McCulloch 18-Volt Garden Combo Kit #MX9898

List Price: $119.99

Features:

• 18-volt combo kit with 3-in-1 trimmer/hedge trimmer/blower capabilities
• Rechargeable and removable battery for continuous use
• 8-inch cutting swath uses .065-inch diameter single line
• Includes battery, charger, and wall-hanging bracket
• Weighs 16 pounds

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed [Posted on 2004-08-21]

"Availability: Usually ships within 1 to 2 weeks".

I don't think so. I placed my order on July 21, 2004, and it is now August 21, 2004 and my order has still not been shipped. The current shipping estimate is between September 1 and September 8 with a delivery date out to possibly September 16. When I originally ordered the product the delivery estimate was between August 6 and August 17. I will tell you when I actually get it and its performance once I receive it (if I receive it).

Update: Received item on August 30, 2004. It took 39 days from the order date. I unpacked the unit and while I waited for one of the batteries to recharge, I decided to see what it would take to change the edger line on the spool. It took me 7 minutes to remove the spool and 30 minutes to remount the spool. Since the Black and Decker unit I had been using only took 5 minutes for the entire operation, I decided I would not have enough patience to perform this function. I repacked all the items and reshipped the unit back to Amazon.com.

This unit is a great idea (three units in one) with a great price. For $119.00 you get an edger, blower, and hedge trimmer. You get two batteries and a mounting strip that attaches to your garage to hold all the components and recharge one of the batteries. Replacing the edger line on the McCulloch in a timely manner does not look practical.

I went to Lows and purchased a cheap ($29) Black and Decker electric edger (ST4000). This unit has a similar design (unfortunately) to the McCulloch; however, the spool can probably be changed in 5 minutes (I am hoping). I prefer the design of my old unit where the spool is carried at the top of the unit next to the handle. This new Black and Decker design has the spool at the bottom of the unit like the McCulloch.

I will be returning this PIECE of JUNK ASAP!  [Posted on 2004-09-18]
The Blower -- My DeWalt 18 volt vacuum/blower does a much better job of blowing dry debris from our 20'x24' deck on one battery charge. The McCulloch MX9898 took two fully charged batteries to do the same job, and it took twice as long to do it.

The String Trimmer - What a pathetic joke. One fully charged battery only managed to trim 10 to 15 feet of 6-inch grass along my wood fence. The second battery never got a chance to become discharged, as the string kept breaking off (5 times) inside the cutting head before I could cut another 7 or 8 feet.

The Hedge Trimmer - This attachment will be going back unused. I don't intend to waste another minute of my time with this technological miscarriage.

I expected much more from brand names like McCulloch and Ryobi. Shame on them.

I'll come up with a few extra bucks and buy the Black and Decker CCC3000 18-Volt Cordless Lawncare Center, which is what I should have done in the first place. Shame on me.

Easy to use [Posted on 2005-08-01]
Each of the three tools provided by this kit is significantly weaker than a top of the line standalone model... but they get the job done.

Blower: The weakest of the three. This one is barely functional. If your primary interest is for a blower then look elsewhere.

String Trimmer: About half as powerful as one of the large corded or gasoline trimmers. I find it easier to set and replace the string with this trimmer than others I have tried. Most useful for small trimming jobs.

Hedge Trimmer: The best of the three tools. Does an excellent job cutting through even small (1/4" diameter) branches.

Battery life is generally short, but I find it useful for quick jobs and work in stages. I can spend half an hour a day after work trimming a section of the yard or bushes and then recharge it for the next day. The unit is very light and simple to operate.

If you have 'serious yardwork' to do then get something else. If you want a simple tool for minor touchups and quick jobs then this is a viable option.

Pretty good hedge clipper [Posted on 2007-01-17]
The good news: I have gotten quite a bit of use out of the hedge trimmer in this package. The battery holds enough juice to get the job done at my in-town residence. I have a corner lot, and a 4-5 foot hedge that runs 50' down the avenue and about 100' down the street. I have used it to cut Kerraganda and cedar bushes, with little problems with branch size.
The bad news: I fried the string trimmer the first time I used it (possibly operator error - I've only used gas and corded electrics before) and the blower is severely underpowered.
The verdict: If you can, go with a corded electric or gas for better string trimmer and blower results. If you can get the hedge trimmer by itself, it's not a bad deal.

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