Weed Whackers - Line Trimmers: Thoughts

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Two years or so ago I bought a Maruyama BC402 at an auction for $7.50. The only person bidding against me was a scrapper. The motor would not turn and the shaft was frozen.

I got it home and took the head apart. The shaft was full of debris so I cleaned it up. I then lubed up the inside of the shaft, reassembled, added fuel, pulled, and ran it for a little bit. The head would feed the line out while the unit was running so I had to buy a new head to attach to the shaft for about $25.00 (generic unit). I ran it again and dropped it (heavy unit) and damaged the trigger so I kind of set it back and forgot it.

I was out working on the lawn equipment at remembered the Maruyama. Took it out and re-attached the trigger and cleaned the carb and Bosch spark plug. I took it out, started it and oh man! You have to use a sling and it is right hand use only as the exhaust goes out the right hand side of the motor. I will need to rig the trigger a bit better.

I have .177 line on the trimmer and it DOES cut down trees up to 1/2" without any issues. This thing is a beast! WOW! But it is LOUD!!!! Must use ear muffs AND safety goggles as it throws stuff everywhere. Out cuts the 6.75 HP high wheel line trimmer hands down!

Only issue is this one is apparently so old there are not so many parts available. Hopefully the next gen B42 parts can work if push ever came to shove.

In comparison, I have a lightweight Echo weed whacker (so I could lower it down the ditches one handed) and a high line trimmer. Neither can cut as much as fast as this old Maruyama. Hmmm, now I'm just rambling. Sorry about that.

Anyone have any other reference points?

[rusnak]

I have a commercial grade Echo that came with a saw blade head in place of the string trimmer head.

I saw the "generic blade head" that Echo makes for string trimmers at Home Depot. Lightweight junk.

IMO, good stuff is just heavier. I have to wear a harness too with the Echo. You have to get buckled in, and latch it onto yourself. But you can cut all weekend long if you wanted to with it. I always wear earmuff and eye protection.

[wdfifteen]

I've never encountered a line feed system that worked as advertised.

[URY914]

Timely thread, I'm in the market for one myself.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I've never encountered a line feed system that worked as advertised.

Mine do on the bounce so you have to be careful not to bounce it too hard. I bought some red line thinking it was good stuff and even grass stalks wear it down. Good line is good line.

Never tried the fixed length blades, but I think they would be good in a lot of situations. I have to trim against brick, so no hard blades for me.

[Baz]

While I'm in the landscaping business - we don't really perform maintenance - but I do watch and hear what they are saying and doing and it seems that Echo is the preference amongst most companies.

I have some Echo equipment almost 20 years old now (trimmer, edger, and blower) for my own use that are still going strong. Haven't had to do much to them either over the years.

Guess I'm an Echo man.

[Bill Douglas]

Husqvarna.

You know they are made by naked blonde 18 year old girls in Sweden?

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Don't buy one from the big box stores! Go get one from an independent shop as they will have the higher quality units. The Echo is great. By lightweight I mean it weighs little enough I can lower it into the "bar ditches" with one hand. The new Maruyama is supposed to be very quiet and comes with a five year warranty. So did my Echo. Check out Stihl as well. An independent shop will let you start one up and cut the grass around their place with their demonstration model. Well, most will!

My Maruyama has to be ten or more years old. The only thing wrong is the part I broke. Best $7.50 power tool I ever bought!

[futuresoptions]

I went to the dark side a few years ago, I went electric and haven't looked back. It is a pain in the butt dragging a 100ft cord around and the ergonomics aren't up to par with their gasoline cousins, but it starts every time, does its job and when it dies I just go get another one...

[crb07]

Straight shaft Stihl from a shop that sells to pro landscapers, non ethinol fuel only, no problem for over 5 years of year around use in Florida.
Yes, Home Depot and Lowes sell crap. Not worth the 40 dollars you save.

[K9Torro]

I went through the big box 99 dollar phase, after buying a new one about every 18 months I found a barely used Echo commerical straight shaft at a local pawn shop three years ago and it is still cutting like new today, gas and go. I use the heavier grade of line on it seems to last alot longer between rewinds.

T

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by crb07

Straight shaft Stihl from a shop that sells to pro landscapers,
Yes, Home Depot and Lowes sell crap. Not worth the 40 dollars you save.

+1
Got my Stihl from a pro shop. Only problem has been the line feed system. For $25 I can get one of those heads where you stick 12" of line on it at a time - no drum of line, no line feed. I might try it.

[recycled sixtie]

I have an electric Torro that I inherited from my wife's previous man. It must be 30 years old and is still going strong. Just keep putting the nylon cord in it and that's all it needs. Like the above says with 100' of electric cord to drag around, it is no problem. Won't work for an acreage though. And my Torro mower I
retired after 27 years of use last year. It was gas powered and was still running.

[vash]

i bought a pro stihl from a garden equipment shop. it was interesting to hang out with pro gardeners. i had some old man that has been doing gardening work forever help me pick a tool. it has not failed me yet..it got stolen while at the very same shop getting a tune. they gave the owners unit which was several years younger. the carb leaked a bit. they replaced it, but it still leaks a tad. i miss my original unit.

[peppy]

I also bought a stihl...do not buy the $200 one. If you want one you can depend on, they start at $300.

I have a husqvarna now and have no issues.

Both of these trimmers were purchased at dealers not box stores.


This one was still under warranty, but stihl does not warranty the line feed. I got tired of having to take the head off and rewind the string, so I introduced it to a pecan tree.