Shindaiwa t261 issue?

[monpri]

I bought a shindaiwa t261 after much research. It came with the speed feed head. I noticed some vibration. I took it back and my dealer gave me a t231 loaner that was as smooth as silk. Dealer said it was a problem with the head and put another head on it. I used it that week and still felt the vibration. I bought a brush cutter kit and installed it. The vibration was excessive at times. It would turn smooth even at full throttle. Intermittently the tornado blade would start to wobble and vibrate the unit. I took it back to the dealer. He said they all do that once they hit some grass. I have owned several echos (cheapies compared to the t261) with no vibration. I own an older redmax bc2500? smooth as silk. I also have a stihl that doesn't vibrate. I called the distributor and shindaiwa who said 'it shouldn't do that, take it to your dealer.' I took it to a different local shin dealer who kept it for a week. He told me when I called about it that he didn't want to mess with warranty repairs. When I went to pick it up he said the shaft was bent, probably from bouncing around in a trimmer trap on a trailer. I said 'I don't carry it on my trailer, but gently in my van.' I picked up my trimmer and left. I called the distributor again. They said that wouldn't happen. I called shindaiwa again, and they said that wouldn't happen and I should try another dealer. I ain't no mechanic but I know that shaft ain't bent! I don't know about you guys but I don't have time for this.
What is the problem? Any thoughts?

[monpri]

How can I fix?

[monpri]

After some time passed I gave up. It's been a year since this whole experience. The owner acted like a jerk. Got all hot under the collar. I think I was too diplomatic. He's always too busy to deal with me, rushing around looking at the floor. His wife had to take over for him. "He's under a lot of pressure right now," etc. as he stormed away. He's an hour away and I just got tired of it.:wall Believe it or not there is a Shindaiwa dealer about 5 miles from me. He's the one who said he would only sell me a trimmer if I bought two, and didn't want to mess with my warranty issue. His prices are always 10 to 20% higher than the other dealers, and he's just plain shady. BTW, I bought a shinny hedger, oil, spools of trimmer line, safety glasses, brush kit, tornado blade, spray guns etc. from the dealer an hour away. I wanted to buy a $700 sprayer from them. They said they couldn't get it. I called another dealer even farther from me (I found out later they use the same distributor) and they said no problem. I had it in a couple of days. We have a Stihl dealer about 5 minutes away. I have had a couple Stihl trimmers. I'm not as impressed with them. I wish we had a good Redmax dealer nearby. Shindaiwa and the dealer got me this time. Guess I'll live and learn.:wall

[Ellen-D]

Call Jeff Pitts, Shindaiwa regional rep. He has taken care of a similar situation for me. Shindaiwa trimmers are the best I have ever used when operating properly, a real pain when they are out of sync though.

[Ellen-D]

Oh yeah his number is 1-800-843-3546

[jkilov]

It would turn smooth even at full throttle. Intermittently the tornado blade would start to wobble and vibrate the unit.
I would take the guard off and run it a while. Them shindy guards are a bit flimsy and sometimes resonate at certain rpms.

[ed2hess]

Make sure all the collors are inside the tube and none of the plastic mechanism inside the tube is worn or damaged. Then lobe the shaft and see if that doesn't make a little difference. Echo has a collor on each end and a big long plastic piece between that can be pulled out for inspection.

[jkilov]

Shin has oilite bushings in the shaft. Personally I doubt there could be anything wrong with those.

[monpri]

Thanks for the tips. I am going to call the shin regional rep and see what he says. Just found out we have a new redmax dealer in our area. Everybody else carries stihl.
I would take the guard off and run it a while. Them shindy guards are a bit flimsy and sometimes resonate at certain rpms.

I hadn't thought of that. I'll look at it again. I can see the tornado blade 'wobble' or 'wave' as I rev the engine. I can understand the shaft and handle vibrating, but a visible wobble in the tornado. I'm lost.

[kayeproperties]

I had a crappy shindaiwa dealer A-1-A lawnmowers in Satellite Beach who after the sale was too busy to deal with an issue on a new t-270 I bought. It sat on his floor for a month moved a little and finally I picked it up and took my business elsewhere. Its service after the sale. I dont know where it ended up as I was disgusted with it and bought an Echo. I have since mostly stuck with echo but I did find a shindaiwa dealer for my other stuff. Products arent perfect but I sure expect a dealer to stand behind its sales. Wish I had that dealer rep number before!!