Hi,

I bought a used petrol hedge trimmer it went `bang` guy replaced but I sold
it, I then bought a new one, after a couple of hours use it wouldn`t start,
all were McCullochs 2 stroke. I have lots of years experience with motorbike
engines so well aware of mixtures etc and the settings were as per factory
so don`t think its anything I have done wrong. The shop I bought the new one
from has reimbursed me but now not sure about another 2 stroke and thinking
about an electric (although I don`t like trailing cables) My hedges are all
near to house and can probably do the whole lot in a couple of hours, so
thinking it might be worth the inconvenience and just go electric.

I would be intersested on others thoughts on this especially those that have
used both petrol and electric.
thanks

On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 15:23:14 GMT, "Juco"
wrote:
after a couple of hours use it wouldn`t start,
all were McCullochs 2 stroke. I have lots of years experience with motorbike
engines so well aware of mixtures etc and the settings were as per factory
so don`t think its anything I have done wrong.

That's most probably your problem. Most small 2strokes now are pretty
good but McC had a lousy reputation, don't know if they're still as
bad - haven't touched one for many years.
Stihl would be my choice for petrol or Viking (Stihl's consumer brand)
for electric.
now not sure about another 2 stroke and thinking
about an electric (although I don`t like trailing cables) My hedges are all
near to house and can probably do the whole lot in a couple of hours, so
thinking it might be worth the inconvenience and just go electric.

I would be intersested on others thoughts on this especially those that have
used both petrol and electric.
thanks

Electric is lighter, quieter and cleaner. Many pros in big gardens
with lots of topiary use fairly short light electric ones run from a
small genny on a barrow or trailer. We use both, fortunately one bloke
prefers petrol, the other prefers the electric machine.
Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Rod wrote:

On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 15:23:14 GMT, "Juco"
wrote:

after a couple of hours use it wouldn`t start,
all were McCullochs 2 stroke. I have lots of years experience with motorbike
engines so well aware of mixtures etc and the settings were as per factory
so don`t think its anything I have done wrong.


That's most probably your problem. Most small 2strokes now are pretty
good but McC had a lousy reputation, don't know if they're still as
bad - haven't touched one for many years.
Stihl would be my choice for petrol or Viking (Stihl's consumer brand)
for electric.

now not sure about another 2 stroke and thinking
about an electric (although I don`t like trailing cables) My hedges are all
near to house and can probably do the whole lot in a couple of hours, so
thinking it might be worth the inconvenience and just go electric.

I would be intersested on others thoughts on this especially those that have
used both petrol and electric.
thanks


Electric is lighter, quieter and cleaner. Many pros in big gardens
with lots of topiary use fairly short light electric ones run from a
small genny on a barrow or trailer. We use both, fortunately one bloke
prefers petrol, the other prefers the electric machine.
Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html
Petrol are better, however I had bad experience with Stihl. Bought a
number of Stihl products on moving here, all were ok except the hedge
cutter. OK I thought no problem, back to the supplier, faffed with it
still a problem. Back again, same problem, made a fuss, Stihl sent
their rep to my house, fiddled with it, said ok. When I went to use it
next am same problem.

Stihl then said it was a part that needed replacing and would need to go
back to their factory. It was only when I made a lot of fuss, and I
mean a lot, that the supplier refunded my money. I bought a Husquvana,
no problems.

I've no problem with Stihl products, but having a bad one the service
was appalling.

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"Broadback" wrote in message
...
Rod wrote:

On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 15:23:14 GMT, "Juco"
wrote:

after a couple of hours use it wouldn`t start,
all were McCullochs 2 stroke. I have lots of years experience with
motorbike
engines so well aware of mixtures etc and the settings were as per
factory
so don`t think its anything I have done wrong.


That's most probably your problem. Most small 2strokes now are pretty
good but McC had a lousy reputation, don't know if they're still as
bad - haven't touched one for many years.
Stihl would be my choice for petrol or Viking (Stihl's consumer brand)
for electric.

now not sure about another 2 stroke and thinking
about an electric (although I don`t like trailing cables) My hedges are
all
near to house and can probably do the whole lot in a couple of hours, so
thinking it might be worth the inconvenience and just go electric.

I would be intersested on others thoughts on this especially those that
have
used both petrol and electric.
thanks


Electric is lighter, quieter and cleaner. Many pros in big gardens
with lots of topiary use fairly short light electric ones run from a
small genny on a barrow or trailer. We use both, fortunately one bloke
prefers petrol, the other prefers the electric machine.
Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html
Petrol are better, however I had bad experience with Stihl. Bought a
number of Stihl products on moving here, all were ok except the hedge
cutter.

snip.

Perhaps unbeknown to you, there is a cross over in the terminology you use,
in relation to what was asked.
The OP asked about hedge TRIMMERS.
Your response is about hedge CUTTERS.
These are different. One err.. trims what is no more than trimable and the
other, well, err.. cuts what has gone beyond trimming stage.
In which case petrol would most definitely be better as you point out.

That said, I too had some difficulty with product selection not so long ago.
Though in my instance it was a blower.
Of the 3 main choices available for commercial work, the first was described
as something like a nice runner, but not as powerful as what I had. This
meant; nice machine, just shame it doesn't really do the blowy bit.
The 2nd option was to replace my existing model. However, recent
"improvement" were cited as resulting in it now having a tendency to melt.
The 3rd option was Stihl, stronger and quieter than mine, but was proving to
have a remarkably short life.
A week later a 4th contender. No worries mentioned about it, so I paid.
Jokingly I added that I hoped it would last longer than the stihl might.
Upon arriving at the first site, it lasted just under 3 minutes before it
went up in smoke. It had being the shop demonstration model, so already
tested and fuelled. All I did was re-start it.


Patrick

for light use an electric model would be fine. for cutting anything more
than 50yds of hedge at anything above 8 ft off the ground i'd recommend a
petrol model ... although if you are going to do a *lot* of
cutting/trimming, you must bear in mind that a 2-stroke motor (no matter how
well damped) will produce vibrations injurous to your health over the long
term.

everyone develops brand loyalties, and fwiw i've always found Fujirobin gear
(japanese manufacturer) to be excellent. just out of interest (or not),
fujirobin were the engine makers who put a diesel motor into a MZ motorbike
and managed to get 3litres/100km economy out of it. yes, i do know some
pointless things.