LEHR ST025DS 25cc Propane Powered 4-Stroke Detachable Straight-Shaft Eco Trimmer
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Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $197.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours (as of 10:47 AM CT - detail)
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Easy to use Twist 'n Go Fueling system2 Hours run time on a single canisterNo messy mixing of gas and oilNo winterizingEPA Clean Air Excellence Award Winner
Product Description
Become an eco warrior and enhance your yard at the same time. LEHR's Propane-Powered Eco Trimmer with Detachable Straight Shaft will help you keep your yard--and the environment--pristine. Fueled by clean, green propane that won't contaminate ground water or soil, this innovative garden tool features a four-stroke engine that runs up to two hours on just one 16.4-ounce propane canister. |
Propane-Powered
Eco Trimmer with Detachable Straight Shaft
At a Glance:- Powered by clean, green propane
- 17" cutting swath, bump feed head, and .095" diameter line
- Easy starts with innovative Twist 'n Go fueling technology
- Exceeds 2011 EPA emission standards; winner of the EPA Clean Air Excellence Award
- Reduces dependency on foreign oil
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The propane-powered Eco Trimmer helps keep your yard--and the environment--pristine. View larger. |
The Eco Trimmer includes a 25-cc, 4-stroke engine for tackling big jobs. View larger. |
 The detachable straight shaft, ergonomic controls, and D-handle with guard make the Eco Trimmer comfortable and easy to use. |
Tackles Big Jobs with Ease
The Eco Trimmer includes a 25-cc, 1-hp, 4-stroke engine, so you can easily power through your gardening chores. The 17-inch cutting swath, bump feed head, and .095-inch-diameter line mean this trimmer can handle whatever you throw at it. What's more, the detachable straight shaft, ergonomic controls, D-handle with guard, shoulder strap, quick-release coupling, and included tool kit make the Eco Trimmer simple and comfortable to use. Twist and Go Fueling
Powered by an easy-to-use 16.4-ounce propane canister that snaps into place, the Eco Trimmer starts quickly--simply Twist 'n Go. Its patented propane-fueled technology eliminates the need for mixing gas and oil and requires no choking or priming to start. For further convenience, propane canisters are widely available, and a single canister provides two full hours of run time.
This clever trimmer also cuts out the need for the winterizing, carburetor gum-up, and choking commonly associated with gas-powered models. With an engine that starts faster and runs cleaner, maintaining your lawn won't be the hassle it once was.
Low Fuel and Maintenance Costs
The Propane-Powered Eco Trimmer boasts low fuel and maintenance costs. Standard 16.4-ounce propane canisters are economical and readily available at most hardware stores, sporting goods stores, drug stores, and other locations where lawn and garden products are sold. You'll cut down on expensive trips to the gas station and eliminate the risks associated with storing gasoline in or around your home. An added bonus, the steel propane canisters are 100% recyclable when empty. To further cut costs, this durable trimmer is incredibly easy to maintain. It's backed by a three-year limited carburetor warranty and a two-year limited manufacturer's warranty.  Environmentally Friendly and EPA Approved
Winner of the EPA Clean Air Excellence Award, the Eco Trimmer exceeds 2011 EPA emission standards meant to reduce lawn equipment pollutants. When compared side by side with gasoline, propane is clearly the smarter choice. Propane not only helps keep harmful pollutants out of the air, but it is less expensive than gasoline, so it also helps keep your money in your pocket. What's more, 85% of propane used in the United States is produced domestically, which means propane-powered tools can help eliminate dependence on foreign oil and can help cut down on the waste associated with fuel spills.
In addition, propane contains no evaporative emissions and zero ozone-depleting hydrocarbons. It is a nontoxic substance that won't pollute ground water or soil, and it includes 97% fewer particulates and 96% fewer carcinogens than gasoline. A cleaner and greener alternative to traditional fuel, propane power is a great choice for your garden. What's in the Box
LEHR ST025DS Propane-Powered Eco Trimmer with Detachable Straight Shaft, shoulder strap, tool kit, oil, and owner's manual.
Spotlight Customer Reviews:
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Summary:
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not great at first, but it works now
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Comment:
I'd give this weed wacker a 6 out of 10. Only because I've only had it for 4 months.
If it continues to perform at the current level then I'd give it an 8.
Living in the rocky mountains, where the air is thinner, it was difficult to get it going at first. But a quick conversation with customer service steered me in the right direction.
Yes, it might be difficult to get going but I'm hoping it holds true.... not having to deal with gas and oil is nice.
Don't notice any issues with power... unless you're cutting down brush
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Summary:
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Fantastic Concept----Poorly Engineered
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Comment:
What a GREAT idea---I really hope someone finds a way to make propane power work reliably in lawn equipment.
Bought the curved-shaft version at Home Depot. 5 minutes into the first use the fuel line ruptured, spaying me with liquid propane.
After bringing home a gasoline trimmer (which was missing parts, leaking fuel all over me) I realized why I liked the idea of propane so much more than gasoline or electricity.
So, I brought home a straight-shaft model of the Lehr, only to have the same thing happen---the fuel line split right at the metal crimp.
I actually spoke with a Lehr engineer at length---he was astonished by the problem and next-day shipped me a new fuel line.
The new fuel line held up and I was happy with this thing, but after only about 2 hours of use, its poor engineering has become too apparent:
It is heavy and fatiguingly awkward to maneuver.
It still leaks fuel around the tank coupling even when not running---push on the hose a bit, it hisses. (the coupler is plenty
tight). I don't know what it is about me and fuel leaks. If I'd bought a corded one, I might be fried by now!
You will have to replace that worthless spool with a heavier duty one---factory spool is cheap and difficult to re-string.
It suddenly developed a "won't start" condition. I just can't get it to run. Frustrating, because easy starting WAS a plus.
Of course, the rupturing fuel line issue I encountered.
Home Depot doesn't carry Lehr any more---I'm hoping to get a refund somehow so I can get a nasty old gas-powered Echo (that works) until they perfect this one. Its a shame, because the concept is fantastic---just poorly executed.
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Summary:
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Great idea, poor application
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Comment:
First I'll say I didn't read the other reviews, but if anyone is reviewing this thing without using it for at least 3 months you should ignore them. I wouldn't buy a car after listening to someone gush about it as they drive it off the lot; same thing here. The first month I used this thing I was happy. It was like any other trimmer except the huge benefits of using propane vs. gas. Shortly after that it cemented itself as the worst purchase I ever made. I'll make this short - it's heavy; I'm not in top shape but I'm 29 and my yard is .1 acres and it still manages to leave my arm shaking an hour after I use it. It takes a minimum of 3-5 minutes of continuous pulling to start and sometimes as much as 10. I've checked the oil and changed the tank, nothing helps. There's a handy 866 number on the trimmer for a voice mail at customer service where you can leave a message and wait for them to call you back. I'm still waiting after two calls spanning over several months. In closing if you want a light upper body work out and are looking to reduce your leisure time on the weekends this is the trimmer for you!
Comment:
I have found this trimmer to have been made high quality. Easy to prepare, easy to start, and plenty of power. It fits all other standard accessories, so if your replacing another gas trimmer; you can still use the accessories you already have.
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Summary:
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Best Compromise for State of the Art Lawn Equipment
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Comment:
First of all I purchased the Sears model of this exact trimmer. Everything is the same except the outer plastic case is RED instead of GREEN. This review is for the Sears model since I bought it for half the price it's selling here when this trimmer was first available for consumer purchase.
Background: I have been doing lawn work, for home use, for over 20 years now starting with my parent's lawn back when I was in middle school. I have gone through several trimmers since then and so I have a clear idea of what I need to do light to heavy-duty weekend lawn work.
Originally I wanted a cordless electric trimmer since I hate dealing with the whole 2-stroke gas routine and I needed more power than a corded model. If you have St. Augustine grass you know that it takes a toll on corded-electric trimmers. The problem with cordless-electric is that the battery technology (at the time of this writing) has not reached a power-to-value ratio that would convince most consumers to go 100% eco-friendly. Lithium power is being introduced but it is very expensive and even more expensive to replace. Furthermore, lithium has not quite yet reached the power of internal combustion, for trimmers of course. Cars are a different story.
So this propane option comes along and creates a middle of the road niche for home users like me. For those not familiar with propane, it is commonly used for many purposes included RV and remote housing applications. Propane is about 110 octane rating, if I'm not mistaken. And of course it is clean burning. I believe some have already converted their cars to run off propane. In fact, search UTube, and you'll find others who have easily converted an old gas mower to propane for under $20.
Here are the pros and cons for the review conscious consumers;
PROS:
+ Clean Propaned Power
+ Easy to start (& restart too)
+ The detachable trimmer head makes it useful if you already have these attachments from a previous gas model
+ Propane tanks can be refilled with an optional adapter
+ Quieter than comparable 2-stroke motors (but I still use hearing protection)
+ Pull start is on the back for easy replacement
+ Does not smell (as much, there is still a slight, yet not irritating, odor)
+ Nice feeling knowing you are helping clean our environment one motor at a time
+ No batteries to charge (or maintain, yes batteries have their own maintenance routine. This is why many complain of charging and longevity problems)
+ No cords to hassle with
+ Cheaper to buy at Sears when on sale
CONS:
- Very HEAVY, you will need that included shoulder strap. This is not for the delicately balanced.
- It's very long. Short people may have problems wielding this around their yards.
- The weight may affect the use of other attachments. I can't imagine attaching the hedge trimmer and pole saw to this. Most 4-stroke motors are heavy to begin with, then you add the weight of a full propane tank... Heavy.
- Very easy to overfill the oil chamber. If you overfill it, then the oil will leak through the carb and clog the air filter. Afterwards, the motor will not idle. Seems like the other reviewers found out about this the hard way. Hehehe.... me too.
- The plastic handle feels awkward and has limited re-position adjustments.
- Can't use upside down for very long or it will leak oil. Example, flipping it down to do grass edge trimming. However, it can be stored upside down without any leakage.
- For some reason 2 of the 4 screws that bolt the pull start to the motor have fallen off. Be sure to tighten yours. I need to Loctite mine.
OTHER THOUGHTS:
I wish the trimmer came with a small bottle holding the exact pre-measured amount of oil to fill up the trimmer without overfilling it. Also, this is a 4-stroke model so you should take the extra step to break in the motor properly. Look up the procedure it's not that hard to follow. This motor does not have an oil filter, therefore I recommend changing (not refilling) the oil every other fuel tank change. That's about 5 hours of use between oil changes. It takes less than 2 tablespoons of oil to fill. I use Mobile One fully synthetic motor oil. Thankfully I have not had the problems the others have had. Mainly the restarting problem. I suspect they overfilled the oil. I'm waiting for the air blower version to drop in price. Meantime I'm using the blower attachment to this trimmer's motor. Use a quality bump feed system not the auto-feed or the wasteful, string-by-string replacement method. Believe me, I've tried them all.
If the con's listed above don't bother you, then I highly recommend this trimmer. Especially to those who can't wait for the Power-to-Value ratio of batteries to become higher. You will really appreciate the convenience of this propane powered concept.
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