Propane Weed Whacker

jams · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 07:09 PM

I saw a propane powered weed whacker in the Home Depot today. Billed as a green machine. Sounds like a pretty cool idea. When you are out of gas, just screw in another propane canister.

FWB · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 08:18 PM

how much do cylinders cost? are they the small gas grill type?

a 2 gal can of mixed gas\oil lasts almost the whole season.

jams · #3 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 06:14 AM

Yes, it takes the small gas grill cylinders. I think they cost about $4. Not sure how long they last.

I am sure it is more expensive. It seems going green is always more expensive.

It does seem convenient. Not more mixing gas and oil.

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 06:52 AM

Jams,

I bought a new weed whacker a few months back that was a 4 cycle and California legal. You don't have to mix the gas and oil as that is not legal here any more. Gas goes in the gas tank and you put oil in an oil pan.

I got a Troy Built that yo can get a bunch of attachments for and really like it. I also like the putting new string on feature as it only takes a minute and you don't have to take the bottom spool off. Just cut two 10' lengths of .095 line and feed them in, one in each hole. Then wind the ring and it winds the line on the inner spool.

Ron

jams · #5 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 08:11 AM

A 4 cycle....WOW. I am sure people will start adding blowers and turbos to get more HP!

Adding line is always a pain, your model seems much easier.

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 08:19 AM

Jams,

I got the 4 cycle at Lowes and it never cost any more than the old 2 cycle that I had before. Weight isn't bad either and with a strap around my shoulder I can run it with one hand. I have had them every since the first electric ones came out and this is by far the best one I have ever had. The 4 cycle is more or less mandated by California Emissions Board and they even had to change the garden tractors and other things to meet their requirements. If you have an older one you can still use it, but anything newer has to meet this states requirements. The string rewind alone was worth the price to me as I hated having to get the dirt and dust off the old one and then take the spool out and rewind it by hand. And I always managed to get a loop on top of another so about half way through a new load of string it would quit feeding and I would have to take it apart again and get my string straight.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #7 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 08:30 AM

I have the 2 cycle one like Ron's and the line is pretty easy to wind. I have somehow gotten it tangled still, but not like the older electric one I had. Maybe once every few winds I do something that messes it up. I like the Troy Built attachments too. I have the weed whacker and a garden Tiller attachment. It doesn't work too well on the clay soil, but for a flower garden or similar with good soil it works wonders.

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 09:11 AM

Joe,

The only time I have ever had a string to mess up was once when I was paying no attention and left to much length on the rewind. It wrapped around the shaft before the motor got up to speed enough for the cutter to cut the long end off. The other side was ok and I just messed up by not paying attention.
I may get the leaf blower attachment so I can blow the red dust out of my upper lot across the street while my neighbor is in Canada.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 12:11 PM

lol, that is my next attachement to buy. I use the shaped line. It is not just round, but actually a .090 core with 3 lobes coming off of it that are cupped shaped so it is kinda like having 3 curved blades coming off the central core. If you let them twist over each other while winding, it locks together and will not unwind. Pretty simple to fix, but once you do it, the whole wind tends to tangle. When I used the regular line, I never had a problem.

As far as the dust, wouldn't that brake a California law protecting Fire ants or something?

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 02:14 PM

Joe,

Mine came with that type line and I use a roll of it with no problems. It is called Industrial grade here. I got a roll of 200' of it and a 200' roll of the regular .095 and both seem to work great.

Ron

terry251 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 04:02 PM

Ron, which model number did you purchase at Lowes?
Terry

Joe Wicked · #12 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009, 04:05 PM

The stuff I bought is called professional grade, so probably the same stuff.

Ron61 · #13 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 02:35 AM

Terry,

Mine is Model # TB575SS. They also offered a 3 year warranty which I bought that covers everything. Instead of sending it back to the factory and going through that time and mess for them to determine if they will fix it, I just take it back to Lowes and they will give me a new one for it and then they deal with the factory. I don't even need the receipt or anything as they put it in their computer.

Ron

SPF2245 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 12:33 PM

I also have the same unit as Ron, it starts with no effort (even after winter and Stabil in the tank) and it is heavier then the 2 stroke units, but not so much that you can't use it for long periods.

Joe Wicked · #15 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 12:39 PM

Ron and SPF do you have the strait shaft trimmer or the curved? I got the curved as they were out of stock on the strait and it felt fine in the store. My old electric one was curved as well. What I notice though is it is not balanced well. I have to actually hold it down and my arm tiers from that. Just curious if the strait shafts are better balanced.

Ron61 · #16 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 12:43 PM

Joe,

Mine is the straight shaft. I don't like the curved ones. As I said, with the shoulder strap on mine I can just walk along and run it with one hand. If I want to change the balance I just slide the strap adjustment.

Ron