Jack, the machine comes from China unbranded, and the importer takes care of the branding aspect. That means the only documentation is prepared by the importer, and the only spare parts are the ones the importer chooses to supply (which is usually none). I don't think the manufacturer in China has any relevance to the spare parts problem. It is a nice full-crank engine with a barrel-valve carburetor (looks like a copy of the Walbro WY) and it runs very well, so it may be a clone of some name-brand product, but if so I haven't been able to figure out what brand that would be. The machine can be bought from the manufacturer with various legs, including bevel-drive ones, and a number of other such trivial differences, including the type and position of throttle lever and safety lever. I think aussietrev has found the only solution in looking for parts from another, similar machine which he can buy as junk. I had to do the same thing with my Gardenline: I got it free but with no starter, and it was more than a year before I found a GMC one with a good starter but a broken plastic bell-housing (the previous tenant used to kneel on it there while starting it) which I could buy for a dollar. Fortunately it wasn't a big deal waiting a year, because I had the similar Pope Renegade (another $1 purchase) which was working perfectly.
As long as the Australian distribution system works the way it does, with items like that selling for at least five times the Chinese retail price, we're all going to have to get used to getting the spare parts for our machines from tip shops. Fortunately I think our imitation-British distribution system, wherein half the population of the country seem to be middle-men, is going to die out under pressure from direct importers such as the people who sell that line trimmer. Aldi sold the Gardenline for $70. Compare that with the price of the traditional brands of similar products.
