written by James969 on 31/05/2013
Bought a McCulloch strimmer from makro in renfrew. Went fine for a while, was always really hard to start. then the pull cord snapped. Tried about half a dozen places to get a new cord fitted. No one would look at it as it was a mculloch strimmer. Said it was to hard a job, but if it was a Flynn there wouldn't be a problem. So I skipped it and bought a Flynn. 100 times better. So if you've got any brains ( never buy McCulloch ). There a very bad make. Cheap rubbish
written by SouthHawk on 18/05/2013
Even when first bought this hedge trimmer was troublesome to start. After two seasons of only occasional use it became very hard to start and impossible to keep going, stalling frequently. A local specialist in garden and agri-equipment refused to touch it, saying that they are rubbish and that it would fail again leaving them with a bad reputation. When I found a dealer willing to look at it he could not get it to run either. Better to rent a professional machine [from Jewson, say], buy a heavy duty electric from Bosch or save up for a serious product. This machine is not worth all the trouble.
written by Hedgetrimless on 22/08/2012
My gladiator 550 ran for less than 3 hours before it failed due to a defective flywheel. This was replaced under warranty but the replacement flywheel developed the same fault in only a few hours more. I have contacted Mcculloch through their limited contact system and Mcculloch refuse to respond to me. Most reputable dealers and maintenance/repair people to whom I have spoken will not touch them with a barge pole. Be warned!!!!!!! I believe that Mcculloch, Flymo and Electrolux are one in the same. Perhaps all their products are not fit for purpose and not of a merchantable quality.
written by on 06/07/2012
Owned for four years. Very cheap to purchase and starts easily and reliably. However, drive gears stripped after two seasons use. Repaired it but no manual available and parts very expensive compared with purchase of machine. Also, as far as I can see, the blades can not be replaced in isolation so it looks like £60plus for a new blade module. I find it heavy to use for long periods. Would spend far more on buying a more upmarket replacement.
written by on 10/06/2012
wont start. depsite carfeully following instructions
written by on 30/10/2011
Have used the Gladiator for about 3 years. But it's a bit of a
written by on 19/05/2011
Absolute rubbish, never starts, gets heavy after a while. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
No support rubbish design horrible startup.
written by on 03/04/2011
Very good price and cuts well when working, but an ignition problem developed after a couple of hours use and mine has proved difficult to restart or start at all; personally I would not recommend it.
written by on 09/12/2010
The reason the engine stopped working was because the timing wheel is secured to the crankshaft using the clutch mechanism as a bolt - and it simply comes undone spins around and then the timing goes out of sync and it wont start! I have repaired it several times but its a bad design and the problem wont go away! You have to take the engine apart and re seat the timing wheel at top dead centre and tighten it up! It will then work again - but not for long!
Other than that its a good machine!
written by on 20/07/2010
I ran a new McCulloch Tivoli 65 petrol hedge trimmer for approx 3 hours and all was well. However, on starting up the machine 3 months later, after approx 5 mins, the machine backfired and the engine stopped working. No attempt to restart the hedge trimmer succeeded. I then took it to an authorised McCulloch servicing agent who on seeing it stated 'Oh no, not another McCulloch that the engine has stopped working and will not restart'. We have several in the workshop at the moment and are having dificulty in finding out why'!
When I contacted McCulloch it wasn't very helpful because, whilst the machine had only been unpacked from being new for 3 months, the item had been bought 13 months before the failure. The fact that the hedge trimmer had sat in my garage for 10 months in it packing and had not been put to its intended use, had no impact with them.
Upon further research on the web my McCulloch engine problem appears not to be unique, and I appear to be one of many others who have suffered.
I will now be looking for a more reliable make of hedgetrimmer.
written by on 25/06/2010
Used it one season, cutting the hedge twice. It wasn't strained and fuel mix was bang accurate. It then cut out repeatedly and refused to start. Occasionally it splutters into life and then dies just as quickly. It is the second McCulloch I have bought thinking that the same experience of the last one. It too was junk with bolts falling off faster than I could find and replace them and the engine cutting outuseless in the same way. I thought lightening wouldn't strike twice but...... I was wrong. McCulloch's support site is pointless. This product is junk.
written by on 12/06/2010
after second season .scrap.carried out little work.not worth fixing,do not buy.
written by culpitt on 15/10/2009
Used it for 1 season and it stopped working and wont start. Almost impossible to find anyone who can fix it and the parts are well night impossible to find
these people do have some information
http://www.4mcculloch.co.uk/cgi-bin/search.pl?parts_search=s&model=gladiator+550&part=gladiator+550
Junk
Do Not BUY
written by Raygp on 05/10/2009
The machine is OK but what is the point in bying a machine, that when it breaks down, you cannot get spare parts nor can you get a workshop manual to identify the parts you think need changing or repairing,
Only answer is to buy a new one!! then I would buy another make with a workshop manual or at least one you can have repaired or mend yourself.
written by on 08/09/2009
have had this mculloch hedgetrimmer for about a year, have only used it a few time but guess what?..yes, you have guessed, the damn thing wont start. I have had this problem of it struggling since day one..I realise I should have sent it back or get it repaired, but after reading these reviews I have decided to ditch the thing and to by another ...maybe ryobi or some decent brand name
written by on 22/08/2009
After two sessions of cutting the McCulloch Gladiator 550 Hedge Trimmer 55o would not start (had for 9 months) after about six weeks finally returned form agent with carb fitted = but would not extend warranty beyond the 3 months left.
Now used for about 2 hours and stopped again and sure same problem - now out warranty and not worth spending money on it = very poor = not reliabl leave well alome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???
written by on 16/06/2009
The McCulloch Gladiator 550 Hedge Trimmer is a great tool, light to use, easy to start, not too noisy. But beware:
* petrol mix is critical, if its smoking more than normal you have the mix wrong!
* Spare parts are almost impossible to get.
* I couldn't find anyone willing to try to repair mine, and was told it would be cheaper to buy another one!
written by wild1234 on 14/06/2009
I bought one of these McCulloch Gladiator 550 Hedge Trimmers and all seemed well - for the price. But, taking it out of the shed for its second seaon of trimming, I found that both fuel pipes had perished and split. The machine is now useless as the pipes are part of the fuel tank and I don't think they can be replaced.
More telling, perhaps, is that the same thing happened to a strimmer by the same firm. Really poor.
written by on 24/08/2008
This McCulloch Gladiator 550 Hedge Trimmer is worth buying. It is light and has reasonably good power. Can be difficult to start. Do not let it run low on petrol.
written by Red Sky on 15/10/2006
I found this Mcculloch Hedge Trimmer Gladiator 550 an efficient, easy to use tool for home use. The blade is a little short but it starts easy and has low vibration.
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 29/10/2011
Thanks for finding out the mistake! My Gladiator stopped running after two hours of use and I couldn't find out the reason. With your hint I was able to fix it. It is running again but not well because I got no information about the right ignition point.