Major Ramifications
Well-known member
What brand and model are you replacing and what is wrong with it?
Used String Trimmers
- Thread starter Bull
- Start date
It's a Troy Bilt. Can't recall the model offhand but I could check. Basically, something got jammed up in the head last year and I could not figure out how to fully disassemble it. People here could not help me, either. So, instead of throwing money at it, since I find it only "adequate" and nothing special, I have decided to upgrade.
Merkava_4
Banned
I'm still slightly undecided. I pretty much got it narrowed down to the Tanaka TBC-260PFL, but I haven't been able to hold one in my hands; the dealer doesn't stock that model and never will, so I'd have to buy it online site unseen.
Merkava_4
Banned
The main reason why I'm leaning towards that model is because it has an extra long tube; it's 12" longer than an Echo, so I'd be able to stand up straight while using it and be more comfortable.
alpha property
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2009
- Messages
- 33
i own a landscaping company and we only use Sthil products, I run FS90R trimmers with the 4mix engines, piles of torque, solid drive shafts, light weight, will accept different attatcments, i have a bush cutting blade for one. Great fuel economy out of them. Now I pay just over $600 for a trimmer in canadian dollars after taxes and stuff, but these things last 5-10 years commercialy so they should last a homeowner a life time
Merkava_4
Banned
Are you a tall drink of water, Merk?
Not really, just 6'2", but whenever I hold a trimmer at the dealer, I'm always having to lean over to touch the spool to the floor.
Not really, just 6'2", but whenever I hold a trimmer at the dealer, I'm always having to lean over to touch the spool to the floor.
Same height as me, then. I hadn't noticed this issue with my previous trimmer, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention.
Merkava_4
Banned
If I hold the trimmer while standing up straight, the spool will be about 10" off the store's floor. You see when I'm using a string trimmer, I like to have the spool flat against the ground....
Merkava_4
Banned
Well, it I put my arms straight against my side and measure from my middle finger to the top of my shoulder, it's about 34 inches - so you tell me....
Well, it I put my arms straight against my side and measure from my middle finger to the top of my shoulder, it's about 34 inches - so you tell me....
Hmmm...doesn't sound like a case of T-rex arms at all!
Well, I pulled the trigger on the 265T last night; I decided that gorilla torque is what I wanted. The weeds here are HIGH. This thing will prove itself or fail on the first whacking, and I will keep people informed.
After taxes, I dropped about $350, which is way more than I thought I'd spend on a string trimmer. But, I do not have a regular size yard, so why mess around? Maybe it will give me a good decade or so of service!
After taxes, I dropped about $350, which is way more than I thought I'd spend on a string trimmer. But, I do not have a regular size yard, so why mess around? Maybe it will give me a good decade or so of service!
Merkava_4
Banned
I'll be anxiously waiting for a full review. 
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Make sure you wear some good steel toe cap boots when using it!
I've seen pics of someone's foot that was run over by a strimmer. It was f**ked up good an proper.
I've seen pics of someone's foot that was run over by a strimmer. It was f**ked up good an proper.
dellwas
Banned
Good thing you didn't get the E.W. from Home Depot. Echo has the best warranty in the business. Five year for a homeowner, 2 year for commercial use, and they back it.
http://www.echo-usa.com/5year/
http://www.echo-usa.com/5year/
I have the Echo SRM230. It’s a great machine and I don't think you would be disappointed with it. I got it at home depot who tried to sell me one of those extended warranties, which I passed on. I figure if there is ever anything wrong with it that I can’t figure out I will take it to one of the local half-dozen small engine repair shops in the area...<o>
Moose, I usually just wear some shin-length black engineer's boots during this chore...no steel toe.
That line really should not come anywhere near my foot if I am handling the machine properly. What happened to the guy you know?
Merkava_4
Banned
Has it arrived yet?
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
It wasn't someone i know, i read an article about it. I don't remember all the details, but the strimmer line ran accross his foot, tore the boot to shreds and tore his foot apart. It sure didn't look much like a foot after.
Not trying to be condescending, just trying to warn.
truckdriver
Well-known member
Years ago I was trimming and had to open the gate on my fence. I sat the trimmer down on the concrete behind me and "forgot" about it for a couple of seconds. I turned around and walked right into the cutting path. I had several deep cuts on my right shin. Very painful.
Has it arrived yet?
Thanks for the nudge, Merk. I have been meaning to update this.
The trimmer has been put through its paces several times already. Here is what I have to report:
Mine came with some line installed already. I don't know what the specs on the line were, but I know that it sucked. I was totally disappointed in the trimmer's performance on the first use, but realized it was all the line's faults. I believe the line might have been meant for trimming gossamer; that's about how heavy-duty it was. I installed some .095 heavy duty line (Shakespeare, I believe) and that really kicked things up a notch. If I stick with line, I will want to move up to an even larger size. The weeds that I trim are beastly tall and thick/dense.
The machine has an incredible amount of torque. Even in the heaviest of weeds, there is no detectable bog of any kind from the motor. I keep the throttle about half way; if I crank it up it sounds like a little jet and really takes off. I'm actually afraid to run it at that speed for long. I am not used to high-winding motors; they always sound to me like they are going to blow up.
The head has an annoying tendency to get tall grass/weeds wrapped around in the space between the top of the spool and the body of the trimmer itself. This then creates resistance, so in order to avoid stressing the machine I have to keep placing the tank on the ground so the head is up in the air and I can clear out the wrapped-up weeds. This is a PITA.
I believe that I will try to switch from trimmer line to the 8" grass and weed blade that Echo offers. I have to upgrade to a metal guard at the same time. But, I feel like this might be more efficient as the blade will cut in one pass what takes a couple passes with the nylon line to get cut totally flush like I want it.
Indy_500
Well-known member
lol this thread makes me laugh. i bought a ryobi one for $5 at a rummage sale and it did not run. i cleaned the carb and wah-lah!
Why does it make you laugh?
I'm glad about your Ryobi. But, there is no way that machine would handle the kind of trimming that I have to do around here.
