Hi,

I've just bought a landxcape GGT600L strimmer from Argos for £30.

I bought it as it was advertised as "Automatic dual line feed".

It's junk, the line breaks every 30 seconds and the ends disappear inside
the spool. You then have to open the spool feed some line though and
start again.

So much for the automatic feed. I can't see anything that's broken, it
just doesn't work correctly. It's going back to Argos.

My question is are there ANY strimmers that auto feed reliably?

Thanks, Steve.

Steve Jones wrote:

The simple answer is NO--I've had several strimmers and never had (or
heard of) any that actualy dispense line correctly. Live with it!!!!

"JimP" wrote in message
ups.com...

Steve Jones wrote:

The simple answer is NO--I've had several strimmers and never had (or
heard of) any that actualy dispense line correctly. Live with it!!!!

Utter ********!

It depends on the line type, rotation speed and how aggressive you are with
it.

Go to a local agricultural dealer with the head, purchase some more suitable
industrial type line which will fit and use the machine as a STRIMMER not a
brushcutter.

15 years in plant and golf course maintenance taught me it's usually the
operator being a little *too* aggressive which causes the line problems
especially with the crap line supplied with the DIY machines.

On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:10:48 +0100, Steve Jones
wrote:

Hi,

I've just bought a landxcape GGT600L strimmer from Argos for £30.

I bought it as it was advertised as "Automatic dual line feed".

It's junk, the line breaks every 30 seconds and the ends disappear inside
the spool. You then have to open the spool feed some line though and
start again.

So much for the automatic feed. I can't see anything that's broken, it
just doesn't work correctly. It's going back to Argos.

My question is are there ANY strimmers that auto feed reliably?

Thanks, Steve.


I have a dirt cheap (£11 IIRC) electric strimmer from B&Q. It has been
used regularly for the last two years for trimming the edge of the
lawn. Line feed works well. I don't know if you would describe it as
'auto', as it's the only one I've ever had and I don't know how other
types work, but when the line gets too short I release the trigger and
just before the head stops spinning I bash the button underneath on
something hard, like a stone or concrete path, and away it goes again.



--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

"JimP" wrote in message
ups.com...

Steve Jones wrote:

The simple answer is NO--I've had several strimmers and never had (or
heard of) any that actualy dispense line correctly. Live with it!!!!

I had a Black and Decker auto feed ( electric) about fifteen years ago. It
was a single feed line and it worked beautifully. It was a real work horse
doing jobs it was not meant to do. However, last year the engine burned out
and I tried to replace it only to find that they didnt do it any more.

I bought a flymo which looked about the same with a twin feed. Its no where
near as good.

I think the answer is that strimmers are not made like they used to be and
you will be lucky to get one that works consistently and is durable.

g'day steve,

i never recommend auto feeds or tap-n-go type heads for a start they
are more prone to break down and waste a lot of line and as in your
case also a lot of time. i have always used manual feed heads,
currently the head i have now is on its 3rd machine and still going
strong. then i also reckon if you are going to buy a trimmer buy a
straight shaft model they do heaps more and are more robust, provided
you buy a good brand that is.

also to get the most out of nylon and get it working for you properly
you need to ractice getting the tip of the nylon working, lots tend to
force the head and then the nylon is cutting along it s lenght and not
the tip, this also can cause breakages, it takes a little practise but
next time you use your machine move the head slowly toward what you
want to trim and you will see what i mean about the tip cutting you
can get very profficient at this and take no more time to do the job,
and use less bylon with less breakages. i hope i have explained that
ok, best if someone can be shown hey chuckle?

another tip to anyone wanting to purchase a machine never buy from the
discounters, seek out a specialist mower/garden equipment store and
get the advcie from there on what to buy, yo will pay more but then
you will have a machine capable of the task at hand and one that will
last. models to look for a stihl, husqvarna, honda (4stroke).
kawasaki, jonsered, shindaiwa, echo etc.,. etc.,. not in any
particular order.

so not sure with your model maybe for now get a manual feed head?



snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.gardenlen.com

Me here wrote:

"JimP" wrote in message
ups.com...

Steve Jones wrote:

The simple answer is NO--I've had several strimmers and never had (or
heard of) any that actualy dispense line correctly. Live with it!!!!

Utter ********!

It depends on the line type, rotation speed and how aggressive you are with
it.

Go to a local agricultural dealer with the head, purchase some more suitable
industrial type line which will fit and use the machine as a STRIMMER not a
brushcutter.

15 years in plant and golf course maintenance taught me it's usually the
operator being a little *too* aggressive which causes the line problems
especially with the crap line supplied with the DIY machines.

Yes, that's my experience too.

I have had several strimmers over the years (including a big petrol
powered one that had a brush cutter blade as well).

Currently I have two small[ish] electric strimmers. One is the
smallest auto-feed B&D which has worked very well for me, it's light
enough to be waved around with just one hand holding it and the
auto-feed really works, no bouncing the end on stones needed. It also
doesn't tend to break teh line if you're a bit over enthusiatic as
it's not terribly powerful.

The bigger one I have is a Bosch with detachable wheels, ideal for use
under low trees etc. It's more powerful so if you go too close to a
fence or some such it *does* break the line. It also neeeds to be
'bounced' to feed more line.

--
Chris Green

"Me here" wrote:
snip
15 years in plant and golf course maintenance taught me it's usually the
operator being a little *too* aggressive which causes the line problems
especially with the crap line supplied with the DIY machines.
----
My strimmer line was also crap, lasting for only two 'gentle' strims. The
plastic line was not even strong enough for cutting grass, which it should
have been. I am now experimenting with stronger plastic tape, the sort
used for packaging. I have still to find a successful way of feeding it in
the reel and out through the line holes.

MikeCT

gardenlen wrote:
g'day steve,

i never recommend auto feeds or tap-n-go type heads for a start they
are more prone to break down and waste a lot of line and as in your
case also a lot of time. i have always used manual feed heads,
currently the head i have now is on its 3rd machine and still going
strong. then i also reckon if you are going to buy a trimmer buy a
straight shaft model they do heaps more and are more robust, provided
you buy a good brand that is.

also to get the most out of nylon and get it working for you properly
you need to ractice getting the tip of the nylon working, lots tend to
force the head and then the nylon is cutting along it s lenght and not
the tip, this also can cause breakages, it takes a little practise but
next time you use your machine move the head slowly toward what you
want to trim and you will see what i mean about the tip cutting you
can get very profficient at this and take no more time to do the job,
and use less bylon with less breakages. i hope i have explained that
ok, best if someone can be shown hey chuckle?

another tip to anyone wanting to purchase a machine never buy from the
discounters, seek out a specialist mower/garden equipment store and
get the advcie from there on what to buy, yo will pay more but then
you will have a machine capable of the task at hand and one that will
last. models to look for a stihl, husqvarna, honda (4stroke).
kawasaki, jonsered, shindaiwa, echo etc.,. etc.,. not in any
particular order.

so not sure with your model maybe for now get a manual feed head?



snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.gardenlen.com

Hi,

I am Brit in absentia now living in the USA. I have a Honda HHT31SLTA
Trimmer, aka "Strimmer". The Americans call them "Weed-Wackers" over
here. It comes with tap auto feed head. It does work quite well. You
need to spin up the head to get it going quite fast, then do the tap.
The centrifugal force pulls out the line, and a blade on the guard
trims it to the right lenght.

So far this has worked pretty well so I would give a good mark to
auto-line feeders if designed and built correctly.

Warmest regards, Mike.