WeedWacker

[wjmst]

Hello,

My wife wants to get a weedwacker, which we could really use. However, I remember them as a kid and they were really tough to get started or keep running or messing around with the spool/cord...etc..

Are they any better today? I see Cub Cadet has a 4 stroke model. That sounds interesting. I would think it would be easier to start than the gas/oil mixtures of the 2 stroke.

Any thoughts? We have a gift card to Home Depot, so we would probably purchase one there.

Thanks
Wes

 

[Sigarms]

My dad has 3 acres. Some years ago when I was still in high school, dad has a habit of buying "less expensive" tools to get the job done. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes you do get what you pay for. I use to hate his weedeater whatever brand it was. Seems like he went through a couple of them when I was there, and they all had the same problem. After a couple of months of hard use, the problems would start showing up. The biggest problem being that the "string" would never feed properly. Always drove me up the wall. Heck, when my dad comes down for visits, he still tells me he has problems with his weedeater! (come to think of it, now I know what I'll get him for a belated fathers day present other than a card).

I have a Stihl "pro series" (2 stroke) weedeater for the last four years for around my house, and I use it a lot between the "string" and putting a blade on it.

Not once have I had a problem starting it.

More impressive for myself due to all the old weedeaters I was use to from my dads place, not once have I ever had an issue with "string" feeding from the unit EVER.

I'm sold on Stihl, but hear you can't go wrong with other brands (such as Echo sp?).

 

[Western]

I'll throw in with Sigarms. I also have the Stihl, in the straight shaft model.
I have had it almost 3 years and it has never missed a beat. (NOTE) I also have a couple of other "cheap" ones with the afore mentioned problems.

I do know I watch the age of the fuel though as to not gum up the carb.

 

[Soundguy]

If your wife will be using it, I suggest a featherlite weedeater... easy pull.. fairly ez start if you follow the instructions to a T. IE.. choke to full, push primer bulb 3x, pull twice, choke to half, push primer bulb 3x, then pull.. usually hits on 1-2 pulls, then you coax the choke from half to off... then go.

Has a 'bump' spool for the cord, and you can buy pre loaded bump cord inserts for about 5$.. just pull the old one out and slip the new one it..

soundguy

 

[KentT]

I'm certainly no expert, but I have had some frustrating experiences with them over the years. I had two Weedeater brand ones years ago that were pieces of junk -- I complained to the dealer so much about the first one that he gave me a "good deal" to replace it with a new, larger model. Same complaints -- very, very finicky to start, always walking a tightrope between flooding it and not choking it enough.

I finally replaced the second one with a high-end Craftsman Convertible about 7-8 years ago -- not sure if it was their "top of the line" but it certainly wasn't near the low end. It has started reliably and given me good service, though the string-trimmer head and bump mechanism are about shot. I've already replaced the "bump feed" once and it is due to be replaced again, though I can't complain -- it owes me nothing. I also have a Poulan Pro split-shaft that takes the same attachments -- I thought it might be a decent replacement for the Craftsman, but I'm not nearly as satisfied with it. It is much more difficult to start..

I've never bought a "premium brand" one (i.e. Husky, Stihl, Echo, Marayuma, etc) but am seriously considering it now, if I can find a power head that will accept my collection of "Expand-It" attachments (brush cutter, chainsaw/pruner, tiller/cultivator, etc.) I'm hoping that I can find an affordable split-shaft Husky powerhead that will use them. Because of the volume of woods-line work we've been doing on my retirement property, quite often my son and I are running two trimmers at a time, one with line on it and one with a brush-cutter head, so I like to have two reliable ones.

One thing I have discovered in shopping around is you need to shop carefully: Troybilt, Cub Cadet, Poulan, Craftsman, and McCullough (perhaps more) all seem to be made by Poulan, which is owned by AYP/Husqvarna. (I think Weedeater brand also, but I haven't checked them out based upon by bad experience with them earlier.) However the 4-stroke versions will use different engines -- some have Hondas and some have Briggs. I suspect Poulan also makes the less-expensive ones for Husqvarna, similar to what they do with chainsaws. (The cheaper consumer Husky chainsaws sold at HD/Lowes are made by Poulan, not made in Sweden. Husky MAY have designed them, but Poulan makes them.) Ryobi and John Deere atttachments will interchange with any of the above split-shaft models, as will Homelite and Weedeater brands. Not sure who builds what, but John Deere owned Homelite who made their John Deere trimmers. Not sure if they still do...

Sthil attachments will not interchange, it appears, nor will Echo. I haven't found a local Marayuma dealer yet..

Since I truly don't use them commercially, I'm reluctant to spend $450-500 for a trimmer, but if I could find a good power head in the $250 range or so, that's a different story...

 

[Hotwheels]

We have seven acres and about 5+ acres we need to weedwhack. I have gone through a number of different brands of line trimmers, mostly commercial types. My wife is helping with the weed whacking these days and she currently prefers a Husqvarna 326 with handlebars. It is relatively light <11 pounds, starts easily, the line change is not too bad to do, and it has been reliable. Before that she used a Shindaiwa C260 and liked that machine, although it is heavier than the Husky machine. We had a four stroke honda for awhile: nice and quiet, but too heavy for her.

We have usually bought from power equipment dealers because they service the machines and it seems there is usually a need for service.

Good luck

 

[Bird]

My Stihl FS55RC isn't quite as old as the ones some of the other guys have; only had it since March, 2005. For my uses, it seems that the string lasts quite awhile, and it's no big deal to put new string on when it's needed. It's the "bump" feed that's always worked just fine. And at my age, I really like their easy start system. My dealer referred to as the "granny start" and I told him it works for us old granpas, too. After the first year, I put a new spark plug in it and saw that it really did not need it, so after the second year, I did not change the plug and it still doesn't need it. I did buy a tube of their special grease and put a bit in the gears once or twice a year, and I blow off any debris with compressed air after each use.

 

[IllMarty1]

If you have alot of trimming to do, try a DR wheeled trimmer. Easy to push with big wheels, ability to trimm outside the wheels, and easy to change long lasting string in 3 different sizes. I tried the self propelled high end version and it was great but you couldn't offset trim with it. I sent it back after 6 months. Ordered the smaller version this spring and it is great. The 6 months no questions warrantee is very nice.

 

[Bird]

try a DR wheeled trimmer

Yeah, Wes did say his wife wanted a weedwhacker, didn't he? When we lived out in the country, I did have a lot of trimming to do, and I bought what was, at that time, the top of the line electric start DR trimmer/mower. Even my wife used that occasionally, although she's never used any other string trimmer. Of course, it was great as a string trimmer, but I also bought their "Beaver blade" and used it to take down some good sized saplings at times.

 

[kenmac]

you just can't go wrong purchasing any brand commerical grade trimmer. Commerical grade trimmer for home use would last you a life time

 

[RobertN]

I have three.

My Husky 225R is an older model, which I have used and used and used. It is a 2-stroke, about 15 years old. It has the big handlebars, and a shoulder harness. It has been a great machine. Easy to start, easy to use. It is getting finicky now, but I seriously have got a LOT of good hours out of it.

My Stihl is a standard "D" handle unit, that accepts other tool heads. Works well. 2-stroke, good for detail work.

My Honda is the newest(3 years old). I got it to replace the Husky(I really have put a LOT of hours on the Husky). It is the 31cc 4-stroke, with the big handle bars and shoulder harness. It is quiet, and really really easy to start. Sounds like an old Honda Trail-50 mini-bike.

I like all three. All three work very well(even though the Husky is really worn).

Having a few acres(5), the big handle bar units make for easy cutting for hours, since the harness supports the weedeater, and distributes the weight on your shoulders. I use the smaller Stihl just for detail work.

The 4-stroke Honda is a bit heavier than the 2-stroke models, but when it is hooked in the harness, I do not notice it much...

 

[Will_C]

I bought a Stihl FS85 5 years ago. It cost $300. It hurt a bit when I bought it, but its been 5 years of starting every time, string feeding flawlessly, never once giving me any trouble. To me, that is like the commercial says...priceless!
Will

 

[MossRoad]

Light weight el cheapo Ryobi works great. $69.00. Use it until it dies and throw it away. Mine is probably 6-7 years old and still works fine.

I also have a Poulan Pro that is much more powerful and also much heavier. I needed it for heavy stuff and it also has the multi tool feature, so I have the pole pruner chainsaw with it, too. They say it reaches 12' but I find 10' to be about the limit of comfortable and not being directly under the thing you are cutting. I bought it as a package for under $200.00. They also make hedge trimmers, clutivators, blowers, brooms, snow blower attachments as well. I think it will take other brand attachments, too. You may want to consider something like this if you don't want to maintain multiple engines. It has a nice starting feature... you just flip a lever to start, push the primer bulb until you feel resistance, turn the switch to ON and give it a couple pulls. Once it starts, you let it run for 30-60 seconds. When you squeeze the trigger it automatically turns off the choke and runs great. I really like it.

 

[wjmst]

Thanks. Lots of good thoughts and suggestions.

We do use my parents DR Trimmer, but it is difficult to manuver around the bank of our pond. If fact, we just broke its handle this past weekend trying to trim the weeds around the pond.

Wes

 

[NewToy]

I have a Stihl FS110 and it's been a good one. It's 3 yrs old and it has always started with a pull or two. It's a 4-stroke but you still have to use a gas/oil mix. It doesn't smoke at all and listening to it you can tell it's a 4-stroke. I use that head with the three nylon blades and it'll chop through all kinds of stuff. The engine is pretty "tourqey" on the bottom end, more so than the 2-stroke versions I have used in the past.

John