I've only used Echo.

Echo SRM225 has all the power you will need, and is lighter weight than the SRM266. So unless you have some very over grown areas, I'd get the SRM225.

The SRM266 might be a little easier to get the very overgrown areas with, but if you do regular lawn maintenance you will only get that benefit once. Then, you'll constantly have to carry around a heavier string trimmer.

Both echo trimmers will last a long long long time!

 

Echos grip handles on their trimmers feel very comfortable.
The engine runs pretty smooth,
I have seen someone with a trimmer and blower that was old still running in decent shape.
When I mean old I mean when echo had the gray engine covers.
I have know idea why redmax is the top CEB (commercial)(equipment)(brand)

 

I've used redmax for years... I most likely won't buy another one.. as I bought new ones over the years, I get fewer & fewer years/months(in some cases), out of them, blowers included.. I bought a stihl f70 this spring, it seems ok, good power, little heavier.. but is a gas hog... I'm not sold on it... I like echo, all my hedge trimmers are echos.. but... my same red max dealer is the echo dealer and they can't seem to fix anything, I'm tired of taking things back 2 & 3 times and they are still not fixed! But that's another thread!

 

Look at the echo 2620. It has the power of the 266 and is only .3lbs heavier than .a 225. It'll be my next trimmer.

 

shindaiwa t242 for me, always starts, one tank of fuel will wear me out, was advised by a guy making a living at it and 6 years later I belive him and there speed feed head is the BEST... I'd buy another in a second if this ever dies !!!

 

I usually hate "new products" and updates...used the standard redmax head for years.
The speedfeed heads on my shindaiwas are genius!

 

We use the Echo SRM-225, just bought a second one at the beginning of this season. The first one is four years old, was used as our primary trimmer for commercial work, about 18 lawns a day. I still use the old one, we just bought the new one because our old backup trimmer was getting pretty rough. It's very light-weight but has the power to keep a quick pace with normal trimming. If you let your weeds get out of hand, you may want something more powerful to avoid having to slow down, but I doubt you'll outpace the SRM-225 if you're not a pro. We use them because I mow with my fiancee full time and didn't want her having back issues from a big manly trimmer. It grew on me and I don't see the point of carrying any more weight. No complaints at all with any Echo equipment I've used.

 

I have had experience with Echo srm225, the Red Max trz230s, and the Sthil Fs70R

I currently run 2 of the Echo units at 199.99 they're hard to beat. I've ran them for 2 years with minimal maintenance. Good weight and they feel balanced to me.

The Redmax I had one for years until it bit the dust. It was my favorite the weight and how balanced it felt was hard to beat. The price kept me from buying another, I felt the Echo had many of the same features for comfort and ease of use at a much lower cost.

The sthil fs70r was a nice unit it was stolen off my trailer only a few months after buying it. I felt it was the most heavy duty of the 3 I've listed. It would knock down some pretty heavy growth and not phase it much.

In the end it's all personal preference and what feels comfortable to you. I mow 40 places a week and take on other landscape jobs and the Echo is always ready to go and has never let me down.

 

Thanks for the info guys.
I bought the Echo 225 on Saturday from Home Depot, but still haven't fired it up.

While I was out I also bought a new carb for my FS90, but that didn't solve its problem of running fine for the first 3-5 minutes then it would start to act fuel-starved. I thought the original 2006 carb was just gummed up or sucking air, nope.
I tore it completely down for inspection before fully committing to the new Echo - all looked fine - so I put it back together resealing it everywhere.. now it runs just fine. Go figure..
It must have been warming up and sucking/leaking air from somewhere, leaning out or failing to pump the carb like it should, I dunno.

Then I replaced all the fuel lines on my 18 year old FS55 and pulled the muffler off to look at the piston.. still looks new with the radial machine marks on the side and zero scoring, but the rest of the trimmer is getting a little rough, it has countless hours of very hard use, including saw blade brush hacking.
If they still made this exact same trimmer I'd buy two again in a second, and sell the rest.

So whats the deal with carb adjustments on the Echo?
It seems to be the same rotary carb they've used for decades, no?
Is the high-speed needle on top of the rotating barrel (like a bike)?
Where is the low-speed adjustment?

I'm about fed up with fuel/carb issues.. I'm actually thinking about (gulp) buying the premix stuff in the pricey cans to avoid ethanol. At least for use in my smallest motors, and for last-tank-of-the-year in everything.

 

I never have any fuel problems since switching to Amsoil Saber @ 80:1. No fouled plugs, no carboned up exhaust screens, no start issues. I mix it with 93 octane normal pump gas. Saber has stabilizer in it as well.

 

Surely there's ethanol-free fuel available in St Louis???
https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=MO - scroll down to your locale.

 

That echo runs on regular gas just user red armour oil ....never ever had any problem with regular gas

 

What octane is recommended in the owner's manual?

 

Look at the echo 2620. It has the power of the 266 and is only .3lbs heavier than .a 225. It'll be my next trimmer.

Ooof.. I missed this post, and its a great evaluation/comparison.
Riddle me this tho.. it appears to be a lighter weight 226 (same 24.5cc motor?) but I can't figure out where/how it shaves off a full pound from the 226?
Can it simply be the magnesium motor? And that begs the next question; Is magnesium as good, or better, than the standard aluminum used in the 226?

I passed on the 226 because of its extra weight and price compared to the 225, but if the more powerful commercially durable 2620 is $330 and its the same weight as the 225 I might give it a very hard look.

For weekly trimming the 2620 will have a very easy life, but still be capable of deep brush hacking, all while being nearly the same weight as a 225... that seems to be the best of both worlds - weight vs power - as well as perhaps having better engine internals a head gear box.

 

I think a 225 will suit you fine. I asked my dealer how the 2620 shaved weight as well he said it was a redesign of the drive shaft system. I don't know any specifics.

 

I bought the maruama bt23l and it great so far. very light but plenty powerfull and very well made.

 

That's good to hear!

Are you going to post a review of the Maruyama BT23L in the trimmer comparison thread you started a month or two ago?

 

I returned the 225 to Home Depot ($199) and bought a 2620 from a local tractor/farm equipment dealer ($319).
It's very light with loads of punch, its still breaking-in and I expect it to smooth out over time, but it already holds a nice steady 25% low throttle lawn trimming rpm despite running a bit rich on the high and low ends.
The bigger engine should have a fairly easy life, but still be able to handle occasional thick stuff and a brush blade when needed.

From what I read the 2620 had issues at first with vibration coming from its solid shaft. I think they went back to their standard 4-layer cable and that solved the problem. Mine is very smooth, the only burbles/vibrations come from the slightly rich-running motor.

How do I adjust the 2620's carb anyway? Is it even possible?

 

I returned the 225 to Home Depot ($199) and bought a 2620 from a local tractor/farm equipment dealer ($319).
It's very light with loads of punch, its still breaking-in and I expect it to smooth out over time, but it already holds a nice steady 25% low throttle lawn trimming rpm despite running a bit rich on the high and low ends.
The bigger engine should have a fairly easy life, but still be able to handle occasional thick stuff and a brush blade when needed.

From what I read the 2620 had issues at first with vibration coming from its solid shaft. I think they went back to their standard 4-layer cable and that solved the problem. Mine is very smooth, the only burbles/vibrations come from the slightly rich-running motor.

How do I adjust the 2620's carb anyway? Is it even possible?

Congratulations on the 2620:weightlifter:
The carbs have limited adjustment limiters

 

It took a pair of cheater glasses, but I finally see the 2620's carb adjusts using a "small-D" screwdriver.

Everyone, thanks for all the input.

 

If you have a Shindaiwa dealer in your area check out the new T-262.....it's much like the Echo SRM-2620 but slightly lighter, better balanced with a solid steel drive shaft all for $329.99

 

I would vote the Echo/Shin 2620/262 myself. I like the way both feel in your hands and I feel I can really go to town and the power is all there! I like it much better than the fs91r. They start easy/same every time which is a plus. I have a 2620T which I like in the thick stuff and a 3020 standard and it turns the 20" cutting swath with ease.

 

I purchased a 94R for my light weight trimmer. I run it throttled down most of the time on the cruise control.

Old FS110 w/handle bars and a KM130 Kombi for the HD work.

 

Well i have redmax bcz3060TS and echo 2620T, they all good, I got rid of all my 4 mix/4 stroke hybrid, and they not around my house or trailer toolbox anymore and can’t stand them high maintenance stuff. Still have stihl but just 5 years old fs70 2 stroke with Kombi system conversion That it. Not buying anymore stihl products. Reliability is key..

 

some one else has seen the light