Tool Box Buzz

Makita String Trimmer Review Model EM2652LHN

Makita String Trimmer Model EM2652LHN

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Makita
Model number: EM2652LHN
Power source: 25.4 CC 4-Stroke
Motor size: 1.1 HP
Weight: 11.5 lbs

First a little history, almost all of my experience with small gas powered construction tools and outdoor power equipment is of the 2 stroke variety. Partner saws, string trimmers, chainsaws, edgers, blowers, etc. The bigger motors we use on screeds, trowels, plate compactors, and lawn mowers are all of the 4 -stroke variety though. I have to admit that I haven’t spent much time contemplating why 4-stroke technology hasn’t made it to the smaller tools. I figured that they just didn’t have enough power. Thankfully, Makita didn’t believe that and decided to do something about it.

Makita 4-Stroke Line of Tools

Makita just didn’t decide to try one or two tools to convert from 2-stroke to 4-stroke, they have a whole line up of tools. Dubbed MM4, the line includes a number of blowers, saws, hedge trimmers, pole pruners, and string trimmers. The engines are designed for easier starting, lower noise, improved fuel economy, and reduced exhaust. All those things aside the real benefit is no more gas and oil mix and no blue cloud following you around while you work.

Easy to access oil fill

Makita String Trimmer

The basis of this new Makita string trimmer starts with the motor. Given what most of us know about 4-strokes is that they are heavier and bigger than similarly powered 2-strokes. That is not the case with the Makita. It is only about a half pound heavier for similar displacement and power than comparable 2-stroke units. So that advantage of 2-strokes is negated. Another advantage of 2-strokes is that they can be run at any angle. Well, Makita addressed that also with an oiler system that allows the motor to be run in positions other than just oil tank down. I like to add a chamfer when trimming around obstacles and to tip a trimmer on its side to edge. The Makita continues to handle both of these tasks easily every time I run it.

Speaking of running it, to start the unit. It only takes pressing the primer bulb until the gas starts flowing back to the tank, pushing the choke lever to on, and pulling the rip cord. Boom, done. In 3 months of testing, this motor has always started on the first pull.

After the motor comes the clutch and gearing. All of the Makita brush, hedge, and string trimmers use the same 25.4 cc motor but this unit is the high torque string trimmer so it is geared down to have much higher torque at the trimmer head. This leads to an rpm at the trimmer head of 4,700 (vs 7,400 for the non-high torque model) but the ability to keep the engine rpm high even when encountering large amounts of weeds and grasses. This is very noticeable the first time you try to mow down tall weeds. Just keep the throttle pinned and rip through them.

The trimmer head of the Makita string trimmer is a bump feed head holding a maximum of 15′ of line up to .095 round or .08 square/X diameter line. Replacing the line is pretty simple task as well. Rotate the bump dial to retract the remaining string, wiggle the bump dial rotationally back and forth a few times to free up the tension on the remaining string, and then just pull on the loop to extract the remaining string.

To replace the sting, line up the arrows on the spool with the eyelets of the housing. Insert one end of the nylon cord into eyelet on the side of the housing, feed through hole on top of the spool and then re-insert into the second hole on top of the spool. Push the nylon cord into holes until the cord feeds through eyelets on side of the housing. Push the nylon cord into holes feeding through eyelets on side of the housing until equal length on both sides. Hold the housing securely and turn the spool clockwise to wind the nylon cord into the spool.

The Makita String Trimmer in Action

Here is a short clip of the trimmer in action. You can see how thick the weeds are and that I’m just swinging the trimmer head around with no change in engine RPM. I just have the throttle pinned so that you can see how it performs.

Improvements

The only improvement I wish Makita would make is to include a harness as a standard accessory. One is available as an option but I’d like to see it as standard especially since it is more than just a nylon strap.

Conclusion

The new Makita string trimmer is a great tool. It has the power of a 2-stroke but without any of the drawbacks. You only need one gas can on your landscape trailer if you outfit it with the rest of the MM4 line. Thanks to Makita gas and blue smoke will be a thing of the past in the lawn and landscape industry.

1 Comment

1. Makita Couple Shaft System - Pick Your Power - Tool Box Buzz Tool Box Buzz

   September 23, 2020 at 11:41 pm

   […] power equipment (OPE) ran on 2-stroke mixed gas. Then in 2016 I got my hands on a new 4-stroke Makita string trimmer and my 2-stroke trimmer started gathering dust. I kept it around though because it was an […]

   Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.