Strengths NONE

Weaknesses FIRST USE, TURNED OVER BUT WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. ADJUSTED FUEL... TOOK TO TWO REPAIR PLACES, HAS NEVER RAN MORE THAN 60-90 SECONDS.

Overall

Strengths Motor is quiet and runs well.

Weaknesses Like most people posting, the lower, flexible drive shaft broke. It costs a ridiculous $50 to replace, when the whole machine, new, was about $150. I'm done with this model. Weight balance could be better.

Overall

Strengths Attachments

Weaknesses Carbuerator, parts, support

Overall After a year it will only run for a second and dies. Carb cleaned, spark plug cleaned etc. cannot buy parts for carb without buingg the entire carb for $65.00. Looks nice hanging in my garage but not good for anything else

Strengths Nice 4-cycle engine that usually runs well. Flexibility in attachments.

Weaknesses The major headache with this has been the fuel system. The fuel lines and primer bulb break down quickly and are are aggravating to replace.

Overall As mentioned the major problem is the fuel system. The fuel lines disintegrated and needed to be replaced. The fuel line is generic enough and can be purchased pretty much anywhere that sells parts. My real frustration was with the primer bulb. Troybilt/MTD wants to sell you an entire carb for $40 when the only problem is a primer bulb. Troybilt customer service was horrible and in fact transferred me to a dial tone. With the help of a review on another model, I went to a small engine repair place and they guy was awesome. These trimmers use a Walbro carb and he said MTD only buys the whole carb, that's why that's all they'll sell you, but he (and am sure lots of repair places) buy just the bulb direct from Walbro. The part number for this particular trimmer is 188-12 and should cost around $3-$5 and is very easy to replace. I was also told that these fuel plastics break down often because of the some of the additives to gas like ethanol, even tho I don't believe my Mobil gas contains alot of it. Anyway, my purpose of this review was to give out the primer bulb information in hopes that it saves someone the aggravation I went through.

Strengths Cranks on first pull Operates with great torque light weight

Weaknesses the shafts are an engineering failure I went through four of them the first year I finally got one that made it through the warranty period. It is time to to take my losses on the attachments and get another brand

Overall It is a good product except for the shaft

Strengths Works great when it wants to. Very tempermentle.

Weaknesses Hardto start,fuel line fell apart.bad designall around

Overall Would never purchasea Troy Bilt Product again. This is the second I have owned. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!! I will go with HONDA

Strengths easy to change the attachments. no gas mixing! Most of the time has been very reliable.

Weaknesses after about the fist year became hard to start,Thought it was "bad gas" and disassembled the carburator, cleaned and reassembled. Then found problem was valve lifter clearance was keeping the exhause valve open all the time, thus no compression. I adjust these yearly now. Has ran great since then, with just basic maintanance. Now has become hard to start again. Will start with the throttle pulled wide pen though. Seems like what I read from others, carburstor design basically sucks!

Overall My wife got me this as my Birthday gift, and I have definatly used it enough to get my moneyworth out of it!I havent had the driveshaft problem like the others and I use the tiller attchement with this. I have many of the attchments so I dont want to buy a different brand. I have even used the tiller attachment in the HARD AZ soil without any problems! Guess I will order the parts and rebuild the carb and make it last much longer.

Strengths Relatively the same as the TB575SS that I purchased in late May,2008!! It's 4 cycle and Troy-Bilt, supposedly.

Weaknesses The SpeedSpool SUX. Started feeding line on it's own before the first 10hr oil change! THEN, I find it's a fraud .... a lowly MTD! Suggested replacement spool and bump started within 20+ minutes. I can go to Yard Sales and get usable weedeaters for the cost to replace what's required for a new SpeedSpool unit. I find that an old Ryobi is almost identical and with an easily replacable trimmer head. The last Troy Bilt Tiller my Dad and I bought was in the early '60s. Quit running in '96 when magnets came loose in flywheel. This piece of junk malfunctioned in less than 2 months.

Overall I am 65/retired, auto mechanic, weldor and millwright by trade. I built many performance engines and meticulous cleanliness was a habit. This SpeedSpool was continually cleaned during use. Also, so far, I have been unable to find any information/diagrams to aid in the possible repair of this supposedly damaged spool! There will be no more Troy-Bilt units purchased by me.

Strengths Starts every time without fail, on old gas, and has plenty of power to get through the tough stuff. Light, easy to swap attachments. Comfortable easy to adjust handle and strap.

Weaknesses None that I have found yet. (4 years)

Overall I am very pleased with this purchase and have used the trimmer and attachments on average 1 hour per week for the 4 years I have owned it.

Strengths The engine runs fine.

Weaknesses The top drive shaft is defective; as others have mentioned here and other places on internet, it wears out after only about 2 years, right when the warranty quits. I called customer service and spoke with Van (800-800-7310). He claims that the unit worked as it should for 2 years under the warranty; that the drive shaft is designed for 2 years worth of service and that it is a wear and tear item that needs to be replaced from time to time. I told him that is ridiculous, then he hung-up on me. Nice....

Overall With a defective driveshaft ($45+shipping), the rest of the unit is useless. I will have to throw it away and purchase a non MTD related replacement. There are other machines for same money that are better. I would certainly stay away from anything Troy-built, or under the umbrella of MTD Products. Customer service will stonewall you forever; they must go home everynight worried that their company will be there in the morning.