Which Trimmer is Better?

[Metalgear]

OK, I've narrowed my selection to two trimmers. Which one would you go with? 1) Shindaiwa T-230
2) Echo SRM260S
They both are light,powerful,solidshaft. I value your opinions, since you guys do this day in and day out. Thanks!!!

[General Grounds]

:blob3: metal, go redmax, i have 25 pieces of redmax equiptment and all are trouble free many are 5 years and older. tony

[aakin]

The Husqvarna 325LX is very powerful, quite, light and low vibration. It is an excellent trimmer. I suggest you at least take a look at it.

[danzig]

I have an echo2601. bought new last year and i like it. Never had a shin but i hear that are good. Stihl, echo, redmax and shin are all in a dead heat. I prefer stihl or echo.

[cglservice]

Have a Echo 2600 , 2.5 years old has been used and used ,starts on the third pull 95% of the time and for around two hundred dollars it has paid for itself.

[JOHN EASLEY]

ALL MAJOR BRANDS ARE GOOD. IF THEY WERE JUNK THEY WOULDNT STAY IN BUSINESS. THE REAL CHOICE SHOULD BE WHICH DEALER CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST SERVICE AND PARTS AVAILABILITY. DONT BUY A CERTAIN BRAND IF THE DEALER DOESNT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT ASK PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA IF THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE DEALER THEN BUY WHAT THEY SELL.

[John Gamba]

What aakin Said.
Johnny G.:cool: :cool:

[floydboy]

I know that everyone has changed your decision and I want to add to them. I would check out Robin. All of my commercial cutters love them. Not only am I a small engine technition & salesman but I have been in the nursery business all my life. I've used about everyone of the trimmers on the market and I've had my Robin trimmer for more than thirteen years and it still runs strong. The closest trimmer to compare it to was the Echo in my opinion, but remember any trimmer will last as long as you maintain it and grease the gear box. :blob3:

[griffin16]

I bought the ECHO 260s this year. It has not given me any problems so far. Good power, comfortable.

[Eastview Landscaping]

I agree with all ... Every timmer is as good as the people who use /abuse it.. proper maintenance goes a long way, most of my equipment is 4 years and older. Make sure that you buy from someone who services what they sell !!!!!!!

[Green Care]

I only speak of echo 260s (awsome).

[JJOHN22042]

Just bought a New 260S and works Great and starts easy.The only Bad part is it scares people sounds like a Cahinsaw.

[BW4486]

i would go SHIN-T250 or STIHL-FS85

[65hoss]

Weedeater brand.

[Tomt]

I have a 2002 SRM260 and like it. I have a2003 Shin t270 and like it.
The materials and detail are better on the Shin.

I would buy both again.

[dishboy]

Shindaiwa solid shaft [excellent for edging with a long line, and a slide bore carb for excellent throttle response.
My buddy burned up two Echo's last season using echo oil so something is up with their materials or quality control. [srm 260s]. One was still on warrenty the other just off.

[bob]

Originally posted by BW4486
i would go SHIN-T250

They stopped making this model years ago. I'd go with the T-230 , T-260, or the T-270.

[BW4486]

ur right i meant 270 thanks

[Granite City]

I sell Echo now and I sold Shindaiwa a few years ago. Both of them make great equipment so either would be a good choice. If I were making this decision I would look at the dealer you have to purchase from. Quality equipment is easier to find than a quality dealer.

If it's man made then a man can break it.

[ElephantNest]

Yup, and if it's made by man, and named Echo, it will break sooner and more often. If it's made by man, and named Shindaiwa, you likely won't need dealer support. No, I don't get royalties from them, and yes, I know I sound like a broken record, but I have eight (8) shins, 6 trimmers and 2 edgers, and over the years, ONE of them has had to have the grip replaced. That's it.

[UNISCAPER]

We switched to Husqvarna several years ago..Still have one of the original back pack blowers starting on two pulls, over 7 years old. Echos are great for a year or two, but chrome cylinder liners and longevity do not go in the same sentence together...

[sweetjetskier]

We have used Shindaiwa trimmers and edgers for over 6 years and have never had any major problems with them. The trimmers 230, 250 260 and 230 special edition have been very reliable. The parts are readily available and easy to install in the field.

[mower_medic]

As a mechanic, I see alot more Echos in for repairs than Shindaiwas. Of course that could be due to the price of the Echo and their availability at the Mass Merchants like Home Depot. You will never see a Shindaiwa sold at a place like that. Shindaiwas cost more because they're built better. When was the last time you took a piece of equipment back to Home Depot to have it repaired? Buy from a servicing dealer only and get the maintenance and repairs done where you bought it. I personally, put customers that have bought equipment from me in front of customers that bought their equipment from someone else when it comes to repairs and maintenance.

[Blaster822]

I think Echo is the best you should go with the SRM 260s

[JFCizek II]

I have used Stihl trimmers in my lawn care . One of my trimmers a Stihl FS81 is 16 years old and still gets about 7 to 10 gal. of fuel put though it every summer. Knock on wood all I have put into this trimmer is : 2 carb kits, 2 clutch kits and one drive shaft , along with normal maintance that I do each spring. I have a FS 85 about 4 years newer with just as good record . Two years ago I switched to Honda trimmers . I bought 2 of Hondas top of the line trimmers and put about 15 gal. of fuel though each one. I love he quiet of the 4 stroke and a lot less vibration . So what about Honda trimmers and I will also add Jonserad trimmers. I mow only part time with 15 lawns at this time but when I was at full bore I had 50 customers . Most of my lawns that I mow now are 1.5 to 3 acre.

[swim]

I like the Shindaiwas the best. Mine have given me many years of dependable service with no complaints.

As others have said dealer support is very important though before you make your final decision.

[primecutmo]

I love my echo. I have had a GT-2400 for 8 yrs now and the only thing that i have done is replace the spark plug and clean out the spark arrestor screen. I like the curved shaft over the straight shaft because i am so tall and tend to scalp with a straight shaft. This one is also very light weight. I have never had power problems with the echo on normal trimming work. I have a straight shaft for brush cutting and very heavy grass.