What brand do you suggest?

I bought an expensive, brand new Stihl trimmer so I could use it around the farm. It's spent most of its time on the tailgate of my pickup being worked on.I've had it back at the dealer several times. It's at the dealer now. The string won't feed out of the head. Original head. Haven't used it enough to use up the string in the original head. Every time the string breaks off I have to manually open up the head & feed some more out. The problem right now is that it won't run. It sputters for a bit then dies. I'm using Stihl gas. The problem could be a trimmer that's a lemon, or a dealer that's a lemon. Stihl hasn't helped, either. I think I'll try a different dealer & if the trimmer still won't work I'll have to give up on it. What other brands of trimmers are reliable? I need one for farm use like trimming around buildings, fence posts, etc. Are the electric trimmers any good?

I have a almost fifteen year old Stihl 4Mix string trimmer, best trimmer I have ever had. Can be a SOB to start first of a season but thereafter always good.

I like my Stihl trimmer and leaf blower. Never had a problem with either. Sounds like you got a bad one which sucks. If you go to a different brand avoid the Menards junk.

'49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2

We have a Huskvarna that has been trouble free for over 8 years.

I also like my Echo

More Made in China, KRAP !!

I was 'gifted' TWO Stihl trimmers, lightly used, PITA to get going and stay going.After wasting a day ,I 'regifted' them to someone with more patience than me.

I really like my Ryobi battery powered trimmer. Manual string feed. battery lasts longer than me, really need the shoulder strap.

Have no idea why your NEW Stihl, running Stihl fuel won't run,and equally sad dealer can't fix it. Maybe (?) he'll take it back on an battery version ?? If not ask Stihl USA directly.

3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)

Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water

steve(ill) wrote:

I gave up on trimmers 15 years ago..... My new trimmer is called ROUNDUP... Only have to "trim" once every couple months. Wink

X 2

Milwaukee M18 string trimmer, I have the 12AH batteries, and I'm usually out of power before the battery is. My mom also has one, she has two 6AH batteries, a little lighter for her, she really likes it, and she doesn't like anything new/different.

the old lady.....ooooops....I mean the loving wife has a battery B@D trimmer, I won't let her use my Echo. she likes her own trimmer, and I feel safer knowing she is using that one!

I have a Troy-bilt 4 cycle that you can use a battery powered drill to start the I have had for 6 or 8 years and it has worked great only use it about 3 times a years and use stabilt in the gas.

I would check it for a mud dabbers nest if it doesn't run or run well. String could be old. Once you load the string, you should manually be able to tap it and pull string out evenly. If not, something is binding. As for the brand, Husqvarna all the way! JMHO, Tracy

No greater gift than healthy grandkids!

Daang, man. A little tough on Canada aren't we? Smile

'49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2

The problem with ANY string trimmer, is that the string is always more sacrificial than we desire.

I've replaced my string heads with swinging flail heads... one of my Stihl trimmers has plastic blades, the other are steel, and other than the plastic blades wearing out faster, and not being as effective on saplings, they're a whole lot better than string. The steel flail on my FS80-something will chew a 2" Mulberry sapling off in 8 seconds.

The one certain thing you'll run into with ANY 2-stroke trimmer, is that the spark arrestor screen on the exhaust will foul, and cause the engine to become constricted to the point where it just won't run. One of the primary causes of screen fouling, is just simple idling-time... running the engine hard keeps the screen hot, hence, it generates LESS soot deposits, and it's hot enough such that it burns off those that DO accumulate... so running them gently is actually 'hard' on 'em. Many guys remove the screens and open up the muffler exit baffles to improve breathing, at the expense of a little more noise, and this certainly helps mitigate carbon fouling. Just so happens that my Echo CS3000 top-handle has a carbon-fouled screen that will be coming out when I get it on the workbench for a goin' through... it's about two years' overdue...

Fuel pickup filters, hoses, primer bulbs, and carb diaphragms are a consumable part- replace them regularly. Once one of the hoses develops a weak spot, they'll crack, and allow air to be sucked up the line, leaning out the mixture and stalling the engine. Air filters can plug up fast if the outdoor circumstances are right, and when they do, it's oftentimes not visually obvious they've become restrictive. Oil settles in fuel, causing the mix going into the engine to be substantially different from what one expected (this is especially true of any ethanol blends, as they're aggressively hygroscopic).

As for recommendations, Stihl, Husky, Echo, Shindaiwa, Dolmar, Makita/Hitachi... They're the most likely to yield 'professional-grade' stuff, but there are more 'homeowner' grade in their lineup, at least they're better than 'big box' brands.

Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest.

Price is for concentrate though, right?

I bought an 80 volt electric from the local lawn mower shop. You could cut your first cutting of hay with this unit. It will run about 2 hours before I have to switch batteries.

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