. You can find ethanol-free gas at any marina.

James

 

[BTC]

I have the Stihl KM 130 R with the straight shaft string trimmer and the blower. I like it, but don't really have anything to compare it to. As far as I can tell, Stihl and Echo seem to be the most highly preferred brands. If you're only going to use it as a homeowner, I would recommend a combination tool. My next attachment will probably be the straight edger.

 

[WDEagle]

I have the Stihl KM 130 R with the straight shaft string trimmer and the blower. I like it, but don't really have anything to compare it to. As far as I can tell, Stihl and Echo seem to be the most highly preferred brands. If you're only going to use it as a homeowner, I would recommend a combination tool. My next attachment will probably be the straight edger.

I bought the Stihl KM 130 a couple of years ago and love it. This thing is a workhorse. I now have the blower, hedge trimmer, chainsaw & weed wacker
attachments along with one extension. If I had to do it again I would buy another one.

I only use ethanol free gas in it.

 

[BTC]

I bought the Stihl KM 130 a couple of years ago and love it. This thing is a workhorse. I now have the blower, hedge trimmer, chainsaw & weed wacker
attachments along with one extension. If I had to do it again I would buy another one.

I only use ethanol free gas in it.

I have been impressed. The 130 is probably a lot more machine than I need, but I'm a fan of overkill.

I'm not sure where I would go to get ethanol free gas, and I'm not a boater/water person. This is my second season with it and I haven't experienced any issues. Knock on wood.

What are your impressions of the chainsaw?

 

[rlitman]

I have the chainsaw on my KM110 (same idea, just a slightly smaller motor than your KM130). I love it. It has a 12" bar, and I've cut through a 16" diameter cherry tree that came down in a storm. The 110 has plenty of power for the saw, although more would not hurt. Stihl really knows chain saws. It is not anything like the "toy" pole saw attachments I've seen at Lowes.

I've also used it with the carbon fiber extension. It comes in real handy. Nearly straight up and down (as you'd use the pole saw), the aluminum extension is probably fine. As you approach horizontal (as you'd do with the hedge clipper) every ounce tries to pull you over and the carbon fiber really is worth it's less weight in gold.

Let's see. I've got the straight shaft string trimmer head. Not much to say about that.
The straight shaft edger head. Love that. My machine has enough power to edge as fast as I can comfortably walk in a straight line, but the 90 is a little underpowered.
The adjustable angle hedge clipper. Damn that thing is great for certain work. And my machine is way overpowered for this one.
The blower. Weird looking but works great. Could use more power than I have in the 110. I've heard that with the 130 engine, it is competing with backpacks. As it is on a 110, it is way more powerful than the biggest handheld blowers I've seen.

 

[cashishift]

Stihl FS-90 is light enough to use all day and still has plenty of torque. Have the dealer upgrade the head to an easy loader bump style, called "EasySpool".

This.

Love my FS-90R

 

[WDEagle]

I have been impressed. The 130 is probably a lot more machine than I need, but I'm a fan of overkill.

I'm not sure where I would go to get ethanol free gas, and I'm not a boater/water person. This is my second season with it and I haven't experienced any issues. Knock on wood.

What are your impressions of the chainsaw?

Try out this site:

Pure Gas

All attachments work great. I have used the chain saw (w/extension) to cut oak limbs at my house and at my Mom's house. She always asks me to bring the Stihl when I go to visit her.

 

[rlitman]

Ethanol free gas is not available within 100 miles of me so that's not an option.

With the Stihl 4-mix engines (like the KM130, KM110, and KM90), it is more important to use pure synthetic oil. Regular 2-cycle oil gums up the valves. Stihl only approves of using their "HP Ultra" oil mixed at 50:1 for these machines (mixing richer WILL cause problems).
That stuff is expensive but also comes with a fuel stabilizer built in. I add blue Stabil to 93 gas for my machine anyway, and have had no issues, even with gas from the last season.

Oh, and if your machine is acting weird, it could need a valve adjustment. That's supposed to be done after no more than 100 hours of operation. Takes 2 minutes. You can spend $7 on the special feeler gauge (it is narrower than a normal one), or just cut a strip out of a soda can.

 

[66dave]

Stihl pro line is my opinion. I have the fs130 and it s a madman! My father-in-law bought a residential line, think fs55 and it has way to much power for the shaft. The unit twists around, I think it is due to the wound shaft. The pro line has a solid shaft eliminating this issue.

 

[Mandres]

I picked up a Tanaka 24cc straight shaft on clearance at either Lowe's or HD (I can't remember, sry) last month for about $160. It's a pro level machine, comparable to the $280 Echo model with a solid steel shaft. It cuts like a banshee. If you can find one they might be even cheaper now.

 

[Recoil Rob]

OP here, I was going to wait until spring to buy but as it turns out one of my customers is moving from a house to an apartment and gave me an Echo SRM 210 which was the predecessor of the SRM 225. Put in fresh gas and started right up. Yeah, I ****....