I have always used Echo trimmers never been disappointed and put them through hell.

Now Shindaiwa should be excellent to it is Japanese and great quality.

 

I have always used Echo trimmers never been disappointed and put them through hell.

Now Shindaiwa should be excellent to it is Japanese and great quality.

What model do yo like best? 225 or 230? Thanks!!!!
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Not had a old one to tear up yet and force me into buying a new one, I been debating on switching to Sthil but Echo's are hardcore I had two SRM 210's 1-straight 1-curved just sold the curved and still using the straight with a new head on it from the PAS lower attachment.

Took over 8 years to burn the bearings out in head then just the other day the original starter rope broke, just went and bought a new starter recoil assembly. All I have ever had to do besides plugs and cleaning.

I had a thread about transitioning to Sthil lots of good replies but still unsure, staying with Echo have to make a hour trip now since I am done with old gravely dealer that carries them here. But if needed could always keep backup parts on hand.

 

But if I do stay with Echo I will be buying a dedi 225 later on when the 210 goes down if it ever does lol and a 266 or 280 PAS head and attachments.

Either of them should work great just depends on if you want a little more power or stay lighter weight.

 

But if I do stay with Echo I will be buying a dedi 225 later on when the 210 goes down if it ever does lol and a 266 or 280 PAS head and attachments.

Either of them should work great just depends on if you want a little more power or stay lighter weight.

Awesome! I've kinda been leanin toward the 225, and I think u have made my decision more clear! U da man!
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Echo bought out shindawia a few years back. Both are good brands, however shindawia will never be the company it once was before echo bought the company for the sake of their 4cycle technology.
easy-lift guy

 

I use Echo, I like them a little better than Stihl but I would use either. As much as Southern is going to hate me for this my dealer is about .8 miles exactly from my home, they offer both brands.

 

i have an srm225 and t242 . there is no comparison. 242 is way more powerful. but prices are different also. 242 might be like 299,got mine for 250 when they did promo deal for 20 percent off. have had 225 for 2 and half yrs now needs carb work but is a good trimmer, especially bang for your buck. they are 199

 

I like echo and shindaiwa products. I am very disappointed with both of my echo PB-250LN blowers, but have been extremely pleased with my echo PB-755ST backpack (which I may add that I like more than my shindy eb802rt. )
I just recently purchased a Shindy t242 and I love it. I wanted the 254, but they didn't have one in stock and I needed something as both of my frontline trimmers were down and my backup was having issues.
I like the shindy way more than my echo 230. I like the shindy more than my RedMax bcz2460t, although I think the RedMax has the shindy on power. All in all, the shindy t242 is the best trimmer I have purchased.
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I had an Echo SRM 230, I took to hell and back. I burnt out the clutch on it. Now I have a SRM 225. I personally can't tell much of a difference in the 225 and 230 power wise. The 230 was much more balanced and lighter both and all around felt better. It sounds like you aren't looking for raw power, if your looking for a weekly lawn trimmer, my next purchase is going to be the Husky 223L. About the same price as the Echo's and only weights in at 9 lbs. I believe it's one of the lightest on the market.

 

I own a T242. The only real gripe I have had with it was the massive amount of heat coming off the cat/muffler. It would get the plastic shrouds on the engine so hot it'd burn your arm after extended use. My RedMax has no cat(just a muffler). After gutting the cat the machine is 100% more comfortable to run and re-starts when hot are one pull at that's it. I think Yamabika needs to ditch the older 2-stroke design that has to have a cat to pass EPA and invest in stratified 2-stroke designs that don't need exhaust after-treatment. I bought the T242 because my local dealer was having a blowout sale on them at the time. It was about $75 cheaper than a comparable RedMax at the time. Given the prices between the two were nearly the same I'd take the RedfMax everytime.

 

Echo and Shindaiwa merged under the Yamabiko Corporation. It is a common misconception that Echo bought Shindaiwa.

Yes, Shindaiwa's ground breaking emissions technology was the reason...

However...... And here is the tricky part.... Not all of Shindaiwa's products have gone downhill in quality.

I do agree that Shindaiwa is not what it used to be, however they still make exceptional hand held equipment.

I have tried to get to the bottom of exactly what units are still being made solely by Shindaiwa and what is being made congruent to Echo and answers are very difficult to get... Even from dealers "in the know."

I do run run all Shindaiwa handhelds and I love them as much as I did in the mid to late 90's...

Well, almost as much...

P.S Go with Shindaiwa..... If anything, the name is cooler that Echo...

 

I love Shindaiwa. However, Shindaiwa is making me sick lately since this merger. Look at their website and their new slogan, "Yard work made easy." What??? What happened to "First to start, last to quit." It just isn't the same as it used to be, but nothing really is anymore. Redmax is good, but it isn't the same either. The 242, 282, the 802 backpack and the 4 stroke hybrids are all Shindaiwa makes in the US anymore. The rest is red Echo crap. Shindaiwa's focus is on the rest of the world now where emissions aren't a problem. If you could get your hands on a T230, or T260, or T270 you would be set for unlimited hours of use and abuse.

My thoughts always used to be that Shindaiwa, Redmax, and Maruyama were the top of the line and Echo, Husky, and Stihl were a step below. But, things have changed so much due to mergers and emissions that it is all equally nowhere near 1990s level.

 

I love Shindaiwa. However, Shindaiwa is making me sick lately since this merger. Look at their website and their new slogan, "Yard work made easy." What??? What happened to "First to start, last to quit." It just isn't the same as it used to be, but nothing really is anymore. Redmax is good, but it isn't the same either. The 242, 282, the 802 backpack and the 4 stroke hybrids are all Shindaiwa makes in the US anymore. The rest is red Echo crap. Shindaiwa's focus is on the rest of the world now where emissions aren't a problem. If you could get your hands on a T230, or T260, or T270 you would be set for unlimited hours of use and abuse.

My thoughts always used to be that Shindaiwa, Redmax, and Maruyama were the top of the line and Echo, Husky, and Stihl were a step below. But, things have changed so much due to mergers and emissions that it is all equally nowhere near 1990s level.

The Yamabiko engines are still made in Japan as well as many of the components for the T242. All the components are shipped to the states for final assembly. I cannot speak for Echo since I don't use any of their stuff. The older Shindy trimmers were tanks and they weighed as much too. The constant cry you hear today in the USA is for lighter and lighter handhelds. Most of us are so fat and out of shape that a 13lb trimmer is now too heavy. Manufacturers have had to shave weight from every component on them to get them down to around 11lbs. The USA market sucks for a lot of manufacturers today. We've allowed our country to be held hostage by the EPA. Many other countries are now a much more lucrative market with far less crap to deal with. We are following the UK right down the toilet.

 

To answer the OP if it were me I would buy an M254 power head. You can buy the trimmer at vminovations for fifty bucks. This way you can add whatever you want. Trimmers, pole saw, whatever. I have had at least 5 of these things and love them.

 

I have four Shindaiwa 4-strokes and they have been reliable so far. The problem is their power curve suits blowers very well, but the trimmer feels out of control.

 

I run only Stihl . In my opinion the FS 94 r is the best trimmer but that’s just my thought.

 

I run only Stihl . In my opinion the FS 94 r is the best trimmer but that's just my thought.

First post and your bumping a thread from 6 years ago....agh

 

Didn't read every post, but I'd take any original Shindy I could get my hands on. I have a T242 that I haven't replaced a single part on. It's been used commercially and is 11 years old. Still on the truck. I finally replaced the spark plug and fuel filter at the beginning of this season. First time ever. Incredible trimmer. Basically used as a back up now. Plenty of power for all maintenance jobs, trust me.