Need new line trimmer - recommendations please.

[oz]

I need a new line trimmer for the yard.

I am tired of the cycle of buying a $150-$200 2 stroke from Bunnings, only for it to be useless after a couple of years.

My yard is not big, but there is a lot of hard edging (concrete & pavers). I would like something that can use a fairly heavy line, so that I am not refilling the head every 15 minutes.

My must haves are:

Easy to start (if petrol)
A tough line head, because they wear out when made from cheap plastic
Fairly quiet
Head must be easy to reload
Blades prob are no good - as there are a lot of pop up sprinkler heads around the edges.

I don't really mind 2 stroke or 4 stroke, or battery (if it has some grunt and can last 30 mins of operation).

Does anyone have any suggestions or want to recommend the one they use?

[Courty]

I'll watch this closely as I'm in the same boat. I've had a procession of cheap 2-strokes over the years and I'm over them. I want a quality 4-stroke this time around.

[Ashes]

Guy across the road from me has a Honda and its awesome. Crazy quiet too.

[davepuppies]

I have a 2 stroke victa tornado, but I made sure I got the alloy head and straight bar...

It takes the big gauge line, is very solid and does a great job. Takes about 10 seconds to fit a new piece of line

[Lagerlover]

Guy across the road from me has a Honda and its awesome. Crazy quiet too.

Getting one next week. 4 stroke, heard good things.

[kev]

I've had a Honda UMK422 (4 stroke) since March 2002. I get it serviced every couple of years, and it's been trouble free all that time. Well worth the initial cost.

[Shortylook]

For what it's worth I have a stihl f45 straight bar semi commercial had it for about 10 years and like all my other stihl stuff has been bullet proof.

[oz]

I have a 2 stroke victa tornado, but I made sure I got the alloy head and straight bar...

It takes the big gauge line, is very solid and does a great job. Takes about 10 seconds to fit a new piece of line

How long does the heavy line last? You only put about 30 cm in at a time, right?

[davepuppies]

How long does the heavy line last? You only put about 30 cm in at a time, right?

correct.

It is a 30 cm straight piece.

One bit lasts 3-4 mows. I do front and back, have lots of retaining walls, and plenty of concrete I edge out front.

[oz]

correct.

It is a 30 cm straight piece.

One bit lasts 3-4 mows. I do front and back, have lots of retaining walls, and plenty of concrete I edge out front.

Wow. That lasts well. Might well be worth a look for me, as the little plastic bump feed heads annoy the crap out of me.

[Golfnut]

oz, sounds like you're sick of messing around.....one of these and you'll never have to buy another whipper snipper EVER again.

http://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produc...3/FS-85-R.aspx

Almost no need for servicing as well for home users just make sure your fuel is fresh....change the spark plug & filter every year or two (depending how much you use it obviously) and maybe a bit of a degrees every now and then if you get a bit of crud built up around the carby.
You can load about 4-5m of 2.4 or 2.7mm line in it, also easy to start.
2 stroke's are generally a bit noisier than say a Honda 4 stroke but not by much....in my experience with 4 stroke line trimmers will need valve gap adjustments fairly regularly to keep them running tip top plus oil changes from time to time.

[mike]

Get a Stihl.


I bought mine in 1989 and I've replaced the spark plug once and had the carby done up a couple of years ago.

Most reliable piece of machinery I've ever owned.

[backintheswing]

I have a Shingu 2 stroke I bought about 6 years ago now. Never serviced it or changed a spark plug. Goes first pull. Has an amazing amount of power. The guy at the mower shop at the time, said they never break down and he seemed to be telling the truth.

[Daves]

A Honda or a Stihl, or a Husqvarna a distant third.

[Ferrins]

All straight shaft commercial jobbies for me.I have two Kawasaki KBL 23a models that I have used for 7 yrs without any problems. One was $200 on eBay and the other $80 at Cashies. Got two Shindaiwa models at 27cc and 36cc with handle bars and they are sweet.
I wouldn't touch the small engine Honda's.

Buy a used commercial unit, tell us where you live and I'll suss out what's on offer.

[davepuppies]

Ferrins, are there any sites that specialise in used commercial gear?

Thinking of upgrading my rotary mower

[Ferrins]

A Honda or a Stihl, or a Husqvarna a distant third.

Waste of time trying to buy these secondhand as they're the only models that the home maker knows.

[Archi]

I have had a Stihl commercial quality one for 15 yrs and it still goes strong , easy to use and maintain

[Daves]

Waste of time trying to buy these secondhand as they're the only models that the home maker knows.

True, they don't get sold that often either. Never owned a Honda Trimmer or Lawn Mower myself, but everyone I know that has one swears by them. I have owned Honda Motorcycles and Outboards and they were ultra reliable. Stihl make the best chainsaws by the length of the straight (my old man was a timber cutter and relied on them), Husqvarna's were the 2nd best saws, make some pretty mean Motorcycles as well.

[Ferrins]

I have a Stihl and a Husqvarna chain saw. Got four Honda mowers, a Honda blower and Echo blower and pole saw and have never had a problem with any of them.

[dan]

I have victa battery powered one. It's only good if your grass is light, not thick.

[mudrat]

I have stihl , goes great.

[Ferrins]

Get a sheep, I've had plenty of them and never failed to please.

[BenM]

Get a sheep, I've had plenty of them and never failed to please.

I hear that all the time from all my kiwi mates.

[PeteyD]

He has the velcro gloves.