Shopping for a good gas powered trimmer...

[fortyshooter]

My battery powered unit ran well but the trimmer head left much to be desired like keeping the line from pulling out.
I use it down at my range property and it's time to move up to a better quality gas unit.

The Honda 4 cycle 35 cc unit with it's Varattach units grabbed my attention with regular gas used,ease of starting and the ability to use
the limb trimmer attachment.

Now with a Corona Check coming soon might just invest in a good trimmer!

Anyone use the Honda 35cc with attachments? I have read some good reviews.

[John E Davies]

I cannot comment on the Honda, but I am personally very wary of hand held four stroke power equipment. My 2 stroke Echo PAS system has been stone reliable for over fifteen years. All you need to do to maintain it is use stabilized fuel religiously, and clean the air filter occasionally. I have a straight trimmer attachment, an edger and a dethatcher, all work great, the dethatcher does beat you up some ;(

You won’t go wrong with this... https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Pro- ... /PAS-225VP. Unless you have a big property, then the larger motor will get the work done faster. Echo products are top tier and have a five year warranty.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[ChefDuane]

Don't have a Honda trimmer but I did have a Honda Harmony mower once. EXCELLENT mower. The trimmer I have now is a Ryobi 4 cycle 30cc X430. I like a 4 cycle trimmer because I hate having to mix the oil and gas and just don't see the advantage (if there is one.) Also, the mower is 4 cycle and I like being able to have one gas can for both devices. The Ryobi trimmer also has blower and edger attachments. I really don't have anything bad to say about Honda power equipment as they do make a quality product. The Ryobi was a might less expensive and it has held up well.

[fortyshooter]

The one I'm looking at
https://www.stringtrimmersdirect.com/Ho ... U0EALw_wcB

I have a Honda 2200 portable generator and it runs great! Just like the option of a trimmer with a tree limb attachment...would get a lot of use!

[John E Davies]

I don’t know how hard you follow servicing tables, but they recommend frequent valve adjustment. Not to mention oil changes every 50 hours.

You won’t find pros using four stroke trimmers.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[RanchRoper]

I bought a Stihl last fall. Great!

[Mags]

.
I've got an Echo 20+ years. I have an attachment that accepts strands of wire. Works great on the hardier stalks of grass and brush.

[RanchRoper]

I got a blade attachment with mine too for branches and small trees.

[Shakey Jake]

I have a Stihl also. It's lasted a lot longer than the other cheap trimmers like Sears and Homelite.
Jake

[BigAl52]

Stihl would be my choice also. Dont know anything about the Hondas. But I have owned Honda products before and never had any issues with them.

[Greyhawk]

I have a Stihl also. Very good trimmer.. Although every Honda I own has been bullet proof. (including my 1985 three wheeler)

[dave77]

I haven't used a Honda trimmer but when I held one at the store it seemed a lot heavier than a 2 cycle. I would recommend a straight shaft and ditto the recommendations for a Stihl.

I had a Stihl at work and was allowed to take it home to use. Had it many years and it was still going strong when I retired, it even stood up to being used by the summer maintenance college kids the school district hired.

I bought a Stihl when I retired and my only regret is I wish I would have got one with the interchangeable attachments.

Don't know what you use for face/eye protection when weed eating but I really like the screen type protectors, much more comfortable than a full face plastic shield as they let the air circulate and protect your whole face unlike safety glasses or goggles. I have the helmet type but you can get them without the helmet if you prefer. I also use mine when chain sawing.

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/prote ... rotection/

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I have taken a different route. I buy the $69 Specials at Lowes. Lately they have been the Bolens brand. If I get 3 years out of them, I'm only spending $23 a year and I'm pretty happy with that, as I really use them, lol. Besides 5 sections of yards, I also use them to trim high brush in the fields as well (I cut the fields twice a year). Plus in more fields down in back. The one I have now will be 3 years this May. And it is still running good, lol. What started all this was the non-adjusting carbs everything now has. Once they got some age on them, I would have to start to run them more and more on choke, till they wouldn't run any more.

But... then I learned the carb adjustment trick. I drill down into the adjustment screws and use a special filed (to almost a point) small screw driver. Works great. I'm able to get another 1 or 2 years out of them this way (but don't tell the EPA), which is silly anyway and they run better adjusted. If I can get 5 out of this one, I'll get it down to $14 a year. Then it's time for another new one, new string and all.

[Grunt67]

I bought my first Stihl a couple of years ago. Only one I ever had that would actually crank, idle, every time like it should. Cranked it up yesterday, after sitting all winter. Fired right up. Well pleased. Price not as cheap as others, but well worth it.
Got my vote.

[BrokenolMarine]

We bought a stihl, and never had much trouble with it. Had to have a bit of work done after about six years, the ethanol in the pump gas melted the fuel lines over time, and some of the other rubber internals. After the rebuild, it runs like a top, and the mechanic recommended the premixed canned gas, no ethanol. A little more expensive, but she starts right up and runs like the .049 RC airplane engines I had as a kid.

We bought the straight shaft model, which meant we could put a blade on it for light brush in the ditchline. Also heavier line. It's a beast when it comes to cutting.

[JEBar]

I don't have a great deal of use for a string trimmer so ours can go a good while between uses .... I have 3 name brand trimmers out in the garage and none of them runs well .... using them provides more frustration than they are worth .... realizing I'm going against the trend, a couple of years ago I purchased a strong AC electric trimmer .... yes, I do have to drag a cord around but for me that's a great deal less frustration than pulling the starter rope on an infernal machine that doesn't want to crank

[fortyshooter]

I have narrowed it down to two choices. The Honda Versa 35cc advantage I like is it is a 4 cycle and no worry with having another dedicated gas/oil mix can. Has the features I like with adding attachments like the weed cutter head and the limb trimmer.
The con is a higher price...the grass trimmer gets mixed reviews for ease of line use and the limb trimmer has a shorter extension length. Plus the unit is a bit heavier.
The next is the Echo PAS unit which offers attachment options and the limb trimmer is 8ft. in length. Yes it is a 2 cyl but has a good reputation of easy starting. Comes with a good trimmer head and the unit with limb trimmer would be several hundred dollars cheaper.

I have the plug in Grass Hog electric trimmer I use around the home and it has plenty of power and gets job done. However to use down at the range property I need to bring along the Honda generator and extension cords...kind of a pain!

[BigAl52]

Maybe you already do this Forty but those 2 cycle engines and all other smaller motors like that NO ethanol gas. I have a couple of stihl blowers that I took from the wifes business when she sold it. They both always start and run no issues with them at all. I bet one of them is 10 years old or more.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I use Alcohol Free Gas in everything now, except in daily driven cars and trucks. I have to say, for some crazy reason I never had bad luck with the 10% Gas, but it sure is better using the good stuff. I am lucky enough to find it in all 3 grades here. Reg, Mid and Supreme. I usually just get the Mid. It is 90 Octane.

[Mags]

Never had any issues with ethanol tainted gas in my power tools. I buy premium. Buying just a couple gallons isn't all that expensive over lower grades. At most about 60 cent difference for a 2 gallon purchase between regular and premium.