String Trimmers, AKA weed wackers

[byoungblood]

Echo and Stihl are not the same company

Since someone has already brought this thread from the dead...

I was told that Shindaiwa bought Echo. They do have a couple of lesser expensive Shindaiwas available, but it appeared that Echo was being marketed as the "quality homeowner" brand, whereas the Shindaiwa was meant for (and priced for) professionals.

I went with an Echo a couple of months ago as our Ryobi had finally succumbed to the bad (ethanol tainted) fuel over the past two years after running relatively trouble free for about 5-6 years before that. Putting the two side-by-side though, the Echo is definitely the better built of the two.

 

[greybeard]

Since John Deere ruined Green Machine, I'd say Stihl would be your best bet. My Green Machine is still going strong after 8 years of hard use but, Deere bought Green Machine and let it turn to ****. So sad.

 

[Monte]

Stihl - Assembled in USA

 

[american lockpicker]

Stihl - Assembled in USA

All the pros use them here FWIW.

 

[TexasT]

love my tiller

love my blower

love my trimmer.

i get parts online the local dealers think their parts are golden. Would like to support the locals, but I also like to eat and have a roof over my head. ereplacementparts.com/echo-parts-

 

[durallymax]

all of our stuff is Stihl, cant beat the service in our area, tons of dealers, millions of parts. Always start, decently priced now too.

3 weed eaters
3 chainsaws
1 gas axe

 

[austinlord13]

Don't buy junk. Get a Husqvarna 223L or a Husqvarna 128DJX.

 

[american lockpicker]

I almost got a Husqvarna at Sears this year but they were made in China.

 

[austinlord13]

I almost got a Husqvarna at Sears this year but they were made in China.

Ok? Once you get a Husqvarna, you won't regret it. Most Husqvarna's are made in Charlotte, North Carolina. That's also where we get our inventory from.

 

[Gary S]

I bought a cheap electric trimmer and spent the rest of what a gas powered one would have cost running underground wires and putting posts with receptacles around my yard. In the past I used the 2 stroke gas powered ones and hated them like dentist visits. My yard isn't that large, so I'm perfectly happy.
Now, I don't worry if my trimmer will start, if it will run, or if the vibration and smell of it will kill me.
The cheap electric trimmers are so simple that they last almost forever and the only maintenance cost is string.

 

[american lockpicker]

Ok? Once you get a Husqvarna, you won't regret it. Most Husqvarna's are made in Charlotte, North Carolina. That's also where we get our inventory from.

My lawn mower comes from there.

 

[ULTRASTIHL]

I'd recommend a STIHL not just because I'm a certified STIHL mechanic but because they are the best made machines on the planet. I've had Stihl way before I was certified. My 18 year old chainsaw still has the original fuel lines and runs perfect!
Also do yourself a favor and use non ethanol fuel. Also use Stihl oil (Ultra preferred)
They have stabilizer IN the oil. read the bottle Unfortunatley you will stihl have to
change primer bulbs especially if you use ethanol fuel. Best thing you can do is run the
machine every couple of weeks (winter if it's a blower works great for snow blowing)
Otherwise drain it and run it out till next season.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Don't buy junk. Get a Husqvarna 223L or a Husqvarna 128DJX.

Back from the dead, perfect for Halloween.

X2 on the 223L. I've got 2 of them. Used both commercially for 2 years with no problems. Still using them both.

Stihl's are top of the line machines, but you have to pay top price for them. For my money I'll go with Husqvarna every time.

 

[reddog289]

I use a Shindaiwa at work, I like it and it starts much better then my 20 year old Homelite at home. Only thing I never like about the Shindaiwa was the line head. Once I figured that out it was fine.
After last weekend though I got to thinking I am going to have to replace that Homelite sooner or later. This thread came back at a good time.

 

[darkk]

I was always buying a new wacker every couple years because they crapped out. A couple years ago we bought a Honda 4 stroke, it's about 5 times heavier than most wackers. But I don't care, this thing cuts like a wacker on steroids even just over idle. Glad it only takes about 20-30 minutes to get around all the edges. We paid around $450 for it and it's heavy as hell but well worth it....never had a wacker that worked this good.

 

[TOOLFREEQ]

echo first stihl second

 

[Matt018]

Buy a Redmax, curved shaft trimmers are a joke, redmax is is the best 2 cycle equipment out there, look on a pro landscapers truck, all you see is redmax and exmark they buy it for a reason.

 

[miketyler]

The Ryobis are cheap disposable machines. I have three in my garage now, none of which are working. If you read the manual you may be surprised to find that they are designed for only 50 hrs use. That will go a long way for some folks. The power head assembly is cheap at around $70? I use the attachments and like the versatility. When they are new they start quick, They are lightweight and seem ok but for longevity they absolutley ****. I cant believe some of you guys are getting that many miles out of them. I will probably be looking for Stihl or Echo soon

 

[cheechi]

Ok? Once you get a Husqvarna, you won't regret it. Most Husqvarna's are made in Charlotte, North Carolina. That's also where we get our inventory from.

do you know if thats also where they refurb them? its about an hour away from me which may just be coincidence. i recently got a 150BT & 128LD refurbs from northern. $310 all total with the in store warranty on the trimmer due to the mixed reviews.

I played with the cman & ryobi attachments in store and they fit, haven't bought one to run it yet but the 5 seconds i played with the hedge trimmer attachment in the store (hd let me run it in the open garden area, sears wouldn't) it ran it but i only gave it a little throttle. unless its a matter of loose connections where they mate (please someone let me know if thats eventually going to become an issue) im pretty confident with my trimmer investment.

unfortunately i dont have long term experience with either ro share but i was all set to buy stihl for both until i found those on sale at northern.

 

[cashishift]

Stihl is great equipment, but I don't know what they were thinking when the put that horrible gas cap on their string trimmers. Be ready to struggle everytime you add fuel.

Every piece of equipment I own is Stihl.. only the trimmer has that cap.

I had a problem ONCE.. never again and that was my own fault. I don't see the issue, I think it works great.

I have a Stihl FS-90R and would recommend it to anyone.. plenty of power, solid steel shaft, can run attachments if you desire.. made in the usa too!

Plus, buying it at a Stihl dealer ensures a person who knows the product line can help you decide which model is best for you, and be there if a problem arises.

The same can't be said for buying one at a big box store.

 

[Crow Horse]

I purchased a refurbished Husquvarna 128CD this past summer to replace my Craftsman trimmer that gave up the ghost. It's a straight shaft (like it better than curved) and it has performed flawlessly. It only cost $100 (about 1/2 price compared to spankin' new). I have to do A LOT of weed wacking/trimming with it and I consider it worthy of consideration. I have so much trimming to do that I pulled the trigger on their "pro" harness to help my back out. Both were money well spent.....

 

[cashishift]

I'd recommend a STIHL not just because I'm a certified STIHL mechanic but because they are the best made machines on the planet. I've had Stihl way before I was certified. My 18 year old chainsaw still has the original fuel lines and runs perfect!
Also do yourself a favor and use non ethanol fuel. Also use Stihl oil (Ultra preferred)
They have stabilizer IN the oil. read the bottle Unfortunatley you will stihl have to
change primer bulbs especially if you use ethanol fuel. Best thing you can do is run the
machine every couple of weeks (winter if it's a blower works great for snow blowing)
Otherwise drain it and run it out till next season.

Premium fuel and Ultra oil for me.. everything gets drained for winter too

Then in the spring everything gets serviced by the dealer I bought them from.

 

[nick__m]

I've only used Echo string trimmers but they have always been very reliable. The only thing that seems to go bad is the fuel lines and primer bulbs crack. But since replacement parts are widely available so its usually a few bucks to repair.

My experience with Stihl chainsaws lends me to believe that their string trimmers will be top notch quality. Since their parts are also widely available they would be a great choice to.

Poulan on the other hand is just garbage. They cut corners in everyplace possible which creates a machine that is hardly serviceable. Taking them apart and putting them back together is like solving a rubiks cube.

If you get a echo or stihl and take care of it you will be set for a long time. If you get a poulan or and other cheap trimmer it will hardly last a season.

 

[Wakefield]

I understand there are two types of Husquvarna some are excellent upmarket professional machines and others are consumer grade stuff made for big box stores that are made more like a Poulan or Ryobi.
Stihl does not seem to want to do business through the big box stores.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I bought the Echo unit that is powerhead plus attachments. One motor to power several attachments. Trimmer, edger, tiller, and hedge trimmer all work great. I use rubber crutch tips to protect the attachment opening for the tools that are not being used. I also use a 9" piece of pvc with two caps to carry my spare line in. One cap glued on one loose, just cut pieces from long roll length of pvc and you are ready to go with a days worth of replacement lines in one inch size holder. They list about 20 different attachments depending on what you need. I saw a rubber sweep head modified to place gravel on live steam gauge(7 3/4') gauge track layout.

 

[LSU]

Stihl is great equipment, but I don't know what they were thinking when the put that horrible gas cap on their string trimmers. Be ready to struggle everytime you add fuel.

Ken, not sure what model you have but I got a recall notice from Stihl on mine. Took it to the dealer and the gas cap got changed. Never had another problem. Guys at the shop told me it was the Ethanol that was eatting at the cap. While I was there I changed my chainsaw fuel cap also.

Point of my post is - buy it from a place where you can get it serviced on the spot. Next time you're in Lowe's, HD or Sear's ask the clerk where the "service" department is. You'll get a blank stare.

I have Echo and Stihl products I bought from the local dealer. Are they more expensive than the Walmart, HD or Lowe's stuff. Yes.

I think most of my Stihl stuff is about 5 years old. I use fuel stabilizers in them and have never had an issue. I use the Kombi which allows me to change the tool while using the same engine. Very neat product.

I also like the Stihl straight shaft products.

My Echo might be 12 years old. It is a blower and runs like it is new.

I'm not one of these guys that always needs to buy the most expensive because "it is the best" but I've discovered on 2 cycle engines that Stihl makes really good stuff.

I think long term you'll save money by putting a little more money down up front.

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I have a Homelite that I bought new in 94. I use it on 3/4 acre and use it hard. The only thing that I have replaced in all those years is the cutter head. It still has the original spark plug in it. I only use synthetic 2 cycle oil and run Stabil all year long. I guess I just got lucky. If it quit right now, I would not be out any money. If I ever have to replace it, I will spend the money and get a Stihl straight shaft.

 

[rlitman]

Ken, not sure what model you have but I got a recall notice from Stihl on mine. Took it to the dealer and the gas cap got changed. Never had another problem. Guys at the shop told me it was the Ethanol that was eatting at the cap. While I was there I changed my chainsaw fuel cap also.

Point of my post is - buy it from a place where you can get it serviced on the spot. Next time you're in Lowe's, HD or Sear's ask the clerk where the "service" department is. You'll get a blank stare.

I have Echo and Stihl products I bought from the local dealer. Are they more expensive than the Walmart, HD or Lowe's stuff. Yes.

I think most of my Stihl stuff is about 5 years old. I use fuel stabilizers in them and have never had an issue. I use the Kombi which allows me to change the tool while using the same engine. Very neat product. . .

Yep. I had three of those quick change gas caps replaced by the recall.
On one, I didn't use the machine a lot, and it was still ok. One was kind of a pain. The one on my backpack blower was so bad, I had to use pliers to get the cap off when the dealer was replacing it.

This is where you can find the details on the recall, btw:
http://www.stihlusa.com/information/recalls/toolless-fuel-cap/

I actually like the toolless caps, now that they don't get stuck. It's a pity that there was so much backlash against the defective ones, that Stihl went back to screw on caps, even though the recall solved the issue so well.

I always use Stihl's HP-Ultra oil which comes with built-in stabilizers, and then added Stabil. Didn't help with the gas cap, but my engines have been flawless over 7 years. Still start like they were new.

Stihl's big claim about not being sold in box stores is because they want to offer all of their customers personal service. That's also why you can't buy one of their machines still in the cardboard box. The dealer must open it, set everything up, and test it out, before it is sold.

I too love my Kombi tools.
I've got the KM-110 machine, the straight shaft trimmer (curved shaft tools are toys), the straight shaft edger, the articulating hedge trimmer, the pole saw, the carbon fiber extension, and the blower (which looks really weird, but which works REALLY well).

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I have some stihl and echo stuff. They are both good. I would probably just buy echo. my echo string trimmer is hard to start but it has been flawless.

 

[retrobuilder]

I had the Homelite version someone mentioned- thinking since Textron/ John Deere owned the line it must be good enough.

Lasted one part of a season a skimpy trigger snapped and the shaft hub warped as it could not support the motor overhang weight on the shaft.

Go with homeowner or 80 series Stihl, mine is 14 years old and only problem is I need to replace the primer bulb now...great power, controls, balance, service plus rebuildable.

Husqvarna is good and Echo is decent for homeowners.

.080/.090 line is good size to use.