propane weed eater

[guido]

Hello,
I just saw a weed eater made by Echo that runs on propane! 16 ounce bottle.
Anyone have one of those. First time i have ever seen one.
Guido.

 

[Nancy Howell]

Never heard of one either. How does the weight compare? Did they give a fuel efficiency comparison between gas and propane?

 

[Bspauld]

My neighbor has some organic crops and is using small propane torchs mounted on a culivator to weed with,He has to be careful as to when he does it so as not to damage the soybeans with the fire

 

[Lefty]

I suspect we're gonna see a lot of such items as it's good technology and somewhat "green".The day of the 2stroke engine has pretty much ended and gasoline 4strokes are even w/modern techology,somewhat heavy polluters.Couple commercial mower companies are offering propane options on Zero turn mowers and such.Boats,chainsaws,concrete cutters,etc,are 4strokes now and the disposable/recyclable steel throwaway tanks,could have benefits in those fields.YouTube has videos of running a stocl walkbehind mower off a bottle,w/virtually no hi-tech conversion and I know a feller running his small rider mower with a propane Honda off a floor scrubber.As Hank Hill might say"Theres no end to the wonders of Propane"

 

[Kruse]

I've heard a commercial for this machine also. I have not seen one in person. My GUESSTIMATE is that the propane is more expensive, just because of the metal bottles more than anything.
If I remember from a different post, you live in Dallas. I lived there for 10 years and I remember all the air problems they have and all the commercials of "Please don't use your lawn mower or weed wacker until evening".
I'm sure this machine is geared toward the pollution areas of our country and I'm curious if the government will start mandating something like this for certain areas.

 

[Lefty]

I believe sale of 2cycle whackers and blowers are currently outlawed in CA.As I understand it you can no longer buy a new 2stroke.Pollution and noise were cited.Don't have doumentation however.
As to fuel cost,you can still buy them"bootlegger" adapters to refill 14-16oz bottles yourselfoff a parent tank.(not recommded for morons).I'm sure if LP catches on,every neighborhood will"have a guy",till the goobermint catches him
Did a little underhood checkin,with stock gas tank gone,I couldn easily fit a 10lb or pr of 5lb tanks"into" my tractor.

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Yep its an easy conversion and the motors in em will last longer running propane. Fewer oil changes required too. A bit more safety concern storing in a garage, will have to educate users to turn main valve off.

 

[Lefty]

Lotza info on LP& small engine conversions.
Poke here

 

[guido]

Hello Nancy,
It looked like the 2 cycle trimmer with the grey housing. It is a curved shaft model, i'm guessing 4 cycle engine. The outside of the box read, screw in the bottle start it up on go!.
May be Echo.com, will have it listed.
45 degrees and raining here to-day, so i did not linger much, it was at Home depot store.
Guido.

 

[slinMI]

Propane is made from petroleum and as such is a pollutant to burn just like gasoline

 

[Phil in Pa]

I don't know the science of it, but the exhaust is non-toxic. Propane equipment is used inside manufacturing facilities, even food plants, and warehouses for this reason.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I think Evenrude is making 2 stroke boat engines that have less emmisions than any 4 stroke boat engines. dave

 

[railhead]

no but by gosh I WILL own one. I wish every gas engine I had was on propane. Every gas tractor I own is except my little JD 300 backhoe....it is gas.

 

[Nolan (foxtrapper)]

Just saw those the other day myself. And having spent the better part of yesterday cleaning up gummed carburetors in various weed trimmers and such I'm right interested in one of those propane powered units.

 

[guido]

The exhaust is not harmfull, that is why it is used indoors for forklifts. As long as there is adequate fresh air coming in, no problem with the use indoors. Propane is more expensive per pound / gallon than gas, but it burns cleaner and extends oil draining intervalls.
Guido. :lol:

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

I just talked to my local ECHO dealer. He was not aware of anything in their line that was LP fueled. I ask him to ask his Echo Field Man the next time he was around AS I would be interested in one. You can buy a fitting to fill the small torch bottle from a 20 LB. LP tank as I have one and I have done it.

Kent

 

[guido]

Hello Kentb,
You can refill from a bigger bottle, and you have done it SAFELY! Dummies need not apply.
Guido.

 

[guido]

I just checked the Craftsman Sears site. they have 2 propane units straight and curved shafts.
Guido.

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

Did the Sears site give a Model No.? If so from the first three numbers of the Model No. You can determine WHO made the trimmer as you know Sear/Craftsman does not build ANYTHING.

Kent

 

[guido]

Hello kentb,
Curved shaft model #79211. list price $269.99
Straight shaft model 79212 list price $289.99
Both on line for $50.00 off the list price.
Powered by LEHR?
Guido

 

[Nolan]

LEHR. Designed by them, built by Eco.
Lehr

 

[CANUCK 4]

Any and all exhaust from a fuel burning engine is toxic under the right conditions. If any one says otherwise have them fire up that forklift, then stand there and breathe the exhaust for a while and see what happens.

 

[clennep]

Yes all exhaust is toxic, however propane is safer in confined spaces as is gasoline. The weed eater runs around 2 hours on one bottle of propane. You can get a bottle at Wal-mart for under $2 and refill it with a larger tank. When you add the price of gas and the price of the oil, assuming you are using a 2-stroke, I believe it would be cheaper to operate. You would also save money in the service costs since the carbs on the 2-strokes need more maintenance than the proplane. Just my thoughts.