I friend gave me a Poulan PRO PP333 to fix. Engine has 80 psi compression after four years of commercial use at a park and recreation area. Runs wide open but won't idle. Dies instead. It's history.
Trimmers
- Thread starter Four Paws
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jughead500
Sasquatch
The 326 is a seriously good weedeater.I think I wore out 3 of them over the years.professionally of course.2 were my cousins and I liked them so well I bought the last one my dealer had before they quit husky.my cousin gave me his last one before he passed away.I really need to go through it and see what I can do with it.
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
That is basically the same as mine. I bought an entire P&C kit for mine for $32. It was easy to put in.
The red rubber boot between the strato air valve and the intake deteriorates - I have to replace mine every year. That may be the reason for the failure.
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/ported-poulan-pro-pole-pruner.276194/
srb08
Doesn't play well with others
I've got both and a 130.
With a string head and .095 line, the difference is minimal.
With a brush or saw blade, the difference is huge.
I replaced that boot and even tried to seal it with Permatex. No luck. That's the worst carb manifold design I've ever seen--destined for cracks, splits, and air leaks.
BTW, before I drop it off at the land fill, have you got a link to that $32 P&C supplier? I'll trust your judgment that "It was easy to put in".
Chris-PA
Where the Wild Things Are
I found nothing wrong with the design other than that they used the wrong material for the boot.
I got the kit from Sears, although I'm sure some of our sponsors could get it: http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part-number/545008046/0071/358.html?eml=$customer_id$
I see they're up to $34 now!
I also got the gaskets and seals: http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part-number/545008044/0071/358.html?eml=$customer_id$
I completely agree on that front. I have a 480, a 460C-EM and a 450 and they burn a lot of fuel. But the increase in production I see when I run them is more than the increased fuel. I haven't found anything my FS130s can't do a 250 can. When they were the best thing on the market, the FS 250 was a great machine for doing work in right of ways and heavy grass. Now, the 130 does everything the 250 does and keeps my bottom line higher.
alderman
Addicted to ArboristSite
A few of mine on the wall. All of mine say (surprise, surprise) Shindaiwa.
ANewSawyer
Addicted to ArboristSite
I just haven't been able to come to like the idea of the 4 mix engine. If I understand corectly, a lot of the commercial guys around here don't like them. But I think that they probably use the for grass trimming, which I don't think would be a 4-mixes strong suit. Maybe I will find a unit used for cheap and get to try it out. I am kinda curious about them still. For now, I am happy with my current trimmers though!
jughead500
Sasquatch
Biggest gripe about the 4 mix for me is not being able to keep the rpm in the range that i need when trimming.when i pull the trigger and get it where i need it within 10 feet the rpm's start dropping give it gas and then there's too many rpm's and it's sucking the grass out of the ground.
sometimes WFO isn't needed on freshly sown grass or in rocky terrain.in my area we have more rock than grass in some places.i don't run a guard because of rocks and obstacles. Most trimmers will also handle a few extra inches of line out too.especially the fs250.
sometimes WFO isn't needed on freshly sown grass or in rocky terrain.in my area we have more rock than grass in some places.i don't run a guard because of rocks and obstacles. Most trimmers will also handle a few extra inches of line out too.especially the fs250.
KenJax Tree
Terraphobic
Same thing with their HT-131 pole saws....junk. We dumped all of them and bought Echo PPT-280. IMO Echo makes the best pole saw out there.Biggest gripe about the 4 mix for me is not being able to keep the rpm in the range that i need when trimming.when i pull the trigger and get it where i need it within 10 feet the rpm's start dropping give it gas and then there's too many rpm's and it's sucking the grass out of the ground.
jughead500
Sasquatch
I have the ht131 and a ht100 and have had no problems with those.although i would like to try a 2 stroke pole saw.i'm sure the weight savings would be much better.
KenJax Tree
Terraphobic
Maybe they've improved, this was when the 4-mix first came out. There were only problems with a few i remember but they replaced all of them.
jughead500
Sasquatch
Mines about 6 years old.i remember some grumbling going on when the trimmers came out.whats that been now 10-12 years?
Chris J.
Addicted to ArboristSite
I just had to read this after purchasing my new trimmer
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I desperately needed to clean up an overgrown yard, and had crappy experience with a used trimmer. What kind of idiots design a trimmer where the engine has to be very nearly completely disassembled to replace the starter cord? To replace a piston, yes, but not a starter cord !!
I dusted off my wallet, unlocked it, and bought a new Echo SRM-280T. I used for about 2.5 hours yesterday. So far I really like it, but the SpeedFeed "easy" line winding mechanism does the same thing as winding by hand--the line overlaps, gets hot, sticks, and doesn't want to auto-feed properly. But I've only did once, maybe there's a trick I haven't figured out.
Over on this side of the pond they are strimmers or brushcutters for the larger ones.Top trumps so far with a FS 500 (51.7cc) but I just know someone is going to come along with a 550 or a Husky 555.
Stihl FS 80 for comparison:
Some have commented that the FS250 drinks fuel but the FS500 nearly needs a second man just to carry the fuel! I've used the FS400,450 and 480 and they sip compared to this thing. I got it for £50 ($75 roughly) off ebay. It was listed as a FS50. The owner had lent it out to someone who managed to cross thread the L screw either before or after he scored the piston. He took it to the local dealer who said it was uneconomic to repair. No surprise really as the spares prices are scary high. Everything cleaned up easily though and I already had a set of 44mm Caber rings. L screw took a bit of extracting but it turned out to be a standard M3 thread. Stands me in less than £100 with a new Autocut 40-4 head.
One FS 55 and 2 FS-85s. The other FS-85 is at the cabin and only runs a brush blade. It has cut well over 2 miles of trail through tag alder and mountain maple without anything done other than sharpening the blade. It's the type that has a chainsaw tooth profile. Anything under 3" is fair game.
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Thanks Chris! Prices seldom go down but they do go up regularly. This looks like a fit. My experience had been that 80 psi. compression will not run any 2-cycle engine correctly, especially at idle speed. It does run at WOT and perhaps a hair less. That's it. The original price on the PP333 was $190, and perhaps spending $40 or so to save it might be worth it.
redtractor
ArboristSite Operative
For those who think red and black is sexy! RedMax 30 cc with Max Torque gearbox. Gear reduction muscles its way around very nicely. I also use a shoulder strap but usually have the weight between my hands. The strap takes the load off for a moment here & there but never seems for long. Bought this larger size to use a blade and found the Aire-Cut. That high lift blade works great but better wear chaps and a face shield!
