Trimmers: Echo Rapid Loader Head vs. Traditional Wound "Bump" Heads

[Bloomy]

The Shindawa's are great pieces of equipment if you are a commercial user. Too much money unless you have extra money you don't need. Since I am a commercial user we only use the bump heads. For the homeowner the quick loads would work fine. Hope you enjoy your trimmer.



Thomas

 

[Kry226]

The 4-stroke is nice in terms of smooth, quiet operation, but man is it heavy! 19 lb for the sears unit you linked (my Echo is only 11 lb). I assume it's got a very large engine on it, since the 4-stroke has lower power/weight ratio.



We'll see about the head. The community seems to be divided 50/50 on whether people love/hate the rapid loader and the bump heads. If I decide the bump is junk, I can buy the rapid loader for $30.



Still haven't used the trimmer... it hasn't rained here in over a week.



Ryan

I know this is old, but my Troy-Bilt 4 stroke only weighs 13 lbs, easily swaps attachments for edging, etc, and it has some pelotas.

 

[AMink]

Is there a technique for bumping the line on the grass without leaving a donut of bare earth behind?

I bump mine on the sidewalk or a smooth rock. Some I think you can let it idle, bump it when the head quits spinning, then rev it to extend the line.

 

[Mike Ellis]

I can heartily recommend the Shindaiwa, the Speed-Feed head works great and reloading is fast and simple - don't even have to take the string out of the plastic package first. Just look at the trimmer head, line it up so you can see through the holes, poke the string through and run a few arm lengths through. Wind the knob on top and it winds up the string, when it gets close to the head cut it off. Presto - perfectly wound and ready to go, only takes a minute.



I was going to buy a rapid load that uses the pre-cut twizzler pieces, but with all our brickwork in the yard the string gets eaten up fast. Heard about the Shindaiwa and decided to go take a look. Big mistake, came out with a new weedeater :-laf



Definitely the best I have used so far.



I was very tempted to buy another Ryobi 4-stroke as I got extremely good service out of mine. Sadly sometime during the winter water got into my storage shed and I had left the Ryobi on the floor, it was submerged I guess because when I got it out for the 1st spring usage it was rusted to oblivion and the starter rope broke off in my hand :{



The Ryobi will live again though, once I get it running I am going to put the motor on a scooter or bicycle for experimentation It was a neat little engine, only problem I had with it was the gas lines dissolving (?)

 

[JA1]

I use the rapid loader and like it. Use thick dia. string and stay away from big rocks.

 

[rbattelle]

I've had the chance to use the Echo a couple times now. So far, I'm glad to have the bump head because when I edge the lawn it really eats string!

Ryan