As We Speak! I called my best and most trusted Mechanical Friend this morning (we started building VW engines 1968-70 and he still builds his). He was un-loading his Zero-Turn Mower to cut some of his 10 acres per week he cuts during the growing season. Knowing his task I let him go instantly to try and beat some heat and etc here in North TX. He called me back in 15-30 minutes wanting to know some basics as to why his mower would lock-up. Info he has to know but was hoping for a possible simple check and fix from me since he was tired and frustrated. Naturally, I asked him how is the oil level and if the oil is showing any signs. The Shocker! "I stopped checking the oil since it w/n burning/using any and the dip stick is not showing any oil". I reminded him as he knows, I h/n purchased a mower ever since my personal need starting in 1973 (due to all the mowers that have been given to me w/o a real problem). "My practice is to not started any mower week to week w/o checking oil and gas knowing they should be good". Again! I'll loan him any tool or equipment (truck, trailer, log splitter, saws and etc) I own but try to be present or check it before it leaves.. His Enemy Is Too Much Work To Think!

Whether it cut like butter depend on the plants, some do, some don't. All the commercial brands that have true blades( cheap Craftsman and B&D don't) and they cutting ability is close enough. If you are willing to spend $450 I strongly suggest you to get the short reach hedge clipper. Here is one on ebay, new: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-KAWASAKI-POLE-65-ARTICU-GAS-HEDGE-TRIMMER-KCS525A_W0QQitemZ120326523051QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c040508ab&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 And other on ebay: http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=kawasaki+hedge+trimmer&_sacat=See-All-Categories Kawasaki is usually cheaper and just as good quality. I have Shindaiwa M242 multi tool motor with short reach articulate hedge trimmer attachment. I absolutely love it. I don't use my regular hedge trimmer anymore. I can control it to do all the work a regular hedge trimmer do and I can reach up higher. Try hold a regular hedge trimmer over you head for a minute or two, you see what I mean. Redmax, Shindaiwa and Husqvarna all have short reach hedge trimmers for a little more than the Kawasaki. Don't worry too much about brands, they all close enough. If you insist on buying a regular hedge trimmer, get a 24" or 30". As I said, go double sided. I did read a lot of posts comparing that. All the pros cannot be that wrong. I can tell you from my experience, I need to swing in both direction to get a good cut because some grow in one direction and some the other, if you can only swing one direction, you don't cut as good in the other direction at all. Also two edge last twice as long as single side!!!! Also, Amazon sell Tanaka also. Home Depot stuff is not crap!!! They have Echo which is commercial grade.

RC: The OP clearly advised that the unit is 2-stroke within the 1st sentence . I agree that an ounce of prevention is cheaper than a pound of cure lol . Unfortunately Ryobi Trimmers , Hedge Trimmers or Blowers are much the same as Weed-eater Brand . Basically a cheap Homeowner throw away unit. I have had 3 Weed=Eater units that have survived over 25 yrs . Why because I only use the best oils and religiously maintain them. In a less than Mechanically inclined owners hands and these cheap units would have been in the junk pile after 3-5 yrs . I recently gave all away to friends and family members and bought a new Commercial Grade Toro Trimmer . Further the OP has more than adequately rebuilt or replaced critical issues within this trimmer. However I stongly believe that with adequate spark and only marginal compression he is pissing into the wind on this one . The shear key should be validated , I have my doubts with a hedge trimmer , perhaps a lawnmower . Finally Why spend more money (rings) on this form of disposable unit. Even if only a blown head gasket , I believe he would have clearly seen evidence of blowby all over the cylinder and head assembly . I agree that fuel or quick start are less than ideal as compared to carb cleaner , but either should case a fart at the very least . There is simply not sufficient compression to fire the fuel charge . Loger take over Roflmbo !

Thanks everybody for excellent points, explanations, tips and advice. Won't buy a trimmer. Would never let anything harm a bush or tree! Will have to look at a variety of tools carefully before deciding and buying. I think in our case, because there's so many thousands of slugs, we would have done just as well and saved lots of money using the erosion control mix of dwarf perennial rye and strawberry clover instead of the hundreds of dollars we spent on ecolawn fleur-de-lawn, since there are no flowers due to slug feasts. We needed the grass and self-fertilizing clover that's in the fleur-de-lawn (also available just as erosion control) as erosion control to bind the mud that was washing out of the yard daily. This thick lush green cover provides protection to the baby bushes and trees against the fierce burning sun and helps with moisture retention. Eventually the redwoods, sequoias, sweetgums, willows, maples, cottonwoods, thujas, etc -- huge trees-to-be, will shade out the grass, but by that time the tree roots will bind the earth and the trees will shade their own roots. The fleur de lawn really doesn't get higher than 6"; it's the weed grasses that poked through it that grow really tall. And the clover mounds in coils since we have to water to wet the ground for the 300+ trees' roots. At the moment I'm OK after using the hand shears and having my yard guy liberate the flagstones so the washer and dryer delivery men can find their way to the back patio and up the deck to haul away the old and deliver the new. Also liberated several baby bushes by hand. But that takes a whole lot of time and crawling around on hands and knees. When I find just the right thing I'll post the solution back on this thread. Thx everybody for all this wonderful help!