VERY ANGY. NOT HAPPY (string trimmers)

[bullittman281]

Hello,
As the title suggests I'm not a happy camper. I finally decided its time to retire my~18 year old ryobi 700r. I've been fighting it the last couple of summers and enough is enough. I went out looking today with intent to buy. I'm still empty handed. I'm looking for a strait shaft with bump head. I'd prefer a 4 stroke and one that takes separate oil and gas(if anybody recommends me a Honda they get a negative rep). Stihl is a bit pricey so I looked at a crapsman and what homodepot offered.

The craps I'm pretty sure uses a little Briggs engine which should be a good engine. For 2 bills it doesn't seem to be that bad of a price except...
you can't get one with a bump head. All it comes with is the as seen on tv BS pre cut to length insert wanna be garbage. There is no way no how that sears is gonna try to fix that and hook me up with a bump head. The 2Ts get it but not the 4T's. What a bunch of dumb bastards they got in marketing. There cant be much less useful than a weed eater with no bump head. So I went to homodepot.

The only 4T offering is another now Chinese made ryobi. Overall it looks to be a fair unite. Got the strait shaft. Its got the bump head. It doesn't have the air filter. That's right, no air filter. I may as well just set my $200 on fire and dance around it. The fire will probably last longer and will certainly be more thrilling. Why even bother making something if your not gonna filter is air? MORONS.

So, needless to say I still don't have a weed eater. I looked at an Echo but its a bit more money and its a 2T. Help me out guys. I need a crapsman with a bump head. NO HONDUH.

Bullittman

 

[WoodChuck'r]

Quit complaining, one gets what one pays for. Buy an FS110 trimmer and don't look back.

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[brokenbudget]

go buy what you want and put a bumphead on it.

 

[WesternSaw]

Hang on Man!

Wow,wow,wow,I can feel the heat all the way to British Columbia,Canada.
Cool it down a notch or your going to blow a breaker.
I know all about trying to keep something in ones price range!
Also know the frustration a person can have looking for what the person wants and not being able to get it.
BUT, and this is BIG,BUT HERE! you usually get what you pay for!Usually.
If you pay some more for the Stihl trimmer you will be farther ahead in the long run,because going cheap on the Chinese stuff is just going to come back to haunt you.It's like they say"Pay me now or pay me later"Some of the Stihl guy's will set you right on which are the best models.Myself I have the Kombi 90 power head with the straight shaft bump feed trimmer,and it's super
Lawrence

 

[MrGiggles]

The Stihl 4MIX is a good engine, although you have to mix the oil and gas, but that really isn't that big of a chore. I have a Stihl FS90R and it's worlds better than the Troy Bilt 4 stroke I used to have. I babied that thing and it lasted three years.

The heads on most trimmers can be interchanged. I know for a fact Stihl and Echo sell different trimmer heads, not sure on fitment but there are aftermarket alternatives.

 

[Fish]

If you have been happy with the bottom level Ryobi/Ryan for that many years,
Just buy the Stihl FS45 and be happy.....

 

[SawTroll]

go buy what you want and put a bumphead on it.

Sorry about a (maybe) dumb question - but what is a "bumphead" trimmer vs. other ones?

I use a FS200 with "bike handles", and would refuse using anything less (or anything with a "loop" handle)!

 

[MrGiggles]

Sorry about a (maybe) dumb question - but what is a "bumphead" trimmer vs. other ones?

I use a FS200 with "bike handles", and would refuse using anything less (or anything with a "loop" handle)!

A bump head basically dispenses string then you rev the engine and "bump" the trimmer head on the ground and it lets line out.

 

[WoodChuck'r]

If you have been happy with the bottom level Ryobi/Ryan for that many years,
Just buy the Stihl FS45 and be happy.....

It's a little more subtle than what I suggested, but it does fit his budget better than an FS110. Good call.

 

[RAMROD48]

Get yourself an FS90, 110, or 130...

They don't sell QUALITY at sears, Lowes or home depot...

Although I have seen some Echo Trimmers that will take abuse like you wouldn't believe....now they don't have the power of the Stihl's but they work pretty well non the less....

 

[rms61moparman]

Don't be too hard on the pre-cut heads.
I love them.
They are tough as groundhog hide, simple to maintain, and save a lot on line.
After I ported my Ryobi, the bump heads just wouldn't hold up to the extra strain.


Mike

 

[Brian VT]

I looked at an Echo but its a bit more money and its a 2T.

Bullittman

I wasn't gonna butt in because you sound like you know what you want and I think the suggestions that you can change to a bump head, if you want, are a good idea.
That said, I was gifted an Echo SRM-2110 with bike handles and I smile every time I run it. It's a fantastic machine, imho. I would pay retail for another if this one got stolen or something. Just my $.02.
Another tidbit of info...my neighbor does lawns for a living. He loves the Ryobis. He has a Husky and a couple Shindaiwas that hang in the barn and don't get used.

 

[SawTroll]

A bump head basically dispenses string then you rev the engine and "bump" the trimmer head on the ground and it lets line out.

OK, thanks, afaik that is how most trimmer heads work - at least the stock ones.

 

[rms61moparman]

The next trimmer I get WILL be a Dolmar!!
The MS-22 is 8 lbs, very powerful and the startingest S.O.B. I've ever used.
It is way up on my wish list.
It is a 2 stroke though.


Mike

 

[SawTroll]

Don't be too hard on the pre-cut heads.
I love them.
They are tough as groundhog hide, simple to maintain, and save a lot on line.
After I ported my Ryobi, the bump heads just wouldn't hold up to the extra strain.


Mike

Well, that is what my brother use, with ported engines, longer than speced line, and no cover over the head - unfortunately, he is a long way from here...

I am very happy with the FS200 though, despite it is stock!

 

[VI sawguy]

The Briggs mini-four stroke is junk avoid them at all costs. The Husq. 224L and Dolmar MS251.4 are good quality four stroke trimmers that come with "bump" heads.

 

[Zombiechopper]

My last el cheapo strimmer had a POS bump head that I replaced with a fixed string head.

New bump heads are cheap. Cheap trimmers come with cheap bump heads, so put a cheap bump head on and then you'll already have the fixed string head ready for when it breaks ;0

 

[Erick]

I want a new car..... that has 400hp.... and gets 63 MPG...... that rides like your living room couch...... and handles like its on rails....... and I want it all for $27.00......... plus tax of course.




Either pay for what you want or get what you pay for.... your choice.

 

[indiansprings]

Man up and buy a Stihl 90R or 110/130 and forget about string trimmers for a long,long time. You get what you pay for, we've run the dog snot out of our 90R and it just keeps going. We have several Stihl's three FS 80 two strokes which are legendary in commercial circles and a Shindawia 242, the Stihl four mix 90R hands down is by far the best of the bunch, easy on fuel, starts first time every time and you can add several attachement too it, including a chainsaw head. If you don't like the head put a Shindawia speed feed head on it, they sell a universal head kit, they are by far the best head out there.
The 90R will be about 10 x the quality of the crapsman unit your considering for prolly less than a 100 more bucks, whats a 100 bucks over 20 years?

 

[lone wolf]

The next trimmer I get WILL be a Dolmar!!
The MS-22 is 8 lbs, very powerful and the startingest S.O.B. I've ever used.
It is way up on my wish list.
It is a 2 stroke though.


Mike

compared to the stihls?