Harbor Freight electric string trimmer

rlp in Co.

Well-known Member
Don't buy one! Every time it stops it
releases some line. Went thru the whole
spool of string in a short time. I bought it
last fall and never used it, so too late to
take it back.
 
We have a Ryobi that my mother bought 26 years ago, when the original battery failed I put in one sold for a portable depth finder, commonly called a Vexilar battery. It works fine, doesn't run quite as long as the original AGM but was a lot cheaper. I just saw in the L&M flyer they have a Stihl on sale for $200.00! I think the Ryobi was $65 26 years ago.
 
I have a Core brand made in Montana. Its a professional unit, a little over $200.00. You could cut hay with this thing. Easiest trimmer I ever saw to load, line up 2 holes push the string thru, wind it up and you are done. Nothing to take apart. Battery charge lasts over an hour. It is heavy.
 
Hi Tom,
I googled the Core brand trimmer and found that they have 20 volt and 40 volt units. Which is yours? Does it need special string? It looks like Troy Bilt is selling them through Home Depot. Have you ever needed parts for yours?
Butch
 
I bought a 19.2V Craftsman because that's what ALL my cordless tools are, Wife would discharge ALL my batteties and not trim where I couldn't mow, so I bought an Echo gas trimmer. Had an older Echo about the same size, 18-20 inch twin line straight shaft cut. New one is Much easier to reload with string, same as Gordo's, line up 2 holes, slide string in and wind it up. Gave the slightly used old one to SON and he's had good luck with it. His wife sometimes forgets to turn the choke off when starting it. My new Echo was only one of two tools that started this summer. My brand new MS-250 Stihl saw didn't start, flooded, older Stihl SH-85 leaf blower flooded too. My worn-out 22 yr old Stihl 025 saw started on about the 5th-6th pull. And the Echo trimmer after 8-10 pulls.

I liked the idea of the cordless string trimmer, but handle is way too short, awkward to hold, and only able to trim grass, small .060 inch single line. I quit using the first Echo trimmer because I started spraying Round-Up, Might want to spray more Round-Up. I used to spray 60 gallons around the whole yard around trees and bushes. That got expensive!
 
(quoted from post at 12:41:49 07/16/18) Well, at least you aren?t out much. There are just some things you should not buy from H/F.

Yes. Like 99% of everything they sell. Just leave it on the shelf.
 
Thanks for all the comments. I think it is working like it was designed, it is just a bad design. I can't justify spending $200 on a trimmer. I guess I'll go back to a gas trimmer.

I put a couple of drywall screws in the spool to stop it from wasteing string, but then I have to stop and remove them to advance the string, so that's a big waste of time. Well at least it didn't cost much and I hope I have saved someone else from wasting their money.
 
(quoted from post at 09:53:03 07/17/18) Thanks for all the comments. I think it is working like it was designed, it is just a bad design. I can't justify spending $200 on a trimmer. I guess I'll go back to a gas trimmer.

I put a couple of drywall screws in the spool to stop it from wasteing string, but then I have to stop and remove them to advance the string, so that's a big waste of time. Well at least it didn't cost much and I hope I have saved someone else from wasting their money.

I bought a Black and Decker 18 volt cordless electric trimmer from Amazon. Don't remember what now what I paid, but it was nowhere near $200.
 
I bought a HF electric string trimmer. Works great! The line release mechanism seems to work fine. It releases some each time it coasts to a stop...designed that way. I think it is a better design than what Stihl has to tap and go. Mine breaks off inside the head...no matter what type of Stihl line I use. Annoying!
I like the HF trimmer...and does fine so far considering the cost...30$ less 20% coupon.
HF doesn?t seem to carry replacement line. I use .65 Stihl line.
 

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