Line trimmer woes

M

mwerner

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
5,354
I've had a Ryobi line-trimmer for about three years. Thing (model 725r) has been unfailingly reliable, easy to install line, etc.

After doing absolutely nothing to it since I bought it, the thing was getting a little hard to start. So, I bought fresh gas, fresh 2-stroke oil, and an new plug.
Mixed up the fuel, put in the plug, and it started right up. Great...

Ran about 20 minutes and started to sieze. I cut it off, but trying to pull-through was really rough. Not totally siezed, but not good. I took it down and found bad scoring on the piston, and the ring frozen on one side. Most annoying.
Now, I don't know if there was some problem with the two-stroke oil I bought, or the thing just decided to die then. It's out of warranty, of course.

Even more annoying....I (after much searching!) found the Ryobi site that carries the parts for these things. I totaled up a new piston/rod assembly, ring, gaskets, etc. 62.00 with shipping. The trimmer only cost about 150.00 new...
So, do I spring for the parts and rebuild this thing, or take my plastic down to Leows and pop for a new one? (99.00 on sale...)

Years ago, I used to be able to do an entire top-end rebuild on my Hodaka motocross racer for about 20 bucks. That was piston, ring, top-end bearing, and gasket.....
 
Sid Post said:
For the price difference, I would start new with the factory warranty.
Click to expand...

The way the 2 year warranty on their string trimmers work is you send it back to the factory and they look for manufacturers defects, at least that is what they told me a Lowe's when I had problems with my Ryobi string trimmer.
 
For the moment, I have decided to cheap out. The bore looks good, so I just lightly sanded and cleaned it. I was able to work the piston ring out, and dremel'ed all the carbon off same. Then I carefully cleaned out the groove; which left the ring free. Thankfully, it was not welded in there. I went to work on the piston with my dremel and some 220 grit sandpaper....knocked down all the rough spots and cleaned and de-carboned.

Bearings feel OK...

The only thing that went bad when I took it apart was the gasket between the carb mounting plate and the crankcase. So...A bit of gasket sealer and some new two-stroke mix and I'm gonna give it another try. We'll see how she goes.

I'll put up with a bit of piston slap if it gets me through the rest of the summer.
 
I just had the magneto fail on my Craftsman trimmer. This "ignition module" costs $44.40 to replace. I'm thinking of replacing it with a Husqvarna or Stihl.
 
A little hint here, guys; if you spring for a commercial style trimmer (Stihl, Echo, Honda, Shindawa, Toro, and not from Lowes or Home Depot), it'll be the last trimmer you buy. Ryobi, Snapper, Weed Eater brands are all made by a division of the Electrolux vacuum cleaner company in Georgia, and are only meant for light duty homeowner use. (And I mean very light duty. )

I bought a 4 cycle Craftsman last year when they first introduced them simply because I needed one with the pole saw attachment. It is a good trimmer, but when it dies, it will get replaced with a commercial trimmer. I do have a McCullough commercial brush cutter, but it sees little use. (it is a 2 cycle)

Just like a good knife, guys. You get what you pay for.
 
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