In other words, the weed eaters that you can remove the head and replace with a blower/edger/tree trimmer?
Finally bought a new mower (Honda engine, mulching setup, NOT self-propelled, yay!) this week and need to add the those previously mentioned that I've never owned before. I don't really want to own separate pro-style versions of them all, but if the consumer grade "Trimmer Plus" or whatever is junk, I don't want that either.
Thoughts on brands, experiences, etc?
In reply to z31maniac:
I've been using them for a couple of years. They are ok. I have no great opinion on them.
I have a Stihl trimmer that has one power head and various attachments. I only have the grass and hedge trimmer attachments, and they work great. The hedge trimmer was just what I needed to reach higher places that my normal trimmer wouldn't. I think with something like this you need to carefully consider quality and application before buying.
You do understand that TrimmerPlus is a line of attachments, not the powerhead?
The concept is not new or novel, and works well. Staying with more major brands, particularly for the powerhead, will serve you well.
Do not expect too much of the units. They work, but don't expect the tiller attachment to challenge a Mantis, or the polesaw to challenge your chainsaw.
Randomish question, why no self propelled?
^Yes, excuse my sloppy vernacular.
Any one brand of powerhead/attachments you gents prefer over another? I'd rather spend the money up front and not be frustrated with an inferior product.
I'm taking care of a 1/3 acre yard that only has an 1100 sq ft house on it.
Grizz wrote: Randomish question, why no self propelled?
If I'm going to be doing it, may as well get the exercise, and the self-propelled mowers are heavier, more complicated and more expensive.
After years of trying other things, I buy Stihl products almost exclusively, although a small part of the reason is that I have a very local dealer. I have two chain saws, the aforementioned trimmer, a back pack blower, a hedge/shrub trimmer, and a back pack sprayer. Great products, excellent professional/commercial grade quality.
In reply to z31maniac:
Ah, k
Plus you don't really need it if that 1/3 of an acre is flat.
I've been very pleased with the Ryobi 2 cycle power-head. I use it with a straight shaft string trimmer and a hedge trimmer.
I have the echo - its great except for the blower, its useless - was able to return it.
Stihl is excellent stuff. Having said that, I have a ~10 year old Ryobi 4 stroke that's been great, I have the edger, weedwacker and blower attachments. They make a pole saw too, but that's a rare enough thing that I see no need to buy one.
The only problem I have had is alcohol fuel attacking the fuel lines and carburetor. I would think (I hope) the newer ones have that licked.
I have had a Sear 4-cycle head unit for 3 years now(got tired of fixing the 2-stroke stuff I had),
I have most of the different atachments for it. String trimmer gets used the most. The edger is great for the 120 feet of sidewalk I have. I use the extention from the pole saw with the blower to clean out my gutters(one story house). The tiller works fine in the flower beds(100' x 3') and when I need to just do a part of the garden to plant a new crop of beans, etc. Only use the pole saw once a year to do a little trimming on the trees.
Take a look at the TroyBilt line. It's not as stout as the Stihl brand, but it's no slouch. Lots of good interchangeable heads.
It's also got a 110 volt electric starter. That thing is frequently a godsend. Anyone, absolutely anyone can start it with this. You hold the starter motor in your hand, put it into the wall and then stick it in the back of the powerhead. Push the button and wait, the engine will start in a few seconds.
The string pull, which is also there, is the spring load type. You don't yank it, you leasurely pull it. As it finally maxes out the pull length, the spring spins the engine. Again, makes the start very easy. Especially if your shoulders no longer love you.
^Good call, the mower I bought was a TroyBuilt as well.
First year with the Troy Built and am running Trimmer Plus tiller and edger. Happy so far. For tiller look for last years model with the metal guard as plastic one is prone to break.
I have that. Started with a Ryobi and bought attachments for it. When I got tired of rebuilding the Ryobi, it was 10 years old, I replaced it with a Troybilt. Works great and love it. I have most of the attachments possible. Curved string trimmer (came on Ryobi), straight shaft string trimmer (came on Troybilt), hedgetrimmer, edger, blower, tiller, straight shaft brushtrimmer and pole saw. All work great for what they're designed to do. Will suggest the Troybilt hedgetrimmer with the adjustable angle head. Besides being handy it is all metal with metal gears. I had a Ryobi hedgetrimmer that was actually lighter and easier to use (had a handle on it) but the plastic gears stripped out in it. Use all regularly on my 1.2 acre wooded lot and used the angle head hedgetrimmer and the blade trimmer to clean up my corner stations at Crow Mountain Hillclimb every year. My tiller attachment is one of the early ones with the metal guard. It's also the least used but very handy when needed. I went this way because it just seemed more feasable than getting gas powered equipment. This way, only one motor to maintain. And didn't buy all the attachments at once, spaced them out over a couple years.
If Stihl or Echo make these, buy from them, with preference toward the Echo model. Stihl stuff is good until it starts failing. Echo products just don't die, even when you abuse them daily for hours on end.
In reply to Derick Freese:
Funny, my experience is the exact opposite. In fact, there are several brands I would buy before I'd even consider an Echo product. Every one I've had any experience with pretty much fell apart. Very low end commercial quality.
3 string trimmers and an edger, all Echo, all over 3 years old, all used for a lawn service. After about a year, Stihl coils tend to get weak. Every Stihl we've owned has needed one at some point in the first 2 years of use. I'm not sure that's still the case, but we've stopped buying Stihl products unless we get a screamin' deal on one. We've never had a problem with an Echo product lasting, and we've never had to replace a single part on any of them, except the twine spools, and those wear out on anything.
As a matter of fact, we use Echo spools on all of our equipment. Part of it is because it makes it easy to cannibalize one if we need to, but they're easy to load and always feed right.
None of the equipment we use is well taken care of, either. Again, it's beat on every day, often for long periods. A month of commercial use is at least a year of consumer use. For example, I've put 2 hours on my lawn tractor since I got it. I've had it over a year. The business mowers see that before lunch, every day.
I love my ehcos...start on first pull every time and have been work horses.
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