Homelite HLT25CS

Great Machine If Owners Know How To Care For It Properly – This machine is getting a bit of a bad wrap here and as a small engine mechanic I would like to come to its defence. I have picked up dozens of this model machine (and many others) that people have disposed of because they wouldn't run at all or wouldn't run properly. The only thing that was wrong with them all was they were effected by stale… Read more

unleaded petrol. What buyers aren't told when purchasing small machines like these in a warehouse type environment is that unleaded petrol only lasts about six weeks. All I do is empty the stale fuel out and replace it with fresh fuel and they will usually start and run. On occasions I have had to clean the carburetor and/or adjust the tuning. Unleaded petrol can be the enemy of small engines if left in them for long enough. A good practice is when you have finished using your machine and you know that it will be sitting unused for an extended period, empty the petrol from the fuel tank, start the machine and let it run at idle until it runs out of fuel and loosen the fuel cap so any remnants of petrol can evaporate. This method of storing small machines is called "winterising". It applies to ALL small petrol-powered equipment. When you go to use the machine again, get some fresh fuel from the bowser and ad two stroke oil at the correct ratio and it should start and run normally. I have been doing this with my own equipment for decades and I've never had a problem with any of them. The Homelite HLT25CS is a good, powerful machine and -like most petrol-powered equipment- has the potential to last a long time if cared for correctly.

FINALLY an easy to load cheap line trimmer – No more winding line onto a stupid reel and splitting a knuckle open trying to put it back on. The inclusion of the Ryobi Pro Cut head on this is unbelievable convenience. I hate gardening at the best of times and I especially hate edging cause as sure as the sun rises I'm going to get halfway through the job and run out of line OR it won't… Read more

advance even if I smash that bump knob on the concrete like it owes me money.Not anymore sir.

Quick click of a piece of twine in the centre then thread it through the two holes and we're back in business.

Machine is light enough to use one handed.Well ok I do also have a shoulder strap but still it's very light.

Starts easy.First time every time.Like my old straight shaft one I had for years.Everyone who complains about these not starting I wonder if they're even following the instructions?It's not rocket science.

Power on

Prime

Pull

I don't care about noise as if I don't do yard work without my Beats earmuffs blasting Slayer but it's 2 stroke so I guess the neighbours hate it at 8:01am?

Buy a roll of twisted 2.4mm line to go with it and it's even better.

Don't buy the pre cut tubes put the effort it and cut it yourself!

Short-changed on the essentials – The HOMELITE 25cc CURVED SHAFT PETROL LINE TRIMMER. It should be noted that this particular HOMELITE line trimmer has had quite a few model number changes over the years. The HOMELITE models HLT25CS, UT32600/UT32650, HLT25CNB and HLT25CNC are all basically the same, bar a few cosmetic changes. For Bunnings, the 2013 model number was the HLT25CNB.… Read more

In 2014, the model number changed to the HLT25CNC. Although the model number remains as the HLT25CNC for 2015, there have been some drastic changes, and this review compares the 2015 model to its predecessors.

I had owned one of these models previously and used it for years with good reliability and results. So did my brother-in-law in the USA. But times have changed - the current models are badly assembled and overall quality is nowhere near what they used to be. My first stop was Bunnings Whitfords WA. They had stock but no display units. For whatever reason, I was unable to purchase at the time so I then tried the Joondalup Bunnings today, being Wednesday 20/05/15 as I was in the area. Again no display unit for this particular model. As I had previously owned one, I felt I did not need to see the unit. But as I was heading for the checkout counter, the picture of the line feed mechanism on the box caught my eye. The unit that Bunnings shows on their website states the following: Automatic Line Advance System (Yes/no) answers Yes - meaning the system has the "tap and go" line feeder I was accustomed to. The picture on the website also clearly shows this. And that is why I was stopped dead in my tracks. The "latest" version of the HOMELITE 25cc CURVED SHAFT PETROL LINE TRIMMER now comes with a horrible fixed-line drum attachment that accommodates a single piece of cutting line. In other words, NO Automatic Line Advance System. The fixed-line feature means one would attach a single piece of line say 450mm long and use the unit until the line is worn down to about 60mm from the hub before replacing. One has to stop the motor every single time to replace the line when worn down. Not only is this labour intensive, it is time consuming and on each 450mm piece of replacement line, about half is wasted. It also has a dome-type end which means one is forced to cut at an angle if one wants to cut close to the ground when used horizontally. My first question to Bunnings is that, are they aware of this cheap and nasty substitute? Secondly, if so, surely it would have been better to simply increase the price and retain the Automatic Line Advance System? I see the unit in the USA still has the Automatic Line Advance System and all for $69.00 USD. I know the market is saturated with cheap and nasty line trimmers and highly competitive but looking at the latest version of the HOMELITE, I have to ask with absolute disbelief, just how low can you go? My verdict: Stay FAR away from this product. It is NOT good at all - if not cheap and nasty and besides, totally misleading if one compares the details on the Bunnings website to what is actually being sold. In the end, I aborted and did NOT buy this item. I do a lot of shopping at Bunnings and always enjoy shopping there but on this occasion, they definitely do not qualify for the flavour of the month accolade.

Excellent – Excellent little whipper snippet for price, only complaint is it needs to come with a bump feed head as always replacing the fixed length cord.25 square. Metre heavy grass area Show details

Picked it up free as an extra when buying a trailer – I got this Homelite trimmer free with a trailer load of lawn care items for the price of the 7x5 foot trailer, got it home would not start checked fuel lines, they were perished, removed tank cleaned it out and replaced both fuel lines, added fuel first pull without choke and away it went, runs perfectly and is a strong work horse, equal or better [lighter and quieter] than my Stihl very happy. Show details

Poor product – Worse whippersnipper i ever purchased. Poor starting and very low on power ,need to have full throttle and then it barely cuts through my buffalo grass .bunnings agreeed to take it back but reluctantly. Show details

[Excellent] People who hate this Trimmer probably dont know how to use it So i will tell you haters – Like i said this in the title this is the best trimmer and if you hate it then you probably don't know how to use it so lemme tell you first you need to push the primer 10 times then put the choke on the off position then pull the cord until it starts once it starts don't hold the throttle or that will turn it off put the choke on the run position then hold the throttle and there you go that is how you use it.  Show details

Deliberately designed to fail – This piece of junk ended up with me after three family members couldn't get it running. I repaired the incredibly badly designed and spindly pull start mechanism, checked for spark, new fuel, etc, and finally it went - but very begrudgingly. Figured I'd better test it a few more times, and the pull start failed again on the 6th (very gentle) attempt. Homelite ought be be ashamed of themselves, as should Bunnings.  Show details

Never throw anything away@!! – Found the unit in a pile of rubbish being put out. The whole thing looked new. Would not start with straight petrol . Plug was changed from the Champion original to an NSK, fresh petrol and 2 stroke mix used, a read of U Tube fixes for that particular engine and the unit actually started when.I was priming it!! A little bit of adjustment on the high and low carburetor ( thanks to U Tube again) and now I have a very noisy , but cheap blower  Show details

DO NOT buy this unless you enjoy immense frustration ! – Have come inside to write this and warn others, after yet another frustrating afternoon with this piece of crap, not to buy it. It's behaved itself maybe 5 times out of the 15 times I've used it. Once you do get it started, it will go for about 10 seconds and then stalls and dies - like the engine is flooded or something - which it isn't. And… Read more

also the trimming line flies off for no apparent reason, another design fault with this thing. Absolute crap. Will never skimp on tools again... lesson learned :(

good value for the price – Never had any problems starting, Push the bulb 10 times and put indicator of 3 and its goes. Use it up at the cottage over the last 8 years. I understand the frustration with these small engines. Use a Weed Eater at home that has been hard starting since the day I bought it. Drives me crazy. Switched this year to a battery operated unit, they are fantastic, but not cheap.  Show details

Absolute Rubbish – Brought one went ok for about 6 months before becoming impossible to start one started it would run but would stall when going beyond 50% on the throttle chucked it out and brought another a year later exact same problems 30 pulls to get started ran fine for 6 months then stalls when applying full power. Total junk and incredibly unreliable Do not buy one of these that pain and frustration isn’t worth it!  Show details

Fantastic product – My Homelite whipper snipper broke down on me today, what a crap of a thing, it only lasted 28 years ( yes it's not a typo), so I bought another homelite, put it together, added some petrol, pulled it and hey presto working like a charm. I also have a homelite petrol blower, bought it about 8 years ago and never ever missed a beat.  Show details

Bought new didn't start – Bought new from bunnings. Put together. Fuel it went to start it. 3 hrs later after trying spark plug and everything else in between finally just took it back for a refund. I have always used ryobi but decided I would get the cheapest one first mistake. Bought the ryobi with a store credit plus another 100 bucks. Got home started first pull. Don't make my first mistake. Just buy a better brand.  Show details

Junk !!!! Rubbish – You get what you paid for absolute rubbish. Seriously don't waste your money and the worst thing I cant find the receipt they wont take it back. Problem from the start carburetor design wrong I think it starts after 20 odd pulls runs for 30 seconds and dies. More stuff to take to the tip and its going to cost more money to dump this RUBBISH PRODUCT.  Show details

Rubbish! – Like a few other posts here, it is crap! Impossible to start, takes longer to get going (following correct instructions) then the actual job it's need for, I cannot describe on here my frustrations with it without getting irrate! Can't believe they are aloud to sell such rubbish! One star was generous, Had mine for a month and I'm ready to through it away! Tried to beat the rain today, would have if the thing started!  Show details

The end of my patience – It's hard not to use bad language when a product as bad as the HLT 25CS It's like all the complains regards the non stating issues. I spent more time to try to gat it going than cutting the edges by Hand. It's so bad that the Homelite HLT25CS should be called in and replaced by a better more reliable one. where is our consumers right to take back an never ending SAGA to a bad Homelite protuct  Show details

Micky Mouse Blower – This blower lasted me two years and I used it very regularly. Its always been a bit hard to start, but did the job once it got going. The handle used to fall off and part of the cover used to fall off but I used to put it back together. Last night I was blowing down a driveway and it died on me, but I reckon I got my monies worth!  Show details

Cheap and cheerful – Had mine for two/three years with no issues apart from vibration. I always use fuel stabiliser and empty the fuel tank and run the carby dry after use to prevent varnish blocking internal parts of the carby. If you don't you will have trouble with all small engined equipment. Used Yamaha outboard stabiliser and some unknown brand but Stabil should work OK, or isolpropyl alcohol and a little two stroke oil.  Show details ·  1

Homelite hlt25cs trimmer wouldn't run – My neighbours trimmer started but wouldn't run despite being only a year old and being used only couple times. When I emptied fuel out i found that the fuel line inside had disintegrated and didn't have a fuel filter, the primer line was also all cracked. I replaced both fuel n primer lines and put in fuel filter n runs good now. Neighbour said she never left old fuel in tank so must been dude plastic fuel lines...  Show details

rubbish piece of crap – Warning do not buy...infact don't buy anything from homelite brand as I made the mistake they are rubbish quality worst piece of crap on the market..never starts properly always turns off and uses too much fuel for pathetic work ..i literally snapped and smashed it on the floor several times..better off save yourself the hassle and spend abit extra for good quality  Show details

Pathetic piece of **** – Only ever used it a handful of times and always had problems on starting. Tried to start it after this winter, it conks out almost instantly, new fuel, new spark plug... Still an unreliable piece of ****! I only have a small patch of lawn so bought this cheap line trimmer for my small patch of lawn thinking it will do the job. Boy was I wrong!  Show details

HLT25CS starter cord won't retract – how do I get the clutch assembly off the main drive shaft, as cord won't retract. Have almost ready to get at cord retractor but cant remove clutch assembly. have to write fifty words so I can submit this request. hell of a job to get it off, suspect pressure fitting

Look the part - as long as you don't use them – Purchased a 3316 petrol chainsaw for light duty firewood and trimming duties. After not too many hours it developed problem with constant revving. Took a look under the cover and both studs holding the baby carburetta to the barrel had sheared off and the carb is floating free. No stress on this part so studs should never break - unless they are… Read more

very poor quality Chinese made items, made from low grade metal.

The broken studs wont back out so the chainsaw is a throw away.

Spend a bit more money and buy a better brand

Does the job.. for now anyway – Had for year and a half and my only gripe is after a few uses it became a pain to start but I have discovered a method to it being the only way to start it without drastic measures. Start normally first time on choke then it dies after a few seconds. Start again on run and it goes for a few more seconds. Start again on choke then it will die again so then the 4th times always the charm starting it on run and half throttle until it warms up.

What an unreliable mongrel of a machine – Bought from Bunnings, just over a year ago, so that's buggered the warranty. Temperamental to start, sometimes goes just fine which builds up your confidence then when you want to rely on it the mongrel thing won't start. New plug, new fuel and oil, makes no difference. Now after almost throwing my shoulder out the starter cord is stuffed - came… Read more

out, won't retract. When you're out in the bush and 100 miles from Bunnings that sucks. Looks like I'll need an act of Parliament to fix that and/or find another brand. Gee whiz, Homelite used to be respected, and reliable. This thing is just unreliable junk.

knowledge is power – I bought one of those at the Green Shed in an immaculate conditions, the fuel line was broken. Went to bunnings bought half a meter 4mm clear pvc line, replaced the old one to size, gave the spark plug a clean with WD40. It started but bogs down on full speed so regulated the carbi speed knob.... Guess what started and works like fine. If you… Read more

have knowledge about line trimmer you wont have a problem with the cheapest ones and if you do not have knowledge I recommend you watch great videos on youtube that will make your life easier.

Don't purchase this item – Bought this item from Bunnings and only ever achieved stinking of petrol. It must have only started once or twice and never finished a job because once witches off, it won't start again. Having to throw away and purchase a different product. Recommend avoiding this product and won't buy anything Homelite again.

Cheap and Cheerful – I've read a LOT of very negative reviews about this product but I must disagree. I had one for over 10 years (2003 - 2014) and in all that time it never had a service or a clean. The only reason I replaced it was because the primer bulb and a small fuel hose broke (it's 10 years old!) and I wasn't able to get the replacement parts on a Sunday so I… Read more

went and bought the same machine and have used it for the last 12 months trouble free. I definitely recommend these.

Throw away – Purchased 12 mths ago . Half a dozen uses . Won't start with normal priming of carburettor . Have to squirt petrol mix down carburettor to start. The you gets what you pay for is certainly true with this . When new the line on the head was not up to the job either . Had to purchase news poll and , that line was all right . Now the trigger to accelerate has just fallen off broken in half. What a crock of ****

Complete waste of money don't bother – Since purchase it has always been an effort to get started. Despite following the instructions on starting, it would take at least 50 pulls to get going. Tank spews fuel left right and centre. Now, after 2 years the pull chord has come loose inside pulling the chord does nothing (though it does retract into the case again). You definitely get what you pay for

Three Times used and it is useless – I purchased this line trimmer 18 months ago. I used it three times. I stored it away over winter and have just tried to restart it. I even changed the spark plug, but there is no spark. Surely after 3 times it cant be a throw away but the cost of repairing and sending it away to be fixed seems unbelievable. You get what you paid for and… Read more

unfortunately this piece of equipment is a toy not a real machine. I had a weedeater line trimmer that lasted 12 years with little maintenance. Sorry homelite I wont be fooled again

HOW TO REPAIR HLT25CS PULL CORD PROBLEM – I CAN GIVE YOU A FIX FOR GOOD NO PARTS NEEDED JUST UNDER 30 MINUTES TO DO FIX the problem is spring in cord boss you need to remove place in a vise and with plyers bend the end into a hook so when under load won't slip out if any one needs more info post and i can give more details

Throw away society – Purchased a Homelite HLT 25CS lawn trimmer from Bunnings 18 months ago. Ran well for that time. Starter jammed the other day and the rope would not recoil. Finally worked out how to access, phew what a job, and found a plastic cup covering the recoil spring had slipped and another internal spring had torn from the hole in the covering cup. I… Read more

notice when viewing USA spare parts you can purchase the starter assembly alone and it has a stronger hole encasing the spring. But here in Australia according TTI - Techtronic Industries Australia Pty/Ltd, you have to buy the whole red cowling which has the same old starter assembly attached. This is approx., a $50 purchase to fix a $5 problem. Not good for the pocket and very bad for the environment.

Why can we not buy spare parts these days for those of us who would rather fix things than throw the item in the bin and then to landfill?

Don't buy this throw away product. Save money and the environment. Ran well for 18 months. A throw away product not easily repaired. Bad for the environment.