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The Hitachi CG22EASSLP is a quality gas weed eater – powerful, lightweight, very easy to start and not extra loud. Also with a possibility to select you preferred type of shaft or even get the Hitachi extensions.
Pros:
- Powerful
- Lightweight, good balance
- Easy starting
Cons:
- line feed a bit tricky
Key specifications:
- Edger:
- Weight: 11 lbs
Note: These videos actually show the older version as there are no clips of the newer one yet.
More Videos
Fairly Light for a Gas Powered Unit
The CG22EAP2SL is a new version of the popular CG22EASSLP which used to be a bestseller for many years. Let’s take a look at this new unit!
It shares all the advantages of gas weed whackers – great power, complete freedom of movement, no messing with the cord (and winding it up after trimming) or being limited by battery life. On the other hand, it requires mixing the gas-oil fuel and a little maintenance.
However, most of the typical disadvantages of gas powered tools are not present, or at least very limited – it’s fairly light (a shoulder strap is not included but not necessary thanks to its weight) and also nicely balanced. It vibrates only a little, the noise level is acceptable as well and there are no fumes – so it’s not a problem to use it even for longer periods of time.
The assembly is easy, you just attach the handle, shield and trimmer head (see the second video) – all required tools are included.
Powerful, Line Feeding Is a Bit Tricky
For a unit this small, it offers exceptional power (tall, overgrown grass is not a problem) and starts mostly on the first two pulls. Only the shield against flying rocks and debris is quite small so be sure to wear eye protection.
Control of the trigger is nice and precise, it’s really easy to set the power just as you’d like. Just the placement of the on/off button could have been better, users report that you can hit it accidentally sometimes.
Some users love the bump feeder, some complain it does not work as expected. It seems the key is to find the sweet spot at low RPMs where it works the best. The 0.095 line is durable enough, it doesn’t break even if you hit some stone occasionally.
Shaft Versions, Attachments and Edging
Attachments for the split shaft
You have also the possibility to choose between three different types of shaft – straight, curved (CG22EAP2SLB) or split (CG22EAP2SLD). There isn’t much difference in performance between the first two, but some users find the curved one to be more comfortable to use and also easier to control. On the other hand, it’s more difficult to use for edging or trimming hard-to-reach places such as under benches.
The split shaft is slightly more expensive, but enables you to use various Hitachi attachments like an edger or pole saw. The problem is that these add-ons are quite expensive and the connection doesn’t allow you to use attachments from other brands (Poulan for example).
So, unless you are really accustomed to using the curved shaft (or need the attachment capability of the split one), we would recommend you the most popular straight version.
This Hitachi string trimmer does not offer a built-in edger adjustment – but when you flip the entire unit, it can be used for edging quite successfully (as long as the fuel line has gas to take up).
Conclusion: If you want a quality gas weed eater, Hitachi CG22EAP2SL is the right choice for you – powerful, lightweight and easy to handle and also not overly expensive. We can definitely recommend it.
>> Read more or buy the Hitachi CG22EAP2SL here
Specifications:
- Brand: Hitachi
- Type: Gas powered
- Edger:
- Tilting head:
- Cycles: 2 stroke
- Cubature: 21.1cc
- Weight: 11 lbs
- Cutting swath: 17"
- Line: 0.095 dual line
- Feeding: bump feed
- Warranty: 7-year consumer, 2-year commercial non-rental, 1-year rental
- Includes: 1 spool
Frequently asked questions:
What kind of fuel is required?
The machine is 2-cycle so a mix of gas and oil (50:1) is required. We recommend using a non-ethanol blended, high octane gas and for example the Tanaka oil which also enables easy measuring of the ratio.
Or to make things easier, you can get a premixed fuel.
Are there any accessories I should buy?
We recommend getting a spare string and also the Tanaka’s oil which makes measuring the right oil-gas ratio really easy (or the premixed fuel if you don’t want to do it yourself).
How to change the line?
Show Video
Is there any maintenance needed?
Gas powered string trimmers require some additional upkeep like cleaning the air filter or adding stabilizer to the fuel for winter storage – please read our guide or refer to the user manual for more info.
