My weed whacker just died!

**redls1** · 06-02-2009, 06:49 AM

It was a craftsman and lasted 4 years. Wont start and cord gets stuck. I was loooking at lowes and want a staright shaft 4 stroke. It was $299 while the troybuilt one was like $239. Any opinions?

**310stanger** · 06-02-2009, 06:54 AM

yeah. dont get a homelite lol the engines seize for absolutely no reason at all

**pajeff02** · 06-02-2009, 07:13 AM

I have a cheap Jonsered that I run the crap out of. Hasn't failed me for 6 years now. (Sound of knocking on wood)

**ccusum** · 06-02-2009, 07:45 AM

Mine crapped out as well. It a Craftsman weedwhacker as well. I have had it for 9 years. never did a dam thing to maintain it and every year, strated right up. This year, I take it out of the shed, prime it, twist the spark plug boot as I always do, pull the rip cord and started right up. Ran out of gas, put more in, started up again. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so and now nothing! I believe it is the F'n Ethanol they put into the gas now. My leaf Blower is not running right as well and that was just bought last fall!

**nitrox28** · 06-02-2009, 08:30 AM

I've had a Bolens for 5 years. Haven't changed or replaced anything and it still runs like a champ. Paid $75 new.

**csbeaver** · 06-02-2009, 08:58 AM

me and my brothers have had our own mowing business for 12+yrs now. I have had the same edger and weeder for the past ten years. echo edger, and stihl weedeater. 100's of yards a summer for the past ten years. you cannot go wrong with either. both of them have thousands of yards under them, and they show no signs of giving up.

**FSANE** · 06-02-2009, 09:11 AM

my Torro weed whacker died too. I just bought a same replacement

**GULLETT17** · 06-02-2009, 09:22 AM

craftsman riding mowers, push mowers, weed eaters, etc have always disappointed me . . go stihl:
http://www.stihldealer.net/locator/

**Detroit Power** · 06-02-2009, 09:47 AM

I got a Homelite weed whacker from my grandpa (he bought it to use, but it sat in the box, then he moved into an assisted care home)

Had it now for 4 years without any problems. No maintenance, just gas+oil mix and go!

**anniversary30** · 06-02-2009, 09:54 AM

got a 2 stroke echo for 5 years no problems. My bud had one for 10. Lightning struck his shed actually jumped to the weed eater (he thinks) cause the plug was blown up in the machine and the plastic split around it. He duct taped the plastic , changed the plug and the M-fer still ran for 2 more years untill he sold it to a friend of ours who is still using it. Id say quality built...

**Wyoming T/A** · 06-02-2009, 09:59 AM

Got a Sthil and it sucks since day 1 ---i,ll give you a deal on it

**GULLETT17** · 06-02-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Wyoming T/A

Got a Sthil and it sucks since day 1 ---i,ll give you a deal on it

wow really? whats it doin?

I've never heard anyone have complaints about their stihl trimmer or chainsaw. . . hell i bought mine used and runs 10 times better than the brand new weedeater brand one i got and returned.

**BrntWS6** · 06-03-2009, 01:57 PM

I bought a John Deere 8 years ago and it runs like a champ. Starts on the second pull every time.

Nothing runs like a Deere MF'ers.....or smells like a john!!

**bmyers** · 06-03-2009, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by ccusum

Mine crapped out as well. It a Craftsman weedwhacker as well. I have had it for 9 years. never did a dam thing to maintain it and every year, strated right up. This year, I take it out of the shed, prime it, twist the spark plug boot as I always do, pull the rip cord and started right up. Ran out of gas, put more in, started up again. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so and now nothing! I believe it is the F'n Ethanol they put into the gas now. My leaf Blower is not running right as well and that was just bought last fall!

i dont think you are supposed to put ethanol fuel in your lawn mowers, weed wackers etc.

**310stanger** · 06-03-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Detroit Power

I got a Homelite weed whacker from my grandpa (he bought it to use, but it sat in the box, then he moved into an assisted care home)

Had it now for 4 years without any problems. No maintenance, just gas+oil mix and go!

So YOU are the one that bought a homelite that didnt break? I heard about you lol

**310stanger** · 06-03-2009, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by bmyers

i dont think you are supposed to put ethanol fuel in your lawn mowers, weed wackers etc.

in north jersey is unavoidable, every station i been to has 10 percent whether ya like it or not. A briggs stratton/tecumseh 4 stroke lawnmower engine will run on anything flammable lol

**bmyers** · 06-03-2009, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by 310stanger

in north jersey is unavoidable, every station i been to has 10 percent whether ya like it or not. A briggs stratton/tecumseh 4 stroke lawnmower engine will run on anything flammable lol

wow. is that true about not supposed to use that type of fuel though? Always been told that not sure if theres any truth to it or not.

**0rion** · 06-03-2009, 02:37 PM

those small engines are hard to kill....4 stroke especially. The 2 stroke you just have to stay on top of maintenance and keep a good plug and good gas in there. A briggs lawnmower will almost run on straight water and you can try to tear those things up and fail.
I have a 4-5 year old troy built weedeater, a 10 year old poulan chain saw, a 10 year old mtd riding mower, a 11hp briggs tiller that was made in the early 60's, and a god knows how old briggs push mower. All run as good as the day I brought them home. It's all in the maintenance on those smaller engines. The tiller needs a rebuild as the rings are shot in it but it fires right up and runs every year when I put the garden in.

**Smkn_TA** · 06-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by 310stanger

yeah. dont get a homelite lol the engines seize for absolutely no reason at all

My dad's homelite lasted 13 years and JUST crapped out this summer. After sitting during winter it woulnd't start. Still out in the shop now, I want to figure a way to run a belt to it off the die grinder see if I can push start it if you will. I don't know though, I sprayed a lot of ether in it and it didn't even pop.

**Mark98SS** · 06-03-2009, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by redls1

It was a craftsman and lasted 4 years. Wont start and cord gets stuck. I was loooking at lowes and want a staright shaft 4 stroke. It was $299 while the troybuilt one was like $239. Any opinions?

You def want straight shaft, with a commercial, non self feed head. The head on mine has 2 holes with kind of ratchet keepers, stick a 7in piece of heavy gauge line in each side. When they wear down use needle nose pliers to pull the remnents out thru the center then stick a fresh pair in, keep a few extra 7in line pcs + a pair of pliers in your back pocket & good to go.