Can anyone recommend a decent weed wacker under $200? I see that Echo, Stihl and Husqvarna all have some at that price point. Will they last for light to medium duty?
Echo is running a special on the GT225 (?) straight-shaft model. I got one 2 years ago and it starts/runs great, replacing the line is easy-peasy too. Can't beat a 5 year consumer warranty, either.
I've had a Husky for a few years. I hardly ever need to run it at more than 1/2 throttle... usually 1/4. At full throttle, I could use it to take down oak trees...
What model is your's stinny? I was looking at the 128cd. I have heard some people complain about the low end husky saying they are actually poulan. I'm only going to use it for weekly maybe bi weekly trimming around a few raised beds and a rock bed/drainage area.
I have the Echo GT-225 curved shaft and it's been dead-nuts reliable. It's on sale for $169 MSRP. Can't beat that. http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Trimmers/GT-225
I have a RedMax from 1996 that has been absolutely trouble free. I got it out Saturday, dumped last year's gas out, put fresh gas in, primed it, and it fired on the first pull. This happens every spring. I've replaced the spark plug and head on it, and that's it. I wish it had more power, but I can't justify replacing it. Mine was actually made in the USA. Don't know if that's true today, nor can I speak for today's product. My sister bought a Husky from Lowe's last year. I've ran it a few hours and it seems like a good machine. Easy to start and plenty powerful. Speed-Feed heads are pretty sweet. The head on mine finally came apart a couple years ago, and I replaced it with a Speed-Feed. I'll spend the $35 and replace the head on a brand new machine, if I ever have to buy another. Stupid RedMax won't die. http://www.speedfeedhead.com
No offense, but for covering any real ground the curved shaft is inferior. I would suggest an Echo SRM-225 or whatever the current model is now. The string spins the opposite way as curved but that's easy to adapt to. If you like curved shaft then I would on craigslist and buy two or three at $50 ea and pitch them when they die. In fact I have a stihl FS-45 you can have as long as I don't have to ship it.
The SRM-225 has a manufacturer supported $20 discount from MSRP right now. I am going out to do some shopping since I think I want a multi-tool power head that includes an available brush cutter head. I like what I have seen on the Echo site for a multi-function tool. Near me that means going to Farm and Fleet. I need to maintain a walkway through an area where blackberries grow like weeds and don't want to settle for the way a string trimmer will work trying to clear a path through those canes. I want a blade but don't need one that can take down 2 inch saplings.
Stihl males a homeowner Kombi unit. It's a KM 56 RC ($219 MSRP) You can run numerous attachments off of the one powerhead. The lowest pro model is the KM 90 R. Then they make a KM 110 R, and the KM 130 R (What I have). They are more expensive, but will likely last longer and have better A/V. I only have the straight shaft trimmer attachment for my 130 R.. All together it was almost $500 for the powerhead and the trimmer attachment. Stihl dealer days are going on now and the KM 56 is normally one of the models that is on sale. You could probably walk out the door for around $225 with a trimmer attachment.
My parents have a stihl straight start one, it's great, but $$. I bought a straight shaft ryobi 2 stroke last year from HD. It's awesome. Right about $100, starts easy, is light and quiet, and you can buy numerous attachments for it like s blower, pole saw, edger, and others. I pulled it down from the garage rafters this spring and it started right up.
I've had a lot of different weed whackers over the years. My favorite of all time was/is the Echo SRM2400 straight shaft. It is no longer in production as I understand it wasn't emission compliant. I have a Echo SRM 2100 also a straight shaft and is nice but it doesn't have the torque of 2400. The current Echo GT 225 straight shaft is the newer version of the old obsolete SRM 2100. I also have a collection of Stihl FS55R's that are straight shaft. They are no longer in production. I like them OK but the Echo SRM2400 I like better. It cost just as much to rebuild a Ryobi as it does a Echo or Stihl. Had several Ryobi's and Mac's but the straight shaft ones are heavy. Eventually you have fuel line trouble with any of them.
I think I'm going to go with the Echo GT-225 curved shaft. The promotion they're having right now is for $150 through the end of June on them. Hard to pass up.
