The point is, boys, that I have had to do NONE of those things in 20 years. So it really doesn't matter how hard or easy it is to repair because it has not needed a single repair, not by me or by my local "charge-'em-up" repair shop ($30 for a repair? Dream on!). After 20 years, it owes me nothing. I'm sure an Echo is a better machine, but how good a trimmer does a typical homeowner really need? Didn't sound to me like the OP is in the lawncare business.
I buy good machines for jobs that require durable equipment, and trimming is not one of those situations. The key thing for me is that the trimmer starts reliably. Sometimes it really doesn't make sense to buy a Mercedes when you are just driving to the supermarket.
snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (Shooter Dude) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:
My Toro cordless electric uses .050", the thinnest diameter I've seen and works well. You only need to bump it often if you're mowing with it and the string gets bent. Edging using the tip only works better. If the weather has been dry for a couple of days and the grass isn't crazy, I can do ~300' of edging without bumping.
The Black & Decker Grass Hog uses .065 - self feeds and is fairly cheap. Mine is electric and can tolerate the voltage drop from over 100' of cord with no complaints. Quieter than the gas models and no stink or mixing. Also does the edging thing with a built in wire guide.
I'd like to add John Deere to the list of junk string trimmers! I'm peeved because John Deere doesn't honor their warranties.
I bought a John Deere S1400 because there's a dealer nearby, the name recognition, and the hope that John Deere would be a better trimmer than the cheapo trimmers.
It never started easily, and the starter mechanism soon broke. That was replaced under warranty. But next, the muffler fell off. The John Deere dealer says it would require 6 hours of labor to repair (???!!!!) plus parts, and is not economically repairable. The dealer called their factory contact, who wouldn't authorize repairs or replacement, even though the trimmer was still under warranty. The John Deere dealer denied any responsibility.
I'm not likely to ever purchase another John Deere product. I talked about my experience with an arriving farmer who wanted an $8000 mower, and he asked the salesman to explain why JD wouldn't honor my warranty. Don't know the response, because the salesman hustled him into an inner sanctum.
Fortunately, I had purchased the trimmer from Home Depot, who gave me a full refund. Kudos to Home Depot!!! I purchased an Echo SRM 230 trimmer. Starts easily, the bump head works better, is just easier to control, and doesn't "burn my arm" like the John Deere used to do. I'ts a pleasure to use, compared to a HomeLite (?) and the John Deere, and I recommend it to others.
Wow, that is so unlike Deere & Co. I would have contacted consumer affairs in Moline, IL, they have a toll free number. I have a Homelite 16" chainsaw that I bought last season for some light tree trimming. This season it is acting up, won't stay running, etc. Now I'm hesitant to take it in for repair but since it is still under warranty, I'll see what happens.
I had a Deere riding lawnmower before I moved to a smaller property and I had nothing but great use with it. I let it go with the house when I sold it and as far as I know, the new owners are still using it.
Please don't let this issue go - contact Deere, I assure you they want to hear from you if you are having problems that don't get resolved by their local personnel. As a company that has been around for more than 100 years, I'm betting they would like the chance to make it right. Email to: snipped-for-privacy@JohnDeere.com Online at:
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Or toll free:
1-866-993-3373 (I looked it all up in my John Deere Mower manual).
Now, for weed whackers. I bought a Black & Decker Grass Hog, and I really like it. It's battery powered instead of gas, but the battery holds enough charge to do my entire property in one charge. I too bought mine at Home Depot and the first one I bought was missing a part. No problem, Home Depot took care of it no questions asked. I tried a gas powered unit just once. I found it was too noisy, heavy, hot and cumbersome. With gas over two bucks a gallon, battery is my best bet. My property is 3/4 acre so it's sizeable for a single battery charge to cover.
IIRC Homelite is who made the trimmers for JD. I know they bought the company a while back. Weather they own it yet is questionable. JOhn deere is John Deere, and HOme depot would have had to jump through all the smae hoops as a John Deere dealer would to offer you a refund and get a refund from JD in return for their loss, so I would have to assume your main problem was in the dealer you choose to do business with and not JD itself. My local dealer here is a reall a$$hole, and I refuse to deal with him for similar reasons. The dealer I use will bend over backwards for you to please you, and most dealers all know well up front what can and what can't be honored by warranty if they want to take the necessary steps which in all reality your delaer did not want to do. Visit my website:
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