Introduction
The TBC 255PF is a commercial grade unit straight from the good folks at Tanaka, a division of Hitachi. We’ve had concerns about other Tanaka models, so going into this review, we want to pay close attention to issues out there. Also, this unit has been discontinued, though you can still find vendors carrying it.
Specs, Assembly, Start
This unit was made in Japan. It has the things we like inn a gas trimmer, but not necessarily a brush cutter. There’s a two-stroke engine displacing 25 cm³ and pushing 1.3 horsepower. There is a straight shaft going from the motor to the head. So far so good.
As with all 2-stroke engines, pure gasoline must be used. No ethanol can be used. The gasoline has to be mixed with motor oil. On top of the mixture, it’s also a good idea to add fuel stabilizer to the refill tank so that there are no problems during the season. And finally, the unit needs to be drained at the end of the season.
In our review of the user data, most found this unit easy to assemble. Which is what you would expect since the unit was practically fully assembled when it comes out the box.
Most found that the unit was easy to start.
So far so good.
Idle, Ergonomics, Usage
With that good start, we could not find any complaints about the idle, or needing carb adjustments.
When it came to usage, many found the unit was not ergonomic and was very difficult to use for long periods of time. The handle is not padded, so the vibration can get to be a bit much. It does not come with a harness, so adding a strap is a good idea.
And as a trend with this manufacturer the trimmer head was not very good. The line is supposed to feed when the head is bumped. Further, adding more line to unit should not be difficult. Many users complained that either or neither of these things happenened. And it’s not very clear whether you can replace the stock head with the Tanaka “No Brainer”
With respect to fuel, some found the unit to be fuel efficient. But others found the tank to be inadequate, the fuel lines to be poor, and common sense features like a gas cap keeper were not present.
Concerns
As with all power tools, they’re great when they’re running. But wear and tear leads to maintenance and repairs. For this particular unit, there were a few frustrated users who could not get through to customer service, nor could they find service centers to take the unit. It is important to locate factory approved qualified service personnel in your area anytime you make a purchase like this.
We’re still waiting for more information about the long term viability of these units, but since they have been discontinued, that information is hard to come by.
Conclusion
Overall, we feel that the TBC 255 PF is a decent trimmer, but the vibration is an issue. We would definitely add an aftermarket harness if there is going to be a lot of use.