How OLD is your Weedeater?

Bird · Sep 6, 2005

( I believe the Poulan and my Craftsman (that I hated) are one and the same )

I've owned two Poulan chain saws. The first one, and which I used for several years, was a demo so it was at least slightly used when I bought it. A neighbor had a Craftsman. The only difference I could tell was that his was red and mine was green. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif However, he couldn't get his to run, so he just gave it to me for spare parts. And since I didn't need two, I never even bothered to check and see if his was worth fixing or if there was even a problem with it. I did eventually use the chain off of it, but never needed any other parts. I sold that saw (and threw in the spare) when I retired and we took up full time RVing.

Then down in the country I bought another Poulan. Now my brother had a Stihl and I'd concede the fact that the Stihl was probably a better quality saw, but it was big and it was heavy, and I'm gettin' old, and my Poulan was soooo much easier to use. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif The only thing that was ever done to it was to sharpen the chain, and I sold it when I had to move back to town.

So even though I'm confident there are better quality saws, if I ever need one again, it'll probably be a Poulan.

shvl73 · Sep 6, 2005

I have a Poulan "wild thing" saw, green and purple. It was a gift from the inlaws, can't beat the price /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and the color doesn't bother me at all. It cuts well enough for my amateur use. If it breaks next year, I'll buy a better brand, if it breaks many years from now, I'll most likely replace it with a similar unit.

orangebluegreen · Sep 6, 2005

( I believe the Poulan and my Craftsman (that I hated) are one and the same )

Bird,
I didn’t make clear which one I was talking about. I had a Craftsman string trimmer, curved shaft no clutch, it was the same as or built by Poulan from what I can tell. I absolutely hated that particular model trimmer from day one.

My Poulan saw is a 2450 2.3CI 18” and that I have been quite pleased with. The Poulan is a bit heavy for trimming overhead and I was going to buy a smaller saw (my small Homelite is too expensive to use because the oiler doesn’t work and ruins chains, bars and clutch sprockets. Also smokes like the other poster says his does, in my case its low compression from wear) but then I bought a split boom Echo trimmer so I’ll get the pole saw eventually. Not having to lean over the edge of the roof should make it easier trimming branches away from the house. I think most of the 2 strokes with a “chromed cylinder” are ones that last longer.

Bird · Sep 6, 2005

Incidentally, I think one of the reasons I had no problems with my chain saws was because everytime I put it away, unless I was going to use it again the very next day, I dumped the gas out of it, then started it and let it run until all the gas was run out of the carburetor. I always left oil in the oiler, but never left gas to evaporate in the machine.

slowrev · Sep 7, 2005

Bird, on the old gas issue. I always use the small mix with one gallon weedeater/poulan oil bottles. Which are now synthetic. I have never had old gas problems with the gas mixed with the poulan oil.

Ben

hobbyfarm · Sep 9, 2005

( I always use the small mix with one gallon weedeater/poulan oil bottles. )

Ditto that, I'd rather only make enough 2 cycle mix for a couple of weeks worth of work. For me, that's the gal size oil/gas. I think to keep your 2 cycle engines working at their best, fresh fuel is the key.

slowrev · Sep 9, 2005

Strange thing is I have never had any of the gas go bad that I had mixed with the Poulan oil. It keeps at least 6 months for me, and runs fine.

Ben

tomnky · Sep 10, 2005

I have a Stihl FS 86 ,straight solid shaft with handlebars.

I have had it for close to 19 years if memory serves me correctly.

Two Spark plugs and three fuel filters during this time and untelling how many hours use, Definitely a quality product. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

slowrev · Sep 10, 2005

I have a weedeater that is so old it does not have an engine. Just a big blade and a wood handle. It always starts, Never runs out of string or gas.....but for some reason I never use it anymore....
Ben

OrangeGuy · Sep 11, 2005

I purchase my first MacCullough in 1975, a model 105. Runs as good today as then. It's a heavy duty straight shaft. I also own 2 lighter duty model 75s for lawn trimming. The older one is 22 years old, the other 18. They're yellow!

OrangeGuy

hobbyfarm · Sep 12, 2005

( Strange thing is I have never had any of the gas go bad that I had mixed with the Poulan oil. It keeps at least 6 months for me, and runs fine. )

slowrev,
You misunderstood me. I use mine 2 cycle stuff so much, it never lasts more than couple of weeks. Between weed eating, hedge trimming, and tilling, it goes pretty fast.

slowrev · Sep 12, 2005

Hobby farm, sorry if I misunderstood. However I keep whatever gas/oil mix I have left in September and just use in the next April, never had any go bad.

Ben

Dennisinmo · Sep 28, 2005

Lawn Boy purchased in 1990. Still runs good. Replaced the fuel line a few years ago. Spark plug about every three years.

hunterridgefarm · Sep 28, 2005

Mine is 15 years old, he was born in 1990, is 6', and weight is around 160. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Fuel for him is very costly /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

And buy the way he uses a 10 year old Ryobi.

slowrev · Sep 28, 2005

Hunterridgefarm,
I have found that age and variety of weedeater very difficult to start and keep running

Fair bit of coffing and sputtering from time to time too .

Ben

elarson · Sep 29, 2005

1985 vintage Husqvarna 25r. Drain the gas and run it dry at end of season, put it in the shed, fires right up next spring. Had only one repair when a curious horse broke up all the plastic stomping on it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Chillimau · Sep 29, 2005

Dull,

I've got one of those also! Mine is called a Green Machine but was made by Shindiawa, a T-25. Mine doesn't have the bicyle handle bars. I think mine is a 1980 or 81 model. I had to replace the orginal carb because of an o-ring that was not replaceable and a fuel line here and there. I agree, if everything ran like this life would great.

Gary

EastTexFrank · Sep 29, 2005

I have one 20 year old Echo that is kept for spares. A second 18 year old Echo has a Beaver Blade on it and is only used 2 or 3 times a year. The actual string trimming is done with a 3 year old Stihl. I think Bird is right about the secret of keeping them running ... store them dry. I let mine run dry every time I use it now, about once a week, and it's never been a problem to start ... no stale gas and no varnish.

KubotaSteve · Sep 29, 2005

Back when my brother and I used to mow grass when we were kids we went together and bought (roughly 22 years ago) a Homelite weed eater. It had a curved shaft and the motor was located on the bottom of the until on top of the string spool. The fuel tank was in the handle of the unit and filled from the top. It used a 16:1 mix ratio. We used and abused that thing for several years mowing over 20 lawns a week. He still has it and runs like a champ. He just bought a new one as he said that thing was too heavy to mess with but he couldn't part with it. It will stand in upright position by itself.