2 stroke or 4 stroke strimmer?
Discussion
I’m in the market for a decent strimmer. I want something with a bit of grunt, so I’ll be looking at machines over 30cc.
As I don’t really want to spend more than £300, I’ll be buying second hand.
So, do I get a two stroke machine from Stihl, Husqvarna or Echo, or a Honda 4 stroke machine?
As I don’t really want to spend more than £300, I’ll be buying second hand.
So, do I get a two stroke machine from Stihl, Husqvarna or Echo, or a Honda 4 stroke machine?
Dad has a 4 stroke, if you store it on the wrong side it leaks oil into the cylinder. It's quite heavy. I have a 2 stroke. I think the next one I buy will also be 2 stroke.
if you are buying second hand so long as it's cold when you try to start it and it starts... you should be fine with a older good quality 2 stroke one.
if you are buying second hand so long as it's cold when you try to start it and it starts... you should be fine with a older good quality 2 stroke one.
My old Stihl FS66 “ handlebar “ 2 stroke is now 35 years old.
Rarely serviced beyond the occasional spark plug when I think about it , starts with choke on the 1st or 2nd pull.
Still on the original head which I have replaced the round metal washers for the line feeds but that’s it.
I do oil the gear mechanism regularly.
Not the lightest but a small price to pay.
Rarely serviced beyond the occasional spark plug when I think about it , starts with choke on the 1st or 2nd pull.
Still on the original head which I have replaced the round metal washers for the line feeds but that’s it.
I do oil the gear mechanism regularly.
Not the lightest but a small price to pay.
I've got the Honda 4 stroke cowhorn jobbie, does what it says on the tin , starts easy enough but not had any other strimmer to compare it with.
If you do go for a 2 stroke, highly recommend running it on Aspen2 fuel. It costs a bomb but all my 2 stroke tools have been faultless since I started running this. They're not used very frequently and the Aspen doesn't degrade if left in the tank like standard unleaded
If you do go for a 2 stroke, highly recommend running it on Aspen2 fuel. It costs a bomb but all my 2 stroke tools have been faultless since I started running this. They're not used very frequently and the Aspen doesn't degrade if left in the tank like standard unleaded
I had a honda 4 stroke. It was the most unreliable, recalcitrant engine I've ever owned. A pig to start every time.
After numerous services and replacement bits I gave up and went battery powered Ego.
They're brilliant and light years better than an ICE powered strimmer.
But...the batteries IME are temperamental and expensive. I had a second fail recently which after bringing it into the house to force charge and forgetting so it was in a warm dry environment for a week started working again. I can only assume they're a bit susceptible to damp and cold. So make sure storage isn't damp.
That said, I wouldn't have another ICE garden tool again, with the exception of perhaps a mower.
After numerous services and replacement bits I gave up and went battery powered Ego.
They're brilliant and light years better than an ICE powered strimmer.
But...the batteries IME are temperamental and expensive. I had a second fail recently which after bringing it into the house to force charge and forgetting so it was in a warm dry environment for a week started working again. I can only assume they're a bit susceptible to damp and cold. So make sure storage isn't damp.
That said, I wouldn't have another ICE garden tool again, with the exception of perhaps a mower.
Four stroke for me - we have the 50cc Honda and it's been bulletproof over the last 5 years or so. Sups fuel, has plenty of power and starts first pull even after sitting over winter. Also light enough to start that even my pension aged mother can easily start and use her one.
The noise is also much less annoying in my mind.
Edit - previous poster's experience is genuinely surprising. The two in our family have been flawless - just put petrol in when it runs out.
The noise is also much less annoying in my mind.
Edit - previous poster's experience is genuinely surprising. The two in our family have been flawless - just put petrol in when it runs out.
Edited by Snow and Rocks on Friday 8th May 13:15
Tam_Mullen said:
I have an old ex-council Stihl 2T, my dad has a Honda 4T.
Dads is easier to start (not that mine is bad) and doesn't need premix, but other than that the Stihl runs rings round it, it revs higher so seems to have better string speed and its much lighter.
Dads is easier to start (not that mine is bad) and doesn't need premix, but other than that the Stihl runs rings round it, it revs higher so seems to have better string speed and its much lighter.
I thought that as 4 strokes are slower reving than 2 strokes, the gearing would be different to keep the string running at optimum cutting speed.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
I had a honda 4 stroke. It was the most unreliable, recalcitrant engine I've ever owned. A pig to start every time.
After numerous services and replacement bits I gave up and went battery powered Ego.
They're brilliant and light years better than an ICE powered strimmer.
But...the batteries IME are temperamental and expensive. I had a second fail recently which after bringing it into the house to force charge and forgetting so it was in a warm dry environment for a week started working again. I can only assume they're a bit susceptible to damp and cold. So make sure storage isn't damp.
That said, I wouldn't have another ICE garden tool again, with the exception of perhaps a mower.
I would also seriously look at battery powered, much lighter, always start etc, ive got a cheep bosh and with two batteries it can do about 40 mins, do you really need to use it longer than that?After numerous services and replacement bits I gave up and went battery powered Ego.
They're brilliant and light years better than an ICE powered strimmer.
But...the batteries IME are temperamental and expensive. I had a second fail recently which after bringing it into the house to force charge and forgetting so it was in a warm dry environment for a week started working again. I can only assume they're a bit susceptible to damp and cold. So make sure storage isn't damp.
That said, I wouldn't have another ICE garden tool again, with the exception of perhaps a mower.
richhead said:
I would also seriously look at battery powered, much lighter, always start etc, ive got a cheep bosh and with two batteries it can do about 40 mins, do you really need to use it longer than that?
I'm not sure it's just about run time, although that is still relevant for me, the battery powered Ego and Dewalt machines that I've tried were still pretty weedy compared to a decent petrol machine. Fine for garden use and doing edges etc but not really up to heavier work unless you have plenty of patience. Just depends what you need to do I guess.
Snow and Rocks said:
I'm not sure it's just about run time, although that is still relevant for me, the battery powered Ego and Dewalt machines that I've tried were still pretty weedy compared to a decent petrol machine. Fine for garden use and doing edges etc but not really up to heavier work unless you have plenty of patience.
Just depends what you need to do I guess.
Thats a fair point, im not cutting anything more than grass and weeds, petrol ones do have more grunt.Just depends what you need to do I guess.
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