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OT: 4 Cycle String Trimmers

D

Dean

Well-known Member
Was shopping today to replace my Craftsman 2 cycle string trimmer bought in 2003.

Most of the higher quality new trimmers are now 4 cycle, and I'm suspicious.

The 4 cycle engines have many, many more parts, increasing long term durability concerns.

I want one to last as least as long as my 2003 2 cycle Craftsman. The Craftsman has lots of life left but is again due for a carburetor overhaul and new fuel lines.

What's the experienced consensus?

Have the federales destroyed string trimmers like so many other things?

Dean
 
And when my old Sthil started to act up I found that a "New" carb was near the same price of a rebuild kit,,swapped the carb out and away she went again..
 
I bought a husquvarna 4 cycle straight shaft twin string trimmer about 10 years ago. I don't like 2 cycle engines, too hard for me to start. Mine has a Honda engine. I wouldn't buy anything else. It's very easy to start. Very powerful.

Wish someday they would make a 4 cycle chainsaw.
 
Life isn't the problem....weight is! Bought a "4-MIX" pole trimmer and after one use, no one wants to use it.
 
I thought everyone was going to those 48 or 56 volt rechargeable string trimmers. Does anyone have one of those?
 
Agreed, and I try to avoid ethanol as best as I can.

Nevertheless, fuel lines and carburetor diaphragms must be replaced every few years, just less often if one can avoid ethanol.

Dean
 
I did replace the carburetor about 5-7 years ago. IIRC, it was around $27 whereas, the carburetor kit was nearly $20. I also replaced the ignition module once.

Nevertheless, it appears that it is again due. Of course, I would not rebuild/replace the carburetor without replacing the fuel lines.

Problem, is, mine is 14 years old and most parts have been substituted.

I think it's time to replace it.

Suspicious about the 4 cycle units.

Dean
 
Not me.

I cut heavy stuff and sometimes for long periods of time.

I will buy a gasoline powered unit.

Dean
 
Buy a good commercial echo 2 stroke or I used Red max. Now Husqvarna bought Red max so I'm not sure if i'll go the way of Husqvarna or not. I'll probably try a couple. If you run a 2 stroke and don't let them sit they last a looonnnng time. I'm getting ready to pitch a Shindiawa brand 2 stroke we bought at least 12-15 years ago, and this is heavy commercial usage every day of the season. Can't hardly wrap my mind around how many guys have ran it and thousands of hours that thing must have on it!
 
I don't know about durability, but I did go for a KM 130 R Stihl Kombi a year ago. I've fooled with a bunch of inexpensive 2 cycle models for years. Some have lasted like my old craftsman, '98 year, 31cc, but the clutch went in it.

This one has lots of power. Puts every other one I owned to shame. I needed the trimmer, pruner and adjustable hedge cutting attachments to cover the work around the house and place here. I can get by with the used stuff and or junk right out of the box, but after years of it, decided my time is worth more than fooling with these than working and getting the job done, especially once it gets hot outside.

Not one for expensive and fancy kinds of tools, sometimes you just have to go for something of better quality. I use a harness with this one, kind of heavy!
 
I expect that 4 cycle chain saws are on our horizon, unless the current administration can turn some of this nonsense around.

Dean
 
Thanks, Billy.

My local NH/Kubota/Stihl dealer tells me that the 4 cycle engines have noticeably more torque and do not pull down so easily but operate at lower RPM. Makes sense.

I ran one in the shop but did not cut anything with it. It's noisy.

Dean
 
Hello Dean,

Echo is what I would get. 4cycle OHV are not durable. Lots more more maintenance, a bit heavier especially the straight shaft one, which usually have a flat head engine, and will outlast the OHV engine two to one. I got 20 years out of my last Echo, and still running when I sold it,

Guido.
 
I had one, what was it a TroyBuilt or a Toro, I don't recall at the moment. Anyways, it lasted me almost 12 years. I put 2 carbs on it,(The carb was cheaper than the kit), new fuel lines once, and I don't think I ever changed the plug in it. It will stil run, or at least it would last year, but it wouldn't stay running, and it was starting to smoke some, so I replaced it. SInce my youngest boy does most, if not all the trimming, I let him pick out what he thought he would like. He/I got a Echo 2 cycle. I'm not fond of 2 cycle, but this one is the cats meow.
 
We have two of the 4 cycle troy-built. One is nine years old and first generation. Still works good other one is three years old also works good , has no choke or priming button and I was a little scared it might no start as well but both are used pretty heavy.
 
They are different. The starting procedure is not like the 2 cycle engine. This one does have significant torque, never seems to bog down, and like you say, lower RPM's.

I figured while I am still working, might as well get the tools I really need to do the work around the place. Lots of trimming to do, + some pruning etc. It will all go someday, but this is a necessary tool if one is to keep their place maintained and have a lot of this kind of work to do. Friend tried it and was impressed with the power.
 
(quoted from post at 19:00:14 05/15/17) I thought everyone was going to those 48 or 56 volt rechargeable string trimmers. Does anyone have one of those?
Click to expand...

We just got the 80 volt Kobalt a couple of weeks ago because we had some tall grass areas the 2 cycles would not cut. The 80 volt is by far the most powerful string trimmer I have ever run. It will run nearly an hour on the low speed and it recharges in just 30 minutes - just time for a cold drink before it is ready to go again.
 
I have a Stihl fs 110. Have had it over 12 years. It is a 4 cycle and the only thing I had fixed on it was the switch, which they replaced for free. I have always used ethanol gas in it and even the dealer said mine gets used hard. Maybe that is why it always runs well? If you use them hard, 4 cycle is the way to go.
 
I bought a 4 cycle Stihl Kombi a few years ago, and love it. You mix the gas like for a 2 cycle, but it actually starts easily, will idle, and works great. It doesn't have a "crankcase" to put oil into. I have the string trimmer, a blade trimmer, little cultivator for the garden (the reason I got it in the first place), blower, and pole pruner. I have had absolutely no trouble with it- and it is not very sensitive to old gas.
 
We have had 2 hs110 Stihl 4 cycle trimmers for? ? years, 10 or more. Look up when they came out with 4 mix engines and that's how old ours are. They were used commercially for 8 years probablty 19x the use any home owner would put on a trimmer and we have done nothing to them except routine maintanance, plugs, set valves, air cleaners etc.
 
I bought a Ryobi 4 stroke straight shaft trimmer in 2002 and I have not had problem 1 with it. I change 100 milliliters of oil yearly and I think I had to clean the spark arrestor once and it has plenty of power.
 
I'm going to buy a new one tomorrow. My old stihl is 30 years old and the carb is leaking gas out the side.I don't like string trimmers,i've used the three plastic knives for 30 years with no problems.I did a search locally and true value hardware and John deere are the only people that sell them,so it won'the be cheap.
 
I have been using RedMax for years. Not cheap, but they do the job. I bought another one this year. I like to have two operational all season. Stan
 
Used one at work two years ago. I think it was a toro. Ran good and cut well. My complaint was the weight. I never use a strap with my stihl 2 stroke, but I did with the 4 stroke. Man did that thing seem heavy. Maybe newer models are lighter.
 
I have a 4 cycle Craftsman , great trimmer easy starter. It came with pre cut string. I bought the heavest I could find and made my own.
 
I have had a Stihl FS 90 4-mix straight shaft for 8 years and like it. It did take a little time to get use to it. It does the same job as a 2 stroke at a lower rpm and not all the exhaust noise of the 2 stroke. It doesn't have the vibration of the two stroke. What the 4 stroke Stihl cuts on one tank of fuel it took two tanks with the Poulan two stroke.
 
They are very good. I always bought their backpack blowers, then tried the string trimmers and power edgers. Probably have 20 all together, plus a bunch of backpacks. Very good
 
Have been using a Troy Built 4 stroke trimmer for several years, also use the chain saw attachment. No problems or complaints, don't know why anyone would prefer a stinking, smokey, 2 stroke.
 
We have a Stihl that is at least 30 years old, my dad bought it, and he's been gone 25 years. It has never had and carburetor work done, but I am careful about only using ethanol free fuel, and I use it every year.
 
Nothing wrong with a 4 stroke if you are a young , strong, healthy buck to hold the heavy sucker up! :roll:
 
I have a 4-stroke Craftsman, and it works just fine after 5 years. I don't think it runs any slower than a 2-stroke; it just sounds that way. No mixing oil in gas, definitely runs cleaner. And have used gas with ethanol, no problems.
 
The four stroke hits its power band at a lower RPM compared to a two stroke.The four stroke will out lug the two stroke.
 
The Stihl 4-Mix FS90 really does not weigh much more than my old Poulan weed eater. The Stihl has a sling that you put over your should to carry the weigh and actually carries better than old Poulan weed eater.
a160337.jpg

a160338.jpg
 
The Stihl 4-Mix engine is nice because you have no crankcase to make sure it has oil Granted you have to mix fuel and oil but you don't have the mess and disposal of old oil.
 
Dean,
You can call it nonsense if you want. I remember when 2 to 4 cycle motorcycles were racing motocross together. The 4's after some improvements kicked butt. Don't think there are any 2 cycles in motocross.

My arthritic arm can't start 2 cycles. I hope 4 cycle chain saws are on the horizon.

Global economy will decide if 4 cycles are used, our admin will have little to do with it. Same with car and tractor emissions, it more influenced by global demands in other countries, California's demands.

Wish I could buy a 4 stroke chainsaw today.
geo
 
I have a 4-strke Toro straight shaft. Have had it for a few years. Would I buy another one, NO! It runs OK and has enough power, but have had problems with the shaft staying together, starts hard, and the drive assembly is less than desirable (weak). My brother has the same machine and has been on his work bench in pieces almost since new with issues.
 
Jessie,
I'm 68 years young and I can handle the extra pound
or two. What I can't do is start a 2 stroke with my
arthritis in right arm. My Honda 4 stroke is very
easy to start, no pain.

Even my son thinks the 4 stroke is the most powerful
thing he has ever used. And he says he doesn't smell
like gas/oil and needs a shower when he done using it
geo.
 
Yes they are. Every year I buy a tune up kit and a valve set kit which includes the gauge. Rarely do the valves need adjusting. The comments about being heavy are deserved but when all costs are figured in my 4 mix trimmers have cost me very little to own.
 
We have an EGO battery powered one and like it a lot. I have several battery powered things from EGO and have several batteries always fully charged.
 
"Global economy will decide if 4 cycles are used, our admin will have little to do with it."

True only given lack of government intervention.

Dean
 
(quoted from post at 00:00:14 05/16/17) I thought everyone was going to those 48 or 56 volt rechargeable string trimmers. Does anyone have one of those?
Click to expand...

I have one that was a service award at work that is a 36 volt. Has enough of a charge to do light trimming all around the house area. Not much good for heavy stuff, not enough power and the string is too small.
 
In 1996 one of my brothers gave me a cheap Weedeater two stroke as a wedding gift. Around 2008 the gas lines finally rotted off it and I replaced them. Last year I finally replaced it with a Poulan 2 stroke..... I would have kept the Weedeater but the head was completely worn out and no replacements could be found (not even junked units).
 
I have purchased two string trimmers for myself. One was a "cheapo" and the most recent is a heavy duty with 4 stroke engine. This 4 stroke is a bit different, as it does not have a crankcase and requires oil to be mixed with the gasoline. The man who I bought it from is "anti-ethanol," and I have followed his recommendations of no ethanol blended gasoline in my small, air cooled engines, like my chainsaw and trimmer. This 4 cycle trimmer starts easier and quicker than any other small, air cooled, 2 cycle engine I have had. I am quite satisfied with this trimmer that I purchased 6 years ago. I would not hesitate buying another just like it.
 
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