Tell me about gas powered weed whackers

[kpomtb]

my shop was originally Plano Schwinn and Mower. Still have John Deere tools. And still get calls about fixing lawn mowers.

Concho Valley Bike and Lawnmower. Shop is still there, and still selling bikes and power equipment. Although now they call themselves Concho Bike and Concho Power Equipment, although all one owner, and all in one building.

[Christian Fox]

For performance tuning a carbureted 2-stroke motor, nothing beats ethanol laced pump gas. Love the stuff. Super easy to tune. If an engine is truly designed to handle it, ethanol is fine. A tractor from 1959 or a $300 weed whacker? Better off with pure gas for sure. I use leftover 98 octane leaded race gas in my Stihl. Great for the cheap little motor and the exhaust smells really awesome.

[tele]

Definitely get a straight-shaft.

I've had my Tanaka for over 10 years and it's still as good as new. Can't remember if I've ever changed the spark plug, but other than than that, all I've done is add gas (+oil, of course) and new plastic line.

Tanaka Grass Trimmers

Same here. Tanaka for over 10 years with almost no maintenance other than a new gas line (couple inches of plastic). First or second pull every time.

[Jason Musgrave]

I managed a fleet of Stihl's for the school - damn things got rode hard and put away wet (used by teenagers every day) and never complained.

[EricKeller]

I'll have to ask my neighbor the boat owner about ethanol free gas. I always empty the gas tank on the trimmer after every use. It seems a lot happier that way.

[xjoex]

I have 1 acre to cut, which is on a mountain side with tons of rocks. So I do the whole god forsaken yard with an Echo weed whacker from home depot. I was on my way to buy a Stihl, but I remembered I used an Echo for 8 years doing tons of suburban lawns growing up. That's how I paid for college!

3 years now with 1.5 hours of continual use at full throttle and no problems.


-Joe

[Tamu8104]

+1 on the Stihl. Mine has been going strong for 5 years and I don't even know how old my Dad's is at this point. Never any issues starting, even after long periods sitting in the garage over the winter.

[Tom]

When they stopped making the Rowco Brushking, it was a sad day. The tool of choice for alpine ski areas when I was a lad. I find myself in the back yard with a weed whacker going "And so its come to this..."

[ChristopherG]

This thread reminded me that I need to run the fuel tank dry on my Home Depot-model Echo, which I finally got to replace a 20-year old electric Toro.

I was getting tired of dragging 100 feet of extension cord around the perimeter of my back yard...

[Clyde]

My sig other thought I was crazy for spending $300 on a Stihl 18 years ago. Running great today, though I have begun to buy "recreational fuel" at the boatyard. Expensive but worth it. I think mine is a 66 but am too lazy to go look. Stihl is a great brand, old skool style.

[0nelove]

Get a scythe. Faster, easier, no noise, no pollution.

[maunahaole]

I pulled the trigger on an Echo PAS 225. A huge upgrade over the battery powered unit. This thing flat ripped through a lot of tall thick grass and viney weeds. Big plus in that the time limit of the battery is gone and it is just plain stronger at the business end. It will save a bunch of time on yard chores for sure.

[Too Tall]

Get a scythe. Faster, easier, no noise, no pollution.

Hahaha. Waaaay off topic. I a actually know how to mow and manage a scythe. Learned from dear old mumm who was a champ. Great way to ruin your back too.