Husqvarna 129L string trimmer.

[DaveBN]

I don't have my manual in front of me but I'm pretty sure it says 87 octane at 50 to 1 mix. That is what I use except .95 gal plus some seafoam.
Dave

 

[Goose]

Myself, I'd go with a cordless unit. I have two, a Shindaewa (made by the same Japanese company that makes Echo products) at my shop and a cheaper Greenworks at the house.

I'll put either one up against any gasoline powered one I've ever owned. On both, the battery will last longer than I.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My 3 year old string trimmer won't start. Recently I have replaced the carburetor, fuel lines and filter and coil and spark plug. Now it's back to not running. It seems to have low compression . I have had 3 of these type trimmers in the last 5 years. This one has lasted the longest. Should I be getting more life out of these? They are $250 units from Tractor Supply. I do use them hard including using the 3 plastic blade brush cutters. I use 87 octane gas and Husqvarna 50 to 1 oil mix. I'm just wondering everybody's experience. Do I need to buy a higher quality machine?
Dave

Dave,
About 25 years ago I bought a 4 cycle Husqvarna commercial string trimmer with a Honda engine. It is powerful and weighs more 2 cycles.
I've looked and i don't think Husky uses the 4 cycle honda engine anymore. It is easy for me to start and it is still running. Usually starts on the first pull. Easy to pull too.
I hate 2 cycle engines because they are too hard for me to start and because the mixed fuel goes bad within months.
One tree trimmer said he would only use premium gas in his chainsaw, claiming it is alcohol free. There are very cheap test kit for alcohol
My sister has a very old 35 HP Mercury outboard. She was told to use Shell premium and the gas station is just a few miles away.
We have to replace gas lines and primer pump often but the old Mercury keeps on running.
If you decide to buy another string trimmer, I recommend you look for a 4 cycle.

 

[OlHorsesArse]

I've done small engine repair for over 20yrs & Husqvarna is my go too brand fwiw.
The reliability is superior to other brands, parts are easily located if needed & power to weight ratio is quite excellent.
I have a friend & a neighbor who own the low-end 129L, very good units, they just lack power for thick or tall stuff. Neighbors 129l is about 7yrs old with no problems, my friends is much newer. Its only 3-4 yrs old?

I own a 20yr old (2006) 323L (mid-level) Husqvarna that runs circles around 129l. My old 323l still runs as strong as it ever ran new with no majors to date.
I have nearly 3 acres & I often help my neighbor mow (10+ acres) so its had some use no doubt.

After I learned 2 strokes are being phased out over the new EPA laws which will leave us lugging heavy 4 cycles around or a pile of batteries for Elects I bought Husqvarnas Commercial 525LST.
Man what a beast it is but like my 323L the 525LST still only weighs about 10lbs.
Built with a high torque gear head its power is astounding. Thick 5ft tall weeds are a breeze for it! The balance is excellent on it especially if a Darwin Grip handle is added. I can trim standing straight up with It, that handle does wonders for a bad back & I wish I put the Darwin handle on my trimmers yrs ago.
With an Antivibe main grip handle, an oversized gas tank so youll stop/fill up less often with a 525LST. True Commercial unit.
Husqvarna or Redmax wins hands down. I've repaired/ran just about everything except battery trimmers. Sorry, they get tossed not repaired

 

[UncleTom]

I work on a lot of chainsaws, weed eaters and leaf blowers. The biggest problem i see Is people dont know how to start them. Does it have a primer bulb? Prime the heck out of it. You have to get fuel up to the carb before it will start. 3 times sometimes is not enough. Choke it. If it doesnt have a primer you have to pull it alot for the pulse of the engine to pump fuel up to the carb and that can take alot. Try pulling the plug and give it a tad bit of fuel down the plug or in to the throat of the carb. Keep trying till it runs. They can be stubborn. I get them off the curb all the time and are like new. Start right up for me with what i just told you.

 

[Dusty MI]

I like my electric tools, 120, & battery.

 

[Tony in SD]

About 3 or 4 years ago, I bought Miss Candy a Milwaukee M18 string trimmer. Our Echo worked fine for me but was too hard for her to start. After she let me use her Milwaukee M18, the Echo has been hanging in the shop. We have a 5 acre yard with 4 acres of it grass. A pair of 12 amp hour M18 batteries will easily trim all the yard art areas Miss Candy has in our yard. Every new season, I just put a fresh battery in and pull the trigger and away I go. Works every time. There is no fuel mixing, no stale fuel, no carburetor plugging, no spark plug fouling, no priming, no hard starts, and no talking like Yosemite Sam when Bugs Bunny gets the best of him. The only thing that we replaced so far is the string head because we wore it out from so much use. Plus there are other tools that use the same motor. We have the pole saw attachment that work very well for trimming trees from the ground. The down side is the batteries are kind of expensive but that is a one and done investment at our age. I highly recommend one.

 

[flembo]

Mine is in the shop now I dropped it off yesterday. It will start but only runs with the choke out, I tried seafoam but no luck. I had a B&S on my wood splitter that did that and the sea foam straightened it out.

 

[flembo]

What is going on with these posts. I just realized the original post is dated 9/17/24

 

[Jim.ME]

What is going on with these posts. I just realized the original post is dated 9/17/24

Post #24 made today brought the 2024 thread to the top

 

[Mule Meat]

Post #24 made today brought the 2024 thread to the top

Noticed that this morning. Nearly a two year old thread. .

Can't understand why people preach Sta-Bil for two cycle engines.. You don't need it. Nearly all good quality equipment two stroke oils already have fuel stabilizers in it when you buy it..

I know Echos equipments catalytic converters don't like a lot of garbage added to the fuel.

 

[OlHorsesArse]

Noticed that this morning. Nearly a two year old thread. .

Can't understand why people preach Sta-Bil for two cycle engines.. You don't need it. Nearly all good quality equipment two stroke oils already have fuel stabilizers in it when you buy it..

I know Echos equipments catalytic converters don't like a lot of garbage added to the fuel.

True they all used too have it. Echo Red Armour (my fav) still has stabilizer but reg Echo doesnt have it. At least the bottle dont state it does.
Husqvarna oils were this way last I checked but that was yrs ago. That may of changed?
After tearing the first Red Armour treated engine down I never looked back honestly.

Lil Exhaust are Certainly stifled now days, first mod was buying a used Cat free (black) muffler off Ebay exactly like the silver muffler on my 525LST. Or one can just Gut (drill) their silver Cats insides out like my 323L. If black leave it be, Cat free already. Lucky U!
I have the 5yr Warranty so I didnt gut my 525LST. Not worth losing that imo.
Just be sure to clean the exhaust screen annually or bi-ann.

Sorry' I didnt know the posts/threads on here have expiration dates? How long where we no longer help fellow members out on here?

 

[showcrop]

I used to fight with mine for a lot more time than I actually used it. It finally turned out to be stuck rings. I have a battery operated one now, so my trimming gets done twenty times a year instead of three times.

 

[thdrduck]

Worst trimmer I ever owned. I didn't even get 2 seasons out of mine, starter broke the first year and I had to fix it myself. I think I ended up giving it to someone.

 

[Rbellucci]

tbh i’ve had one of these for three seasons and it’s been mostly reliable ngl.