I'm looking for an inexpensive gas powered lawn trimmer and not sure what to get. My goals are longevity of the product, low price and ability to use additional attachments (such as hedge trimmer etc). My understanding is that the 4 cycles will be easier to start, quieter, don't have to mix oil and gas and more fuel efficient. Any others? Other than cost are there advantages of the 2 cycles?

Any specific recommendations? I'm looking at a 4 cycle TroyBilt at Loews. There's also a 2 cycle Homelite at Home Depot that's a closeout and with coupon would be ridiculously cheap at just over 60 dollars. Local stores also carry Craftman, Ryobi, Cub Cadet, Poulan. Any thoughts are welcome.

I bought a Echo brand 2-cycle gas trimmer from a local lawn equipment shop. Not sure on the ability for attachments. It was $230 OTD. A bit expensive, but I wanted a product that would last for many years.

E C H O
Previous threads have also agreed. An Echo brand weed eater has been most reliable. If you want multiple attachments it will also equal multiple issues. Buy a weed eater for grass trimming and a hedge trimmer for the hedges, which should also be an Echo. Got a 36" myself, no problems after owning it for 10 years, to include commercial service for 10 years prior to that.
Dorky neighbor bought the multi attachment deal, it's fun to hear him run that thing up to 250,000 rpm to cut an edge at the sidewalk, then try to blow the sidewalk with it. One tool, one job. Sort of like the VCR/DVD/TV combo, if the TV breaks, your VCR/DVD is toast too

Do not, under any circumstances buy the 4 cycle Troy Bilt at Lowes. I have one, it's junk! If you are dead set on it, I'll send you mine just to be rid of it. Free. I might even pay for shipping.

In fact, I wouldn't buy anything that you'd want to last a while at HD or Lowes. Go to a real small equipment dealer. When I had to have the carb replaced on my trimmer, I took it to the local Troy Bilt dealer. He didn't even know they made a 4 cycle trimmer. The stuff made for the national chains is made cheap for a price point. Some of the John Deere dealers around here won't even work on a Deere bought at Lowes. And they can tell just by looking at it.

Do I hear an Echo? I have been through cheapies.. I have an Echo and love it.

echo-straight shaft and clutch, bad azz

As far as a weed whacker, SKIP the Troy-Bilt! The one I have runs well, but the darn thing turns BACKWARDS and throws Sheit all over me. I'm ready to throw it in the trash and buy another weed-eater. The last $70 weedeater I had lasted 10 years. That is $7 a year for a weedeater....I think I'm off to buy another one this weekend. Maybe run my T-B on ebay and let someone else deal with it. Oh yeah, it's a heavy ba$tard too. :(

STHIL!!!..............chain saws and weed whackers,can't beat'um.

Skip

I have a cheapy Homelight that I've literally been trying to kill (so I can buy a GOOD trimmer) but this thing WILL NOT DIE. I've had it going on 7 years and it is from Lowes. I was told the Ryobi, Homlite, and John Deere "big box store" trimmers are all made by the same manufacturer just labeled differently. I know my past Ryobi attachments fit on this Homelight.

STHIL!!!..............chain saws and weed whackers,can't beat'um.

Skip

He said "inexpensive". :D

I got a Craftsman two years ago, the one with the straight shaft and can run attachments. I only bought the blower attachment since it wasn't that much. So far the Craftsman has been really good, I've used the heck out of it for two summers, about 45 minutes each week since I have a large lot, and it still starts easy and is considerably more powerful than my last weedwhacker.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07179105000P
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07179242000P?vName=&cName=&sName=&mv=rp

All Echo gas powered stuff comes with a five year warranty. I just bought an Echo chainsaw and Echo blower. Both great.

The Stihl comparable ones only have a one year warranty.

Echo

stihl.. they got all kinds of attachments for em too!

I have a Shindaiwa T-270. Kinda overkill for around the house, but it'll run forever. It did daily duty when I had my business, now it gets used once or twice a month (or two). :D The T-230 is the lighter duty, higher end homeowner model, great products. :thumbsup: My Echo stuff seems like it's always needing new primer bulbs when I try to start it. My Stihl blower is 14 years old, still starts on the third or fourth pull. :thumbsup:

If you're just looking for a simple weed whacker, I'm sure that there's plenty of cheap alternatives that will suit your needs. But if you want to cut heavier stuff than just weeds and you're looking at using different attachments, I would stay away from the cheaper varieties. I have a Stihl that I can use with a string type weed wacker or a saw blade, and it has been rode hard and put up wet but still haven't missed a beat. I looked long and hard before I bought it and it was pretty obvious that most of the cheaper types would get beat up pretty quickly.

I used mine to clean up a large area of the yard that was covered with weed and saplings, and that thing went through it like nothing. As long as it had a fresh blade on it, I could cut 2"-3" saplings in seconds. It's one of those power tools you just can't wait to use, it's actually a joy to get out there to wreak havoc on whatever mother nature throws at you. :)

Thanks for the recommendations. The Echo and Stihl were just not in the budget especially given my simple needs. I actually was going to get the Troybilt until I read what was said here (To those that warned me against Tryobilt, I hope screwing Troybilt out of a sale bring you some satisfaction to make up for their crappy product - much of what was said here was echoed on other sites that I searched). I read some good things about the Craftsman and that's what I got. Thanks again.