Gas weed wacker

[Gtidwell]

My older Echo will not stay running. So I
went to Lowe's today and purchased this
one. I thought it would be nice not to
have to use an oil mix gas. DONT BUY ONE.
It is a piece of junk. The head down by
the hub sounded like it had no grease in
it. It had a shinning sound when running.
The motor is a 30cc but it did not sound
to me that it was going full speed at
full throttle. Plus, you have to cut line
into two lengths and load it. It threw
the line out of one side twice while
using it. I did not use all the line up
that was in it. I took it back apart and
put it back in box. Going to make a trip
back over there tomorrow and return it
for a refund.

 

[JGayman]

Manually loading lengths of line seems to be all too common in newer trimmers. Not sure why they all moved away from the spools. Have you considered switching to a battery unit? I finally went battery, gave away my two Weed Eater brand units and never looked back.

 

[Gtidwell]

I just wonder if battery would keep enough charge and cut all I cut. I clean up back fence row. I don't do it all the time. It will have Johnson grass sometimes 3' tall. I do a lot of trimming over a little over 2 acres.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Unfortunate but the name says it all.

 

[4wdtom]

The Land Trust which I volunteer for has two Red Max string trimmers that have been good. At the end of the season we run them out of gas by running on choke until there is nothing left. So far they have gone two winters, started in the spring, and run well. To load cut off a length of string, find center of length, then wind it onto reel, and replace reel. They are either a model BCVZ230S or BCZ230TS, don't remember which. The manual which I have is for both models. We don't use them often but when we use them it is for several hours and hard and continuous cutting of saplings, ferns, and overhanging branches along trails in wooded properties using .095 square or twisted string.

 

[Pitch]

I got a Makita double battery 36 volt. They for the moment come wit two extra batteries. Plenty life on one set for my trimming,I trim around over a hundred trees in the yard and then the edges. I don't know that it would do heavy brush, but for trees and fenceline it is great.
Darn expensive little bugger by I had two gift cards that brought my price down considerably'

 

[rrlund]

Having an electric chainsaw and loving it, there's NO WAY I'll ever buy another gas powered small engine type lawn or garden tool. This battery powered stuff has solved all the problems that those miserable things inflicted on the general population.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

I don't understand why people still think tiny gas engines are of value except for some specialized tasks. Get an 80 volt or better trimmer and an extra battery.

 

[miner09]

If you get a gas buy the Stihl weed eater. Best friend does contract highway mowing for the state. Lots of signs and bridges to cut around. Stihl is the only brand that will stand up to cutting all day every day of the week. Depends on how much you cut. I have a Stihl weed eater that is 20 yrs + that I use along with chain saws. I don't have trouble. And Stihl is American made. The battery equipment and tools have improved so it may work for you.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I have a Stihl 028 saw, 1984 model, a fs76(?) weed eater, 1993 model, and bg55 leaf blower. And a recent 180 saw. Can't remember the size- only had for a year. I only ever use Stihl 2 stroke oil mix, make one gallon at a time. None of these has ever gave any trouble. The 028 saw is on it's 3rd bar. They always start. I take that back-I did have to adjust the carb on the weed eater once or twice. And replace it's primer bulb. I am not sure why I never have trouble - maybe we have better gas around here(N.Ky) - But these Stihl engines run great and always start for me. I am not opposed to battery stuff, but I only own a battery grease gun.
Batteries have come a long way. My thing is if they set for a while how do the batteries hold up. And if they go bad how expensive are new batteries. Mark.

 

[Gambles]

About once a month, I have to help weed-wack our church cemetery. Last Thursday, it was my turn. The turnout was not that great and it took us two hours. It was hot, muggy, and by the time we were done, I was beat. Another guy used his EGO electric wacker and it really impressed me. It was lighter, obviously quieter and had excellent battery life. Also, no gumming of the carb during the winter. He also showed me the feature where it winds itself when new string Is needed. Im still a two-stroke guy, but when I retire it, Im going to keep an open mind.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 09:33:40 07/25/21) Having an electric chainsaw and loving it, there's NO WAY I'll ever buy another gas powered small engine type lawn or garden tool. This battery powered stuff has solved all the problems that those miserable things inflicted on the general population.

greed.

 

[Steve@Advance]

I just bought a Echo, 48 volt I think. I've done my yard 3 times and it still shows 3/4 charged!

I can't imagine me running it down before it runs me down!

Very controllable speed, quiet and powerful, I'm done with gas.

 

[Gambles]

About once a month, I have to help weed-wack our church cemetery. Last Thursday, it was my turn. The turnout was not that great and it took us two hours. It was hot, muggy, and by the time we were done, I was beat. Another guy used his EGO electric wacker and it really impressed me. It was lighter, obviously quieter and had excellent battery life. Also, no gumming of the carb during the winter. He also showed me the feature where it winds itself when new string Is needed. Im still a two-stroke guy, but when I retire it, Im going to keep an open mind.

 

[JGayman]

Do you have an estimate of your total trim time? That will give you an idea if one battery will do the trick. Some units can use larger batteries.

Do you find yourself needing to refuel your gasoline powered trimmer during the job?

 

[T.R.K.]

Don't know what you paid, but you would have been ahead fixing the Echo.

 

[Gtidwell]

I run the trimmer for awhile. I usually go through 2 to sometimes 3 tanks of fuel before I am completely done.

 

[47fivewindow]

My Echo goes through a primer bulb every couple years. A small crack in the plastic will make it keep cutting out.

 

[Carls70]

I have 2 Echo 58v cordless weed whips and the Echo cordless push mower (as well as Echo gas saws, gas blower and a gas straight shaft weed whip.

I have used the cordless trimmer and push mower for several seasons and can give both a good recommendation.

I have had enough trimming before the battery on the weed whip has though. The cordless version has noticably more low speed torque than my Echo gas weed whip and no mixing gas.

I have three batteries and two chargers in total and have found that I don't run out of charged batteries if I'm continuously trimming or mowing.

The only thing I'm not too thrilled on is the head has a smaller line spool in it then my gas one does. I find that when using the larger diameter line it seems like I rewind it more often. Technically it calls for a smaller line with the electric ones but I just run the same diameter crossfire line that I run in the gas one and don't seem to have any troubles. It seems to be about the same weight than my gas powered unit, certainly has much less noticeable vibration and is much quieter.

I bring the batteries and chargers in from the garage over the winter, charge them up (about 30-45? minutes from when they are bottomed out) and forget about them on a shelf till spring.

The lawn mower holds 2 batteries but only needs one to work. It will mow like crazy and I am usually tired of pushing it before the batteries are done. It will cut fairly tall grass and mulches fairly cleanly. It also has a bagger that when used seems to prolong the runtime a bit. It is also the quietest lawn mower I've ever used. I've only had to sharpen the blade once over the last several seasons. It is light enough that I can easily push it around obstacles and on the hill sides. It has a sort of load sensing governor that will speed it up when you push it through heavier grass.

As a former small engine mechanic I am hooked on these. The 58 volt chainsaw is next on my list to add.

That said it may well be worth your while to price out a complete carburetor for that trimmer that you have now. I'd imagine you could fix it for less than any one of the new throwaway gas ones.

Just my two cents.

Carl

 

[SanDogDewey]

This post was edited by SanDogDewey on 07/26/2021 at 04:22 am.

 

[thdrduck]

I tried the battery powered thing and it doesn't work for me and I haven't found a hand held gas one that I figured was worth the money. I settled on a walk behind with big wheels. Never going back to a hand held one. Not the most nimble of things but if you are doing a fence row it would be magic. I've been cleaning up stuff that hasn't been mowed in years and it just chews right through it. Problem may be finding one.

 

[Russ from MN]

What kind of gas are you using? We have a 20 year old Weed Eater that is all original, but I buy ethanol free gas for all my 2-strokes.

 

[Bret4207]

Go get your Echo fixed. You'll be money ahead. And take that junk Crapsman back.