Toro 51831 60V String Trimmer

[sgkent]

First, I would not do this model again. That said. The first one lasted 15 minutes. The string wrapped around an iron stake and pulled the head apart. Parts are not available to fix the head, Lowe's / Toro warranteed it. This one is still running five years later but it is just as bad feeding the line out as the first one.

I am using Oregon 0.080" Gatorline Round Weed Wacker/String Trimmer line. 0.080" is what is specified for it. The line is soft, just a few seconds on concrete wears it back.

The problem is that the line does not feed out. The bump button depresses when bumped, but the line does not often feed out unless one stops, turns the whole trimmer upside down, grabs each line and pulls until the line feeds out and the bump button pops back out. Back to trimming. After two or three successful bumps it will do refuse to feed again. Stop, turn it upside down and pull on the lines, repeat. I've had it apart, inspected it, made sure everything was wound properly. It came with a silver colored segmented line originally that did the same thing, except it wore away even faster. Oregon has a blurb on the package of line to soak the new reel of line in water once in awhile, no idea what that is about.

I tried to find parts for the head, but Toro doesn't sell them other than the spool, spring and bump button etc.. Lowe's Kobalt brand sells (or sold) a 24V model with what looks like the same head parts but blue instead of Toro red, so I suspect that someone else makes it for both of them. I hate to put anymore money into it for consumable parts like the bump button at $20 - $50 a piece when it doesn't work well. Pretty sure the blue Kobalt bump buttons at $2.50 a piece are the same but have not tried one. While it is a current model, replacement spools are already NLA other then ebay etc.. i would give Toro a -0- on price, functionality, and support. The constant need to manually feed line, and the lack of support sucks.

Open to suggestions on how to make this thing feed properly.

 

[MParr]

For homeowners and up-start commercial guy, the Echo SRM-225 or Stihl FS-56 CE is the way to go. I've had both. I just trashed my 10 year old SRM-225. I replaced it with the Stihl. I prefer the Echo. It was a better balanced machine. Power is about the same on both. The old Echo was just tired.
Both take 0.95 line.
Final suggestion: Get you a good unit that you can buy new heads for. The Echo bump feed 400 is an excellent head. There bump feed 400 kits at Home Depot. The kit contains several adapters to fit various brands. Let me see if I could get a link. It may not work on your unit. It's probably too heavy.

ECHO Speed Feed 400 Trimmer Head Universal Kit 99944200907K OEM

The revolutionary ECHO Speed-Feed® 400 takes the hassle out of refilling your trimmer head, and is the easiest tap-to-advance head available on the market today. The unique design allows you to reload in under 30 seconds in just 3 easy steps, all without disassembling the head, to save you time...

mypartsstore.com

 

[sgkent]

Thank you but looking for a solution to make this one work. There are plenty of other solutions including a Toro unit that has the insdustry common metal head, and uses the same 60V batteries we have now. Not looking to start over with new batteries and chargers etc., or spend several hundred dollars on a new trimmer.

I do not know if the 51831 has a standard removable head. Some say yes, some say no, and many have asked where no one ever posts back a final answer. The Kobalt unit that looks like it is held on with a standard nut. The base plate has a flat spot on each side that drives that base plate. That base plate for the head just drops onto the shaft and the nut holds it down. If the Toro is the same, I don't know if a "universal" head will work. Most of the instructions I read refer to them screwing on and off, rather than being held with a nut and a shaft that has two flat sides.

 

[sgkent]

I watched a Project Farm on trimmer line. Then read reviews on Amazon. Then looked for factory spools or bulk line. Out of stock online. Then no one local has the factory spools. Dumb. Guess I will soak the Oregon line in a bucket of water like they suggest, respool it and see if it helps. The factory doesn't specify what manufacturer of line works best in it. Will never buy a new Toro anything again. Trimmers need line. It is a consumable. If Toro doesn't have the brains to state what line works best, screw them.

 

[MParr]

The entry level residential battery powered trimmers, of any brand, aren't that great. They are disposable. There isn't a whole lot of manufacturer support. I've had experience with the corded models and they were horrible. There probably hasn't been much change in performance since the switch to battery power. If you insist on battery powered trimmers, you would be better served by buying a Stihl or Echo commercial battery trimmer. Personally, I would rather have the power and reliability of a 2 stroke unit.

 

[sgkent]

The entry level residential battery powered trimmers, of any brand, aren't that great. They are disposable. There isn't a whole lot of manufacturer support. I've had experience with the corded models and they were horrible. There probably hasn't been much change in performance since the switch to battery power. If you insist on battery powered trimmers, you would be better served by buying a Stihl or Echo commercial battery trimmer. Personally, I would rather have the power and reliability of a 2 stroke unit.

we live in state that outlawed sale of new ones. Would not be interested in chasing down a good used unit, restoring a neglected one, or going out of state for one then smuggling it back in. Some counties have even banned use of them at all. The yard takes very little trimming, just enough to make the lack of feeding out properly a real pain. Yes, I understand that electric units are generally better. And I understand that 12,000 homes, and miles of forests going up in smoke is worse on the environment than string trimmers, but the voters in the state seem to feel different than I.

 

[MParr]

we live in state that outlawed sale of new ones. Would not be interested in chasing down a good used unit, restoring a neglected one, or going out of state for one then smuggling it back in. Some counties have even banned use of them at all. The yard takes very little trimming, just enough to make the lack of feeding out properly a real pain. Yes, I understand that electric units are generally better. And I understand that 12,000 homes, and miles of forests going up in smoke is worse on the environment than string trimmers, but the voters in the state seem to feel different than I.

Ah! You live in Commiefornia.

 

[sgkent]

Ah! You live in Commiefornia.

yep. wasn't always this way.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

we live in state that outlawed sale of new ones. Would not be interested in chasing down a good used unit, restoring a neglected one, or going out of state for one then smuggling it back in. Some counties have even banned use of them at all. The yard takes very little trimming, just enough to make the lack of feeding out properly a real pain. Yes, I understand that electric units are generally better. And I understand that 12,000 homes, and miles of forests going up in smoke is worse on the environment than string trimmers, but the voters in the state seem to feel different than I.

Do the lawn police come and arrest people for using a dirty nasty polluting 2-stroke in these counties that have banned it? Yes, I am being sarcastic. Toro makes a solid mower. Look elsewhere when it comes to a battery trimmer. Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, and Redmax come to mind. As stated before, residential off brand battery handheld equipment such as trimmers, are basically throw away items. Lack of repair, parts, and overall support make it that way.

 

[MParr]

Do the lawn police come and arrest people for using a dirty nasty polluting 2-stroke in these counties that have banned it? Yes, I am being sarcastic. Toro makes a solid mower. Look elsewhere when it comes to a battery trimmer. Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, and Redmax come to mind. As stated before, residential off brand battery handheld equipment such as trimmers, are basically throw away items. Lack of repair, parts, and overall support make it that way.

The actual tool isn't that expensive. Add a battery and charger, the total price more than doubles. Low IQ politicians have no business mandating such foolishness. Do they even think about the disposal of all of those spent batteries?