This is the one for you !!!!!
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| Date Of Review: December 13, 2008 |
| Reviewed by: K. W. Cash, |
If you are in the market for an entry level ( $120 or less ) gas powered string trimmer, the Troy Bilt TB20CS has to be at the top of your list.
After much research, I chose this item over all the rest. My reasoning was as follows :
1). The TB20CS receives the most 4 and 5 star ratings of any entry level trimmer, both here as well as other review web sites.
2). It has a 31 CC engine, as opposed to 25 CC engines found on many of the competitive trimmers. That's 22% more power capacity.
3). It uses .095 trimmer cord, which takes a heavier beating than the thinner cord in some of the competition.
4). This baby has a clutch. Some of the competition does not bother with this, I prefer that my cutting line comes to a stop when I feather the throttle back to idle.
5). I like the split shaft that allows me the option to use other tools.
6). Standard dual line bump head spool provides twice the cutting action as some of the single line competitors.
7). It includes the Speedlock fixed line spool for no added charge.
8). Cost : $99.96 at Lowes. Also $99 at Troy.com, but be careful of shipping charges.
A special note to anyone using 2 cycle engine driven tools :
You will note a lot of folk downgrade these items due to either poor starting or poor running characteristics at speed. I suspect these folks have failed to follow one or more guidelines for use of 2 cycle equipment :
A). Follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure for starting. They are the ones most familiar with their product. ALWAYS hold the throttle open 1/4 of the way when using full and half choke.
B). Never use old gas. That stuff you mixed up last year will cause you big trouble this year. My rule of thumb is to replace gas once it gets to be 3 months old ( with or without a gas stabilizer ).
C). Always mix oil and gas to the manufacturers specification. If it calls for 40:1, do not mix 30:1. That will cause starting as well as running problems.
D). When finished with a session, pour the gas from the trimmer back into the gas can. Start the trimmer and run 'er dry.
I used my TB20CS for an hour today with great results. Never ran engine above 50% throttle cutting grass 18 to 24 inches tall. Had to line feed only three times during the hour after hitting something really BIG in the grass. That .095 cord zipped through some heavy twigs as well as cactus without snapping.
My only negative is that my forearm started to ache after that hour. But then again, the TB20CS is not a light weight. A sling may be in order if I plan on extended use.
GO FOR IT !!!! |
A great replacement for a reliable old friend.....
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| Date Of Review: September 26, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: Busy Engineer, Rochester, Michigan United States |
| When my old trimmer finally wore out after 17 years of perfect service I decided to buy another one just like it rather than repair it. The old brand has changed and this is as close as I could get to my "old friend." I could not be happier! It is very similar to my old one but starts even easier. All of my old attachements fit it and work perfectly. I am very happy with this trimmer and would recommend it to everyone. |
Good Trimmer
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| Date Of Review: December 29, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: D. Villanueva, Pearl City, HI United States |
| I've had this trimmer for about a 18 mos. now and have just purchased the edger attachment. I did so thinking that maybe the trimmer might die on me after a year. Because of the reliability I decided to plunk down the $70 dollars for the edger attachment and am even twice as pleased! My El Toro lawn had about 5 years of edge growth. The trimmer had sort of a tough time initially but that was understandable. The lawn looks great now and I'd recommend this trimmer to anyone looking for value and convenience. I'd definitely purchase again! |
It was on sale for $60, so I bought 2! So far, so good.
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| Date Of Review: November 30, 2007 |
| Reviewed by: P. K. Pall, "Hill Country", central Texas |
We are clearing 10 acres in Texas. My wife, 2 sons and me.
We bought 2 and so far so good. Heavy use every day. You clean the air filter at 10 hours. So we can have 1 down for maintenance and the other in operation. I haven't found any replacement air filters yet. A circular spongey looking thing....if parts not available maybe it should be a 4 star. But she seems to chop the grass A-OK. I have replaced the orange cutter cord twice. At $60 each, I mean that is a very good deal! |
Good Basic Grass Trimmer
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| Date Of Review: August 12, 2009 |
| Reviewed by: David A. Coyle, Houston |
| I have had this item for about a month and it performs very well for my typical home use. It has enough power to trim grass easily and even takes down some pretty stout bushy weeds. The spring assist starting works great; I had a McCullough trimmer that I had to wear gloves to start, and the Troy-Bilt starts right up if you just follow the directions. You are supposed to pump the fuel button and then give it 5 pulls with the choke closed and the throttle trigger squeezed. Then open the choke a notch and pull again with the trigger squeezed. When I do this it starts the first time, even with the old gas from the other defunct trimmer (the McCullough developed a bad magneto). The unit is light weight but I would recommend getting a strap if you have a big yard. I would recommend this for anyone who plans to trim once a week. For commercial use it does not feel quite as strong as I would like it, but for home use I expect it to last for many years. You just have to remember to follow the right procedures for putting it up during the winter to keep it running reliably. Before putting it up empty the fuel tank and run it until it stops to prevent build-up of gum during long storage. I also use fuel stabilizer in the fuel in addition to the oil additive. These steps do a lot to make a two-cycle engine behave well. |
Great buy. It's a no brainer.
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| Date Of Review: July 18, 2008 |
| Reviewed by: M. Reinauer, Fort Worth, TX |
| After my 7+ year old ryobi gave up the ghost this summer I started my internet research to find it's replacement (RIP). I wanted a cheap reliable machine that could handle the job. This fits the bill. Like my ryobi it starts on the third start without exception, every time. I bought mine at lowes.com (model is 16810 at lowes). I've had it for a couple of months now and it's great! For the price, it's a no brainer. I love it! |
I LOVE IT!
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| Date Of Review: July 6, 2009 |
| Reviewed by: E. O'BRIEN, Clark, NJ |
| After two weeks of reading reviews, talking to friends, checking consumer reports, and comparing many different units, I finally decided on the Troy-bilt TB20CS. I bought it from Lowes for $98.99. When I got home, I put it together. Took about 10 minutes. I put gas into it and read the fairly easy starting instructions. It started right up. I took it behind the fence in my back yard and started chopping away. It works like a dream. Ten times better on the 3 foot high weeds, than my old electric trimmer. It's a little heavier than my electric, but not too bad. Great power, good balance. It's so well balanced, that sometimes I let go with my left hand and just held it with one hand. I told my wife I should have bought one of these ten years ago. All I can say is "I love it!" |
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The Troy-Bilt TB20CS Curved-Shaft Gas String Trimmer makes yard work a breeze thanks to its curved design and powerful engine. Featuring an adjustable D-handle for right- or left-handed use, this trimmer is compatible with all Trimmer Plus attachments, giving you additional edging and trimming options for creating and maintaining an attractive, well-manicured lawn.  | The Troy-Bilt TB20CS Gas String Trimmer At a Glance:- Powerful 31cc, 2-cycle engine
- 17-inch cutting swath
- Spring Assist feature for easy engine start-up
- Lightweight, curved shaft
- EZ Link coupler accepts trimmer attachments
- 2-year limited warranty
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 Curved design facilitates trimming in hard-to-reach areas. | 
| Powerful and Versatile With an easy-to-use curved shaft and an EZ Link system that accepts trimmer attachments (sold separately), the TB20CS leaves your yard looking its best. It provides a 17-inch cutting swath and powers through tall grass, bushy weeds, and twigs with its dual 0.095-inch line.For optimum versatility and durability, the TB20CS comes equipped with both a standard bump head knob and a Speed Lock fixed line trimmer head. To ensure uninterrupted performance, the bump head line releases quickly to smoothly advance the trimmer line. Incredibly Easy to Use The TB20CS is incredibly easy to use. Thanks to the Spring Assist feature and a powerful 31cc, two-cycle engine with performance-tuned ignition, the TB20CS starts quickly with just a slow and steady pull--no extra effort required. For added convenience, the TB20CS comes with oil, so you can get started right away. And if you're a trimming novice, you'll appreciate the clear, step-by-step setup and operating instructions included with the tool. The TB20CS is backed by a limited two-year warranty. About Troy-Bilt: Products Built for the Long Haul Troy-Bilt knows that when it comes to yard care and maintenance, you shouldn't cut corners, and you should always use the right tool for the job. That's why for over 60 years, Troy-Bilt has made top-quality tillers, mowers, tractors, and yard tools that are built to last, for a lifetime of lawn and garden care. What's in the Box Trimmer; standard bump head knob; SpeedLock fixed line trimmer head; oil; and manual.
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