They can put a man on the moon but they can't make a string trimmer (weed whacker) that will start. I have 4 trimmers that will not start.

Do the people that make string trimmer know that they will not start?

Do the makers of string trimmers care if they trimmer will start or not?

 

After years of mind numbing frustration, I finally have one that starts every time. I paid out the wazoo for it, (Stihl brand) but even at that, the line doesn't always feed properly. How hard can it be? I mean centripetal force does most of the work.

 

So what we need here is the magical combination of 18V Li on + a string feed that actually works.

Good luck.

I remember one of my clients describing my work as "You can have fast, you can have accurate, or you can have cheap. But you will never find a surveyor that delivers all three"

Maybe strimmer manufacturers work on the same principle?

 

After I posted yesterday I got fed-up and and bought a 4-stroke trimmer. It took a bit to prime it but it starts first pull.

Inventory:
1 - electric trimmer that is week.
4 - 2-stroke oily paper weights
1 - 4-stroke usable trimmer

 

I finally got fed up and bought a pair of these (see thumb) at a garage sale.

I try to convince myself that it's a zen experience crawling along on my hands and knees giving my borders a shearing

 

I have an echo trimmer that you can change heads on(pole saw etc) it cost me near a grand with just the trimmer and edger over 10 years ago, starts after 2-3 pulls everytime I use it. That reminds me, I should get it serviced (I never have)

 

I sold my Stihl when I thought I was saying good-bye to yard work with the townhouse move. I started well but had the line feed issue. At the new ranch house I bought a 4 stroke Troy-Bilt. Only second season on it but starts and runs every time. Heavier and more vibration, but it works!

 

My 4-stroke is Troy-Built. revs like a 2-stroke.
They use to make them in Troy, NY not to far from here but the closed the place down.
Troy-Builts are not built in Troy anymore.

 

We had Honda 4-strokes when I worked as grounds keeper at the local fair ground. The best yet. Tons of torque, quiet, reliable, started with one or two pulls every time. They were heavier than the 2-strokes we had, but much better to use.

Our home trimmer starts every time we plug it in and pull the trigger. And it's even quieter than the Honda 4-stroke.

 

Just gaffer tape an electric saw to a pole - that should do it