Line trimmer?

[DeathGrip]

I need to get one.I have about 400 feet of fencing and a lot of other places that the mower is rough to get to.I don't want electric so my question is two stroke or four?Also what brands are best for the money?

Thanks,

[Stonecove]

When I was looking for a string trimmer and blower, I just looked to see what the pros in the area are using. The local yard guys all have Stihl. One warning about them and others: the gas you use has ethynol which will eat the freeze plugs. Always use a gas conditioner to prevent this problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I learned the hard way.
I got the combo unit: it has removable heads so you can have one motor to run a trimmer and an edger: STIHL KombiSystem and KombiMotor - Professional Multi-task Tools | STIHL USA

Also instead of using the string, get the plastic flail attachment, it's called a polycut: Trimmer Blades – Trimmer Cutting Heads & Blades | STIHL
If you buy a new unit, you can get a 4 year warrenty if you use Stihl synthetic oil for your gas mix.
Good luck!
Stonecove

[Jellybean]

With the way tools are made now they are all probably coming off the same assembly line in China.

As to the two or four stroke...two strokes are lighter and simpler but require the gas and oil to be mixed. Four strokes are heavier and more cumbersome but the oil and gas doesn't need to be mixed. It does still need both, regardless of what some people think.

Another thing you might want to conisder is the convertable models. They can be changed to several different tools, such as weed trimmer, brush cutter, cultivator, hedge trimmer, edger, chain saw and etc. They do come in handy and with not buying a motor for each seperate tool, they can save you a lot of money.

We're on our second year with a Ryobi 4 stroke with a few adapt-it attachments. I've had a Homelite 2 stroke since 1992 that still runs pretty good, but the wife hated having to mix the fuel.

[Rule3]

Sthil or Echo are the only good ones. Forget the 4 stroke. Too heavy and not near the power to weight.

I have the Echo from Homer Deopt

[zercool]

2-stroke, and Husqvarna or Stihl. Prepare to spend about $200-250. I have a Husqy and am VERY happy with it.

[cass]

I'm a big fan of Echo. My first on lasted 23 years before it started giving me trouble. I have both Echo and Stihl trimmers - the Echo is the more dependable of the two. If you'll remove the spark arrester screen, it will last a lot longer.

[G-Mac]

I've got a Stihl with the straight shaft. Bought it because of their chainsaw quality. No disappointments.

[LoadedRound]

Originally Posted by G-Mac

I've got a Stihl with the straight shaft. Bought it because of their chainsaw quality. No disappointments.

G-Mac does speak the truth. Go ahead and get the blower while you're there.

[BE Mike]

I have this one: Shop Husqvarna 2-Cycle Straight-Shaft Gas String Trimmer at Lowes.com I've been using it for 3 years or so. The only drawbacks are that it is a little PIA to fill the dual line trimmer holder, the titanium trimmer line is a little pricey and the way I hold it, the motor contacts my forearm near the elbow and it gets hot! Other than those things, it is tops. The line lasts a long time and cuts through tough stuff. It is easy to start. I use Stabil in with the gas and oil mixture.

[rags]

One more for Stihl.

rags

[DeathGrip]

Thanks again,

[Indiana George]

Yet another vote for Stihl.

I've got two; one loaded with 'string', the other with poly blades.

Two because my wife wanted a light weight one and later decided that it was much easier to just let ME do the trimming!!! LOL!!! As usual . . . she was right! ~Grin~

[G.T. Smith]

I have had a bunch of different ones and used to repair and sell them. The one I own now is the best I have ever used. It is a Sthil FS-55R. Straight shaft dual line string trimmer. I bought the brush cutting set up that comes with a steel blade of which there are several variations.
Starts and runs great. Light weight and plenty of power.
Peace,
gordon

[dark star]

john deere makes a great line trimmer, I have had mine for 6yrs now with zero problems...stihl and huski are also very good...pay the money and get a good one that will last and not give you any trouble

[HAWKEYE10]

I think if you could take a poll of the commercial lawn care people you would find that Shindaiwa trimmers would be number one. I think some of the trimmers that other people have recommended are also good but I think the Shindaiwa would be the best. Don


Trimmers | Shindaiwa-USA.com

Check the net for the best prices.

[DeathGrip]

You guys rock!

I've seen what the locals carry and Stihl is very popular around these parts.

I guess if I want a Stihl I'm gonna have to go to a pro-shop.My wallet hurts already.

I want quality and if I can "Made in the U.S.A."

This is gonna have to last me a long time.

[gamedic]

Deathgrip, I am a professional lancscaper. I use Shindaiwa and Stihl. Both are excellent, but Shindaiwa is by far my favorite. I have also tried Redmax and Husqvarna but didn't like them. Al small two stroke engines give problems these day bucause of the ethanol in the gas. You will have to put a fuel additive such as Stabil or Startron in your fuel. If your lucky enough to have a gas station near by that still sells straight gas it would be worth it to buy for your small engines. If there is a Shindaiwa dealer near by go take a look at them you wont be disappointed. If you go with Stihl buy a fs110 4 mix. The 4 mix trimmers are light and powerful. If you are going to use it a lot invest in a Speedfeed trimmer head. It is made by Shindaiwa, but they make versions to fit most all trimmers. You don't have to take it apart to load string. jusy slide a 12-15 foot piece of string though the head and wind it up. it literally takes 20 seconds to reload. There about $30 and worth it. Good luck with your purchase.

[ThirtyAcres]

Originally Posted by HAWKEYE10

I think if you could take a poll of the commercial lawn care people you would find that Shindaiwa trimmers would be number one.........................

I used Shindaiwa blowers-trimmers-chainsaws commercially for 21 years.

T-27 model trimmers. EB-45 backback blowers. 488 chainsaws. HT-20 hedge trimmers.

I still have one of the T-27 trimmers.......used it last week to trim a half-mile of fenceline on my farm. It is 12 years old. Still runs like a top.

I always ran 50 to 1 mix in everything with 89 octane fuel. Best thing about the commercial Shindiawa is that it has an adjustable high-speed jet on the carb.

My vote for most dependable.

[Armyphotog]

I hate those line trimmers but use one regularly. I cuss every time I have to redo the line. As they get older, they get more contrary. Gone to electric, though. Seems to be less trouble and certainly lasts longer.

[doublesharp]

Whatever you get, be sure it has a Shindy speed feed head. I've got a Husqvarna and a Kawasaki, both straight shaft 2 cycle.

[m1gunner]

If I were to buy another gas trimmer, , I would pay the price and get a Stihl.

Likely I will never pull another 2 cycle rope as long as I live. I bought a 24 volt cordless trimmer, and it does all I want or can do these days.

There is nothing on this earth more aggravating than trying to start a 2 cycle motor that is acting up.

[enfield]

I own, use and love a Shindaiwa straight shaft trimmer. I've heard good things about the Stihls also.

BTW, my chainsaw and backpack blower are both Stihls.

[doublesharp]

Here is a link to the Kawasaki I bought as a backup to my Husqvarna. $187.00 delivered. Set up easy and mine started 3rd pull after adding gas/oil. I use Amsoil synthetic 2 cycle mixed at 80:1.

The Kaw is the easiest starting piece of equipment I've ever owned. I don't have a speed feed head for it but the factory head is easy to load. I think the line feed heads are all much better since Shindaiwa raised the bar with the speed feed.

KAWASAKI KTFR LINE TRIMMER | eBay

[Maximumbob54]

Just don't make the mistake I did. I went cheap and bought a Homelite trimmer. If I could set in in the yard and blast it with a cylinder worth from the 29... I would do it twice.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by DeathGrip

You guys rock!

I've seen what the locals carry and Stihl is very popular around these parts.

I guess if I want a Stihl I'm gonna have to go to a pro-shop.My wallet hurts already.

I want quality and if I can "Made in the U.S.A."

This is gonna have to last me a long time.

That's the best way to judge. Down here in SW Florida where cutting is a year round affair, all the commercial guys have two or three Echos or Sthils. I am more than happy with my Echo straight shaft. Two pulls and it's running. For home use it's more than enough. 5 yr warranty.

[enfield]

One of the reasons I got rid of my McCulloch string trimmer was that my wife couldn't start it. I could as long as I religiously followed the instructions. Seemed to be beyond her.

The other reason was that it ate throttle cables -about 1 every 2 years. I had a supply of them against the probability that they would dry up.

My Shindy starts reliably on 3 pulls, but my wife claims that she still can't start it.

I believe I've been had.

[mod29]

Originally Posted by enfield

My Shindy starts reliably on 3 pulls, but my wife claims that she still can't start it.

I believe I've been had.

I believe you're right!

-Jim

[dmar]

I got tired of wrestling with my 15 year old Toro trimmer (was a good unit, just got difficult in it's old age...), so shopped out the options and ended up with a Stihl Kombi unit. Really like it, very powerful, well made, versatile, and starts easy. I have the line trimmer and hedge trimmer attachments, so far... Really like the hedge trimmer attachment, great for tall shrubs/trees. Will get the chain saw attachment soon, too cool not to have!

I was on the fence between the Stihl and the Echo, but was impressed with the overall quality of the Stihl, and made in the USA counts a lot in my book... I have an Echo blower, and have been very happy with it, runs great after 5 years, they make good equipment. I keep hearing good things about Shind(howeveryouspellit), but no local dealers for me.

[DeathGrip]

Originally Posted by dmar

I was on the fence between the Stihl and the Echo, but was impressed with the overall quality of the Stihl, and made in the USA counts a lot in my book... I have an Echo blower, and have been very happy with it, runs great after 5 years, they make good equipment.

Made in the USA.

Yes Sir,That counts a lot to me also.

[novalty]

Originally Posted by OCD1

Stihl or Echo are the only good ones. Forget the 4 stroke. Too heavy and not near the power to weight.

I have the Echo from Homer Depot

Couldn't have said it better, except I have a Stihl. Have used them a Stihl trimmer for more hours than I would say several members combined. My Stihl 110 starts by the second pull, I put 2 tanks of gas through mine this weekend trimming my property--and they are pretty good on gas. Suggest getting a fairly heavy line like 0.095. I prefer Stihl just from experience, my father, brother and I used to maintain 30 lawns when I has in high-school. We would put well approximately 15 gallons of gas through 1 trimmer in a summer. Would keep a trimmer for 3 years, then trade it in. Never had one fail on us. Now the newer models don't seem to have as much power as the ones from the late 90's, and my 110 is a newer model lost the ignition control module which was expensive. A buddy of mine lost the ignition control module on his 130, which fortunately for him was new enough to be coverted under the warranty.

[kalei]

Just so y-all know, Echo and Shindiawa merged last year into a company called Yamabiko. Price wise the Shindiawa is is priced higher that the Echo.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by DeathGrip

Made in the USA.

Yes Sir,That counts a lot to me also.

Their saws are made in Germany. Even though they have a large USA plant I am not sure where the engines for the trimmers are mad, Not that it really matters,(other than it's good to by American if you can) they are top of the line machines.

The Echos are Japan I believe. But for what it's worth, they make some of the best engines around. Out on the water around here it's pretty much Yamaha or Honda which is testimony to how well they hold up in the worst salt water environment.

[Pasifikawv]

I got tired of buying cheapo trimmers from the big-box stores. It seemed they died each season with repair costs about the same as replacement costs. I went to my Stihl/Husq dealer, but both were just outside my price range. The shop had introduced Shindaiwa that year and the shop owner/rep thought they were good quality and worthy of his store. The Shindaiwa equivilent was in my price range and I have had it for 6+ years now without a single issue. Not sure what the products are like now given the recent merger with Echo, but my 2004 Shindaiwa trimmer runs like a champ. Too bad it wasn't a USA made product.

[novalty]

My father bought a Shindaiwa Powerbroom around '99, and still has actually still has it. I cleaned the winter sand and debris off my lawn a month or so ago with it. It has been used hard, and still works well given it's age. Last year when I was using it the plastic axle that holds on one of the drums twisted hard enough and snapped off half the head.Boy was I suprised when I was cleaning off my lawn and half the head flies off and starts rolling away on me. He replaced the axle, slid on the drum, and replaced the cotter pin, and it is back to running.

[DeathGrip]

Update:I now am the happy owner of a Stihl FS55R trimmer.
It's a straight shaft 27.2CC 2 stroke.
I looked at all of the others but at 200 + tax I think it was the best deal.
Mostly made in America with maybe the help of Germany and Brazil.(Soccer pals?)
Anyhow I'm happy with it and think it's gonna serve me well.I have to pick up some line for it because they didn't have much on the spool.This one came with the easy wind spool.
I also found a source of good fuel,No Corn and I can run it in my Almost New Barn Find '79 TORO Self Propeled MowerThat's a whole 'nuther story.

Its the one G.T.Smith suggested.Gordon gets the star.
So thanks again guys,

Peace,