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

[rbattelle]

I've got to buy a string trimmer. After years of using electrics, I'm finally getting "serious" and buying a real trimmer.

Echo offers a "rapid load" head, into which you simply stick in pre-cut lengths of trimmer line. Very simple. No winding at all.

But I fear constantly having to stop, flip trimmer over, insert fresh strings.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of head? Or any other useful advice before I make my investment?

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the SRM-210, which is a medium-duty commercial unit. I'm just a homeowner who mows/trims once a week, so it's way overkill.

On edit:
Oops, I just noticed the Stihl FS-55 is the same cost as the Echo 210 but has a 27cc engine as opposed to the Echo 21cc!

People say the Echo's are bulletproof. But a larger engine is always better, right? Oh, heck, these decisions are so difficult.

Ryan

 

[JFlagg]

I have the Stihl fs45, don't know the difference between that and the 55, but the motor on my seems plenty strong. The only drawback is I wish I would have got a model another 6" longer. I'm 6' and have to hunch over just a bit to use my fs45. After a bit it kills my back. Other than that I love it.



I just looked at your stihl link at it looks like the only difference is 1 lb, and it looks longer, maybe I should have got the 55.....

 

[rbattelle]

From my research, there's a big difference between the straight shaft models and the curved shaft models.

Initially, I was considering either the Echo GT-200R or the Stihl FS-45. Both are outstanding trimmers. But the step up to a straight shaft seems to give you beefier components (at least on the Echo). For instance, the clutch on the Echo 210 is massively larger than that on the GT-200R.

Like you, JFlagg, I'm 6' and the curved-shaft units are a bit short. In fact, the Echo GT-200R seems shorter than the FS-45. It's good to hear you point out that using the shorter model makes your back hurt - I guarantee it would do the same for me.

The guys on this thread seem to overwhelmingly like the Echo 210 over the Stihl FS-55, even though the Stihl model should have quite a bit more power.

 

[AMink]

I was going to replace my 13-14 year old McCulloch that I got at Costco. Won't run well, couldn't get the rpm's up. Before I dropped the cash, I thought I'd check the exhaust port to see if it was clogged. Clean as whistle, but the spark arrestor screen was almost solid. Took it off, should get another 10 years out of it. What was the original question?:-laf Oh yeah, it has the traditional bump type string system. Works good. No experience with the pieces of string.

 

[jjordan1]

I have had the one that Sears offers for about three years. Works great.

 

[Matt400]

Echo offers a "rapid load" head, into which you simply stick in pre-cut lengths of trimmer line. Very simple. No winding at all.



But I fear constantly having to stop, flip trimmer over, insert fresh strings.

Hi Ryan,

That might be fine for light duty work like trimming lawn edges but if you get into thick stuff I could see that as a pain having to stop every time you need line. I use my trimmer for both heavy tall weeds and cleaning up lawn edges the mower doesn't get. IMO I would rather wind up a spool and have it on tap.

 

[rbattelle]

That might be fine for light duty work like trimming lawn edges but if you get into thick stuff I could see that as a pain having to stop every time you need line.

I'm starting to lean that way. Get the straight-shaft SRM-210 with the traditional "tap" wound head.



As an aside, the heads on all the trimmers are mostly plastic. I really hate plastic. In fact, there are numerous plastic components on all these trimmers. What a shame.



Ryan

 

[JimBob24]

I have the Echo SRM-230 with the "rapid load" head. Very satisfied with both. The rapid load head I have uses a very heavy duty commercial type . 155 dia. line, which does not wear out very fast at all, and when it is time to change lines you can do it in a few seconds. I buy the line in 100' spools, and you just push it in from the outside toward the center and cut it off. It automatically locks in place. I have always had problems with the tap type heads jamming; plus it takes time to have to re-load them with line.



For me personally the quick load head is MUCH easier, quicker, and simpler.



Jim

 

[rbattelle]

I have the Echo SRM-230 with the "rapid load" head. Very satisfied with both. The rapid load head I have uses a very heavy duty commercial type . 155 dia. line, which does not wear out very fast at all, and when it is time to change lines you can do it in a few seconds.

This is such a hard decision. The rapid load head on the SRM-210 (and below) won't accept 0. 155" line (for engines <25cc the limit is 0. 130"). But I would think that even the 0. 130" line is too thick for nice grass trimming! [In fact, the dealer commented specifically that it doesn't do well on grass]. 0. 095" is the smallest string diameter the rapid loader will handle.

Obviously the rapid load head doesn't change the string consumption rate - only the string diameter and the trimming environment effect the rate.

I'm trimming around a lot of picket fence (which 0. 130" line will apparently eat for breakfast), and some edging along the sidewalk.

My feeling was to go with the traditional bump head, but then Jim pointed out my exact fear - jamming and other feed problems with that head. There should be no jamming issues with the rapid loader.

Ryan

 

[sdstriper]

I can comment on Echo equipment in general, good stuff. I have the PAS260, one of the attachments I have is the "bump" type trimmer head. Never had a problem with it. As far as power goes that can be greatly increased by tossing the spark arrester, if your in a "fire prone" local I would not recommend that. I have a highly modified exhaust on mine and it will sweep 6" of gravel continously with no problem, sounds like a motorcross bike...

 

[wcjp]

Bought my Echo with the Rapid head. After a few months I bought a more traditional Echo head. It has string that comes out in two places. I found it inconvenient to constantly turn off the machine to reload. Reloading was easy. The traditional head I bump while in operation. Now I never turn machine off regardless of project size.

 

[rbattelle]

This morning I became the proud owner of a brand new SRM-210 with bump-feed head.

Haven't used it yet... will do tomorrow. Very cool machine. Considering my tiny yard, however, it almost looks comical working with such a large trimmer. You could almost trim my yard with a pair of scissors.

Ryan

Ryan

 

[HoleshotHolset]

On edit: Oops! I see you already took the plunge, Ryan.

Oh well - maybe someone else will find what I wrote useful.

... I fear constantly having to stop, flip trimmer over, insert fresh strings. Does anyone have any experience with this type of head? Or any other useful advice before I make my investment?

Hi, Ryan:



I have a 2-year new Sears/Craftsman 4-stroke model with this type of head.



I LOVE it. No fuss, no muss - just simple string replacement. Since it has a centrifugal clutch on it, you can leave the engine idling and change the string. I usually get about 3 or 4 trimmings out of one line. This is compared to the same amount of trimming I did back in MA with Dad's Tanaka with the bump feed - I've never met a bump feed I liked - they're all varying degrees of frustration.



I also highly recommend a 4-stroke. I never use more than 1/2 throttle and the thing PURRS like a finely tuned machine - not some low-tech 2-stroke engine. I didn't even treat the gas in it over the winter and it started up on the first pull with some primer use - it always has run like that if you use the primer like the directions say to... I thought 10 pumps was excessive.



Back when I bought it, there weren't hardly any 4-strokes out there... and I liked the Briggs and Stratton engine the best since it had pressurized lubrication and could operate at all angles... others were like 'normal' 4-strokes and you couldn't operate them at odd angles. Here's a link to a comparable model - they don't have my model anymore - that's interesting.



Sure, it's more money, a little heavier and another piece of equipment that needs oil an oil change, but that's it. Having the 4-stroke was well worth the extra $50 I spent.



The best part is that you can use literally any kind of trimmer line or do what I did last week since I was out and needed to get the job done - use electrical wire. I wouldn't recommend doing it, though... it's a twee dangerous and the stranded wire doesn't last as long as the trimmer line. . 035" flux-core wire feed welding wire doesn't work well either. :-laf



Beers,



Matt

 

[rbattelle]

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

 

[JKinney]

I own two echo trimers, the latest was the quick load head, im a commercial landscaper. My employee hated it and would not use so he always grabed the vera tool with the weed wacker head on it, and I used the quick load. The back of my truck is full of these 2. 5 to 3 " pieces of weed wacker string because once they get short there useless. I bought a new head for it this spring. From talking to my dealer all his commercial guys are buying a wind type head... . The fad may be over.

 

[AHire]

Have you seen the shindawa speed load head? Best head ive used in 10 years of landscaping. Basically the same design of traditional bump heads except you cut 12 ft of line and pull it half through and twist the top to wind it up.

 

[JKinney]

Have you seen the shindawa speed load head? Best head ive used in 10 years of landscaping. Basically the same design of traditional bump heads except you cut 12 ft of line and pull it half through and twist the top to wind it up.

No my implement dealer only sells echo, Im gona find a dealer and take a look.

 

[rbattelle]

If all the proper preventative maintenance is done and the proper lubrication is used, ECHO engines are designed to last 1,200 - 1,500 hours or more.

Assuming 30 minutes use per week over a 20-week "season", it would take me 120-150 years to wear out this engine.



Ryan

 

[rbattelle]

Got to use the new trimmer for the first time today! Wow, what a lot of power (all my prior experience is with little electric units).

I've never had a trimmer with a bump head. Is there a technique for bumping the line on the grass without leaving a donut of bare earth behind?

It's going to take some time to learn to use this thing. It seems like I either don't cut anything, or I shave the ground bare - no in-between.

Ryan

 

[JKinney]

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



Try Tapping? Or speed up your reflexes so that the bump is quicker then one revolution of the trimmer string :-laf