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A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 9:54 pm
by BK Meyers
It is time for me to buy a new weed eater. In the past years I have used inexpensive units from Sears and Home Depot (my current one is a Ryobi from HD). Neither cost more than $100 when purchased.

The Ryobi is needing a new string head and the carb needs to be tuned. It is really not worth investing that much money into it so I'm looking at buying a new unit.

Am looking at models from Stihl and for the first time considering a straight shaft unit. Have always used a curved shaft.

Will be using for around the house, a few trees and 300-400 feet of chain link fence.

Do any of you have experience with both?? If so which do you prefer??

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 9:59 pm
by ssracer
I always had curved shafts and my last one was a Ryobi. When it crapped out I bought a Husqvarna straight shaft and I’ve been loving it.


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Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 10:03 pm
by Livewire
I bought this one last year.

I really like the power and the "cruise control".

https://m.stihlusa.com/products/trimmer ... ers/fs94r/

Curved shaft weedeaters are for short people.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 10:05 pm
by BK Meyers
ssracer wrote:I always had curved shafts and my last one was a Ryobi. When it crapped out I bought a Husqvarna straight shaft and I’ve been loving it.


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Had not considered Husqvarna. I will give their models a look.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 10:11 pm
by BK Meyers
Livewire wrote:I bought this one last year.

I really like the power and the "cruise control".

https://m.stihlusa.com/products/trimmer ... ers/fs94r/

Curved shaft weedeaters are for short people.
I looked at the FS 70 R this past wknd:

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/trimm ... s/fs70rce/

Funny you should say the "short people" thing about the curved shaft units. Had a guy who used to sell lawn care equipment tell me the same thing a few weeks ago!!

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 10:14 pm
by iron369
I have a stihl straight shaft and I'm pretty short. I like a clean straight edge along my driveway and landscaping. I used a shindiawa when I did landscaping professionally.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:10 pm
by Niceguy
Curved shafts aren't for anyone...I'm short...
I have a Cub Cadet and a Husqvarna and both have been soso, but it's because of this shitty ass gas we have. It's garbage!

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:12 pm
by JustShootIt
If you want a good budget trimmer /weedeater, pick up and Echo 225. Probably last a homeowner forever.

If you want to get a commercial one I highly, highly suggest Redmax.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:12 pm
by Niceguy
Who's the new guy???

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:20 pm
by nemo
I have an older echo 220 straight shaft, been going strong for 12 years. The only problem I've had is the fuel lines rotted out, simple fix.


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Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 11:51 pm
by ssracer
Niceguy wrote:Curved shafts aren't for anyone...I'm short...
I have a Cub Cadet and a Husqvarna and both have been soso, but it's because of this shitty ass gas we have. It's garbage!
I just buy the husqvarna pre mixed shit. Yeah it’s more expensive but I only need like two cans a year.


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Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 12:27 am
by Marcus
JustShootIt wrote:If you want a good budget trimmer /weedeater, pick up and Echo 225. Probably last a homeowner forever.

If you want to get a commercial one I highly, highly suggest Redmax.
This. Mine is awesome. Easy to refeed line. I do buy the premix fuel, but a small price to pay for the reliability it adds.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 6:08 am
by rustynuts
ssracer wrote:
Niceguy wrote:Curved shafts aren't for anyone...I'm short...
I have a Cub Cadet and a Husqvarna and both have been soso, but it's because of this shitty ass gas we have. It's garbage!
I just buy the husqvarna pre mixed shit. Yeah it’s more expensive but I only need like two cans a year.


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Same here. Runs like a champ every time.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:18 am
by Dave1965
where do you get the premix stuff?

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:20 am
by ssracer
Dave1965 wrote:where do you get the premix stuff?
lowes


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Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:39 am
by rustynuts
ssracer wrote:
Dave1965 wrote:where do you get the premix stuff?
lowes


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Yep.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:42 am
by Gunsmokin
JustShootIt wrote:If you want a good budget trimmer /weedeater, pick up and Echo 225. Probably last a homeowner forever.

If you want to get a commercial one I highly, highly suggest Redmax.
Marcus wrote:
JustShootIt wrote:If you want a good budget trimmer /weedeater, pick up and Echo 225. Probably last a homeowner forever.

If you want to get a commercial one I highly, highly suggest Redmax.
This. Mine is awesome. Easy to refeed line. I do buy the premix fuel, but a small price to pay for the reliability it adds.
I also have had an Echo with the straight shaft for at least 10 years that gets used weekly around my house and my neighbors. Never failed to start. Highly recommended. I saw some 2 cycle oil the other day that has an additive to prevent the ethanol in pump gas from damaging 2 cycle small engines. Might be a less expensive option than the pre-mix gas.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:24 am
by PDM
StaBil 360 goes in all my small engine stuff. It's absolutely the only thing that works with ethanol.

The pre mix doesn't have ethanol though, right?

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:35 am
by PDM
I've used commercial weed eaters my whole life and have had a near perfect experience with Stihl. If I didn't go that route, the Echo would be my choice.

Whatever you do, get a 4 stroke. A 2 stroke can't be made to run right under current emissions standards

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:56 am
by kokopelli
X4 on the Echo.
I also bought cheaper ones until they started crapping out before one year. I was going to buy a Sthil when I found an Echo rental unit being sold at Home Depot, and figured I'd try it.
I've had it 5 years now- starts on the first pull every spring.

Be wary of Husqvaurna products- a lot of their models are re-branded Poulan stuff = utter garbage.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:27 pm
by nemo
Picture of the Ol'Beast. Started right up tonight.
Model SRM-210

Image

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:06 pm
by Vividia
The very first weedeater i used was in the 702, a 4 stringer with a real briggs and stratton on it. Mother was heavy!

These days i have a shindaiwa T230 (i think on the model number, too lazy to go outside and look)

Runs great, no issues, have had it for like a decade or more, time flies when you are having fun LOL

Straight shaft is much better, easier to get under things like fences and such, will never have a curved shaft

If you go 2 cycle (i have no issues with it) be sure to only use qood quality oil

Stihl

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 8:33 am
by Next
I have a curved shaft Stihl with the easy start. Not sure I would buy the curved shaft again. It starts up fine, but you have to bend over more than I would like. I like the easy start feature.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:50 am
by BK Meyers
Going to check out some Echo units this wknd. Seeing lots of reviews on the Stihls having feed line issues. Plus the Echo offers a 5-year consumer warranty versus a 2-year for the Stihl.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Re: A few questions about weed eaters

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:27 am
by Dave1965
Have had a Ryobi for years, always works and works really well!