Need yard power tool info

First of all I hate 2-stroke engines and they hate me. So all my lawn and garden weapons of destruction are electric powered.

My leaf blower died yesterday which is my excuse to look at new lawn toys. I've seen these straight shaft power heads for a long time now. You basically buy a string trimmer, but the shaft is designed to attach to different implements while using the same power head. It seems like every manufacturer has a line now, and even better some are compatible.

I've seen a few electric power heads on the market now, either in 6.75 or 10 amp strength. I'm also curious about 4-stroke power. I like the idea of "one motor, many tools" but I'm not sure how it works in real life. I pretty much need to blow leaves, trim brush, and trim the yard. Anyone have advice or thoughts?

I have a Stihl brand trimmer and blower, both of which are 4 stroke engines.
My trimmer has a straight shaft and you can get attachments for it. I only have the grass trimmer and hedge trimmer, which is nice for reaching things I can't with my standard hedge trimmer. I'm not the other attachments are as useful. Usually the jack of all trades thing ends up as a tool that does many things and isn't good at any of them.
My four stroke engines still take mixed gas, BTW.

bravenrace wrote: My four stroke engines still take mixed gas, BTW.

My uncle owned a lawnmower shop for 40 years and he put pre-mix in everything. As long as you can get it to start, the extra oil can't really hurt anything.

Except, you know, the ozone layer...

I also have a general dislike of 2-stroke motors, but a few years ago I bought a RedMax back-pack blower and boy is it nice. Loud as hell, though... In addition to blowing leaves around a couple of times a year, I also use it to sweep the driveway and sidewalk after mowing. I find that if I run it once every couple of weeks it starts a lot easier.

I bought it from a local landscape supply store and it wasn't cheap - about $400 over 5 years ago - but it's the same blower I see on a lot of landscaper trailers roaming around so I figure if it works for them it'll probably last forever under residential use.

Granted, I really wish I had a cart-style blower for the g/f's yard... even with the back pack, it's still tedious work.

Many of the newer battery powered units claim to give you more life than a gas powered mower (as compared to a tank of gas) and the power's good.

I just bought a weed whacker with a 40V battery (Toro?). I got it at HD. I've only been able to use it once, but it was great and easily cut as well as my gas powered unit. It had plenty of power.

I had originally gone out to buy a B&D one to match the battery power of my drill, small circ. saw, light, etc., but then I saw that most were going to 24+ so I decided to go for MOAR POWAH!!!

Why buy one so late in the season? The little pump up blister on my gas powered one broke again!!!! And I'm just tired of constantly having to fiddle with it. Just starting them after they've sat for a month is an adventure when compared to an electric or battery powered unit. BTW the little blister was going to be $12 and I replace them at least twice a year.

I have over 3 acres and initially bought gas powered units because I just assumed electrics wouldn't work, but I have been amazed at what the battery powered units can do.

Husqvarna all the way. I hate dealing with cheap lawn equipment.

With the barest minimum of care, good quality 2-cycle lawn equipment can last a long, long time.

I've settled on Echo due to availability on closeout at Home Depot.

I've been using a string trimmer, chain saw and leaf blower for about 6 years.

I use the same pre-mix in everything using Echo oil + 87 octane + Stabil fuel stabilizer year round.

Last summer the bargain gas station near Summit Point Motorsports Park started selling no-ethanol regular, so I use that now - prior I was fine w/ 10% ethanol w/ Stabil forever.

In the winter I dump the tanks back in the can and run them dry.

I put a plug and an air filter in every spring and use good quality .095 serrated line in the trimmer.

The total time I spend annually is definitely less than I'd spend coiling and dragging cords all over.

rotard wrote: Husqvarna all the way. I hate dealing with cheap lawn equipment.

Then why did you recommend Husqvarna?