"I know I know, buy that and in a few years I'll have to buy another, but the budget is what it is and I only do minimal wacking."

Not sure where you live but it's almost winter anyways. Save another hundred (or so) and buy something you'll have for years. I mean a trimmer must be able to wait.

Troy-bilt and Bolens are both made by MTD. I think they are the same except for the color. Check them out at mtdproducts.com.

If you really do minimal wacking a less expensive machine may be the way to go. A more expensive machine may be more comfortable and quieter but for 5 minutes of run time you won't suffer much.

Just as one machinery point, carburetor diaphrams stiffen with age. This is going to happen on a $300 trimmer just as fast as on a $100 trimmer.

I would however spring for a trimmer that has a clutch. I have never used a clutchless trimmer but the thought kind of scares me.

OK I knew someone would beat the dead horse about spending another hundered on an Echo, Stihl, ect... But it ain't gonna happen.

My POS Homelite that the previous homeowner left me finally crapped out, this is after 5 years of use from me and who knows how many years from him. Yes it ran like a dog and in its final year would not run properly at all, but I only do 10-15 minutes a week and thats if I edge the walkway. Hope this helps.

How do I find out if a trimmer has a clutch?

Thanx Again
D

I have both a cheapy curved shaft and an high-end straight shaft, so I straddle both camps. I won't beat you up about buying a $100 machine. Your logic makes sense.

That said, my cheapy is a Homelite Bandit SX135 which I've had six years and bought second hand for $10. I put a dual string head on it and use .080 line. I can't seem to destroy it. I do use fresh gas and synthetic oil at 50:1. My good machine is an ECHO SRM-2100. Dual .105 line.

I often use the Homelite simply because it's smaller and lighter. I have more than an acre, and when I have heavy work, out comes the Echo. Based on my limited experience, and the choices you list, I'd go with another Homelite.

As for a clutch, I prefer to have one, but my Homelite does not. Most straight shaft have a centrifugal clutch. Generally the cheaper curved shaft from a given make do not, but as you go up-market the have them.

If you turn the cutting head with your hand, you'll feel resistance as the engine goes through the compression stroke (no clutch). If it spins freely, it has a clutch.

Thanx ggoyeneche, much obliged for the insite.

$160 will get you an Echo GT-200 that will last you 20 years plus if not abused and well maintained. How can you not justify that?

I bought a cheapie Poulan weed eater SST45 about 15 yrs ago and paid around $50 new @ wally world (end of season mark down) it's still going strong and won't die. I only trim about 15 mins per week and it's loud as hell...but gets the job done. I started using Mobil T2 synthetic oil and it runs better than when new. You also may want to check ebay for a deal , I just got a deal on a used Redmax leaf blower for $78 and it looks and runs like new.

Duke is on it with ebay. "reconditioned name brand" and you can tell what it is by the picture. I don't have money to waste but with all the bucks I've saved by not buying extended warranties I'll gamble a few dollars. This is just me but I'd stay away from ebay pawn shops, my fear is the pros dumping "only 3 year old" trimmers, 3 years of everyday use is a long time for the best machines.

Then again, there is the return policies of the big box stores to consider.

Listen, we're talking a hundred dollars here - think about it, not really that big of a deal. If you insist on not spending more for a proven name and quality go to any store and buy anything on sale. Good luck...

Man you guys are too funny.

Echo GT 200 - don't like the head

I can't justify spending anymore than $100. I just want a simple weedwacker that will last a few years. By the way I'm not the guy who meticulously maintains equipment so no trimmer is gonna last 20 years.

Thought about ebay but decided against it for the reason weed_cutter stated, somebodies workhorse being passed off. I'm also not the guy to be rebuilding carbs an such.

dom1961 - $100 might not be a big deal for you but I don't have money to throw away on getting a Cadillac when all I need is a Honda. I'd also rather not buy just anything because I'm not getting top o' the line. Are you saying everything besides the names you consider proven are all the same? If so I'm wondering why you even replied, I did give a list of my possibilities...

D

You may want to re-think that Cadillac vs Honda thing, now-a-days that's like "Why buy a Mercedes when all I need is an Audi". But I get your meaning.

If you have a small yard and can deal with a cord consider electric wackers. Cheap, relativly quiet, no maint, work well and will last. I used to have a small yard and was all electric. Mower, trimmer & blower I just spooled out the cord once and went for it. No gas, oil, plugs, filters.

I could drop the cord and get started before the neighbor could fill his tank.

To answer the original question -
Troy-bilt TB20CS
Larger displacement engine than others except Bolens, these share the same engine. While not necessarily more powerful the larger displacement coupled with these being a reed valve induction system will give you more mid-range torque. The Troy-bilt has a clutch whereas the Bolens does not. Advantage to Troy-bilt.

Homelite, Troy-bilt, Bolens and Poulan all have half crank engines for sure. I'm not sure about Sears. In any case the half crank engines don't bother me in this price range. They are all going to have either a Zama or Walbro carburetor, probably Zama. I don't see any difference there. There's just not much difference except as noted above.

To add to weed_cutter's info, I've never seen a Sears trimmer without a half-crank engine. You'll never see a sub-$100 trimmer without that - it's just too expensive to build them that way. For the OP's info (you may already know, but just in case): a "half-crank" engine has the crankshaft exiting only one side of the crankcase; whereas the "full-crank" engines have crankshaft exits on both front and rear of the case. That may sound trivial, but it's not. Structurally, the half-crank engine's crankshaft is only supported by a bearing on the front side and is therefore loading in single-shear by the piston/rod; whereas the full-crank engine has another full bearing on the rear exit and is in much more desirable double shear. This also allows the pull-starter to be affixed to the back of the machine, making it very simple to replace if/when it breaks; whereas on the half-crank models a broken starter usually means tossing the trimmer and buying a new one because of the complexity of replacement of the starter, which is on the front of the engine between the engine and driveshaft. Finally, the half-crank models are likely to use plain bushing bearings, which is great on a 4-stroke with an oil sump and pump, but not good on a 2-cycle running on gas/oil mix. That's all just for information's sake, not for persuasive argument.

It's not to say you can't trim your yard with a cheaper model, if your yard is small and you're only trimming grass and not brush. Besides weed-cutter's advice, I'd add that you may want to put the various models in your hands and see how they "fit" you. I think most curved-shaft models are too short for most men, and definitely so for anybody even slightly taller than average. So if one of those models has longer shaft (no comments, please!), then I'd strongly consider it (if you're height requires it). I also can't imagine getting a trimmer without a clutch. I didn't even know they still made them that way. I would consider that a necessity.

Thank you weed_cutter and Mattv21, great info and exactly the responces I was looking for. Narrowed down to the Troy-bilt and Bolens. I'll take a look and see how they feel to make the final choice.

Thanx again
D

Nothing wrong with buying a cheap trimmer as long as you know what you're getting. I owned a cheap curved shaft Ryobi that served me well with my little yard for 12 years. Keeping fresh fuel in it or using fuel stabolizer is gonna be your primary concern along with keeping the filter clean. These things hold true for any brand.

That little Ryobi I owned is no longer a nice cheap American made unit, I believe all Ryobi's are now Chinese imports through MTD. Of the choices you gave I would be inclined to go with the Craftsman or Poulan which are Weedeaters, or use to be anyway. Given proper care and used for smaller home yards they should give you 3-5 years or more of service.

Be gentle on the starter. Slowly pull the rope until the pawls lock up on the flywheel, give it a sharp pull but stop before reaching the ropes end. A broken starter will cost you half the cost of a new trimmer to repair so you want to make it last as long as the trimmer does.

What I can't seem to figure out, yet not really trying, is why Bolens and Troy-Bilt are using the older Ryobi designed engine that dated back to Ryan and IDC models with the upside down cylinder, yet Ryobi is now being manufactured by Homelite which was recently bought out by a Taiwanese firm? Did Ryobi sell out their engine patent to MTD??? Who owns who now??? This is making my head spin! I'll stick to Echo for myself, mainly, thanks.

I hate gas/oil mix/ with a 4 cycle you can dump your old left over gas in your car/truck providing it's not diesil.....gas and oil mix from a 2 cycle I guess just dump it where ever...then you have to run it out of fuel to make quite certain theres no gas and oil in the carb or you'll never get it to run properly when you need to use it again I'd go for a 4 cycle(straight gas)model

And with a 4 cycle trimmer, you have to change the oil and still either run the fuel out of the system when storing or use a stabilizer. Advantage where, ampa??

echoman is right. When it comes to old fuel concerns, 4 strokes have no advantage.