Bird
Rest in Peace
Yeah, Robert, I can understand that, although I've never used one with the big handle bars; only the loop and "J" handles.
looking for a new weed whacker
- Thread starter GaryS
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Bird
Rest in Peace
Yeah, Robert, I can understand that, although I've never used one with the big handle bars; only the loop and "J" handles.
flusher
Super Member
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- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
You're one of the lucky ones. I bought the $159 Ryobi weed whacker at HD last summer. Lasted about 10 hours. Had a Homelite engine. The gasket between the cylinder and crankcase was defective. Burned up the rings. HD gave me store credit for full amount. Didn't expect the engine to fail like that. Thought the flex shaft was the weak point in the design.
Now I own a 23cc Tanaka, the type the landscape pros use witht he solid drive shaft. Runs real smooth. After using the Ryobi for a few hours, my hands tingled for a half-day due to the vibration. Doesn't happen with the Tanaka.
Now I own a 23cc Tanaka, the type the landscape pros use witht he solid drive shaft. Runs real smooth. After using the Ryobi for a few hours, my hands tingled for a half-day due to the vibration. Doesn't happen with the Tanaka.
flusher
Super Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
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- 7,572
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- Sacramento
- Tractor
- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
You're one of the lucky ones. I bought the $159 Ryobi weed whacker at HD last summer. Lasted about 10 hours. Had a Homelite engine. The gasket between the cylinder and crankcase was defective. Burned up the rings. HD gave me store credit for full amount. Didn't expect the engine to fail like that. Thought the flex shaft was the weak point in the design.
Now I own a 23cc Tanaka, the type the landscape pros use witht he solid drive shaft. Runs real smooth. After using the Ryobi for a few hours, my hands tingled for a half-day due to the vibration. Doesn't happen with the Tanaka.
Now I own a 23cc Tanaka, the type the landscape pros use witht he solid drive shaft. Runs real smooth. After using the Ryobi for a few hours, my hands tingled for a half-day due to the vibration. Doesn't happen with the Tanaka.
Michael_E_Tx
Silver Member
Hi Forge. I have a Stihl FS 250. It is the handlebar model with shoulder harness. I use it mostly with a brush blade, we have overgrown undergrowth all over. Does very well with saplings and brush. I have just begun to use the trimmer head this year and am very satisfied with it also. The trimmer head uses .105 dia. line and it is quite tough.
The FS 250 starts easy and runs great. No complaints. It has a 40cc engine and weighs 13.7 lbs. No lightweight, but I find it well balanced and manageable.
Mike
The FS 250 starts easy and runs great. No complaints. It has a 40cc engine and weighs 13.7 lbs. No lightweight, but I find it well balanced and manageable.
Mike
Michael_E_Tx
Silver Member
Hi Forge. I have a Stihl FS 250. It is the handlebar model with shoulder harness. I use it mostly with a brush blade, we have overgrown undergrowth all over. Does very well with saplings and brush. I have just begun to use the trimmer head this year and am very satisfied with it also. The trimmer head uses .105 dia. line and it is quite tough.
The FS 250 starts easy and runs great. No complaints. It has a 40cc engine and weighs 13.7 lbs. No lightweight, but I find it well balanced and manageable.
Mike
The FS 250 starts easy and runs great. No complaints. It has a 40cc engine and weighs 13.7 lbs. No lightweight, but I find it well balanced and manageable.
Mike
BarryinMN
Platinum Member
I had Homelite bump & feed weed wacker for years & only complaint was the string would get wrapped around the axle & not feed out.
Replaced it with a Sears straight shaft type & string is precut pulls thru hub for replacement. Throttle handle is very poor ergonomic design. Don't use it much so not a big issue.
On farm I have the bicycle type handlebar Stihl 8" brush cutter. Traded an ancient McCullough 12" brushcutter that would never start. The Stihl weighs about 25 lbs less & starts easy, cuts saplings easily.
Now for the weed wacker I have a Craftsman 6.75 HP that has been thoroughly abused. some slopes around the house are near vertical & the thing has tumbled & rolled over & over down the hill almost everytime I cut there & it does not even stall, just smokes until I put it back on it's wheels!!
Replaced it with a Sears straight shaft type & string is precut pulls thru hub for replacement. Throttle handle is very poor ergonomic design. Don't use it much so not a big issue.
On farm I have the bicycle type handlebar Stihl 8" brush cutter. Traded an ancient McCullough 12" brushcutter that would never start. The Stihl weighs about 25 lbs less & starts easy, cuts saplings easily.
Now for the weed wacker I have a Craftsman 6.75 HP that has been thoroughly abused. some slopes around the house are near vertical & the thing has tumbled & rolled over & over down the hill almost everytime I cut there & it does not even stall, just smokes until I put it back on it's wheels!!
BarryinMN
Platinum Member
I had Homelite bump & feed weed wacker for years & only complaint was the string would get wrapped around the axle & not feed out.
Replaced it with a Sears straight shaft type & string is precut pulls thru hub for replacement. Throttle handle is very poor ergonomic design. Don't use it much so not a big issue.
On farm I have the bicycle type handlebar Stihl 8" brush cutter. Traded an ancient McCullough 12" brushcutter that would never start. The Stihl weighs about 25 lbs less & starts easy, cuts saplings easily.
Now for the weed wacker I have a Craftsman 6.75 HP that has been thoroughly abused. some slopes around the house are near vertical & the thing has tumbled & rolled over & over down the hill almost everytime I cut there & it does not even stall, just smokes until I put it back on it's wheels!!
Replaced it with a Sears straight shaft type & string is precut pulls thru hub for replacement. Throttle handle is very poor ergonomic design. Don't use it much so not a big issue.
On farm I have the bicycle type handlebar Stihl 8" brush cutter. Traded an ancient McCullough 12" brushcutter that would never start. The Stihl weighs about 25 lbs less & starts easy, cuts saplings easily.
Now for the weed wacker I have a Craftsman 6.75 HP that has been thoroughly abused. some slopes around the house are near vertical & the thing has tumbled & rolled over & over down the hill almost everytime I cut there & it does not even stall, just smokes until I put it back on it's wheels!!
dknarnd
Gold Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now for the weed wacker I have a Craftsman 6.75 HP that has been thoroughly abused. )</font>
Along with my cache of Stihl equipment which I keep at the farm I also have a $99 Sears model here at my house in metroplis, which is small so the trimmer only sees 10 minutes of use at a time. Little story about it, I had it a year and it just wouldn't start easily or run well. One of those 95 degree humid days when it wouldn't start I tossed it across the yard about 20 feet /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and it cart wheeled end over end bending in the muffler and bending the shaft....well that was about 7 years ago now and it has worked fine ever since. Have never even done any type of maintenance to it.
Allot of units are good and generally you get what you pay for. I would buy from a shop that has been in business awhile, whatever brand they sell will be good and they will be able to get you parts if required. That is what it pretty much comes down to.
Along with my cache of Stihl equipment which I keep at the farm I also have a $99 Sears model here at my house in metroplis, which is small so the trimmer only sees 10 minutes of use at a time. Little story about it, I had it a year and it just wouldn't start easily or run well. One of those 95 degree humid days when it wouldn't start I tossed it across the yard about 20 feet /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and it cart wheeled end over end bending in the muffler and bending the shaft....well that was about 7 years ago now and it has worked fine ever since. Have never even done any type of maintenance to it.
Allot of units are good and generally you get what you pay for. I would buy from a shop that has been in business awhile, whatever brand they sell will be good and they will be able to get you parts if required. That is what it pretty much comes down to.
dknarnd
Gold Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now for the weed wacker I have a Craftsman 6.75 HP that has been thoroughly abused. )</font>
Along with my cache of Stihl equipment which I keep at the farm I also have a $99 Sears model here at my house in metroplis, which is small so the trimmer only sees 10 minutes of use at a time. Little story about it, I had it a year and it just wouldn't start easily or run well. One of those 95 degree humid days when it wouldn't start I tossed it across the yard about 20 feet /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and it cart wheeled end over end bending in the muffler and bending the shaft....well that was about 7 years ago now and it has worked fine ever since. Have never even done any type of maintenance to it.
Allot of units are good and generally you get what you pay for. I would buy from a shop that has been in business awhile, whatever brand they sell will be good and they will be able to get you parts if required. That is what it pretty much comes down to.
Along with my cache of Stihl equipment which I keep at the farm I also have a $99 Sears model here at my house in metroplis, which is small so the trimmer only sees 10 minutes of use at a time. Little story about it, I had it a year and it just wouldn't start easily or run well. One of those 95 degree humid days when it wouldn't start I tossed it across the yard about 20 feet /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and it cart wheeled end over end bending in the muffler and bending the shaft....well that was about 7 years ago now and it has worked fine ever since. Have never even done any type of maintenance to it.
Allot of units are good and generally you get what you pay for. I would buy from a shop that has been in business awhile, whatever brand they sell will be good and they will be able to get you parts if required. That is what it pretty much comes down to.
meledward23
Gold Member
I have run many string trimmers in my time. I must say that the Shindawia line is in my opinion the hands down best. I don't know about $ for $. If I need a weedeater I just go get another one. I have had them last 10years, with heavy use. I have several at the farm, and one here at the house. Just my two cents.
I also think it has a lot to do with your size, and yard type. A shindawia is probably overkill for a 1/2 acre yard and a little old woman. But for a 6'0 220 man and 1.4 acre yard and 30+ acre farm a nice tool.
I also think it has a lot to do with your size, and yard type. A shindawia is probably overkill for a 1/2 acre yard and a little old woman. But for a 6'0 220 man and 1.4 acre yard and 30+ acre farm a nice tool.
kenmac
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1 husky-----1 maruyama---------1 redmax all 3 are commerical grade with solid steel shaft (not flex cable) & excellent trimmers
sendero
Gold Member
I've always bought cheap $100 trimmers at HD, they worked ok but not great.
I have a 220' dam with about 12' of face on the water side and 25' on the back side. I suppose in theory I could get on my Kioti with a bush hog and mow it, but I'm not about to. That much slope creeps me out, even though theoretically there would be no way to roll over, I'm not chancing it.
I mowed it with a push mower a couple of times, talk about 3 hours of brutal work, yikes.
Then i bought a Husky 125 moderately priced weed whacker. I love the thing, I'll never buy a cheapie again. Starts on first pull, cuts a lot of stuff just barely above idle. For $200 I don't see how it could be beat...
I have a 220' dam with about 12' of face on the water side and 25' on the back side. I suppose in theory I could get on my Kioti with a bush hog and mow it, but I'm not about to. That much slope creeps me out, even though theoretically there would be no way to roll over, I'm not chancing it.
I mowed it with a push mower a couple of times, talk about 3 hours of brutal work, yikes.
Then i bought a Husky 125 moderately priced weed whacker. I love the thing, I'll never buy a cheapie again. Starts on first pull, cuts a lot of stuff just barely above idle. For $200 I don't see how it could be beat...
OP
GaryS
Gold Member
I had ordered some parts for the old Ryobi but didn't think I had ordered all that I needed. I worked on it last night and now have a franken-whacker. It runs but I don't know for how long and I'm not ordering any more parts for it.
I hope to have this hobble along so I can take advantage of end-of-season sales and buy a good machine.
I hope to have this hobble along so I can take advantage of end-of-season sales and buy a good machine.
mpowrd
Bronze Member
I bought one of the Honda 4-stroke brush cutters with the wide handlebars and chest harness. It has a saw/cutter blade, but I've only used the dual line head with heavy duty line that has a center core in it.
I live on 2 acres of pretty hilly land where most of it can only have the wild grass and weeds cut by hand. The Honda has been very reliable, doesn't vibrate too much, and is much quieter than my 2-stroke blower or chain saw. It has lots of torque, so one you get used to the lower line speed, you can really cut through thick stuff. Don't regret the purchase one bit. If I remember correctly, it was about the same price as the 2-stroke Shindawa (spelling?) at around $300.
I live on 2 acres of pretty hilly land where most of it can only have the wild grass and weeds cut by hand. The Honda has been very reliable, doesn't vibrate too much, and is much quieter than my 2-stroke blower or chain saw. It has lots of torque, so one you get used to the lower line speed, you can really cut through thick stuff. Don't regret the purchase one bit. If I remember correctly, it was about the same price as the 2-stroke Shindawa (spelling?) at around $300.
jgh
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20060618
I believe I have been told that Stihl trimmers use the same 2/4 stroke gas-mix technology that Shindaiwa uses. Not sure who developed it, but the Japanese mfrs tend to be leaders in small engine technology.
Mystery is why neither company uses that engine in its chain saws. Less smoke and noise. And a hell of a lot easier to start!!
J
I believe I have been told that Stihl trimmers use the same 2/4 stroke gas-mix technology that Shindaiwa uses. Not sure who developed it, but the Japanese mfrs tend to be leaders in small engine technology.
Mystery is why neither company uses that engine in its chain saws. Less smoke and noise. And a hell of a lot easier to start!!
J
jgh
Gold Member
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- Goochland & Fluvanna Counties, VA
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20060618
One note about an aggravating item: I use 3rd party hubs that accept precut pieces, on both my Honda and Shindaiwa trimmers, with the 0.155 center wire line (>tim taylor grunt!!<).
My wife and I have lots of trouble when it comes to pulling out residual pieces of line for replacement. Frequently I have to take apart the hub and remove it on the inside.
Anyone else have similar experiences and discover a solution? I recommend that type hub because it makes it possible to use much heavier line which works harder and longer, but the problems are annoying.
J
One note about an aggravating item: I use 3rd party hubs that accept precut pieces, on both my Honda and Shindaiwa trimmers, with the 0.155 center wire line (>tim taylor grunt!!<).
My wife and I have lots of trouble when it comes to pulling out residual pieces of line for replacement. Frequently I have to take apart the hub and remove it on the inside.
Anyone else have similar experiences and discover a solution? I recommend that type hub because it makes it possible to use much heavier line which works harder and longer, but the problems are annoying.
J
OP
GaryS
Gold Member
GaryS said:
Well franken-whacker didn't last very long. Just went out and bought a new Sthil FS90. It appears to be the best of both worlds. It's a four stoke engine without the extra weight from an oil tank. It's a very interesting engine design.
I've not used it yet - I'll post details after I get to play with it for a bit.
OP
GaryS
Gold Member
Got to try out the trimmer and what a world of difference. The low end torque is amazing. With the Ryobi, I had to wind it up before hitting anything heavy. No need with this one.
Here are some similar links:
