Electric start petrol strimmer 21 July 2020 at 7:40PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 12 replies 153 views

soupdragon10

I need to use a petrol strimmer (my poor battery one can't cope) but I am unable to use a normal line start as I have shoulder problems. Is there such a thing as a petrol strimmer with an electric start? I need something that doesn't need a lot of physical effort to start it (can use one perfectly well once it's started thankfully).

Davesnave

No idea, but my 35cc Honda has a 4 stroke engine and is very easy to pull start. Also it's more reliable after a winter lay-off than some 2 strokes. It's been going for 11 years now and the only thing that has ever stopped it is Tesco petrol!

Suggest you get a demo at your local dealer. Some will match internet prices.

shinytop

I think you night struggle to find one.  I know what you mean about starting, although my 2 stroke is fully serviced, etc, sometimes it's first pull and sometimes it's 5 or 10.  

Have you considered a different cordless strimmer?  Not a 50 quid black and decker but a more expensive semi professional one?  That's what I'll be getting when mine gives up.  I have a cordless chainsaw and it's brilliant in terms of power and duration.

Davesnave

shinytop said:

 I have a cordless chainsaw and it's brilliant in terms of power and duration.

So do I, but it has a specially designed chain and relies on sharpness rather than brute power. Will take trees as thick as the bar down, but it's happiest on 6" - 9" ones. I'd be really interested to hear from anyone who has a 'proper' battery brush-cutter (not strimmer.)

soupdragon10

shinytop said:

I think you night struggle to find one.  I know what you mean about starting, although my 2 stroke is fully serviced, etc, sometimes it's first pull and sometimes it's 5 or 10.  

Have you considered a different cordless strimmer?  Not a 50 quid black and decker but a more expensive semi professional one?  That's what I'll be getting when mine gives up.  I have a cordless chainsaw and it's brilliant in terms of power and duration.

Could you let me have details of your cordless chainsaw please. Didn't realise such a thing existed.

ElephantBoy57

soupdragon10 said:

Could you let me have details of your cordless chainsaw please. Didn't realise such a thing existed.

https://shop.stihl.co.uk/collections/cordless-chainsaws/products/msa-120-compact-cordless-chainsaw

A little more expensive than a corded chainsaw.

shinytop

soupdragon10 said:

shinytop said:

I think you night struggle to find one.  I know what you mean about starting, although my 2 stroke is fully serviced, etc, sometimes it's first pull and sometimes it's 5 or 10.  

Have you considered a different cordless strimmer?  Not a 50 quid black and decker but a more expensive semi professional one?  That's what I'll be getting when mine gives up.  I have a cordless chainsaw and it's brilliant in terms of power and duration.

Could you let me have details of your cordless chainsaw please. Didn't realise such a thing existed.

https://www.direct-powertools.co.uk/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=23266477&AccID=103701&PGFLngID=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwsO%5F4BRBBEiwAyagRTe5F5ULhgR027DTMP4%5Flm9ML033BwZt%5F3v1wsijejNvbkzqfKIXM9xoCtVQQAvD%5FBwE

that's the one I got, others are available ...
That doesn't include battery and charger so not cheap.

dogmaryxx

Better to buy Sthil chainsaw promo pack from gardenmachinerydirect. as you get 2 batteries and charger for 

£259.00

.I bought one last week and it's a great tool to use and simple to clean after use.

Davesnave

dogmaryxx said:

Better to buy Sthil chainsaw promo pack from gardenmachinerydirect. as you get 2 batteries and charger for 

£259.00

.I bought one last week and it's a great tool to use and simple to clean after use.

That's the cheaper version of my MSA200, which is roughly double the price. If it does the job and there aren't too many jobs, then that looks like a good deal.

My pro version has taken down trees as thick as the 14" guide bar, though it's best suited to trunks from 150 - 280mm. Neat, safe and controllable, I use it for all the hedge laying now and leave the billhook in the barn!

dogmaryxx

Davesnave
Very pleased with mine for what it's needed for.  Asked a Sthil dealer price for sharpenng  16p per link off saw which for me  would be £12 plus 30 mile round trip.  New chain is only £15 delivered from https://www.chainsdirect.co.uk/stihl-1-4-x-043-1-1mm.html which is best price I've found. Yours is £16.90 
May get Sthil 2in1 sharpener but it is expensive for my usage  .

Davesnave

I have the 2in1 sharpener, which is blooming expensive for what it is, but I also use the little files freehand for light tweaking and they're only about £1.20 in Mole Valley. Just be careful if you buy those loose; a nice child/person had mixed them all up in my store!