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Echo U-Turn trimmer head = JUNK

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naturescape

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Just bought the Echo U Turn head today. I hate it. If I use a narrow diameter line, it won't "grab" inside the head to wind it, and if I use .095 it is hard to turn the spool to load it.

I would think the Shindaiwa Speedfeed head is just as worthless.

I've come to the conclusion these heads are made for people that can't spool their line. I can spool an older Echo head in a minute or two, tops. And if there is a problem inside the head or with the line, it's easy to fix on the job with the older style head.

If anyone wants to buy this UTurn head, send me a pm! I paid 35 bucks for it.
 
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#2 ·
You may want to give the Shindaiwa speed feed a shot...I run the speed feeds and love them...my buddy bought the Echo U-turn and he thought they sucked! I dont think Ive heard of anyone who tried the speed feed head and didnt like it.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
lawnprosteveo said:
You may want to give the Shindaiwa speed feed a shot...I run the speed feeds and love them...my buddy bought the Echo U-turn and he thought they sucked! I dont think Ive heard of anyone who tried the speed feed head and didnt like it.
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Maybe I will (try the Shin head)! But I just spent 35 bucks for this piece of junk! :eek:
 
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Discussion starter · #4 ·
Is it hard to turn the spool on the Speedfeed to load the line? You have to be Hercules to do that with the U-Turn. Ok, I'm exaggerating a tad bit! But still.....
 
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#5 ·
I don't think there is an Echo representative on this site. I wish there was.

ECHO SUCKS

We still use our 5 year old echo trimmers, and wouldn't trade them for new Echo trimmers even if someone put a gun to our head. I don't know what happened at Echo, but we will never, EVER, buy Echo unless it's an older model
(at least 4 years old).

As for the U-Turn POS they've come up with. BOOOO

Everything about this thing makes no sense at all once you actually try to use it. It's actually more time consuming to load, it doesn't always wind both ends evenly,and if the string jams, you are stuck with two small lengths to deal with because you've cut the string after threading the U-Turn.

Anyone with me on this whole Echo thing? What happened?
 
#6 ·
Speed feed is the best head i have used! I dont run guards and whats nice about the speed feed is if your line gets too long you just have to wind it in a little. Very little line waste. Last year i only had to fill the spool twice the entire season!
 
#7 ·
First of all Echo doesn't suck. We have also had no issues with the U-turn head. .095 and .105 all loads fine. Getting used to the turn takes a bit of time, not to mention the head needs to wear in a bit and then its a peice of cake. Much easier then the older styles. when you turn the head, push in a bit. Its much easier. We have been using them for a couple months now, reloaded 4-5 times a day.

Cheers
Jeff
 
#8 ·
Let the head break in (about 1-2 hours of usage). Should loosen up fine. I like my U-Turn head with .095 line.
 
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#11 ·
whoopassonthebluegrass said:
Ummmm, that applies to every head I've ever used.

Wow. What have you got, 2 customers? That's astonishing!
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That does not apply to every head! and i have 63 weekly customers. I dont use walmart line and without a guard to constantly cut the line to length it lasts along time. This site is full of wise as#@$%.
 
#13 ·
I mean, before I even get mowing I cut out two 3-foot sections of line and put them in my pockets. I make my employees do it too....or at least recommend it to them and show them why.

But I run out of string....grab head of trimmer, keep it running, put my line on, pick trimmer back up and I have a head full of line in 30 seconds. Why even bother w/ these "quick" change units??? Just wondering.

Gary
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Stripes for miles said:
As for the U-Turn POS they've come up with. BOOOO

Everything about this thing makes no sense at all once you actually try to use it. It's actually more time consuming to load, it doesn't always wind both ends evenly,and if the string jams, you are stuck with two small lengths to deal with because you've cut the string after threading the U-Turn.

Anyone with me on this whole Echo thing? What happened?
Click to expand...
Yep, it's the WORST single accessory or piece of equipment I've ever bought in my LIFE. The clincher is what you say about what happens if the string jams -- which it did often for me yesterday. And Echo is NOT using a divided spool -- I was SURE it would be!
 
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#16 ·
i wouldn't sell any kind of gimmic heads like this to a commercial customer. Pull the spool and wind it. Only way to go. The u turn heads do loosen up after you use them a couple times. These heads aren't even made by echo, they are made by someone who makes many of the trimmer heads on the market........
 
#17 ·
punt66 said:
That does not apply to every head!
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While I'm not going to argue about the quantity of wisea$$es on this site (b/c I'm certainly one of them) - I didn't say EVERY HEAD. I said every head I'VE EVER USED. Read more carefully, Captain Sensitive.

punt66 said:
and i have 63 weekly customers. I dont use walmart line and without a guard to constantly cut the line to length it lasts along time. This site is full of wise as#@$%.
Click to expand...
That's still mind boggling. Even with my Edge-It I can't make it through more than about 20 lawns...

Are your lawns open areas where you just do the house and a couple trees, or what? Maybe that's the difference. Mine are almost all suburbs. Trim the house, trim the inside of the fence, trim the outside of the fence, trim the landscape curbing, the fire hydrant, half a dozen trees, etc...
 
#18 ·
Stripes for miles said:
I don't think there is an Echo representative on this site. I wish there was.

ECHO SUCKS

We still use our 5 year old echo trimmers, and wouldn't trade them for new Echo trimmers even if someone put a gun to our head. I don't know what happened at Echo, but we will never, EVER, buy Echo unless it's an older model
(at least 4 years old).

As for the U-Turn POS they've come up with. BOOOO

Everything about this thing makes no sense at all once you actually try to use it. It's actually more time consuming to load, it doesn't always wind both ends evenly,and if the string jams, you are stuck with two small lengths to deal with because you've cut the string after threading the U-Turn.

Anyone with me on this whole Echo thing? What happened?
Click to expand...
Echo's quality and product assortment went down when they started selling to Home Depot. They started mass producing the SRM 210, PE-200, etc. to meet the Home Depot demand and as a result, the quality control slipped.

Then, the dealers felt threatened by HD and Echo lost many of it's good dealers, many which became Stihl dealers.

I have Echo's and they are OK but I'm switching to Stihl.

And BTW, I have a rapid loader head and love it. Much better then the U-Turn and all those piece of crap gimmick heads.
 
#19 ·
whoopassonthebluegrass said:
While I'm not going to argue about the quantity of wisea$$es on this site (b/c I'm certainly one of them) - I didn't say EVERY HEAD. I said every head I'VE EVER USED. Read more carefully, Captain Sensitive.

That's still mind boggling. Even with my Edge-It I can't make it through more than about 20 lawns...

Are your lawns open areas where you just do the house and a couple trees, or what? Maybe that's the difference. Mine are almost all suburbs. Trim the house, trim the inside of the fence, trim the outside of the fence, trim the landscape curbing, the fire hydrant, half a dozen trees, etc...
Click to expand...
I live in suburbs as well. With the stock shindiawa head and cheap line and the guard i went throught plenty of line as well. I replaced the head with a speed spool when the stock head blew to pieces all over my customers yard. I removed the guard and bought good line. "Xtreme Titanium" is the line i use.I bought a 40ft spool begining of last season to try it and since then have only reloaded 3 times. Last time was 3 days ago. The speed head combined with that line is astonoshing. I never have to be bothered with spooling. The best part of the head is loading and winding the line in if it gets a bit to long. Just push in on the head and turn. Super easy. Loading takes 2 seconds. Alighn the holes, insert line so equal ends on each sind and turn head to wind it in. I suggest when you run out of line to try the titanium line. Im still not sure why people use edgets. I can edge with out it and still get into tight spaces.
 
#20 ·
I don't know what the hell you guys do to your equipment but I have put a 5 lb spool through a Uturn and not had it jam ONCE. Not to mention I have an SRM 210 running guard less for over 2 years now on an 80 site crew, not one issue. I can't believe it haven't exploded. Whine its junk all you want, try maintaining your equipment :hammerhead:, ull be surprised how long it lasts.
 
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