Rating of the best gasoline trimmers in 2020
Gasoline grass trimmer is often purchased for mowing grass on plots with an area of more than 10 acres and in cases where there is no possibility to connect the tool to the mains. Trimmers with a combustion engine usually have a fairly powerful engine and high performance. That is, it is possible to mow with their help faster than with the help of electric. In addition, models with a gasoline engine do not tend to overheat quickly and are better able to cope with large amounts of work.
Advantages of petrol trimmers
Good for working on areas of 10 to 20 acres
Trimmers effectively mow weeds, thick-stemmed perennial grass, and even bushes
Can work for long periods without interruption
models than with electric trimmers
There are also disadvantages to chainsaws. They cost more, weigh more, are noisy, and require careful handling and maintenance. However, if you often need to mow thick grass or work long hours away from home, appliances with a combustion engine are the best choice.
Petrol models from leading manufacturers come with 600 to 2500 watts motors. powerful engines are sometimes equipped with inexpensive equipment from companies that export their products from China. The performance bonus of such machines is not much, and the vibration level rises considerably. Width of mowing with a fishing line in different models is from 37 to 45 centimeters, when working with a knife. 25-26 cm.
The device of the gasoline trimmer for grass
The basis of the gasoline grass trimmer is a boom, on which the cutting unit, the engine and the control elements of the tool are located. Special belts distribute the load on the operator during operation.
Engine
Gasoline grass trimmers are most often equipped with two-stroke motors, but there are also models with a four-stroke engine.
Every internal combustion engine has a duty cycle, a series of processes that result in a portion of force acting on the crankshaft. The operating cycle is:
expansion of the gases and their escape from the cylinder
A stroke is the movement of the piston in one direction (up or down). If the engine completes a work cycle in two strokes (one revolution of the shaft), it is called a two-stroke, if in four. four-stroke. Fuel motors can run on gasoline or diesel fuel, but garden trimmers use only gasoline motors.
Two-stroke engines are relatively simple, weigh less and are not afraid of low temperatures. They are cheaper than four-strokes, which is why they are popular. At the same time, two-stroke engines are noisier and produce more harmful emissions, so they are almost unusable for greenhouses and hothouses.
For two-stroke engines, you need to make a special fuel mixture of gasoline and 2T motor oil. Usually the manuals recommend to use gasoline with octane number more than 89, but the best option is a fresh unleaded AI-92. Gasoline with a higher octane number (95 and 98) contains additives that can have a destructive effect on the engine piston system, leading to overheating and malfunction.
Each manufacturer has its own recommendations for what proportions to create a fuel mixture and what components to use. Normal automotive oil is not suitable in this case, since it is created for water-cooled engines. 2T oil is suitable for air-cooled engines. Some major brands also produce special oils for their own engines.
Four-stroke engines are used less often in gasoline trimmers, because they are heavier and more expensive than two-stroke engines. but it is quieter, more economical and produces fewer harmful exhaust emissions. For a four-stroke motor there is no need to prepare a fuel mixture, because the mechanism runs on pure gasoline. oil is also used, but it is not mixed with fuel, filled into a separate container, does not burn, and serves only for the correct operation of the engine.
Cutting Equipment
Petrol-driven trimmers use cutting line (filament) or cutting blades and discs.
A filament reel can be installed on any grass trimmer. You can always find the recommended filament diameter in the instruction manual. The cord makes it easy to mow grass near trees, fences, walls. A line for a trimmer is good for dealing with dense grass that doesn’t have thick stems.
Cord feeding system can be semi-automatic or automatic. Semi-automatic is more common: there is a button on the bottom of the spool, pressing which adjusts the length of the protruding line ends. The automatic system is supposed to feed every time the motor is turned on.
Almost all gasoline grass trimmers are equipped with blades and cutting discs. The only exception are some models with low power (up to 700 watts).
Blades can be metal or plastic. A knife is good for mowing reeds, burdocks, thorny grass with thick stems, and for trimming bushes, but it is not a universal tool. Do not use the blade where there is debris or where it can catch stones or metal parts hidden in the grass. This greatly increases the chance of damaging the gearbox. Mowing in hard-to-reach places near trees, fences, walls and greenhouses is much easier and safer with a line.
Boom
The boom can be straight or curved, has a collapsible or monolithic design. Telescopic arms are not used in chain saws.
grass trimmers with a curved boom are a bit more convenient to handle, but the rotation from the engine to the gearbox in them is transmitted by a flexible cable. This system is not well suited for high loads and is not very durable. Straight boom models, where the torque is transmitted by a rigid transmission shaft, are better suited for intensive use.
Grass trimmers with a collapsible shaft are easier to store and transport in the car, but this design is less common because it does not always guarantee a high safety margin. Models with a monolithic boom better withstand high loads and are more durable.
Gearbox
Gearbox is a module consisting of two bevel gears that ensure the transfer of rotation from the engine to the cutting attachment. Gear wheels require periodic lubrication. Moving parts fail much faster if not lubricated. The lubrication hole is located above the rotary nozzle assembly.
Shroud
Grass trimmer cutting attachments are always protected by the blade guard. The sheath protects the operator by preventing debris and small rocks from flying to and fro. The guard usually has a cutter. a sharp knife that removes the excess length of fishing line.
Belts
Since gasoline grass trimmers rarely weigh less than 4 pounds, special straps with fasteners and clasps help distribute the load. The belts can be shoulder or backpack type. The shoulder straps distribute the load more efficiently and are considered the preferred option.
Gasoline grass trimmer. which one is better to choose?
What to pay attention to when choosing a gasoline trimmer for grass? The decision will depend on the tasks facing you:
All brushcutters are divided by engine type into two-stroke and four-stroke.
The first ones are unpretentious and simply arranged, but require the preparation of a special fuel mixture, have a high noise level and produce a large amount of exhaust gases. Of these models, the most popular are Husqvarna 323 R, Ryobi RBC31SESO, Patriot PT 3055, Partner Colibri II S.
The latter are difficult to maintain but do not require mixing, have lower noise level, economical fuel consumption and low wear and tear of the engine internals. Makita EBH341U, Patriot PT 3155 T, Caiman VSP255S-EH025 are among them. Two-stroke engines are more common, so it makes sense to stop your choice on them, especially if you consider that the type of motor does not affect the performance of the tool.
The next thing to pay attention to is the shape of the boom.
Straight boom is characteristic of professional models with high power, with the ability to withstand heavy loads. This is due to the use of a steel shaft for transmitting torque from the engine to the cutting equipment. Al-ko FRS 4125, Ryobi RBC31SESO, Hitachi CG 40 EY, for example, have it. T (CG40EY-T), Kalibr BK-1900.
A steel cable runs in the bent boom instead of the shaft. Such a device is typically used for household and some semi-professional mowers. They are not required to be particularly reliable and resistant to overload, and the intensity of use of such models is not too great. Among such trimmers are especially successful STIHL FS 45, Interskol MKB-43/33, Elitech T 1000 RK.
Next, it makes sense to assess the characteristics of the tool, namely its power.
This will directly determine the performance of the brushcutter, its ability to work with a certain type of equipment, the ability to mow a variety of grass, weeds or even bushes.
In our store you can always buy models with fantastic power: STIHL FS 550 K, Echo SRM-4605, Husqvarna 343 F. These machines can cut even small undergrowth and be used for clearing wild vegetation in the woods. Their price is high, but what they offer in exchange is worth it. This is the choice of real professionals.
The more modest the amount required to perform the work and the softer the vegetation on the site, the less power you need a trimmer for the grass and, accordingly, it will be cheaper.
As for the cost, then here, as always, very much depends on the brand.
But there are quite well-known brands that offer excellent quality products at a very affordable price. For example, Husqvarna 128 L, Ryobi RBC430SBD, Elitech T 1250 V, Champion T284.
Fuel tank capacity is another important feature to consider in evaluating which model.
It depends on its size, the amount of time you can work without interruption. Let’s say you have to prepare a petrol-oil mixture three times a day or all six. As you can imagine, the difference in the time spent is quite significant. Here the most optimal are the ones with a capacity of about 1 liter, such as Hitachi CG40EYA (TP). This and the total weight is not so much increased, and gives a fairly long working time between refills.
But there are models with a very small tank. They are usually of the domestic class, or designed for a small amount of work with a substantial load. For example, the STIHL FS 450, Partner BC 433B would be great for clearing a small clearing of undergrowth.
Next, we look at the cutting equipment available for use.
Usually, if we buy a lawnmower with high power and high output, we expect that such a tool will be able to mow almost everything. So it is worth to pay attention to the availability of steel blades and discs in a particular model. After all, it is this equipment is, as they say, “the main striking force”, allowing you to chop trimmer small bushes and easily deal with the thickest thickets of tall grass. It also makes it possible to quickly make hay or simply clear vast areas of vegetation.
So it is desirable that the tool you choose can work both with a fishing line and a metal or plastic blade. Examples of such models are Patriot T 535 Pro, Husqvarna 327 RX.
The next step is to choose the handle.
Since you usually have to work for quite a long time with a brushcutter, these handles need to be as comfortable as possible and have a good grip on your hands.
The T-handle is the best. It mimics the movement of a normal, non-motorized grasshopper when working over large areas, so you can hold and guide it with two hands as closely as possible. Patriot PT 3355, Echo SRM-22GES, Kalibr BK-1400 have such a handle.
You might also find a J or D handle. They are more typical for semi-professional and amateur models, such as Elitech T 1000 RK, Husqvarna 128 RJ, Kalibr BK-1900.
Special mention should be made of unusual petrol grass trimmers for professional work. backpack grass trimmers. Their peculiarity is that the engine is located separately from the boom in a special bag, which is attached to the shoulders of the employee. It communicates with the cutting tool via a flexible shaft. Examples of these models are the STIHL FR 450, the Patriot T 552 Pro Plus.
So when you’re choosing a tool, it’s important to be clear about what you need it for. Then you will not have to complain that the trimmer for grass does not have enough power, or, conversely, that it lies idle and does not work out the money invested in it.
Good power. it can cope with almost any thicket. Easy to start, requires very little fuel
Very long bar. to work with trimmer will be convenient only for a man under two meters tall. Noise. only work with earphones or earplugs. One filling is enough for clearing just a small area. The nylon fishing line reel itself wears out quickly