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| I'm in the market for a trimmer, blower, and edger. I'd prefer to get a multi attachment system, so I'd only have one engine to maintain. My engine choice is 2 cycle. I'm not new to trimmers. I had a McCulloh gas trimmer which lasted about 15 yrs. Would have lasted longer if I could have gotten parts for it. I've also tried battery powered, and electric. I need to trim around a house, edge along a sidewalk and driveway, maintain a ditch at the back of the property, and blow grass off hard surfaces after mowing. For my application, I feel a low powered gas trimmer (with attachments) is the best option. Battery trimmers don't have enough power, and I'm tired of dragging around a cord. I'm pretty easy on equipment, and pretty good with small engines, so I could probably get away with a cheapy from Wally World... but I don't want to buy from Wally World. Or Home Depot or Lowes either. I prefer buying where they actually know how their product works. In this area, that leaves Echo and Stihl.
So I've been researching. I don't think I need anything high powered. My old McCulloh trimmer had a 21.2cc engine, which had more than enough power for my current needs. The lowest output power head from Echo is the PAS 225, and from Stihl, it's the KM 55R, both of which I think have more than enough power. From my research, here's my perceptions of the two brands: Power
Price
Vibration
Noise:
Durability & Reliability
Ease of starting
Ease of servicing
Maintenance
Attachments
Weight
Ease of use
Dealer
It looks like if you're trying to get maximum power for your dollar, Stihl is the best. If power is not an issue, Echo wins. Is my research right? One thing I haven't been able to determine. Which one is easier to start in the Spring after sitting untouched in the garage all Winter? Which one is more tolerant of old gas? On paper, the Echo looks to be my best bet, but even if it is, I still can't overlook the fact that I feel the Stihl dealer is better. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I think Echo will have the advantage in durabilty and realiabity as they don't make any low grade machines, Stihl does but also makes real good machines that cost a LOT. Far as power Echo should have more cc for cc compared to Stihl's lower priced machines. In chainsaws Echo is way ahead of homeowner Stihl's, not all Stihl's are created equal, Echo's are. Steve |
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- Posted by gearhead36 7 (My Page) on Wed, Jul 25, 12 at 11:55
| Thanks for the info. I guess that pretty well decides it for me. I'm looking to get something that will last at least 10 yrs. Once I go to the trouble of figuring out how to repair & service something, I want to keep it for a while. |
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- Posted by gearhead36 7 (My Page) on Sat, Jul 28, 12 at 15:32
| A follow up. I bought the Echo PAS 225 VBP. The first time I used it, I tried to do the edging with the trimmer. I won't do that again. It wore my arms out, and the results weren't that good, which I attribute to the operator. So I picked up an edger attachment. Also, during this first use, I was a bit unhappy with how the engine ran. It seemed to be running too lean. It hesitated every time I "punched" the throttle. And it became VERY hesitant to get to full throttle. I used it again today, and it ran flawlessly. I guess it just needed a bit more breaking in. The edger also worked MUCH better than using the trimmer head on its side The guys who do this every day can probably get just as good results either way, but I do much better with the edger. I'm happy with it now, and I'm happy with my decision to go with the Echo. |
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| "I'd prefer to get a multi attachment system"...I'd reconsider this. The multi-attachment systems aren't really cost-effective if you do the math. |
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- Posted by gearhead36 7 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 2, 12 at 10:58
| ""I'd prefer to get a multi attachment system"...I'd reconsider this. The multi-attachment systems aren't really cost-effective if you do the math." I did the math. That's one reason I went with an attachment system. I bought the PAS-225VPB and an edger attachment. Buying 3 separate tools of similar capacity would have cost another $230. The other reasons were: I tend to over-analyze any purchasing decision. Drives my wife crazy. What did I miss? |
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