Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer Review

If you are like most homeowners, having a nice yard is one of your top priorities.

The problem is, lawn care is probably your least favorite activity, which is understandable.

It takes a lot of work to keep the grass on any property nice and even.

However, did you know that you could get a perfectly manicured lawn without breaking your back or breaking the bank?

Many home power tools can do most of the hard work for you, and among them is the grass trimmer.

This Troy Bilt grass trimmer review can help you make the right choice.

Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer Review

Troy Bilt is an American company known for making the first residential rototiller in 1937.

In the past 84 years, it has perfected the art and science of building a wide range of rugged but effective lawn care power tools, from riding mowers to edgers.

One of the company’s biggest selling points is its rigorous quality standard.

These include countless engine starts, hundreds of hours of operation, and a variety of stress tests.

The Troy Bilt Straight Shaft Gasoline Grass Trimmer is a mid-tier product from its long line of grass trimmers.

It comes with a high torque 30cc four-cycle engine that makes less noise and leaves a lower carbon footprint.

While it packs plenty of innovative features, its most unique trait is that it eliminates the need for you to mix gas and oil.

Who Is This Product For?

The Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer’s engine is designed to be cleaner and produces less noise compared to other models.

It is perfect for homeowners who do not want to disturb neighbors or disrupt the environment while getting plenty of yard work done.

It comes with a cutting swath of 17 inches, allowing you to cut wider areas of grass in a shorter amount of time.

Coupled with a powerful four-cycle engine, you can make quick work of even the most overgrown yards.

You can use it to cut grass and light weeds or do some edging and decorative trimming around trees and fences.

Another good thing about the Troy Bilt Straight Shaft Gasoline Grass Trimmer is that it is reasonably priced.

While it is not among the cheapest string trimmers available today, it will not cost you an arm and a leg.

With all the features that it offers, you will definitely get the most bang for your buck when you get this model.

What’s Included?

Each Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer comes with a shoulder strap for a more comfortable operation.

It also includes a bottle of four-cycle engine SAE 30 weight oil.

The string trimmer’s shaft comes in two pieces, which allows it to accept other attachments from Troy Bilt.

These attachments are sold separately.

Overview of the Features

There are many grass trimmers available in the market today, and we understand that choosing just one can be challenging.

To help you make the best decision, we have looked into the Troy Bilt Straight Shaft Gasoline String Trimmer.

Here are some of its best features.

• Powerful Four-Cycle Engine

If you are looking for a rugged tool that is relentless in cutting grass but gentle on the environment, this model is a great option.

It comes with a four-cycle engine that is cleaner than most brands.

To support that claim, you’ll find that it meets the strict standards of the California Air Resources Board or CARB.

What’s more, it generates less noise pollution.

Thanks to this, you can do some yard work before the sun is up without hearing any complaints from your neighbors.

• Separate Reservoirs for Oil and Gas

With most grass trimmers, you have to mix the exact amount of oil with the gas for the machine to perform at an optimum level.

The Troy Bilt Straight Shaft Gasoline Grass Trimmer has a separate reservoir for the oil and the gas, taking away all the guesswork every time you want to cut grass.

• Wide Cutting Swath

The Troy Bilt Straight Shaft Gasoline Grass Trimmer has a sizable cutting swath of 17 inches.

While it is not the largest in the market, it is more than enough for residential applications.

With this much coverage, you can quickly finish a large amount of yard work in a short time.

• SpringAssist Start

This innovative technology makes the Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer much easier to start.

All you need are two or three smooth and steady pulls, and you are good to go.

• Straight Shaft Style

Do you often have trouble reaching under shrubs, around fences, and other obstacles?

If so, you will appreciate the straight shaft design of this Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer.

It provides better control and maximizes how far you can extend the cutting head.

• Click ‘N Trim Bump Head

The Click ‘N Trim mechanism lets you release more string by bumping the head onto the ground.

This feature makes it possible for you to work uninterrupted, as you do not have to stop and manually pull the line if it wears out.

• TrimmerPlus Capability

The grass trimmer’s straight shaft comes in two separate parts connected by the TrimmerPlus mechanism.

It makes the unit compatible with all the optional attachments from the Troy Bilt product line.

If you have other TrimmerPlus attachments, the amount of storage space needed in your garage will be reduced significantly.

• Multi-Position Handle

When handling grass trimmers, one of the most vulnerable parts of your body is your hands.

This is especially true for people who like to work continuously until the job is done.

If you are one of them, then you will love this Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer even more.

Its handle has a multi-position capability that puts less stress on your hands as you use the grass trimmer, even for long hours.

• Ergonomic Shoulder Strap

Aside from your hands, grass trimming will prove hardest on your back.

To address this concern, you would find the shoulder strap extremely useful, especially if you have a large yard.

How To Use the Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer

If you just got your Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer, you’ll find that it requires some assembly.

Even so, you will only need a flat head screwdriver.

1. Installing the Trimmer Guard

To install the head shield, you need to remove the wing nut and washer used to attach it.

Next, insert the short tab for the bracket mount into the cutting head’s slot.

Afterward, rotate the shield until the hole and the bolt are aligned.

Lastly, secure the shield by attaching the washer and the wing nut.

2. Installing the Handle

First, push the handle onto the upper shaft housing.

You will then want to check that the hole for the bolt is facing the right side of the tool.

Insert the bolt into the hole and turn it with a flat head screwdriver without tightening completely.

Next, simulate your optimum handling posture and adjust the position of the handle accordingly.

Once you have identified the ideal location for the handle, tighten the bolt using the flat head screwdriver.

Make sure that it is secure so that it won’t loosen when you operate the tool.

3. Adjusting the Handle

Want to change the location of the handle?

All you need to do is loosen the bolt using the screwdriver and then make the necessary adjustment.

Once done, tighten the bolt again.

4. Installing the Shoulder Strap

To install the strap, start by pushing one end through the buckle’s center slot.

Next, bend the end of the strap and push it through the lower slot of the buckle.

Put the strap over your left shoulder and snap the clip onto the harness loop.

Lastly, adjust the length of the strap by pulling the buckle up or the strap down.

5. Adding Oil for the First Time

The Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer arrives without any oil in the crankcase.

Before using it, make sure that you add the oil first.

Do not put oil in the fuel tank, as there is a separate reservoir for it.

To add the oil, set the grass trimmer on a flat surface and unscrew the oil fill plug.

Pour 90 milliliters of oil that comes with the product into the hole.

Wipe off any spills and make sure that the O-ring is in place before you reinstall the plug.

6. Putting in the Fuel

For optimum performance, do not use fuel that is more than 30 days old.

Most fuels today use a mixture of gasoline and oxygenates, which absorb water over time.

The smallest amount of water can make the fuel and oil separate during storage, resulting in the formation of acid.

When adding the fuel, place the grass trimmer on a flat surface with the fuel cap pointed up.

Remove the cap, add the fuel without overfilling the tank, and then reinstall the cap.

Move the grass trimmer at least 30 feet away from any fuel container before starting the unit.

7. Starting the Unit

To start the machine, press the primer bulb slowly and then release it. Do this step 10 times.

Next, move the choke lever to the first position, which is labeled 1.

Press the throttle lockout and hold it, then squeeze and hold the control for the throttle.

As you squeeze and hold the throttle lockout, pull the starter rope with a steady motion five times.

Afterward, move the choking lever to the second position and pull the starter rope again three to five times.

Give the engine 30 to 60 seconds to warm up, and then move the choke lever position to 3.

Wait another 60 seconds before using the unit.

8. Stopping the Engine

To turn the engine off, release the control throttle and let it idle.

Press the ON/OFF switch until the engine stops completely.

Alternative

The majority of Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer reviews you will find online are positive.

Even so, there’s still the possibility that this is not the right model for you.

In that case, you might want to check out the Gazeto Cordless String Trimmer too.

Compared to the Troy Bilt, you can rotate its cutting head.

As such, you can use it as both a trimmer and an edger.

The unit draws power from a lithium battery, which means it has an even smaller carbon footprint than the Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer.

However, it is important to note that it packs less power and has a narrower cutting swath of only 12 inches.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that the Troy Bilt Grass Trimmer is a reliable workhorse when it comes to lawn care.

Its four-cycle engine packs a lot of power, and its cutting swath allows you to cover a lot of ground.

It is a mid-tier product that comes with many useful features, giving you much value for your money.

If you are looking for a dependable grass trimmer, you will never go wrong with this model.