Posts: 4,248
Threads: 96
Joined: Mar 2014
...18v battery Ryobi pole saw too. I've had it for 3 or more years. It works very well but here are the couple knocks on it:
It slowly leaks the chain oil but if the lid is stored in the upright position it helps. The chain loosens more often than I would like so I have to carry that little allen wrench every time I use it.
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Those are the 2 faults of the Ryobi! I finally resorted to a drop of Lock-Tite on that allen screw. It helps quite a bit.
Posts: 89
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Joined: Jun 2021
Im have solar power, I also have over a dozen battery powered yard tools that charge during the day
all Ryobi
best one is the battery Chainsaw.. great because you can turn it on and off easily between cuts, and not having to struggle keeping it running between cuts because its a bitch to start..
I have 2 battery pole saws too, they are great for reaching into bushes to cut weed trees at the base. also pruning travelers palms and regular real palms...
I have a battery lawn mower, and 2 battery weedwackers too...
the only gas tool I still use is a weedwacker for larger brush...
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Joined: May 2022
For just a little more money, you can get much better quality and power with the DeWalt 20V cordless pole and chainsaw. HD usually has them in stock. I have had both.
Posts: 7,734
Threads: 686
Joined: Jun 2011
Ryobi is the same company that owns Milwaukee tools. One can even buy adapters to use Ryobi batteries on Milwaukee tools. As one construction worker told me, one wouldn't want to use Ryobi all day on the job, but for occasional use they can't be beat. They have sales where one can buy a bunch of tools with a battery and charger for the same price as a single commercial tool.
Looking at the deals they have, I equate them to companies that sell their printers at cost to screw people on ink prices later. Ryobi seems to price most tools in a range such that their profit margin is on the batteries plus one buys into their brand. Once you get a a couple of tools and compatible batteries you're unlikely to jump ship to a different platform.
I noticed on their new 80v platform (mostly big things like riding mowers) they have adapters to convert two of their 40v batteries into one 80v, a feature they didn't include when going from 18v to 40v, even though there are videos on the internet on how to make an adapter for that purpose.
We have a lot of their tools in duplicate. 18v chainsaw and 40v chainsaw. Same with the weed whackers. His and Hers. The 40v trimmer has just as much power as any gas trimmer I've ever used, even if there are a few design flaws they need to correct. The metal blade and rotor tiller attachments work fairly well, and a lot longer off a single battery than I would have thought.
Their stuff has a 3 year warranty. I wouldn't expect any of their tools or batteries to last beyond that unless they get infrequent use, but they often do. I recently bought a new drill because my OG Ryobi that came with cadmium battery 10 years ago has released the magic smoke a few times and I'm guessing its at the end of it's lifespan and I took advantage of a sale. And it's nice to have two drills on a big project so one isn't switching between drill and driver bits constantly. It was like $69 for the drill, or $79 for the drill with a battery and charger, or $89 for a drill with TWO batteries and a charger, or $99 for a drill with two batteries, a charger, and a circular saw. And during the sale if I spent $99 I got two extra batteries. So they upsold me out of $30 but I came back with an extra circular saw and four batteries. My old saw works great but now I have one with a wood blade and one with a metal blade so no more switching back and forth.
