Ryobi RFT254N

Alas, poor Yorick!.......I knew him – Nothing lasts forever (except tax-increases). After about 5 years of good and faithful service, my Ryobi 254RFT254N spluttered, coughed and passed away. Dead. My repair crew (very reliable) said the engine was shot, showing me the gouge-marks on the piston. It could be repaired but at a very high cost; not worth it. The concept of this machine is great; maybe it's a bit underpowered for what it's asked to do? RIP, Ryobi....well done.

OK when it works - excellent warranty – When it works it is excellent. However I have used one of these for the past 18 months and 2 have just stopped working. Bunnings have been excellent in that they have just replaced the failed units. I am now on my third (in 18 months). In the UK I had a Hayter 4 stroke which never failed so the Ryobi does not live up to it. If Ryobi did not have such a great warranty I would ditch them completely

Waste Of Money – I have spent more time trying to fix problems on this than actually using it. I have a piece of the string stuck in the head and I don't know how to remove it, it was the last of the original string. I have never been able to start the engine without the throttle on which is against the instructions. The instructions are quite basic. Not what I was expecting. A real lemon! Great concept though.

Great concept but not a performer – I have used the Ryobi RFT254N trimmer three times at the time of writing this review, and like other reviewers I have found the cord keeps breaking, which is infuriating and very tiring as it takes for ever to cover ground.. I became so desperate that a gardener friend of mine gave me some kevlar cord and even this broke off. Each time I have used the trimmer, I have ended up with a sore back from continually having to bend down and reload the cord pieces. Not only this, but the second time I used the trimmer, the factory-assembled head fell apart. Then, the third time I used it, the bracket holding the grass deflector buckled and became misshapen and it no longer sits where it is supposed to be. However, this has turned out to be a blessing in disguise because, miraculously, the cord no longer breaks, so I really think the positioning of the grass deflector is what causes the cord to break off and this is a design issue in my opinion. Also, you cannot use the trimmer in the same way that you would use a standard harnessed trimmer. I haven't placed any unreasonable burden on this trimmer. I am a 60 year old woman with a 50m x 50m yard, 2 large ride-on mowers and a push mower and all I wanted was something to trim along the fence line as I find the standard whipper snipper (trimmer) strains my back. This wheeled trimmer is a great concept but Ryobi really need to go back to the drawing board to make sure the design is not causing the cord to continually break off, and to ensure the brackets are much stronger. I am very disappointed with this trimmer, especially as it cost so much. I would not recommend it.

Ryobi field trimmer (whipper snipper on wheels)Great for people with bad backs – Why was this not made years ago. Great for large yards or people with back problems that prevent them from using hand held cord trimmers. After viewing other trimmers on wheels this one seemed to be best construction. Cord head is the only let down cord continualy breaks even diffenent cord than supplied it seems to abrade and snap at outlet in cord head. . the unit is lightweight very easy to start .I have a large corner block lots of gardens plenty of edge trimming to do ,A large straight shaft cord trimmer takes one hour to do the yard this trimmer on wheels takes the same time but no back strain.Very easy to start and leaves a finish the same as normal cord trimmer . The unit is well made and easy to assemble . The cord head supplied with field trimmer is the only let down as the cord continualy breaks ,some times after only on eor two mtrs I have tried different cords same result it seems toabrade / melt where it comes out of head .remedy by replacing with aftermarket cord head