New owner review for 4-stroke line trimmer

[HoleshotHolset]

Mark: Did it go through the window glass or the door itself?! :--)



Matt

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Thru the metal door and went about a 1/3rd of the way into the bench seat...



Stupidity on my part not checking to make sure the blade was tight...



It was another person at the shop who use to put the new equipment together, usually always checked but was in a hurry...



Anyone ever run a chain saw with a 6' bar... now that is scary!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Mark: Remind me to stay back a few hundred feet when you're running a brush cutter! :-laf Chainsaw with a 6' bar?! Dang.



I went to start the 4-stroke Craftsman again today... it started kinda hard and ran rough. It was a little low on fuel, so I topped it off. After that... it would idle fine, but would stumble/breakup off idle and @ WOT. I have yet to see any screws to adjust the carb... besides idle. I'm reluctant to even put a screwdriver to it since it is brand new.



Today's performance might be the straw that will break the camel's back... It's just weird that the thing ran GREAT right out of the box and ever since then it has been running like manure.



Stay tuned...



Matt

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Forget about everything bad I ever said about my Craftsman line trimmer.



You know... if you read the directions for 'Cold Start Proceedure' (and follow them... ) - it runs like a champ! For the past two 'lawn jobs' I did here at the house, it has been just fine.



1) Top it off with straight unleaded, or C-16 if that's all you have.

2) Check the oil and top off, if needed. It eats about a teaspoon every two weeks.

3) Hit the primer bulb 10 times... not 2-3 times like I did when it ran like Forrest Gump (WITH the leg braces, mind you... )

4) Hold hand lightly on the throttle (1/4 throttle or so)

5) Pull the recoil starter ONCE... it'll idle

6) Ease back the choke after 20 seconds and you're good to go.



I am once again in love with this little 4-stroke L-head Briggs & Stratton.



Matt

 

[Carlsummers]

Matt, if you lived here in Fl. , you wouldn't have to worry about 'Cold Start Proceedure'... 90+ and HUMID.....

 

[DBogo]

i got a echo 2 stroke and that thing can wack some weeds

 

[Dieselnut59]

I'll stick with my 2-stroke weed whackers. It is so nice to have the same fuel for my leaf blower, weed whacker, chain saw, and push mower (Lawn Boy). I have never seen a 4 stroke push mower that can touch that 2-stroke Lawn Boy. My Stihl chain saw and weed whackers have been great. Only way I will change to 4-stroke is when they come out with diesels for these things! That would allow me to keep only one kind of fuel instead of two.

 

[KBennett]

1) Top it off with straight unleaded, or C-16 if that's all you have.

You mean #2 doesn't work? :-laf

 

[HoleshotHolset]

You mean #2 doesn't work? :-laf

Nah, I figured it ran like #2 on unleaded when I wasn't following the directions... so I shouldn't tempt fate.



Keep that heat/humidity in FL! But, it's cool if you want to send up some of the bikini clad coeds.



Matt

 

[Hohn]

Matt, based in part on your experience, I went 4stroke for my line trimmer.



But I got a Troy-bilt instead of Craftsman like yours. The Crapsman at our local Sears had been abused, and I didn't know if it was damaged as a display model or was just crappy. I couldn't gamble.



So I went with the Troy-bilt and saved $70. It runs like Flo-Jo. Lotsa torque.



Besides troy-bilt is one of the 66,000 fine brands all made by MTD

 

[Bob Wagner]

Justin, I just pulled a mike ellis on my 12yr old ryobi, boy did it feel good :-laf



how much did you pay?



thanks

 

[Hohn]

It was $169. Not too bad for a fine MTD product

 

[Bob Wagner]

Matt, Thank you for starting this thread I went out and purchased a 4 stroke string trimmer and I love it.



much more power than the old 2 cycle ryobi. Torque is unreal



Thanks

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Torque is unreal

Why Thanks! (i think)... :-laf

 

[Bob Wagner]

Why Thanks! (i think)... :-laf

some day I hope to buy ya a beer too

 

[EBottema]

I agree with you all. The 4 cycle engine is great for torque and easy starting! However,that TroyBilt one at Lowes and Home Depot is just a rebadged Ryobi. They Ryobi can be had for about 40 bucks cheaper too. The best part they are both junk. There Motor is good and puts out too much torque which breaks the plastic driveshaft coupler. My cousins just broke and the shop said that they have seen a lot of them break with little use. Of course you cannot just buy the couple you have to buy the whole driveshaft assembly at 50 bucks a pop. Don't waste your time getting the attachments on something that is going to self distruct. I'm sure they used the plastic on purpose too :-(

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I stand behind my original statement that my Sears/Craftsman with the 34cc L-head Briggs & Stratton kicks major buttocks. I'm glad ya'all like your 4-strokers too. I laugh when I hear my neighbors yanking the recoil repeatedly and revving their trimmers to the sky just to trim a few blades of grass.



Ever since I have been following the cold-start instructions to the letter, it has been running/idling like a champ.



My other statement about how much oil it uses needs a little correction. I found out last time I used the trimmer that I didn't have it totally plumb when previously checking the oil. (I've only added oil to it once and only added about 1 teaspoon. ) Not having the thing perfectly plumb caused the level of the oil to appear as if it was down a tad. Upon closer inspection and re-positioning... the level was/is fine.



Stay tuned for a thread covering my upcoming diesel engine repower on my 7hp (gasser) Tecumseh powered Ariens snowblower.



Matt