Too bad I didn't see this sooner. I had an old ECHO SRM 1500 and when I could no longer start it I purchased the Husqvarna 223L. For the 15 years I used the ECHO I did minimum trimming as I couldn't wait to be done with this dreadful chore. I was able to mow inside a large ditch in front of the house so I trimmed only around the house and trees. I had no problems with any of my other ECHO equipment but I was miserable every minute I used the ECHO trimmer. This was the only trimmer I ever used and I didn't know the difference. The only way I can describe my ECHO troubles is that trimming was difficult for me every step of the way, even though the trimmer appeared to work well. With the ECHO I started to avoid trimming whenever possible due to aching arms, back, legs, neck. I'm surprised I purchased another trimmer after my bad 15 year ECHO experience but the HUSQVARNA felt pretty good when I swung it around in the store. I took it home and used it for several hours the same day. It was excellent right from the beginning These two trimmers are totally different in handling, ease of starting, and durability. The HUSQVARNA is lighweight, perfectly balanced, easy to start, powerful, takes heavy duty as well as regular trimmer cord, has an easy to load spool, and almost floats across the brush as it anticipates my every move. I have nothing but praise for this HUSQVARNA trimmer 223L as it makes the chore of trimming almost enjoyable for me. After 2 years of use, the 223L has become MY FAVORITE piece of lawn equipment! With the Husqvarna I just finished 6 hours of continual trimming and am none the worse for wear. The ditch is too steep for my new mower so I've added 230 feet of ditch to trim as well as around the house and trees. I'm even considering using the trimmer instead of the edger I purchased, to trim the driveway and walkways, something I never would have considered with the unpleasant ECHO! I have nearly 2 acres of property and will now be using the trimmer in the back as well as the front of my property. I hefted a few other HUSQVARNA trimmers when considering which to buy, but none felt as good as this 223L. I don't know exactly what it is that is different but it is different enough to have made trimming one of my favorite chores instead of the most dreaded one. One big surprise for me is the ease of starting. The 223L has never required more than 5 pulls of the cord to start and once started, it does NOT stall! Whether it is cold or warm, it starts right up, usually on the 3rd pull. Every so often I try to start the old ECHO up. It remains impossible to start. This gives me great pleasure as I am trying to start it only as a game, not because I need to use it. Thankfully I will never have to use that ECHO trimmer again! I hope you continue to be pleased with your ECHO but I am sorry I didn't see this discussion when you were still evaluating which to keep.

1. Have you used treated fuel for use and storage if you use ethanol fuel? YES 2. Have you serviced it yearly (plug/filters) and given it good general overall look? NO - Checked plugs a couple and air filter a couple times over the years but not annually 3. Have you checked the fuel lines and primer bulb for no cracks/air tight fits? HAVE NOT DONE ANY CHECKS OTHER THAN NOTING THEY SEEM INTACT 4.Have you checked the basics needed to run fire/fuel/compression/exhaust (muffler spark arrest? NOT REALLY BUT SEE BELOW 5. If you do not know basics, do you have a friend, neighbor that knows the quick checks? NO 6.Most needed info related to your symptoms have been discussed with solutions, if you Google info/questions. 7. Approx how many hours of use per season? UNDER 10 - I run this around 3-4 times a month on average to trim grass on 2 sides of the house, around deck, and a couple other small spots the mower can't get to. Probably 10 to 15 min each time. I was going to just replace but watched a few videos and got a bit more ambitious. I removed spark arestor, did a more thoughrough job of cleaning spark plug and tried starting without air filter and using a little wd-40 as starting fluid (saw that on another web site). It now starts up and runs rough and slow. I tried adjusting carb but couldn't get it to run better than a fast idle. Any attempt to use it the motor dies - but at least the fact that it will start is promising (I think). From most of what I've read it sounds like the issue is the carb. I think I'm going to try taking it apart and cleaning it as I've seen on some youtube videos. Worst that will happen is I won't be able to re-assemble it in which case I'll either buy a new trimmer or decide to buy a new carb. Called local dealer and he wasn't too anxious to see a new carb - they said they'd have to order it and cost would be $50 tp $80. But I see these on Ebay from USA sources that can deliver in less than a week for under $30 (cheaper direct from the orient). Any thoughts would be appreciated.

What a great thread!! I have learned so much just from this thread alone in my research to plan Ficus Nitida in our backyard. Like everybody here we're concerned about the aggressive roots and I feel that if I combine consistent trimming, a deep root watering system with 24"x24" root guard barriers I should be able to mitigate the issues and ensure I don't have root problems in the future. I'm wondering if anybody has taken this approach. We're planning on planting them along the perimeter of our backyard which have masonry/cinder block walls separating the neighbors. They'll also be close to our pool. Pictures are attached. I'm looking at these products to accomplish this. Please let me know what your thoughts are. Thanks in advance!! https://www.deeproot.com/products/root-barrier/ https://www.rootwell.com/retail-store/shop/pro-318-case-black https://www.hunterindustries.com/irrigation-product/micro-irrigation/root-zone-watering-system

No fencing, Kitasei, but there's so much else for the deer to eat in the surrounding fields and woodlands that they don't generally bother things. I've only had deer issues a couple of times in the last 20 years, but even if they were an issue, I couldn't possibly fence all my gardens without breaking the bank since I live on a farm. I do have quite a number of strong-scented/flavored plants around the edges, and we allow hunting, so our deer tend to avoid areas where we tend to be often. My only real critter issue is voles, though some years we have to get rid of woodchucks in the veggie garden. At my inlaws' I've used a combo of strong scented soap with a webbing of high-test clear fishing line around a hedge that the deer were eating in winter. The blue flowers are Clematis 'Little Bas', but there are several other clematis that I grow into my two big H. paniculatas, just not blooming in the photos. I like growing into various stiff-branched shrubs some of the looser growing clematis that have long internodes and so won't create too much shade, and I use type 3 hard prune so I can cut them down each winter. There are a lot of them that suit this use well, but I really like the combo in the photo enough so that when the voles ate Little Bas I replaced it, but in a buried wire basket to protect it.