Originally Posted By: JTK
I had a TroyBilt 4-stroke string trimmer from Lowes about 5yrs ago. I hated it. The engine was OK, but I couldn't stand the direct-drive (no clutch) design, the pre-cut string head and the fact that if you don't store it just right, your next restart will be a smokey, oily mess.
I had one too. It had a clutch but the storage issue was a pain. Also if you didn't store it just right you could also leak oil on your floor as it would vne t through the breather into the bottom of the air cleaner. Also if you trimmed upside down or at an odd angle it would choke on oil and die.
Oil changes were a mess due to the plastic shroud (best to remove that).
I did love the torque and relative quiet of it. So I trashed it and got a Stihl KM-130R set up. Crazy powerful (almost 2 HP), has the attachments and is a 4 Mix which is a 4 Cycle what burns 2 stroke mix. So you get the power of a 4 Cycle without the oil change and associated mess. Love it!