Customer Reviews for RYOBI 40V Expand-It Cordless Battery Attachment Capable String Trimmer (Tool Only)

This is a great tool for my yard and the attachments are hard to beat, just a great overall tool

Has plenty of power but the string does not auto advance. You can turn the knob and get it to advance, but while using it, the string breaks on the inside and you’re left with one string that won’t advance. I have to completely remove the head and re-string it 4 times on my small yard. The string system looked good and easy - it is not.

It’s pretty bad, that I was charged by Home Depot for this order. It was shipped via FedEx, and on 9 April FedEx said the package was delivered. And fact the package was not delivered, and the only thing that was sent to me were the cords for the weedeater. I got an email stating that the item was on backorder with no update and then all of a sudden the whole shipment was delivered on 9 April seemed a little suspicious to me. Home Depot, you will never be getting my business again because this is not the first time that something like this has happened.

First thing is to read the manual. They have improved string loading. You don't have to open anything up in order to load the string. It is quick and easy if you follow the instructions. I already have a Ryobi expand-it head. But the new design is easier to use. It was cheaper to buy the entire string trimmer then just the power head. Having a second power head is handy when I am switching between two tools. I can change attachments, but doing it every couple of minutes gets old in a hurry.

Might be good for really light jobs, but anything that requires long use is too much for this trimmer. The motor heats up to the point it melted the plastic housing on itself. As a result the trimmer stopped working.

I think the Ryobi 40V Cordless String Trimmer is Fantastic

I had it for a couple of weeks and then it started smoking at the motor. It seem like it was melting the fan motor. I did not purchase the Home Depot warranty and tried calling the ryobi customer service but no answer. Definitely don’t recommend and it will be the last time I buy an electric weed trimmer after this experience.

I’ve had this weed wackier for only a year and the the head of where the motor is got so hot it melted the entire motor and the casing around it it. It could have started a fire in my backyard.

I had the gas version of this expand it model and decided to buy the battery version seen here. I liked its weight, power, and ease of assembly and use. At only two weeks old and only several uses, the unit seized unexpectedly and the battery was smoking. 1 minute later it was on the ground spewing noxious fumes, smoking, and then caught fire. I googled it and see many articles of this happening elsewhere. Fortunately I had an empty metal trashcan to cover it & prevent a woods fire.

String housing was hard to open but with W40 it became easier to open it. Less than 90 days and seldom used, the compartment housing broke and unable to open to add string. Home Depot's best seller but not a good product.

I consider myself an Ryobi fan boy. I own a Handyman Services Business and I use only Ryobi brand tools in my business. Matter of fact I am still using first generation of tools. I was excited to get the 40V and upgrade feom 18v. But after 30 minutes the battery died I have a 1/5 acre lot with a big house on it. Simple grass to cut simple weededing. However we still have ro finish with the 18v weedeater and the wife never uses the 40V as she said it's a waste of time with the battery going dead. We have the 4ah battery and the 18v 3ah out does this. Now today is bad. I get started weededing some grass to get my arm burnt as the unit has caught on fire. This is I haven't even got a year out of it I think. I bought it last year and now it's shot.

Best part I liked about this is its super cutting power and attachement capability. I bought this and edger attachmet together and it gets job done. In a box you get multi head spindle, trimmer attachment, one 40V battery and one charger. This is great tool. One suggestion for faster assembly, while connecting trimmer to main shaft, rotate the trimmer shaft clockwise or anticlockiwse to lock in place. Pushig straight it does not go in. I hope this info is useful.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] It's awesome! Super powerful. Does my whole back yard in twenty minutes, no lawn mower required.

This is a great trimmer, lots of power and holds a charge for long time. However, reloading the spool leaves something to be desired. It comes apart in 3 pieces and keeping them all attached while reloading is a chore. The green cap that says load spool doesn't do its job. I have to fight with this trimmer every time I take it outside. Ryobi is great, but unfortunately this trimmer isn't of high quality, and not worth the price.

2 positives..you don't have to drag an extension chord around. And great for townhouse living where u only have 10ft of walkway to trim.Cons:weaker than a cheap corded trimmer. If you have anything thicker than rye good luck! Battery lasts less than 45 min,being generous because the last 1/4 of battery is useless. After 3 uses the head seized where I needed 2 pipe wrenches to undo and then had to soak the head I'm penitrating oil overnight just to put the spool back on.Photo shows 15 min of work

I had my battery just sitting on my workbench, not even charging. Overnight it melted down and filled my whole house with smoke and fumes. Luckily it didn't fully catch on fire. Will not use again, do not recommend.

Great Ryobi 40v string trimmer! Lasted about an hour of full throttle cutting wild two foot grass on a 4AH battery. Easy to load thick string too.

I read positive reviews about this product, so I decided to check its availability and purposely visited the store where it was being sold. I eagerly purchased it, filled with anticipation. However, upon opening the box, I was disheartened to find a part missing and noticeable signs of previous use. This experience left me feeling frustrated and disappointed, as my time and effort were wasted.

The body split like a tuna can on the second use not even 3 months since buying it . It was being used to clean up along pool landscaping and litterally the body sheared and stayed running . This isn’t the same composition of metal that our other expand it is made out of as the other one is 7 years old this one was litterally purchased to replace the older unit. Disappointing as ryobi does not stand by their products or provide any sort of customer service .

After 4 two-stroke trimmers, I thought I would try 40 volt trimmer, perhaps it would last longer. It didn’t work out that way. 6 days after purchase, the motor locked up and it started smoking. Also shaft is difficult to put in to change accessories. I took it back, and they replaced it with a new one. We will see how this one works.

I bought this at Cleveland Heights store and when I got it home found it was a used item. Returned to the store asked for the Manager and was to that I had to find him myself. I was told that this happens all the time. I am still waiting to see what Home Depot has to say about this.

Works perfect and all but the battery only last 20 min of continuous use. If you have more back ups then its perfect. Other than that, dont buy.

The metal stamping insert where the trimmer shaft attaches to the battery shaft is not properly sized. I noticed a few boxes had been opened and returned. Might be why. I was determined and had to loosen it all the way, then use a screw driver to open up the sleeve to be able to accommodate the diameter of the rod. Without doing that the rod was about the same diameter as the insert, so they just buy up to each other. Fortunately I have the mechanical aptitude to work around it and get it to work, but it is not right. It is a manufacturing or design spec defect. Thanks Would be a good idea to look into this as I am sure there have been a lot of returns. Also, I thought I may buy some other accessories. It is a plus of the system. But with how hard it would be to change out attachments, it would not be worth it. But if it was as I expect the design intent was, theat one would slide out and a other right back in, then clamp down and go... Then I would. Even with the sleave opened up, it is not a fix for that problem as the sleave is round and has some spring to it, so it closes back up to the too small size after an attachment rod is removed. So I have just inserted the trimmer and left it that way. Kind of defeats the purpose of the products exchangeable attachments. Rating would be better if attachments could easily be changed out as expected. Thanks

I like the item but the battery only lasts about 20 minutes, just enough to do about a third of my lawn and not good for thick weeds. Ill keep it but am a bit disappointed.

I have a garage full of AC power tools a few tractors, AC lawn tools and a dozen gas 2 stroke weed Wackers. Well....after $spending$ a lot of $$$ doing PM, carbs, clutches, bearings AND finding good gas... I went over to the dark side and bought another Ryobi battery powered tool!!! I'm slowly giving up gas and AC for my lawn, garden, hedges, brush, and power tools. My point of this review: I highly recommend any of their tool's and accessories. I lov'em! SFGS! Semper Fi Godspeed!

String broke inside first time I used it. Head is almost impossible to remove. Total garbage.

Worked well until the shaft bent where it attaches to whatever you might be using. I used it with the Ryobi hedge trimmer, and pole saw. It functioned well until the shaft bent. It simply can’t handle the weight of some of the attachments sold by Ryobi.

Bought in June, was never really happy with it. Sure it has a 40v battery, but when you see more than light grass it just gives up and shuts off. This was to replace a 5 year old ryobi 18v that i wore out. Got the updated version of the 18v, it outperforms the 40v hands down. 40v is about the same as the worn 18v. The 40v seems to be let down by the motor...it acts like it can't actually take the full power from the battery, and is severely current limited.

Needed a seond weed trimmer as a backup for my sometimes temperamental but fully functional Echo GT 2400 gas trimmer. So I got a Ryobi 40V trimmer, which I used once and promptly returned to big box store. Ryobi 40V has no soul and is flimsy. Ryobi 40V is weak and does the job in TRIPLE the time it takes my old faithful Echo gas trimmer. It is not ergonomic and weight is unbalanced with battery. Note: battery per se is not heavy but it throws off the balance of the machine. You can feel all the weight on the battery end of the machine. This makes me have to position myself awkwardly to maneuver and operate the machine. Worse still - I have to make at least THREE passes on same spot before it is cleared to any reasonable effect. Other reviewers state it takes a few hours to recharge battery. I believe them so I didn't bother to recharge and simply packed it up for return after it shut off with no warning. So I'm getting a backup gas trimmer for my old faithful Echo (bought USED about 10 years ago and is still more efficient, faster and more powerful on the job) Point rating: Rechargeable trimmer = 0 Gas trimmer = 100

Had a big yard cleanup project and my gas trimmer just died. I went with the Ryobi since it shares a battery with my leaf blower. Awesome product, but make sure you buy extra trimmer line.