String Trimmers Reviews

This trimmer is a little heavy for a woman, but exactly what I expected and you can't beat the price. Works great.

I would recommend this trimmer. My only basis for comparison is the Toro cordless with a 6 volt battery I used for probably 8 years with no problem until the battery died. I like this one much better. It has a 12 volt battery, so it cuts much easier and faster. It is heavier because of the bigger battery, but still light enough for me, a small 51 year old woman. I like the way you can make the edges look like you used an edger. I was unable to control an edger or gas powered trimmer due to the weight.

This cordless trimmer is by far one of the best that I have owned. It's 12 volt battery is more than powerful enough for most household jobs. Who need a gas model when this Toro works just as well.

I have owned this trimmer for about two years now and the only thing that I have bad to say about it is that it is a little heavy. I had a Ryobi before this one and all the tools swapped to the Troy-Built. I have had two problems with the trimmer that I had to repair. The first was with the shaft that goes between the motor and the attachment. I used the trimmer to clear some brush (with a blade installed) and the aluminum coupling stripped out. My fault because I was trying to do too much with it. I swapped the shaft from my old Ryobi (direct replacement) and it worked fine. The second problem was when I tried a first use of the season and it would not start. The fuel line in the tank had broken due to the exposure to the fuel. The gas line was readily available at Lowes and I fixed it in a matter of about ten minutes. After priming it started on the first pull. If it is too heavy for you, get a strap. I have found that it cuts twice as fast as my old two cycle.

I have owned this model for almost two years now, and have used it extensively for both routine grass trimming, and for more heavy duty brush clearing (after I put a Grass Gator head on it). I've also used the leaf blower attachment extensively for clearing a large carport and driveway. I've had no problems with the unit, except for those related to the Grass Gator head (an after-market item, so not the unit's fault). As for the string trimmer, I was able to reload the string with no problems, after the first time. The first time was a bit tricky to figure out, but once I got it figured out, every time after was fast and simple.
Pros:
-Easy to start, clean burning, no gas/oil mixing, good throttle control, reliable
Cons:
-Heavy - after two hours of use, my arm is pretty tired, noisy (I use earplugs)

Unlike another reviewer, the parts seem easy to find for me. I need to replace a part of the trimmer head due to damage from the Grass Gator, and found several on-line web stores with a complete parts list available. So it seems there's no problem there.

I would have given this five stars, except for the weight.

I have this for 3 years, I only use it occationally. It is very very easy to start, 1 to 2 pulls to start. It is even easier than to ECHO hetch trimmer which is supposed to be professional grade. It dosen't smell as bad compare to the ECHO 2 cycle hetch trimmer I have. I have no problem with it at all.

I am very dissapointed in this product. I've owned it less than 2 years and it has already fallen apart and I need to buy a new trimmer. I have less than 1/8 of an acre and the battery only lasted long enough to do the inside or the outside of the fence, not both. So it would always take me 2 days to do the yard. The line jammed a lot and had to be refed constantly. I'm not buying another black and decker.

Overall the machine is OK, my biggest complaint is the release mechanism, the string constantly jams and has to be pulled out manually.

I was disapointed that power was diminished after 1/2 hour. I had recharged the trimmer over a 48 hour period.

E.L.

This unit does trim fabulously-great for weeds but it is impossible to start, or at least for a woman. Also, what the other writers say is true: the front part doesn't stay put and then when it reaches resistance it pivots and shaves the soil. Doesn't lock into place. I've spoken to the company and they are being nice but I doubt I'd resolve it. Buy an electric start and another brand you can try out first in a store.

Was very satisfied with the quick arrival of the trimmer mower. Still learining about the machine but have put it to a tough test with excellent results to date.

I have used this trimmer for the past three months to control the weeds around small trees. It will cut through just about anything (including trees!) without bogging down. The line will last quite a while as long as you are chopping weeds and not rocks, barbed wire, or anything metal. Overall a very good product. I have not ever used the tilt head. The only drawbacks are the flimsy wheels (replace with metal rimmed wheels) and the tendency to get too close to something important! The brace holding the guard did break off but a quick weld fixed the problem. My machine has been run for about 120 hours with no problems under some severe conditions (heat, dust, large amounts of vegetation, etc). I would purchase this item again but I may look at the Trail Cutter for my application in the future.

The Weed Eater XT114 Electric Trimmer/Edger has a lot of power. It is relatively light and easy to manuever. I definitely recommend using gloves and safety glasses with this one. I have found it extremely difficult to egde with this unit. It does not have an edging guide on it like many of the Black & Decker models do. This makes it very difficult to position the unit to edge properly. I find myself hitting the concrete with the trimmer line or cutting grooves in my lawn instead of getting right along the edge of the pavement as would be wanted. The other problem is that when the trimmer line breaks off, I cannot get the line to auto feed back out. Tapping the spool on a hard surface should feed it back out, but I always end up taking the spool apart instead. When the spool is apart, I find the trimmer line melted to itself. I have no idea why this happens. I have tried a new spool and had the same problem. Overall, I like the weight, power, and balance of the XT114 - but next time I will buy a different brand.

I am overall pleased with the performance of the weedeater Buy the product. It really is a good product. Plenty of power, easy to use, light weight.

I am looking for a weedeater that is easy to use. I have used weedeater in the past and was happy. Do you have a weedeater that is battery operated or one that will start every time it is needed. Sometimes I do not have a long enough cord. I can not cover the areas I need to. Can you, Will you please advise me as soon as possible. I am needing to purchase one as soon as possible. If this rain ever stops. Thank you for your help Catherine

The cartridge is easy to put on but I have problems with the dual strings retracting back inside the casting. They continued to go back in the cartridge and unwind. I have to keep taking the cartridge off and re-thread them. I don't know if the cartridge or the Ryobi 825R 4-Cycle Curved Shaft TrimmerPlus is the problem.

Much better than having to replace the whole trimmer. Now it works well again. And, it was so easy to find the parts from you.

Unable to find this item anywhere, including the manufacturing. Amazon delivered as promised.

First of all, this part is not made by Ryobi, but it is an universal part used by other brands that have the quick change spool system. So it is not problem who makes the part.

This part consists of three components - the knob, the spring and a foam ring. The only component that will break is the foam ring. The one that came with mine crumbed in my hand when I removed it from the bubble pack. It failed without actually being used! So you paid $8 for the knot and spring which will last longer than the weed wacker itself. Don't waste your money.

I got this part in 3 working days. Put it in and it worked perfectly. No problems what so ever.

If you have a Ryobi trimmer take my advice and order this now.
It does not wear out that often. However, you will want to have it on hand when the original one wears out. If your trimmer line is not spitting out well it could be you need to replace this assembly.

A common hedge trimmer is far easier and less tiring to use...the problem is the clean up....all of the raking and bending!

However, the Garden Groom, in theroy, should make clean up a snap. However, it is not that easy.

Unlike a hedge trimmer, where all the weight is directly under your hands and the machine is designed so that you hold it close into your body, with your elbows beant.

this unit, makes you extend your arms fully putting all of th wweight at the very ends of your arms. The further something is from your body, the more it needs to be balanced in order not to be tiring to use.

It also works well ONLY with small leafed, small thin stemed shrubs and hedges such as Privit.

The stems have to be relatively short as you use a back and forth movement agaisnt the shurb to cut. If the growth is over a few inches, you have to place the unit over a few branched and push downward. Which takes for ever.

It works slowly and cannot handle large leaf shrubs at all.

Here in the south, (Florida0, things grow very quickly and it is nto always easy to get to pruning as fast as possible.

In the time it took to use the Garden Groom on two anise shrubs, (which have large leaves and stems about 1/6 inch on dia., I was able to use a conventional electric hedge priner to trim 30 ft of assorted shrubs, including Anise, Podocarpus, bamboo and hawthorn. The Grden groom did not work on the Podocarpus and Bamboo at all!

Even with cleaning up the grounds afterward, it still took less time, but more effort.

The garden groom also has to be cleaned. The shoot to the large clipping bag needs to be soaked in water to get it clean and the large bag and approx 8 foot houe must be turned inside out and dried to preven them from mildewing.

Well happy gardening!

I got my Garden Groom last July and have been thoroughly pleased with it. It is heads and shoulders above any other trimmer out there. It will save you from hours of back ache too as you don't need to bend down to constantly pick up debris. I can't wait for other products from Garden Groom.

I purchased these items to have spares on hand, as I don't know how long these replacement products will be available because the weed-wacker they go to are very old.

This was just a convenience purchase for an ordinary item.

This is a good weedeater. The only complaint I have is it is a bit heavy compared to a 2 cycle. Otherwise, it runs great and does a good job.