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Hi everyone,
We recently moved from a townhouse with a tiny yard to a house on 2+ acres and my ryobi cordless trimmer just doesn't cut it anymore. It was fine for the old yard which took like 10 minutes to trim the front and back but in the new yard I don't even get a 1/3 of the yard done before the battery dies. Its definitely time for a gas model. Its only for homeowner use and I don't want a crap brand. I'd rather get the basic model from a decent brand than a lesser brand. I'd prefer to spend $200 or less, and to only buy a trimmer I don't want or need one of the shafts that takes 1000 other attachments because I don't think ill ever use them. I saw an echo trimmer at home depot for around $220. I forget the model # but is it any good? Are the echo trimmers sold there just as good as ones sold at independent dealers?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Dave

DPuro329 said:

Hi everyone,
We recently moved from a townhouse with a tiny yard to a house on 2+ acres and my ryobi cordless trimmer just doesn't cut it anymore. It was fine for the old yard which took like 10 minutes to trim the front and back but in the new yard I don't even get a 1/3 of the yard done before the battery dies. Its definitely time for a gas model. Its only for homeowner use and I don't want a crap brand. I'd rather get the basic model from a decent brand than a lesser brand. I'd prefer to spend $200 or less, and to only buy a trimmer I don't want or need one of the shafts that takes 1000 other attachments because I don't think ill ever use them. I saw an echo trimmer at home depot for around $220. I forget the model # but is it any good? Are the echo trimmers sold there just as good as ones sold at independent dealers?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Dave

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The Echo at Home Depot is fine, not the best out there but would probably work for what you need. You can get the same trimmer at a dealer for the same price which would be a better deal because of the warranty and service because HD does neither, they just send it out to a dealer. If you wanted to spend a little more I'd look at the FS 70R by Stihl it's runs 279.95 but it's twice the trimmer that the Echo is and it's a Professional Grade trimmer, would last the homeowner forever.

DPuro329 said:

Hi everyone,
We recently moved from a townhouse with a tiny yard to a house on 2+ acres and my ryobi cordless trimmer just doesn't cut it anymore. It was fine for the old yard which took like 10 minutes to trim the front and back but in the new yard I don't even get a 1/3 of the yard done before the battery dies. Its definitely time for a gas model. Its only for homeowner use and I don't want a crap brand. I'd rather get the basic model from a decent brand than a lesser brand. I'd prefer to spend $200 or less, and to only buy a trimmer I don't want or need one of the shafts that takes 1000 other attachments because I don't think ill ever use them. I saw an echo trimmer at home depot for around $220. I forget the model # but is it any good? Are the echo trimmers sold there just as good as ones sold at independent dealers?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Dave

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The trimmer you saw was the SRM-225. I bought mine a year-and-a-half ago and use it commercially (now on 20-25 lawns per week). It has never let me down! I think you will be happy with it! And buy it from a dealer. If HD has it for a lower price the dealer should match it.

http://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Trimmers/SRM-225

Go low and save. Five acres here. Sears 31 cc straight shaft 2 stroke, bump head. Has Ryobi dna. On sale $118.

DPuro329 said:

Hi everyone,
We recently moved from a townhouse with a tiny yard to a house on 2+ acres and my ryobi cordless trimmer just doesn't cut it anymore. It was fine for the old yard which took like 10 minutes to trim the front and back but in the new yard I don't even get a 1/3 of the yard done before the battery dies. Its definitely time for a gas model. Its only for homeowner use and I don't want a crap brand. I'd rather get the basic model from a decent brand than a lesser brand. I'd prefer to spend $200 or less, and to only buy a trimmer I don't want or need one of the shafts that takes 1000 other attachments because I don't think ill ever use them. I saw an echo trimmer at home depot for around $220. I forget the model # but is it any good? Are the echo trimmers sold there just as good as ones sold at independent dealers?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Dave

Click to expand...

The Stihl recommended below is definitely a first choice. I also have Cub Cadet trimmers that can be bought for like $169 I think at Tractor Supply. We have two of them. We ran one of them an incredible amount of hours starting last Aug with the trimmer attachment and throughout the winter even using the other attachments. That trimmer is down right now needing a diaphragm in the carb replaced but it is and has been a great trimmer. 27cc 2 cycle. Don't recommend the 25cc or any others with the crank rope on the front side of the engine.

14 years ago I bought a Echo at home depot and just replaced it with another. The only maint it had was adding new line to the spool.

I would also have to recommend the Stihl FS-70. I have been running it semi-commercially for a few weeks now and loving every minute of it. Comparing your Ryobi to the Stihl is about the same as comparing a Prius to a Dually Pickup.

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I bought the Ryobi in a moment of weakness, cheapness and from listening to a home depot employee. It was adequate for my tiny yard in NJ but I disliked it from the start. It only has one line that spins so thicker grass takes much longer. I should have bought the echo from HD last year instead. How much does the Stihl FS 70 retail for? Is there much diffrrence in quality between echo and stihl at the lower end basic models for homeowner use?
Thanks again

Dave

I was $307 after tax, without extra oil that adds 2 years to warranty for $12(well worth it). The best part about the Stihl is all dealers service what they sell. Whatever you decide to buy, go to a dealer. I'm sure the echo's are good machines also.

DPuro329 said:

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I bought the Ryobi in a moment of weakness, cheapness and from listening to a home depot employee. It was adequate for my tiny yard in NJ but I disliked it from the start. It only has one line that spins so thicker grass takes much longer. I should have bought the echo from HD last year instead. How much does the Stihl FS 70 retail for? Is there much diffrrence in quality between echo and stihl at the lower end basic models for homeowner use?
Thanks again

Dave

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Stihls price on the FS 70R is $279.95 so Smitts961 $307 figure is about right. If you talk to the dealer most times or dealers have a little space to work on there price so you can generally speaking get like 10% off that $279 figure, something that you can't do at Home Depot and if you buy the Stihl oil they add the extra 2 years if warranty like smitts said so it's not a bad deal at all. With the FS 70R you get the 27.2 cc engine instead of the 21.2cc engine of the Echo, big difference.

Is there much of a weight difference between the stihl and the echo? I remember thinking that the echo might get heavy after a while of using it. Also is that Stihls lowest entry level model or do they have a cheaper one? Even with a potential 10% savings itscstill more than I'd like to spend for something ill use for a half hour once a week.

DPuro329 said:

Is there much of a weight difference between the stihl and the echo? I remember thinking that the echo might get heavy after a while of using it. Also is that Stihls lowest entry level model or do they have a cheaper one? Even with a potential 10% savings it's still more than I'd like to spend for something ill use for a half hour once a week.

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Actually The Stihl weighs 10.6 lbs and the Echo is 10.7Lbs. The Stihl is not an entry level or the Home Scaper series Trimmer, It is however the Low end or first inline Professional Grade trimmer, something that you'll only have to buy once so it has saved me money in the long run. The Echo was something that I personally used but it just didn't last but unlike you I use trimmers 6 and sometimes 7 days a week and I can't afford to have throw away equipment and or down time and the Stihl has never failed me in any way. As I said in my first post The Echo at Home Depot is fine, not the best out there but would probably work for what you need.

It's nice to be able to get some facts but keep in mind that what people are saying here maybe true or right about equipment it's all there opinion. You know what you comfortable spending and buying and you need to do what's right for you so you are happy.

Stihl had the fs45 curved shaft $179ish and the fs55 strait shaft for 220ish. I think they've been replaced by similar models. We use fs55's commercially and they are homeowner trimmers. I've watched these trimmers take years of abuse and keep going. I would think one would last a long time for a homeowner. Either would do you fine. I and most people prefer the strait shaft.

DPuro329 said:

I remember thinking that the echo might get heavy after a while of using it.

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The Echo is not heavier than other trimmers--it's not heavy at all. :thumbsup:

Parkmower said:

Stihl had the fs45 curved shaft $179ish and the fs55 strait shaft for 220ish. I think they've been replaced by similar models. We use fs55's commercially and they are homeowner trimmers. I've watched these trimmers take years of abuse and keep going. I would think one would last a long time for a homeowner. Either would do you fine. I and most people prefer the strait shaft.

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There now the FS 56 RC-E straight shaft Trimmer and it's $219.95 it also is a 27.2cc engine and weighs the same 10.6lbs and as Parkmower said are an excellent trimmer and Imo be as good if not better than the Echo.

With the strap on my Stihl, I actually find it to feel much lighter than my old smaller engined craftsman with no strap. The strap makes all the difference. Basically puts all the weight on your shoulder and all your arms have to do is move the machine.

Echo trimmers are very good. We use Echo trimmers to clean up dirt biking trails. It can cut through the thickest grass and even small saplings. As to a straight or curved shaft I think it depends on personal preference and height. I like the straight shaft because it has a farther reach and you don't have to twist your body as much to move it, but my brother who is shorter than me likes the curved shaft because it is easier to maneuver for someone who is shorter.
John

Calling from the bargain basement again. There were (are) Ryobis of various pedigrees. My 791 was a tiger for 10 years. The lowly sears is a clone at 1/2 the price I paid in 2002.
Just to give you a choice :laughing:

If you are going to buy a Stihl get a good one like Ric is saying. The cheapo Stihl homeowner series is to hard for folks to keep running and cost to much to get them serviced. Everyone around here hates them. They just do not use them enough. You can always get a real cheap one at Walmart and just finish the season with it while you make up your mind and look around. Or buy another electric.

possum said:

You can always get a real cheap one at Walmart and just finish the season with it while you make up your mind and look around.

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7 or 8 years ago I did exactly this at Sears. End of season needing a trimmer, they had some ridiculous price on a trimmer that I bought figuring to replace it with a better one over the winter. Problem is I never got to implement part 2 of that plan. The Sears trimmer just keeps going. I thought when I moved to a bigger place, I would quickly kill it but its been 5 years. I trim and edge close to 1000 feet a week.