[Shop-talk] Electric String Trimmers

[Brian Kemp]

Regarding your "lower hassle factor" comment, if you stay gas, give the 
canned fuel like Tru-Fuel a try.  My blower, string trimmer, and chain 
saw always start right up, even after months or 2 years for the chain 
saw.  Yes it costs more, but it makes it super easy not having to keep 
fresh gas, especially with the mess they have in California.

I had problems starting my Echo string trimmer and went back to the 
dealer and the first thing they wanted to blame was my gas.  I said that 
I never used anything other than Tru-Fuel and he became super helpful.  
Turns out I shouldn't have followed the starting directions as written 
and was flooding the engine.  No problems in the 6 years since and it 
gets worked very hard 4-5 times a year.

My previous string trimmer was a Ryobi and when the engine died at 3 
years and 2 month, all the service places blamed my gas and said to just 
toss it.  Have not bought a Ryobi product since and never will.  The 
semi-pro Echo is far superior.  Especially like the easy loading string 
in the Speed-Feed head - Just take a 20' length of .095 line, stick it 
through the hole and twist the head to wind it up.  No more trying to 
wrap a spool then install it in the head. This alone is worth most of 
the price difference from a home center product to a real outdoor 
products dealer.

Also like my Sthil low noise backpack blower.  I have a corded electric 
Toro, but it seems louder and has much less power.  It too always starts 
right up on Tru-Fuel.  When I use it, I'm running it 30-45 minutes.  
Could never expect a battery product to work for me.

Battery products may work for some, but for my situation, I don't 
consider them an option and I have zero issues with gas products since I 
stopped mixing with pump gas.

Brian


On 8/20/2019 3:26 PM, Karl Vacek via Shop-talk wrote:
> Related topic.  I recently went through this consideration (still don't have a new string trimmer or edger) and became convinced that the EGO stuff was the best.  Based on reviews and videos - never touched one till I ordered it.
>
> I started with their biggest blower, which came with the 5-AH battery and a charger.  It's fine, I guess, but unless you push the "Turbo" button it's not close to the power of my  50 year old Echo gas blower.  A fast clean-up after mowing, using full trigger but not any time in Turbo mode, and I'm down to half battery.  If it was leaf season I'd be taking a 1-1/2 hour break every 45 minutes.  And I swear it slows down as the battery runs down, though maybe that's just my disappointment kicking in.
>
> It was an Amazon purchase and it's going back.  Now I'm not sure the lower hassle factor of a battery tool is worth it.  I still need a string trimmer and an edger.
>
> Going to the Stihl dealer next, and probably resigning myself to putting up with 2-cycle engines for a while more.
>
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