The weed eater finally died so I bought a new one on June 2. It was a Featherlite Plus SST. It was fantastic. It was lightweight, felt good in my hands and did a great job...for about 2 weeks. 2 days ago, I took it back to wallyworld. The lady at the service desk took one look at it, and said, "Not another one, we have gotten a ton of those back!" Based on that we got a Poulon which cost a little more but had more horsepower. Got it home, cranked up and it worked for about 20 minutes. Took it back to wallyworld today and got another weedeater brand, at least it lasted a few weeks! I have always had great luck with the brand, what is up? I found out that Poulon makes the weed eater brand, so they are the same thing. I just got home and this one runs but can only open up the choke half way, which is what the Poulon was doing before it quit. All the new ones don't have a way to adjust the high and low jets on the carburator anymore. If they are badly adjusted from the factory there is nothing you can do about it. Can anyone offer any insight or recommendations? I need to know if someone has tried some of the newer models because that is what I am going to have to buy. Thanks
Need weed eater advice
- Thread starter old bear
- Start date
I feel for you but I have a small engine repair business (skips small engine repair)
I will not work on any gas weed wackers .In the last few years the manf.of these cheap wackers have cut so many corners on them that 20 to 25 hours is about it .I stopped fixing them because after fixing them my arm hurts and then they bring them back with a no start all i do is pull for all I am worth and they start up but the customers can't get them running after taking them home.I think the cheap materials plastic and rubber has a lot to do with it.Either keep buying them or get a goat ,i think a goat is more dependable.:sb:
I will not work on any gas weed wackers .In the last few years the manf.of these cheap wackers have cut so many corners on them that 20 to 25 hours is about it .I stopped fixing them because after fixing them my arm hurts and then they bring them back with a no start all i do is pull for all I am worth and they start up but the customers can't get them running after taking them home.I think the cheap materials plastic and rubber has a lot to do with it.Either keep buying them or get a goat ,i think a goat is more dependable.:sb:
MaxTheKnife
Membership Revoked
I feel for you old bear. I've given up on weed whackers for the very same problems. Now I just let nature take its course and use the old hedge trimmers when it gets too bad. This is the wooliest year I can remember for undergrowth and weed invasion. It's hard enough just keeping the grass in the yard mowed and under control! And the garden.... forget it. It never has dried out enough to break up and till.
On a related note, I bought a pair of new chainsaws to go with my sawmill. The smaller one is a McCulloch 14" and has no other designation. I started having trouble with it just a few days after I bought it. It would run fine for a while and then out of the blue it wouldn't start for love nor money. So I'd use my big saw instead. It ALWAYS starts. The next day I'd be able to start that little McCulloch right up and then it'd do the same thing. I got curious and looked in the manual under "troubleshooting". No help there so I looked for an illustrated parts breakdown and while looking discovered a very strange thing hidden in all that meaningless text. Turns out that my little McCulloch is only rated for 50 hours of use before a complete overhaul is required! I've never heard of such in all my born days. They might as well rename that thing a BIC chainsaw. Just throw it away when it stops working and buy another one. McCulloch used to be the best saw on the market many years ago. Now it's a crapshoot.
My good saw is a Husqvarna. You might try locating a Husqvarna dealer near you and buying one of their weed whackers if they even make one. Me, I've plumb give up on weed whackers. I'd get me some goats but I don't think they'll eat johnson grass. What a pain that stuff is. Good luck buddy.
On a related note, I bought a pair of new chainsaws to go with my sawmill. The smaller one is a McCulloch 14" and has no other designation. I started having trouble with it just a few days after I bought it. It would run fine for a while and then out of the blue it wouldn't start for love nor money. So I'd use my big saw instead. It ALWAYS starts. The next day I'd be able to start that little McCulloch right up and then it'd do the same thing. I got curious and looked in the manual under "troubleshooting". No help there so I looked for an illustrated parts breakdown and while looking discovered a very strange thing hidden in all that meaningless text. Turns out that my little McCulloch is only rated for 50 hours of use before a complete overhaul is required! I've never heard of such in all my born days. They might as well rename that thing a BIC chainsaw. Just throw it away when it stops working and buy another one. McCulloch used to be the best saw on the market many years ago. Now it's a crapshoot.
My good saw is a Husqvarna. You might try locating a Husqvarna dealer near you and buying one of their weed whackers if they even make one. Me, I've plumb give up on weed whackers. I'd get me some goats but I don't think they'll eat johnson grass. What a pain that stuff is. Good luck buddy.
peachfuzz
fuzzy member
I have been looking online to find one for my dh. If you go to
www.epinions.com you can find articles, much like what you just posted, on different makes and models. There weren't a huge amount, but it does give you some idea, along with what you hear here.
The one that looks halfway decent is made by Homelite--this is gas powered and I believe manufactured by John Deere.
pf
www.epinions.com you can find articles, much like what you just posted, on different makes and models. There weren't a huge amount, but it does give you some idea, along with what you hear here.
The one that looks halfway decent is made by Homelite--this is gas powered and I believe manufactured by John Deere.
pf
yellowsprings
Inactive
I use the Sears Craftsman walk behind weed eater. This looks like a walk behind mower but it has the front open.
Here is a link to the newest version:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=LAWN&pid=07177370000
The one I own does not have such large rear wheels. It is about 5 years old and works like a charm. The regular week eaters are too heavy, and "bumping" the head to feed the line never works for me. This thing I just push around, whack everything in my way, and keep going!
Here is a link to the newest version:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=LAWN&pid=07177370000
The one I own does not have such large rear wheels. It is about 5 years old and works like a charm. The regular week eaters are too heavy, and "bumping" the head to feed the line never works for me. This thing I just push around, whack everything in my way, and keep going!
The first thing I'd do is stop buying from Wally World and buy from a store that specializes in chainsaws and this kind of equipment and that has it's own repair department. They won't be selling junk they have to fix.
Check out http://www.baileysonline.com . I've known the owner since he started the business and their main office is located in my little berg.
Todd
PS - Love my Husky too. I have the 372XP with a 32" bar. I also have some really old Echo's with 24" bars that are still running and a small 16" Poulan that's done OK.
Check out http://www.baileysonline.com . I've known the owner since he started the business and their main office is located in my little berg.
Todd
PS - Love my Husky too. I have the 372XP with a 32" bar. I also have some really old Echo's with 24" bars that are still running and a small 16" Poulan that's done OK.
Oregon Dave
Member
Buy a Honda. We have one and it is really great. 4 stroke engine and it is really quite (compaired to a 2 stroke). Takes oil in the crankcase. Really a well made tool but expensive, $400.
delta lady
Inactive
Buy a Honda.
I have a Honda lawn mower...Fabulous
I have a Honda lawn mower...Fabulous
take a look at a stihl,,,,,
have had one over 15 yrs, still runs good, its a gear head type,,
its a FS-76,,dont even know if they still make them,,have had people tell me,,now days if you buy anything and want it to last buy the commercial units, not the homeowner junk,,,,,and thats just what I have done on my saws , now the weed eater,,I remember telling the dealer,,I wanted one that would last , ,,,he steered me in the right direction,,15yrs and counting,and I start it every week yr round,(think that helps),,(oh yeah,,Im still on the same plug,
believe it or not,,finally changed plugs in the saws,,the O38super, got it in 82, the O26 keep thinking in 86,,,still got em,,still running strong,,yet,,I know some people who I told to try a stihl, and they destroyed them in a yr (saws that is, ) not paying attention to details,,,,,ya gotta do your part,,,,
you might take a look at em,,,
ran over to the stihl web site,,guess Im not the only one having good luck,,,interesting testimonials on there,,,,too,,,
http://www.stihlusa.com/knowhow/knowhow_testimonials.html
have had one over 15 yrs, still runs good, its a gear head type,,
its a FS-76,,dont even know if they still make them,,have had people tell me,,now days if you buy anything and want it to last buy the commercial units, not the homeowner junk,,,,,and thats just what I have done on my saws , now the weed eater,,I remember telling the dealer,,I wanted one that would last , ,,,he steered me in the right direction,,15yrs and counting,and I start it every week yr round,(think that helps),,(oh yeah,,Im still on the same plug,
believe it or not,,finally changed plugs in the saws,,the O38super, got it in 82, the O26 keep thinking in 86,,,still got em,,still running strong,,yet,,I know some people who I told to try a stihl, and they destroyed them in a yr (saws that is, ) not paying attention to details,,,,,ya gotta do your part,,,,you might take a look at em,,,
ran over to the stihl web site,,guess Im not the only one having good luck,,,interesting testimonials on there,,,,too,,,
http://www.stihlusa.com/knowhow/knowhow_testimonials.html
Last edited: