Since my last post further down the page a little while back, the Ryan died, but not until it was totally used up, muffler fell off along with other things. Now I use a Toro from Homedepot and it is a nice machine. Somewhat heavier, but it works it way through taller tougher grass and weeds. Quiet, good on gas and still a 2 stroke.
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4 cycle or 2 cycle weed eater?
- Thread starter shootist16
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,878
I went through a bunch of consumer grade string trimmers (2cycle, 4cycle and electric) before I came to the realization that spending more on a pro-sumer/commercial grade trimmer would be less costly in the long run. I had already upgraded my mower, generator and power washer and was pretty thrilled with the 4 cycle Honda powerplants, so I began my research already favoring the 4 stroke Honda. I also had good experience with Stihl, Echo and Husqvarna equipment so those were at the top of my list with Honda at the get-go. My poor to fair at best experience with MTD brands (MTD, Ryobi, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Craftsman), John Deere (small consumer mower) and Weedeater eliminated them at the start. My experiment with an electric trimmer (Black & Decker 18V) was a miserable failure, so it was an all gas powered quest.
After researching landscaping forums online and talking to a local small engine repair guru as well as local outdoor power equipment dealers I narrowed it down to 3 trimmers, the Echo SRM-S30, Shindaiwa T242 and the Honda HHT25. I think I would have been happy with any of those but ended up with the Echo SRM-230. Shindaiwa had the weakest local dealer, so I eliminated it first. The best local servicing dealer of Echo and Honda was one that I was already using for Stihl, Echo, Honda and John Deere equipment, so it came down to hands on feel and price. I liked the feel of the lighter Echo over the Honda, it was cheaper and the dealer seemed to favor it as well. It's been about 2 years now with the Echo and it still runs like a champ.
I only use an ethanol-free pre-mixed stabilized fuel in my 2 cycle engines. It's expensive, but I figured that the professional landscaping maintenance contractor that recommended it to me felt it was worth paying extra for, it just might be well worth it to me. I have been using it for a couple of years now and the only thing I have had to do on any of my 2 cycle engines is clean and/or change the air filters.
After researching landscaping forums online and talking to a local small engine repair guru as well as local outdoor power equipment dealers I narrowed it down to 3 trimmers, the Echo SRM-S30, Shindaiwa T242 and the Honda HHT25. I think I would have been happy with any of those but ended up with the Echo SRM-230. Shindaiwa had the weakest local dealer, so I eliminated it first. The best local servicing dealer of Echo and Honda was one that I was already using for Stihl, Echo, Honda and John Deere equipment, so it came down to hands on feel and price. I liked the feel of the lighter Echo over the Honda, it was cheaper and the dealer seemed to favor it as well. It's been about 2 years now with the Echo and it still runs like a champ.
I only use an ethanol-free pre-mixed stabilized fuel in my 2 cycle engines. It's expensive, but I figured that the professional landscaping maintenance contractor that recommended it to me felt it was worth paying extra for, it just might be well worth it to me. I have been using it for a couple of years now and the only thing I have had to do on any of my 2 cycle engines is clean and/or change the air filters.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2008
- Messages
- 840
I have ethanol-FREE gasoline available. the following start great and run hard;
Echo weedeater
2 Stihl saws
1 Stihl leaf blower
Yamaha ATV
Kawasaki ATV
25 HP Mercury outboard
2 or 4..both will work..old or general poor fuel quality will always bite you. Run across more than a few boaters with "lemonade" gas problems-ethanol added to gasoline is not your friend for trouble-free small engine operation.
Next weedeater will be a Stihl, the new Echos not as good as older models - I'm probably 7 years on ours and still going strong.
Echo weedeater
2 Stihl saws
1 Stihl leaf blower
Yamaha ATV
Kawasaki ATV
25 HP Mercury outboard
2 or 4..both will work..old or general poor fuel quality will always bite you. Run across more than a few boaters with "lemonade" gas problems-ethanol added to gasoline is not your friend for trouble-free small engine operation.
Next weedeater will be a Stihl, the new Echos not as good as older models - I'm probably 7 years on ours and still going strong.
I've got a 4 stroke Honda that I bought in 1999 and use it a couple of times a week during the summer. Starts on the first pull and really powerful. Hard to beat the little Honda engines.Change oil at the beginning of mowing season. Pricey, but I highly recommend them. Will probably last a lifetime, if you die when you are supposed to.