Which Whipper Snipper to buy?

[wilson79]

I purchased an entry level bent shaft Sthil about 6mths ago and it works like a dream!! it cost $199.00 and is bloody great so far..

[Axl]

Ive been thinking of getting a new whipper Snipper for a while as the Ryobi I have is about 9 years old and has been a bit temperamental of late.

Well today was the final straw, I knocked off a little early to come home only for the bloody thing to not want to start, I checked it over and gave the spark plug a quick clean and after 40 or so pulls it started, only to be going for 2 minutes and the head then spits the chord everywhere. So I respooled it and another 40 pulls and off again.

Well 30 seconds later the chord is across the yard again, a few choice words and then I managed my best impression of a 2 Year old and across the yard it went at a great rate of knots. Needless to say it is now not worth trying to fix.

So what should I get? I don't want to go much above $300 if I don't have to, I have a 3000m block but minimal work to be done, mostly just around the house and fence so nothing too much. Any suggestions welcome.

I think you have answered your own question by stating that the Ryobi you have is “about 9 years old”. I have a Ryobi around the same age and it hasn’t missed a beat and form memory they are only around $150 from the big green shed.

$159 to be exact http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/garden-tools/line-trimmer/petrol

[Nomad]

I have had my stihl for 13 years. New plug and filter every couple of years and it still starts second pull.........

[DRB120]

I think you have answered your own question by stating that the Ryobi you have is “about 9 years old”. I have a Ryobi around the same age and it hasn’t missed a beat and form memory they are only around $150 from the big green shed.

$159 to be exact http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/garden-tools/line-trimmer/petrol

Hi Axl

Thats exactly what the wife had been saying, go and get another one. I just figued as we all do its time to go and get something new and its always nice to have something different. I remember I only paid $120 or so for it all those years ago and to be honest I dont ever remember doing much if anything to it through the years.

Ive pretty much narrowed it down to the Stihl or have a look at Bunnings. I think it will just come down to which ever is reasonably light and has a decent length to it as Im just over 6 feet tall and hate nothing more then bending down for 30 mins at a time. Ill take the comments around the Combi range into consideration as I hadnt really looked at those as an option and it would be nice not to have to have so many things clogging up shed space.

With everything pretty much being built to last 5 mins past the warranty period these days I just cant justify paying the big bucks for one, and with the above mentioned I can replace them every 3 or 4 years for the price of the Honda and others.

Also If I only spend a $150-$200 I wont feel as bad if my patience runs out again and this one ends up across they yard.

Thanks for everyones input, its always good to get real world feedback.

[Robbo]

I'd say that after nine years your old Ryobi has done pretty well, so based on that i would just get another Ryobi and look foward to the next nine years.
I bought a GMC form Big W about six years ago for $90 after GMC went out of business and it is still going. Gets a little temperamental with starting if it has been sitting for a while but usually a fresh tank of pre mix fuel fixes that.
Honda are no doubt one of the best brands out there and my thirty year old lawn mower is testament to that but for the price you could replace the Ryobi several times over.

[DannyG]

Got an Echo that has to be 40yo.
Still on the original plug, rings, everything.
Getting shabby now though. Just plain worn out.
Probably replace it with a Honda when the time comes.

Take it back and complain it hasn't lived up to your expectations

[Goose]

the Ryobi I have is about 9 years old

Maybe the answer is in the question. 9 years from a Ryobi is pretty good, perhaps stick with it?

[GeoffA]

Take it back and complain it hasn't lived up to your expectations

I don't have the receipt.....

[Brumbypt]

Stihl, husq, honda, all good.


Peter,
iPad with IOS 7.1 using Tapatalk HD

[albany_nomads]

I run a Honda 4 stroke  straight  shaft wipper snippet / brushcutter
No mixing fuel , very happy with it  :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[johnno48]

Stihl straight shaft

[AJ150]

Honda straight shaft

[MarkVS]

Zero weed spray around the edges once/month.

[bluejay]

Buy your hondas buy your your sthills buy all the other crap brands you want then when you wasted your money save up and by shindiawa straight shaft .Have 3 commercial mowing runs all using shindiawa for the past 7 years dont put a grease gun near them ,change air filter occasionally put fuel and replace the chord .job done

[Kydar]

Honda !!!!!

[chetty]

.

[Barrabart]

I bought a little Honda bent shaft in 2006 or 2007, run premium fuel in it always, it has never missed a beat, and true to Honda's claim, it starts every time. Couple of pumps on the primer, choke on one pull, choke off second pull and it's away and running.
And no mixing fuel.

Shindaiwa stuff is good too though, we had Shindaiwa gear at a mine I worked at, chainsaws and whipper snippers for clearing under and around power lines, general tidy up around the place, the local hire ratbag no hopers that used to get paid to do the clearing treated the gear like sh!t, and it survived.......

[BillC]

OK, you've had plenty of recommendations about brands. I think now is the time to consider engine size and shaft type.

1. How often do you expect to use as this will have a bearing on how long the grass or weeds will be when you attack them?
2. How fast do you want to get through the job?

If you do it often and have plenty of time go for a small capacity bent shaft. If not, spend more and go for something bigger with straight shaft.

I get this feeling a that unleaded fuel in small engines is just a great excuse for......(insert issue)...

Bill

[theins]

Also check out Masters, they have a small 4 stroke unit with bent shift for under 200.
works fine for me, though I am not a heavy user..

[RedDmaxxx]

Buy your hondas buy your your sthills buy all the other crap brands you want then when you wasted your money save up and by shindiawa straight shaft .Have 3 commercial mowing runs all using shindiawa for the past 7 years dont put a grease gun near them ,change air filter occasionally put fuel and replace the chord .job done

Yes I agree with bluejay....ive got a lawn mowing/gardening business...and have worn out about 30 whipper snippers over the years....Honda echo Kawasaki, but mostly sthill....and now im running shindiawa, and very happy with this brand,..

[The punter]

I have hated every single one I have owned.Gave up on petrol for an electric Ryobi, but the stupid feeder still gets tangled every time I use it

[truckiejas]

go with the sthil and get yourself one of these littl juey heads and throw those wind on cord heads away i think you can get them a bunnings now too
http://littljuey.com/products/cutting-heads/professional-engine-head.html

[staghornflat]

Sheep, they don't need fuel and taste good on the BBQ.

[Beachman]

I also purchased an entry level bent shaft Sthil about 2.5 years ago and it works like a dream!! it cost $199.00 and is bloody great so far.

While they say mower shops advertise they keep spare parts for the Sthil range, but for $200 when this eventually breaks it’s probably more cost effective to just throw it away and buy a new one.

[Swannie]

Sheep, they don't need fuel and taste good on the BBQ.

  We have a winner