Echo GT-225 21.2cc 2 Stroke Lightweight Durable Gas Curved Shaft String Trimmer

Started leaking from the engine area after two weeks of use. End up returning it and buying a SRM 225. The SRM 225 is great. When looking at the picture, I had wiped down the area once but it started leaking again.

I bought the GT-225 thinking it was a good size trimmer for my height. The drawback was the original trimmer head only allowed you to feed 8" strips into it at a time.

I am pleased with this string trimmer. I like how light it is. It's easy to control. I also am a fan of the single string loading system. I bought a roll of string and cut it down to length. Should last for awhile. Also it's been easy to start. I just hope that continues.

I bought this tool based solely on Echo's reputation for quality. I paid more for this brand / model vs. others on the retail display rack believing it was the best performance / value option. Apparently this was a wrong decision. Problem 1 - the line cord requires near immediate replacement. I'm using the .095 recommended Echo brand / thickness and within a few short minutes (sometimes seconds) replacement line is needed. Don't even bother using it along a sidewalk or fence! The only solution I've found is to lessen up on the throttle which is a performance inefficiency and does not always extend cord life. A more durable cord design might be a solution. Problem 2 - the line cord remnants occasionally jam inside the head assembly and cannot be easily removed with a pliers or small nosed tool. The jam prevents new line from being inserted. Major pain! Inefficient! Awful waste of valuable time! Memorial Day weekend I was forced to work with line of cord inserted instead of a more efficient two!

I have been meaning to write this for years. I have had 2 Echos over the last 25 years. Nothing ever goes wrong with these things. I think I have change the spark plug once on 1 unit in 25 years. (When I got rid of the 1st the engine was still functional!) I start my ECHO in the Spring ever year. 1 or 2 pulls. Like I said AMAZING. IT ALWAYS STARTS! The attached photo is from my filter. Like I said, I don't take care of it... BUY ECHO!!! You will never regret it. (This is a review of an older unit. My is so old that don't make 'em anymore.) REMEMBER BUY ECHO!!!!

Easy starting machine IF you follow the starting instructions ! I have trimming to do around my foundation as well as along wire fencing as well as sidewalks etc. I'm using .095 string and I find that I have to change string two to three times during the process -- depending on how many times I misjudge how close I trim along the wire fencing and foundation....Its so simple and easy to remove and insert new string.. so much quicker and easier than winding string on spools ! I carry a few strands in my pocket which makes changes a snap. I won't ever own another trimmer that requires winding string on a spool ! I'm a 73 old woman and while the trimmer is light enough for me to use, I would be happier if it could be made a little lighter...after an hour or so of trimming, it gets heavy.

What can I say? It does everything I need for about the same price as other comparable units. I have a med size yard that I'm able to weed whack and cut in less than an hour. The echo works every time with a few pulls. I recommend the larger .9 diameter cord if you are cutting grass along a fence. Otherwise, you will have to replace line after only a few feet. The head has a high speed pull out and feed fixture. I recommend carrying a small pair of pliers in your back pocket to exchange line when the head fills with grass. It's not a knock on the unit but the string gets small or slippery and you just cant pull it out by hand.

This recent purchase will be my second GT-225. The first one lasted six seasons with normal maintenance (yearly spark plug, air filter, gas filter). It still runs but the plastic fuel tank was slow leaking due to small cracks. Instead of replacing the tank, I bought another one. They are reasonably priced and on sale at Home Depot. I like the replacement trim line as opposed to the manual spool feed that always manages to get tangle up and jammed. I buy a large roll of trim line and cut a bundle into the correct size when I need them. It is a simple and a reliable machine.

Please do not take the rating as a sign of Echo's quality. It's just that since I bought my string trimmer, it has rained so much and the ground so wet, that I dare not use it on the tall grass and weeds. But I'm looking forward to when the weather dries up to begin using the trimmer.

I bought weedeaters for many years for my wife who trys to make our 8 acres look like a park. The Echo-GT225 purrs like a kitten and is easy for her to start. No line to windup either. Just cut short pcs. of line and insert. Also warranted for 5 years. I think I have finally found the answer .. She is 66 years old.