Line Trimmers

[robbo1172]

I had a Stihl line trimmer in the past and it was a PITA to start, to the point where it became a projectile at least three or four times, so it went to the tip. What I should have done was remove the head of it as it was pretty good, fed well, didn't seem to break line etc.

I needed a new one and I'm a firm believer in buy what you can afford, which at the time was a Homelite jobbie. It starts well, runs fine, if not with a bit of vibration but the head is rubbish, the bump feed rarely works, it breaks line and it gets tangled so now I can afford something a little better I'm looking into it. I've tried to break the Homelite by running in lean, rich, flat out, to justify a new trimmer but can't, so maybe I just need to replace the head?

I'm after advice on replacing the head vs a new trimmer.

Do I go down his path http://www.sureload.com.au/store/p1/Sure_Load_Trimmer_Head_Set.html

or maybe a new Husky http://www.mowersgalore.com.au/brushcutters-line-trimmers/husqvarna-brush-cutter-line-trimmers/display/753-husqvarna-line-trimmer-122c-bent-shaft/

or a four stroke Troy built https://www.masters.com.au/product/900031228/troy-bilt-29cc-curve-shaftline-trimmer-4-stroke-tb525ec-black

It's only for a standard suburban block trimming the edges so don't really need anything too flash...

Any thoughts or advice appreciated...

Robbo...

[D4D]

Honda, that said I have a Stihl Kombi that starts first go every time.

[oldmate]

MasterCard or visa works good

From what I hear 

[Bird]

go a straight shaft... not a bent...

Had a play with Timbos one of these wth the daddy handles and shoulder straps, and it was so much better than a normal one..  I didn't get any aching arms

[richee]

Honda! 

[Rumpig]

I just bought one of these today http://www.macarthurmowersandmarine.com.au/documents/ShindaiwaC2602-StrokeBrushcutterPriceSheet_003.pdf
though it's not actually for me, our 4wd club is donating it to the a Kalbar rural brigade as a thank you gift for doing a display at the 4wd Qld Corroboree event we hosted.

[KingBilly]

I just bought one of these today http://www.macarthurmowersandmarine.com.au/documents/ShindaiwaC2602-StrokeBrushcutterPriceSheet_003.pdf
though it's not actually for me, our 4wd club is donating it to the a Kalbar rural brigade as a thank you gift for doing a display at the 4wd Qld Corroboree event we hosted.

I had one of these for the farm for 8 years before selling to a mate.  Plus I have it's baby brother for the house block.  Now 11 years old and done nothing to it but cleaned the air filter, changed the plug a couple of times and refueled it.  Highly recommend.

KB

[achjimmy]

Ha ha I just bought the bent shaft sthil today, on special for $199. I've got a straight shaft whipper sniper with a blade on it and I get sick of changing over too cord. Plus IMO the straight shafts are not as comfortable to use as the bent shaft even though they are much more durable. Used it for a coupe of hours and probably should have bought the long version as I am 6'1" but it was still (no pun) very comfortable to use and that's without a strap. Horses for course I've found with tools. I now have three whipper snippers, cord bent shaft, straight shaft blade and straight shaft hedger and chainsaw with 4 extentions.!  I am a tragic when it comes to garden tools.

[NewieCamper]

Thinking outside the box a little, have you considered cordless battery powered? No cords to drag around and no dramas starting.

Having already got some Ryobi 18v gear I thought I'd try the one+ trimmer when I got sick of mine taking more effort to start than to use. Does my suburban block fine, including sometimes getting a workout on buffalo that had been left a little bit to long. Time again I might go for the 36v option, but really I'm not only trimming the edges and what I've got does the job fine. A 4ah battery is enough to do the edges and some hedging and a quick blast with the blower to clear the driveway. Not sure if the head would suit, it's supposedly got and auto feed thing that I seem to have to feed a bit, but not being petrol powered stopping and starting it is just a matter of pulling the trigger.

[tryagain]

I use these heads for commercial use and rate them, I usually sub out the stock one on new trimmers if they don't come with them.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Speed-feed-head-4-brush-cutter-line-trimmer-whipper-snipper-suit-Stihl-Victa-etc-/200837880764?hash=item2ec2dedbbc:g:~S0AAOSwQPlV-Rd~

[hainess]

I use these heads for commercial use and rate them, I usually sub out the stock one on new trimmers if they don't come with them.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Speed-feed-head-4-brush-cutter-line-trimmer-whipper-snipper-suit-Stihl-Victa-etc-/200837880764?hash=item2ec2dedbbc:g:~S0AAOSwQPlV-Rd~

What he said.

I had to0 replace the base of the speed head last week after 4 years.
Around 3000 lawns a year.

Rod
.

[grafy82]

Stuff the petrol tools. Get one of these new bad boys and hang on. 80v will smash whatever you need it to.

[Jeepers Creepers]

I'm currently using a Chonda (Chinese Honda) straight shaft and it goes good.
Starts first or second pull (bit like me) and I use it from doing delicate stuff to heavy sh!t and plugs along.
Best of all.... it doesn't vibrate like Mr Buzz does in the bedroom.

I have a second back snipper, some heavy duty bit crap
Vibrates like an outboard missing a hunk of prop.

[lino6]

I got a straight shaft Honda. Starts first time every time. Line feeds great. Worth the money IMO. I went to the mower shop to get a huski and the sales lady said I'd rather the Honda (agent for both). They sold me the Honda for the same price as the huski (about 80 bucks dearer at the time) and said if I didn't like it they would swap it no questions. I never took it back!

The Honda feels nice and balanced when I'm using it, mine is the one with the normal D handle thing not the U shaped thing. I was tempted to get one of those "weed whacker" attachments for it as they reckon its the best of both worlds, but I just suck it up and swap line/blade when needed

 

[prodigyrf]

Thought I'd add to this thread and my experience with a straight shaft Honda I've had for a couple of years. They're the best but I soon found the bump feed it came with kept breaking the line as many found with them getting hot and the nylon line sticks together. The BIL found the same and recommended a manual head you slip cut lengths into and I got this one at the time-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Little-Juey-Straight-Shaft-Head-for-Grass-Trimmer-Whipper-Snipper-Weed-Wacker-/141919298027?hash=item210b0ca1eb:g:Np0AAOSwxp9W2CTL
He'd apparently bought the ally prototype one whereas min was plastic which was OK but I still found you had to be careful with them as the line could still break off where it was gripped tight. What's more it finally wouldn't hold the line firmly as the the line eventually wore an indent in the base where it clamps the line. There are a number of alloy ones on ebay now which should be better lasting but despite trying square line and round I still wasn't happy with break offs or pull out (you want to clamp the line but don't want to squash it hard and getting the balance right was still irksome) That's when I did some homework.

One acquaintance recommended these heads as pretty good-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNIVERSAL-SPEED-FEED-LINE-TRIMMER-HEAD-WHIPPER-SNIPPER-BRUSH-CUTTER-BRUSHCUTTER-/301133413484?hash=item461cf33c6c:g:aqAAAMXQEgpTDCHB
which got me thinking about the original head in the cupboard and surely Honda could make one that works. That's when some searching around came up with US made Trail Blazer trimmer line that lots of pros use-
 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LINE-TRIMMER-CORD-2-7mm-TRAIL-BLAZER-1-KG-BULK-/221157435793?hash=item337e02a991:m:mfsTQKKrcihUlaJHFUoerzw

Bingo! 2.7mm Trail Blazer loaded in the Honda bump head and it works like a dream wearing out as it should and not breaking off because it's not clamped/squashed but pulling in tension off a spool and supported by nice rounded alloy guides out of the head. The Trail Blazer is obviously higher temp stuff that doesn't weld itself together in the head and it's tough stuff and clearly bang for buck. I don't bump feed it but click it on manually (about 25mm at a time) and whereas I was going through half a dozen cut lengths around the yard before, one or 2 clicks with the bump feeder now. That roll of Trail Blazer I bought is going to last a hell of a long time by the looks so I'll keep it in a dark cupboard 

PS: Perhaps a shorter roll from your mower shop for home use-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TRIMMER-LINE-CORD-TRAIL-BLAZER-33-METERS-2-7mm-105-1-2lb-225-grams-/331496239467?hash=item4d2eb7316b:g:zpcAAOSwZjJU9sdg

[mrdenn1s]

I've got one of these:

http://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Products/Grass-Trimmers-Brushcutters/Landowner-Brushcutters/265-1583/FS-85.aspx

Brilliant piece of kit. Cuts my 1/2 acre backyard 4 times a year without an issue.

[prodigyrf]

I like twoeys too and Stihl are tops but with a 4 stroke mower I didn't want different petrol so that meant Honda. Do you use the bump head with trimmer line and if so what have you found?

[chester ver2.0]

If i had my time again i would go 4 stroke for a big yard or battery for a small yard

I have a 2 stroke Victa one and compared to my 4 stroke Victa mower it is crap never get the mix right and always playing with the choke to get the damn thing to run

[prodigyrf]

Just be aware with Stihl gear they can have a very specific start procedure and you'll flood them and tear your hair out trying to start them if you don't follow it-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFShbC6Ceds

Thought crossed my mind robbo might have chucked his Stihl trimmer because he never read the instructions 

[prodigyrf]

If i had my time again i would go 4 stroke for a big yard or battery for a small yard

I have a 2 stroke Victa one and compared to my 4 stroke Victa mower it is crap never get the mix right and always playing with the choke to get the damn thing to run

Twoeys are good for intermittent use because unlike 4 strokes with sump oil you always have fresh oil coating the crank and internals but there's one snag with premix. If you leave the carby full the petrol can evaporate off and leave oil which may block a jet somewhat and hence the hard start. It pays to turn the fuel off and run the carby dry but that's not always possible with these small motors now. Next best is to grab yourself Stihl's special twoey oil that will run at 50:1 rather than 25:1 which can ameliorate the problem. Don't mix more than 6 months worth of fuel either as it goes stale particularly in plastic containers in sunlight. Why I like 4 strokes but then you have to change the oil regularly.

[tk421]

So answer me this. I want to know if it's true. When i was looking, I was told that straight head trimmers have a reversed gearbox so you cut working backwards and the angled ones you cut working forwards?

Was looking at Hondas, Stihls and Shindawa's at the time after drop kicking my Ryobi one too many times. I ended up with a Honda 4 Stroke bent shaft. Engine is beautiful (if you get the start procedure right) but the bump head is already Shitting me. At least it's easier to add like than the Ryobi

[Bill]

I have the Troy built in your link.
A bit over a year old.
Starts easy every time.
Simple line winder.
I love it...
Bill

[speewa158]

Straight shaft for safety & performance  is the way to go . This unit has a steel rod as a drive shaft & its really hard to bring the head back on to your toes for an accident . Head replacements with line heads or replacement blades for the tuff stuff . Try to use diamond cord of or about 2.7mm for best durability at work .
Brand that's your pockets call Honda is 1 of my calls for power Husky for all round work  .
My units only last 2 to 3 years at best as l work them to the max , then chuck them out . They do pay for themselves early in the job & the rest is cream .         

[Foss]

I have had the Honda 4 stroke "bent" shaft. Brilliant trimmer. 4 stroke quiet and very powerful. I have had no issues whatsoever with the bump feed. The name of the game is to get the right size cutting cord.

[jetcrew]

another Honda user here

jet