Weed whacker recommendations?

[Innovate1]

We have a couple acres - going to downsize to a 75 x 160 ft lot in a year or so. Have gone through several weed whackers. If they work they are often temperamental. Part of the issue is wife and kids that use it don't have experience with gas engines - I can usually get them going but want less hassle. Last one was a Craftsman that we bought in a hurry and the lower gear went out in a year.

Have heard good things about battery powered models. Will stick with gas for the mower but battery trimmer might work well.

Thinking I should go with a commercial grade trimmer, especially if it's gas. Consumer grade are just too much trouble and short life.

Also hope to get something that feeds line better. Seems the spools get tangled up easily and have to be taken off and fiddled with more than should be needed.

Consumer reports recommends avoiding units with split shafts. Not sure exactly why - I haven't had trouble with that feature and have several other things I use occasionally like a small chain saw head.

Looking for some advice...

 

[rshadd]

Echo or Stihl would be tops on my list.

 

[NUTTSGT]

All my OPE is Stihl and I am the only one to use it.

 

[tstaude]

I picked up an Echo straight shaft a year ago, man is it awesome!
It starts easy, the line loads quickly and it has good power for $200!

 

[mjs3350]

I've been happy with my M18 trimmer. Trimming and blowing my 3300 sq ft yard only takes about 1/4 of the battery. I don't have the split shaft version, though I wish I did so I could get the edger attachment.

 

[astroracer]

I got a Husqvarna a year ago and am impressed with it. Starts every time (even after sitting all winter) is fairly light and the trimmer head is not to bad to work on. I would probably get another one if it came down to that.
Mark

 

[Bretny]

With a 75x160ft lot you should be looking at electric. I bet you can hardly burn 2gal of gas in a weed wacker all year on that small of a lot

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Stihl!

To keep the temperamental tendencies to a minimum don't use E-gas. E-gas is notorious for ruining carb"s diaphragm.

 

[nafterclifen]

With a 75x160ft lot you should be looking at electric. I bet you can hardly burn 2gal of gas in a weed wacker all year on that small of a lot

Agree with this. But if you do get gas, get a Stihl. Have had my FS90r for 13 years and haven't done anything to it other than change the string. I use non-ethanol gas and the synthetic (grey bottle) Stihl oil mix.

 

[b-boy]

I got a Husqvarna a year ago and am impressed with it. Starts every time (even after sitting all winter) is fairly light and the trimmer head is not to bad to work on. I would probably get another one if it came down to that.
Mark

Same here. Had it for 4 years. It starts every time.

Every other model I've owned crapped out after 1-2 years, and was a royal pain to start up.

 

[Innovate1]

Thanks for all the replies. Would be great if people can give the model in addition to the brand. Many of the companies make gas and battery models and also consumer and commercial grade.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought a Honda straight shaft, four stroke. A little expensive but powerful and it works. Always a start on the first pull.

 

[BigGarage]

A few weeks ago I bought this Ryobi. https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-4...attery-and-Charger-Included-RY40230/303365366

I ruined the battery on my 1st Ryobi apparently by leaving it out in the garage all winter for 5 years. Live & learn. A new battery was $100 but the new whacker was $160 with new battery and charger. Now I have 2 whackers and one battery.

The new whacker feeds line very well just by tapping it on the ground while using it. No problems any longer loading it with string either. You just push 10 ft. of line through the 2 holes and twist the hub in the proper direction. They even provide a plastic tool that fits over the hub and has a handle on it for you to use like a wrench. I have not taken the hub off yet and see no reason why I will ever need to.

I also bought an edger attachment with my 1st whacker so now I can use that also.

P.S. If you are doing a very large area you might want to invest in a second battery. They do a lot of whacking before they go dead and you can judge it for yourself and decide if you need one.

Dennis

 

[SnapOnGuy13]

Stihl Fs 91r. Go ahead and get an Echo speed feed head for it, they're only like 30 bucks and you load it by putting a piece of line through it then turning it and it spools itself.

 

[Augus7us]

Don’t buy a troybuilt. I had one and that ************* lasted less than two years before I sheared the shaft off because the junk pull start stopped working.

Last week I visited a relative that manages a local John Deere store and bought a stihl 110rx. Cost a lot more than the Troy built but I’m willing to bet it will last a lot longer.

If you don’t have a large yard I have a few buddies that have been happy with their battery trimmers. I thought about trying one but I have a couple acres and get some thick vegetation if I don’t stay on top of it so I played it safe with a gas model. So far so good, the stihl is a beast!

 

[engineer2]

You could get a professional battery powered trimmer like the Makita XRU09PT1 (or similar). Uses two 18 V batteries. I can do my 0.2 acre lot 4 times before having to recharge. Very little operator training required. Daughter and wife have used it without complaints. Uses industry standard spools, so you can buy pre-would ones anywhere if desired.

They also have a power head version you can get various attachments for, but it gets spendy if you start buying attachments.

 

[Showkey]

As mentioned .......small lot.........go witha quality battery unit. All the big players Milwaukee, Mikita, Ryobi, Stihl and Husq have excellent products.

 

[Cryptic1911]

If you absolutely have to stick with gas - get a honda 4 stroke. They have separate oil and gas, so you don't have to mix that **** anymore

If you want to go electric - The ego string trimmer with the carbon fiber shaft is pretty spiffy. I have one and it works great

 

[Slednut]

I've had an old Homelite I bought at a yard sale for $5 at least 10 years ago. I keep the air filter clean and the oil I use in it is made for filters. I also mix my expensive snowmobile oil (Polaris Gold) in the gas it uses.

When I fill the gas tank I run it through a funnel made for old camp stoves. I have bought two more at yard sales in case this one dies, but it just keeps on going.

 

[Pingel85]

I've had a black and decker battery operated for 5 years and trim 2 acres easily on a charge. Not the most powerful unit in the world, but for normal trimming works great since I can run it against the siding etc without damaging either. Line is autofed and has never tangled. 2nd benefit of the lower power is it tends not to use much line.

Won't ever go back to mixed gas if I don't have to, what a pain.

 

[Moosefire]

I have redmax whip and edger. Both have ran great for me for 9 years

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[vavet]

I’ve has my HD sourced Echo 2 stroke for about 12 years. It’s been great. If I was buying today, I’d seriously consider a battery powered unit.

 

[MBABGarage]

I've got an Echo SRM-225 (Home Depot - $199) and it has been great for my 3 acres.
I use Motomix (or any 50:1 premix) fuel in it so I don't have to mess with mixing. Stihl makes a great product as well.

Now, its a straight shaft and these tend to be a little heavier than curved shaft models. The line is super easy to reload as you don't even have to take the head assembly apart. You just feed the line through and twist it. Its a nice feature.

If your family is going to use it, you may look at curved shaft models because they are typically lighter and shorter...unless everyone in your family is tall and strong.
I see that Stihl has some nice new battery powered options out there now, but I haven't had the chance to try one out yet. I may go that route next time. I like the quiet factor. After 3 acres, it tends to be a bit numbing with gas power.
Happy hunting!

 

[Kaizen]

Echo 210 here as well. Probably 6 years. Needs a strap if going to use for a long time. Only gripe is the head spins opposite so if I go one way I get a lot kicking back at me. Always wear glasses and pants. Actually drew blood from some woody stuff I was cutting. It’s a beast.


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[BitDrive]

I honestly couldn't be happier with the EGO battery trimmer, weed whacker, chain saw and leaf blower. interchangeable batteries and I used it to mow down a half acre of weeds with 1.5 batteries in 45 minutes.

 

[SGKent]

For those of us who have a mail box post and cable TV cover to weed whack only, $200 is a bit steep. Right now I am using electric. Battery would be nice but can't bring myself to spend the money. Powered with gas is too much trouble also. We don't have anything but the alcohol laced fuel here in West Coast Loony Land, so to save the 2-cycle Zima carbs I have to drain them, and run them out every time they are used.

 

[larry4406]

You could get a professional battery powered trimmer like the Makita XRU09PT1 (or similar). Uses two 18 V batteries. I can do my 0.2 acre lot 4 times before having to recharge. Very little operator training required. Daughter and wife have used it without complaints. Uses industry standard spools, so you can buy pre-would ones anywhere if desired.

They also have a power head version you can get various attachments for, but it gets spendy if you start buying attachments.

I bought the same unit based on Engineer2’s feedback. Truly an awesome machine. We have 3 acres. I do wish I had a second set of batteries for swap out which is my only complaint. Unit has POWER!

 

[rburke65]

Still.....love mine

 

[Notgrownup]

Echo all the way here. It’s all I use.

 

[tonyciambrone]

M18 if you have Milwaukee. there's really no reason to get a 2 stroke trimmer unless you run a business cutting grass. I have 8 acres. I have to use a 9.0 and a 12.0 battery to get everything. but that's about an hour and 45 minutes

 

[MattRMagnum]

I've a couple year old version of the Troybilt TB685 EC, and it's fantastic. I used it for trimming/clearing/managing the difficult spots of the 1.1 acres at my old place. Some of the attachments are so-so, but the trimmer itself is great.

 

[JRas]

I got a Husqvarna a year ago and am impressed with it. Starts every time (even after sitting all winter) is fairly light and the trimmer head is not to bad to work on. I would probably get another one if it came down to that.
Mark

Same here. Had it for 4 years. It starts every time.

Every other model I've owned crapped out after 1-2 years, and was a royal pain to start up.

I bought a Honda straight shaft, four stroke. A little expensive but powerful and it works. Always a start on the first pull.

Honda and Husqvarna, my Honda 4 stroke is a beast as well.

 

[Bessy]

I've been using an echo SRM-225 straight shaft for about 8 years, and I used to cut professionally with it for a few years, so it's seen plenty of use. The only issue I've had was the primer bulb splitting on me, $5 later it was good to go.

I'd suggest echo over Stihl only due to the price difference. Cutting a lot your size regularly, you'll never kill it, so you might as well save a couple of dollars.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[Farmall450]

Echo SRM-225 (5 year warranty; we've had one for 6 or 7 now -- flawless)
DeWalt 20v -- So far, so good. 45 min on moderate use w/ a 5aH Battery

 

[JerryB]

We don't have anything but the alcohol laced fuel here in West Coast Loony Land, so to save the 2-cycle Zima carbs I have to drain them, and run them out every time they are used.

My ag-based dealer in Ukiah, CA carries Stihl trimmers. I really like my FS91R, but winding the bobbins is time consuming and tough on my hands. Fortunately we have several extra spools and my wife does the winding duties.

This same dealer has alcohol-free unleaded fuel. I take a 1 or 2 gallon container in and and they refill it. A friend ruined his Stihl trimmer running regular (leaded & with alcohol) gas through it, so I'm really careful to always use the specified fuel & oil!

Going to check on the 'Echo speed feed head' mentioned above. Sounds like it might cut down on rewind time & effort.

 

[Jackfre]

My WE is a Stihl FS-90. I have the shoulder harness for it. I spent three hours on it today. It is large and does a great job in the heavy stuff. I have given up using regular gas and take the hit cost wise on the canned gas. Fewer problems on all my oil/gas gear. threading the damned things is a pitn, but becomes easier as you get to do it all the time. My wife doesn't like to run the 90 as it is to big. She wanted her own weed eater. Oh, how I love this girl I bought her a small Takata. She likes it and it runs well. On a lot your size I would expect you could use a smaller machine and be happy with it.

 

[Parrothead]

Whatever you do, don’t buy a gas anything.

You’re trimming a just a hair over a 1/4 acre and a battery operated trimmer will certainly do what you want. I’m on a bigger lot than you are with trees, a fence, deck, etc. and I do it with a 20v

If you really want to be commercial Husqvarna, Stihl and Echo all make battery powered trimmers.

Pretty much anything will take care of a lot that size. I’m using a Black & Decker LST400 with a 5.0Ah battery and it does my yard with no issue.

This is a little dated, but it gives you an idea.

https://www.protoolreviews.com/tool...attery-powered-string-trimmer-shootout/21505/

 

[Two Sheds]

I use a gas Echo, which seemed like a good compromise between cost and performance. I now have a large yard, so the gas is useful. I also have an original 1970s Weedeater "Needie" 500 series electric, which I have been using for decades. It has outlasted all other electric models.

 

[matt_i]

I have a Sthil straight shaft, 19yo. Its been in for 3 prime bulb changes but it just keeps on going and going. Now I have a larger property but the thing will eat whatever.

I sport for 1 gallon of premium fuel for the mix, pre-run 1 gallon into a vehicle, etc just to make sure I'm not buying someone else's 87 which was in the hose.

 

[rockettgpw]

Another vote for The Stihl FS90R.
Coming up to 15 years and never a problem with starting or power to get through rough stuff. Haven't even needed to check the plug.
The factory feed head was good until a ratchet pawl inside it broke about a year ago, part not serviced so went for an aftermarket feed head. Have always used the Stihl oil at 50:1 Thankfully ethanol fuel isn't common here.
Pretty impressed with Stihl's square carbon fibre cord too.