Customer Reviews

Tanaka Commercial Grade Lightweight Gas Powered Straight Shaft Grass Trimmer / Brush Cutter 21cc 1.1 HP 2-Stroke (CARB Compliant) TBC-225

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was looking for a gas powered string trimmer that was lightweight, for my back, durable and would actually work as advertised. So far the Tanaka CG Trimmer has met and exceeded my expectations. It came ready to go out of the box. I added the gas/oil mixture and it fired right up. It is lightweight, very easy to handle and cuts down excess grass and weeds with ease. Since I just received it, I obviously cannot answer the durability question, but it feels good in my hands. Best value for price/performance I found on the web.

I bought the Tanaka because of the light weight. I've found that this trimmer is my favorite, not only because of the light weight but it also starts very easily every time! I also have an Echo string trimmer and a Husquavna string trimmer. The husquavna is the most powerful of the bunch but also the heaviest and most fatiguing to use. The Echo doesn't have the power of the Tanaka and is still 2 lbs. heavier! It's also noisier than the Tanaka.
I'll be looking at Tanaka products to fill my needs from now on!

Previous to owning this trimmer, I've had a Stihl FS45 and an Echo SRM210. The Stihl, the inexpensive Homescaper model served me well for about 5 years, but when the carburetor went, it wasn't worth fixing.

I picked up an reconditioned Echo from a big box store, used it for a couple of weeks and returned it, because it was too difficult to start.

The Tanaka is the easiest starting trimmer I've ever had, it starts and runs steady after a couple of pulls when cold, starts on one pull when hot. Its the lightest trimmer I've owned too, but has plenty of power too, goes through cattails with ease. Vibration is minimal, on par with the Echo, better then the Stihl.

Noise is on par with or maybe a little quieter then the Echo, it runs smoother then the Echo did.

The standard bump head works ok, doesn't always feed on the first try. It's fairly resistant to weed wrap which is a plus. Reloading it doesn't look to be too bad either. The Echo had lots of weedwrap with a gap above the spool; the Stihl almost never had any.

Construction quality is very good, but you can see why the Echo is almost 2 pounds heavier, with more metal castings then plastic as in the Tanaka. I have about 1/2 acre to trim with lots of fence line and other obstacles to trim around so weight is important to me.

Overall I'm pleased with it; it's a good value for the money.

I can't compare this to other trimmers but I don't have to as this one has lasted me for over a decade with minimal maintainance and no problems. It fires up every time, even after the winter break.
The "brain" head is sometimes a pain to reload but I can't imagine others are much better. I sometimes swap out the brain for the "no-brainer" that uses pre-cut line. To be sure there are more powerful machines out there but if you want something light for grass rather than heavy brush this is the one.

I have a 3 year old Echo Straight shaft trimmer that I bought from Home Depot for around $220. (SRM-211) I was the only one who used it and always kept it in my shed, so it wasn't exposed to the elements nor was it abused. Well, it kept getting harder and harder to start, and now if I do get it started, it won't run for very long. A local shop will charge me around $50 per hour in labor to look at, but it probably needs a new coil, so total repair costs will be close to $100. :(

I started looking at the cheap, under $100 trimmers, but then I came across this Tanaka model and read the reviews. Did I want to spend close to $200 again on a string trimmer? Well, I took a chance, and I am glad I did.

I have had this Tanaka for a couple of weeks now, and I am very happy with it. It is very similar to the Echo that it replaced, but is NOTICEABLY lighter. It is very easy to start and does not have the fuel primer bulb that a lot of small engines now have. I also like the fact that the guard does not surround the cutting head like it did on my Echo - it's about a foot away and allows you to see the head while your cutting. The unit came fully assembled in a long box. All I had to do was loosen the guard and handle and position them where I wanted them.

I had never heard of Tanaka before, but it seems to be a well built, quality product. Time will tell.

This product exceeded our wildest expectations. It starts up so quickly and easily and the light weight makes it much easier for us to use. My husband is nearly 70 years old and has limited use of his right arm. He used this amazing tool to cut the weeds down on 3 acres of land all by himself! He was never able to do this with other weed eaters we have had in the past. We just love it!

Works great. Probably the seventh one I've owned..wish it would have been the first. Highly recommend.

Tanaka tbc 225 is a excellent weed eater. It very light weight not difficult to start as long you read the manual and use 50:1 oil ration intend for air cooled and using gasoline 89 octane or higher cuts very well and when engine is warm it start very easy, not like the cheap brands out in the market. Highly recommend it even to homeowner. Japan make excellent lawn and garden power equipment that lots of professional gardners buy this type of equipment.

I used to hate the thought of using my old Toro trimmer. I knew it would take about 40 pulls to get the thing started then about 1/2 way through the job it would just quit never to restart until the next day.

This Tanaka starts on the first or second pull and keeps running. I still don't look forward to doing the trimming but at least I have no excuse to get the job done. This is a mighty fine piece of equipment even if a little hard on the ears.

As promised this trimmer starts easily and runs great. Is also lightweight. My former trimmer was an Echo and was always very hard to start. This Tanaka is a joy to use. Highly recommend.