I know someone who had a Dolmar (his dad's) with a busted shaft rendered useless. Engine was fine. It was a bent shaft model and a really good one. Such a shame.
His father had bought a Kawasaki 17cc in the early 80s as their first trimmer and he told me how gutless it was and his dad went ahead and bought it even though he was warned it wasn't anywhere near as good a more expensive models.

Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!