Happiness is a new weed eater....eventually.

[brigeton]

The new lithium battery tools are far superior to the older battery tools but probably don't have the power for a weed eater. Cords are a pain. The weed eater I have now is a Troy Built 4 stroke. It runs good and there's no mixing. Other than a couple of exceptions every 2 stroke motor I've had hasn't been very reliable.

 

[ralph7]

Other than a couple of exceptions every 2 stroke motor I've had hasn't been very reliable.

Bet those exceptions were either Stihl or Echo.
Or both.

 

[Tom S.]

In my list of things I don't like, yard word is right between root canals and colonoscopies. I learned to hate it as a kid when I did it to earn money.

 

[Boudiepitbull]

I thought you had bought yourself a baby goat or something that would just munch away at everything once it got big enough...

 

[dave1918a2]

I have a Ryobi 4 stroke with different atatchments. Just have to check the oil every time I use it. Great weed wacker, just don't inhale.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I purchased a Toro 24V about a four years ago.

So far so good. I'm using heavier string than came with it which lasts longer without having to let more out. Unlike the gas trimmer that I could just bang on the ground to get more string, the Toro requires the unit to come to a stop and restart to ratchet out more string. That part I don't like. Trimming my yard takes about 20min and little longer when doing the edging too. The head rotates 90 degrees for edging which works ok as long as I walk straight. Battery charge will last doing the yard twice. I paid about $125 for it at Home Depot on sale with discounts blah blah blah...

After four years of service... I feel like I already got my money worth and will get another when the battery or parts fail.

 

[walkin jack]

I purchased a Toro 24V about a four years ago.

So far so good. I'm using heavier string than came with it which lasts longer without having to let more out. Unlike the gas trimmer that I could just bang on the ground to get more string, the Toro requires the unit to come to a stop and restart to ratchet out more string. That part I don't like. Trimming my yard takes about 20min and little longer when doing the edging too. The head rotates 90 degrees for edging which works ok as long as I walk straight. Battery charge will last doing the yard twice. I paid about $125 for it at Home Depot on sale with discounts blah blah blah...

After four years of service... I feel like I already got my money worth and will get another when the battery or parts fail.

From reading this and some of the other responses here I have learned a valuable lesson....yet again. Steer clear of Black and Decker stuff. I've had to learn that lesson several times. I sure hope it sticks this time.

 

[Maddmax]

You could cross over to the dark side and get a Stihl....gas model

Works for me. Trick is buy the heavy duty tools, like you would if you were trying to make a living with it using it everyday. Using their premixed fuel in a can (buy it by the case is cheaper) is also the way to go. It has a WAY higher octane and a 10 year shelf life to boot. Pricey yes, but you save WAY more than that not having those Spring repair costs.

 

[Maddmax]

From reading this and some of the other responses here I have learned a valuable lesson....yet again. Steer clear of Black and Decker stuff. I've had to learn that lesson several times. I sure hope it sticks this time.

All you need to remember is Deere, Stihl and Milwaukee 18 volt (M-18 XC4.0)

 

[Maddmax]

I enjoy playing with lawn equipment about as much as I do guns. Weird, I know but ever since I saw my first Kubota 3 cyl diesel mower back in the 70s I've owned high end lawn equipment.

Been at it about the same amount of time only I got hooked on Deere Lawn & Garden Equipment and never looked back. It's relaxing and fun when you have the right equipment to do the job whether it's mowing grass (takes a good full day riding) or blowing snow (it's a half mile lane to the high-way).

 

[brigeton]

Bet those exceptions were either Stihl or Echo.
Or both.

The one I have at this time is an older Husqvarna chain saw.

 

[ralph7]

The one I have at this time is an older Husqvarna chain saw.

Good thing I didn't put any money on that.

 

[glenwolde]

All three types are a hassle in some way. I never got suckered into the cordless. I learned from other battery operated tools that every couple of years they change the voltage and it obsoletes everything. Cordless is the most expensive by far.

I don't mind gas so much, mixing became less of a hassle when I found the syringe they sell that helps you measure everything out.

Corded is by far the cheapest if you consider most of us are going to have extension cords anyway. Putting up the cords is a hassle. Once I discovered an inexpensive cord winding device that became easy.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200610485_200610485

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hopkins-...34491&wl11=online&wl12=22314667&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[30-30remchester]

My weed eaters come in herds. The deer will soon be back and then them garbage deposals on 4 legs aka elk, will wander through and remove anything green from my property. What an elk wont eat, he will trample into the ground and then poop on it.

 

[walkinghorse]

Here in Iowa, the land of ethanol, just about every station has non- ethanol gasoline.
And it isn't premium? It does cost about 0.35 to 0.40 cents a gallon more than super, name marketing game, but that is not for this thread. Electrical cords work for smaller yards and situations but acreage, trees and shrubs not so well.
I have one electrical device, a leaf blower, and it requires a cord. I do use it to blow leaves out of my wife's bulb beds, some of which are a ways out there. Voltage drop precludes a long extension cord, so a 2250w generator in the PU bed and a 50' HD cord solves that problem. I have longer cords but as mentioned in another post, unrolling, rolling back up, and if the ground is wet, is a pain.
One thing that helps any small gasoline device durability is a plastic gas tank. Avoids the issue of condensation in a partially filled tank corroding a metal frank.
Isn't yard work fun!!!

 

[Rule3]

String Trimmers are the tool of the Devil!!

You know how many of those have been tossed in the canals, trash, empty lots around here?????????

Even having a Echo or a Stihl if you ever have to bring it in for service (like turn the magic carb screw) well you may as well just buy a new one, They charge rates higher the Doctors!

 

[ralph7]

String Trimmers are the tool of the Devil!!

You know how many of those have been tossed in the canals, trash, empty lots around here?????????

Even having a Echo or a Stihl if you ever have to bring it in for service (like turn the magic carb screw) well you may as well just buy a new one, They charge rates higher the Doctors!

Nah, that's what You Tube is for.
Mine was running off after about two years and after removing the plug and turning the elusive screw a tiny bit, it runs like new.

 

[crazyphil]

Maybe I have just been lucky, but I was watching one of those TV
commercials and was reeled in by the WORX battery powered trimmer. That was about 5 years ago. It has worked perfectly ever since, if I
remember to re-charge the batteries.

 

[Maddmax]

Here in Iowa, the land of ethanol, just about every station has non- ethanol gasoline.
And it isn't premium?
One thing that helps any small gasoline device durability is a plastic gas tank. Avoids the issue of condensation in a partially filled tank corroding a metal frank.
Isn't yard work fun!!!

Trouble with that is, the ethanol slowly eats plastic and rubber....

 

[Maddmax]

Nah, that's what You Tube is for.
Mine was running off after about two years and after removing the plug and turning the elusive screw a tiny bit, it runs like new.

I always buy the maintenance and parts manual as part of the deal when I buy equipment. Once the warranty is up, the equipment will rarely (if ever) see the shop again. You-Tube is great.