Need a new yard trimmer

Wife's hasn't ever worked right, I'm tired of fighting with it, and she's on board with replacing. I don't want to buy cheap and keep buying every 3-5 years. Debating between Stihl and Husqvarna. Wish I didn't have to screw with 2 cycle, but battery life isn't long enough and I'm done with cords. Thoughts?

Thanks.

Can't help with a recommendation, but when I read the first line of your post I thought it said "Wife hasn't ever worked right"

I've had my Stihl for over 15 years now. The only thing I've had to replace has been plugs and the trigger. No experience with the new ones but have heard mixed stories. Have used Husqvarna products the past few years and had no issues. In fact, if I ever have to replace my Stihl chainsaw it'll be a Husqvarna. Hope this helps.

I have had my Stihl straight shaft trimmer for 5 or 6 years now and have gotten along well with it.

I did some volunteering the other day and one of my tasked that day was to weed eating. They had Stihl weed whackers and they started and seemed very dependable to me. I asked them if Stihl was a good product and they said, they have found out through the years they seemed to last and are the least maintence units they have bought. JM2¢

That's a whole nother thread entirely....

I’ve had my Stihl for about 7 years now and have had nothing but trouble with it. Worked good at first but that didn't last too long. Its very temperamental as it only starts when it wants to. This year i bought me a 4 cycle walk behind push trimmer and couldn't be happier. Mine is 22” pretty heavy duty and can cut any grass or weeds and even small saplings. It’ll trim around the house or in the pasture or anything in between. I would recommend a walk behind if you have a large yard or need to trim in and around a pond or pasture. They are a little more expensive though, think mine cost around $350.

I've had a stihl weeder for over 16 years now other than taking it in once fir for a tune up I haven't done anything to it and it still runs good. With that said I have a Husqvarna saw and like them better the a Stihl saw.

I used to work at Lowes in Lawn and Garden and frankly here is what I recommend. First, consider the amount of trimming you are doing, if its a big lot and or you are doing more brush trimming go with gas. Second, buy cheap buy twice; if its something you are using a lot to battle nature on a regular basis go with a pricier model. Third, if you are buying an enduring product factor in maintenance costs such as where do I go to get it fixed, what does regular maintenance look like, how reliable are parts. I think when you factor these in from your comments you will find the Stihl is the answer. Husky is pretty good but it really is almost brand loyalty at this point and prices are comparable but frankly I would NOT buy anything from a big box store (the products are not the same as what is sold at a dealer) and go slightly bigger if there is any question (better to have and not need than need and not have). That's what I figure.

Those plus Echo are quality products. Get a straight shaft, not a crooked model.

7 years 7 weed walkers, I bought a stihl on recommended by my uncle who has use one for trimming the apartment bldg he did maintenance at. I went out the other day and it started right up! It was around $179. Its just a weed wacker not the one that you can get all the attachments for. I bought it at a small hardware store and they took it in the back and put gas/oil in it, put string on and started it before I left. I also bought the stihl oil at the same time and it extended the warranty 2 more years.

I'm using a 4 stroke Dolmar. Had it for 5 years now, all I've done is change the oil. I like the fact I don't have to carry a gas can just for the trimmer. Really a heavy duty trimmer.

Here's an impartial and mixed reply....

I bought a non-pro model Stihl here in 2004. It still starts on the third pull and I've only cleaned the air filter and exterior because you can't do any tuning on the carb. I love it. At the farm I have a 51cc Husqvarna for 9 years, a pro model, and I have not touched the carb since. It starts on the 4th pull every time and it gets a lot of rough use with blackberries and a lot of rocks/fenceposts/etc. that get hit, and half the time with a blade.

At the same time a lot of US garden companies use Echo.

Find somebody close by who will help you out with a problem.

Pete

Stihl FS 40 and hi octane gas.

If ya look at what the lawn care guys have on their trailers, it gives a pretty good indication as to what works. Mine is a Stihl FS 91

I have been running the same stihl trimmer since 1994.

As noted above, if you by 2 stroke, use premium gas (alcohol free) and any one of the leading synthetic 2 stroke pre-mix oils, 50:1. Good luck.

60v Dewalt cordless. Plenty of battery, I promise.

I have a Husqvarna. Has started on the second pull 7 years running. Runs great, plenty of power, no complaints.

Find your local commercial lawn equipment dealer and go with what they carry. Having a good mechanic is more important then brand. That said I run all red max but wouldn’t be scared of sthyl, have also run Tanaka without any problems

I got a new Jonsered last year , AKA red Husqvarna , works good for me , I got the strait shaft and brush cutter end also

if all you have is Stihl dealers around they are good also.

I have a good Jred dealer so that is what I use

I bought my first one about 3 decades ago, a 2 cycle, and it lasted almost forever. When it died I got another similar one, except it didn't last, nor the next, or the next, or the next (pieces of crap won't start, line won't feed). Finally bought a Husqvarna 4 cycle. Always starts easy, plenty of power, auto line feed actually works, easy to replace the line, just feed it 100% gas (no oil, no Sta-Bil). I no longer hate weed wacking.

I am also looking for a trimmer. I went to our local dealer Friday and he recommended an Echo. He carries both Echo and Huskys and said he just likes the Echo. I didn't realize that the big box stores carried a different quality product.

Stihl

I have a stihl straight shaft. I got it 2014?ish I have abused it pretty hard. I have used it with a saw blade attachment and abused it way beyond what it was meant for. MIne still works fine. Its a little cold natured but its a beast once it gets going. I also have a jonsered chainsaw and i love it, i would easily buy a jonsered trimmer if i were looking for one. It starts a little easier than the stihl.

My dad bought a 2 cycle Echo somewhere between 25 and 30 years ago. He had a couple of acres of lawn with lots of trimming. After he passed I inherited it. Usually starts first pull. I my need to change the plug soon, never been changed. Only maintenance has been greasing the head and replacing string. They aren't cheap but I can't complain about reliability.

Stihl FS 56 $199.00



No other weed whip will compare to this thing. We sell a bunch of them at the store. My selling point is the fact that I have 10 years of experience with the FS 55 & the newer FS 56.


I previously did repair work at a golf course for 10 years, so I know a thing or two about cutting grass. We had two weed whips at the shop (that was it). They would last about two summers, maybe three and they were totally wore out. That might not sound like much to anyone, but consider a couple things. We bought line in 1000 foot rolls. the last summer I was there we used 4 of those 1000 foot rolls on two whips. That is about 2,000 feet of line each, and about two or three summers.

4,000 to 6,000 feet of line is the life span.

I personally purchased a FS 56 three years ago. It is currently being used at three homes and one business. It has roughly 30 feet of line on the spool, and in that time we have only refilled it once - it should last me forever.

I have rechargable Worx trimmer and leaf blower, they take the same battery

Milwaukee M18 Fuel rechargeable. I was skeptical about electric trimmers but this one will go through anything including cattails. Gotta fully charge the batteries at the end of the season and bring them on where it’s warm. Made that mistake last season.

My stihl chain saw and stihl weed eater have never let me down

Buy a stihl pro model....

whatever your wife wants to use.......

I also have a Cub cadet walk behind string trimmer. Really the cat's meow. I use it 95 percent of the time. Much easier on the back. Almost anyone can use it as it pushes rather easily.

Several good brands of trimmers on the market. One consideration is repair cost. I run commercial sized Stihl trimmers, brush saw, pole saw, chainsaws, and blowers. Carburetors are probably the most common part to fail on any brand of small engines. Stihl owns the company that makes their carbs and therefore they can sell them much cheaper than other brands. A carburetor for most Stihl products will cost around $35- $40 with the carbs for some other brands of equipment reportedly costing $100 or more. Replacing one is an easy DIY fix. One of the repairs that I have to make on some of our stuff is actually more of a maintenance issue, cleaning the spark arrester. Always check to see if the spark arrester is stopped clogged with soot before making a trip to the shop. Most Stihl products have the spark arrester screwed into the muffler, back it out spray down with brake cleaner or similar product, brush with a fine wire brush, blow off with your air hose if you have one and reassemble. Some other brands are not near as simple

3 different commercial services around here us RedMax. I have had mine for 6 years and it has been flawless.


WS

There all good now. I use that trufuel in mine but I won't burn a gallon a year. It's all I've ever used I really like it and think it will add several years to the life of it.

If you can't make up your mind, just spray a swath of round-up where you would normally trim. Once a month through the growing season seems to be sufficient.

Echo trimmers are awesome. Hands down the most trouble free trimmer on the market. If you used the can fuel you will be set for a long time.

^This

Thanks ,Farm Manager for the info.