I need a new weed eater.

[BrettB]

Stihl homeowner gas engines are 2 stroke. The commercial units are 4-mix engines, (except for the 94 series). A hybrid of 2 and 4 stroke engine design. They have valves like conventional 4 stroke engines, but run on 2 stroke mixed fuel, 50:1 ratio. This hybrid 4-mix engine was introduced 20 years ago.

Some brands like Troy bilt, Honda, etc. have a oiled crankcase and are heavier with more moving parts than the Stihl hybrid 4-mix engines.





Im not trying to be a internal combustion engine grammar nazi. I knew what you meant, just trying to be a little more specific for folks that are not in the industry.
On a side note, Echo has really steped up thier game in the past couple years.

I would not even consider a homeowner model from any brand. I do understand that you run mix gas in may of the 4 stroke hand held tools , but it adds complexity to the engine . This design came to be as a way for some companies that couldn’t really meet emission requirements with the higher displacement engines
I did not go into the tech side, not because I did not understand it , but for most users they simply don’t care. They want to pick up the tool , Start the engine and use it.
I cannot speak enough good things about the speed feed head used on Echo units. That design works so well

 

[Fullboost21]

I would not even consider a homeowner model from any brand. I do understand that you run mix gas in may of the 4 stroke hand held tools , but it adds complexity to the engine . This design came to be as a way for some companies that couldn’t really meet emission requirements with the higher displacement engines
I did not go into the tech side, not because I did not understand it , but for most users they simply don’t care. They want to pick up the tool , Start the engine and use it.
I cannot speak enough good things about the speed feed head used on Echo units. That design works so well

I'm not implying that you dont understand the tech side. See my last paragraph.

I posted for others reading that might want to know the difference between Stihl 4-mix and big box store garbage 4 stroke equipment that is heavier and requires oil changes.
Maybe its the territory I work in, but I find myself explaining Stihl 4-mix engines to customers on the regular. Even after it's been out in the field for 20 years.

Outdoor power equipment threads are started here all the time, so there are folks here that do care about what they are spending thier hard earned money on. Again, I was just clearing up for people that do not know the tech / terminology.

 

[vaskeet]

I have and use my Sthil FS92r and fs130 all the time however we also have and use one of these and it is great for long runs in more open spaces like the pasture fence it a cub cadet wheeled trimmer https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cub-cadet-st100-wheeled-string-trimmer-140cc-25a-26sd710

 

[BrettB]

I'm not implying that you dont understand the tech side. See my last paragraph.

I posted for others reading that might want to know the difference between Stihl 4-mix and big box store garbage 4 stroke equipment that is heavier and requires oil changes.
Maybe its the territory I work in, but I find myself explaining Stihl 4-mix engines to customers on the regular. Even after it's been out in the field for 20 years.

Outdoor power equipment threads are started here all the time, so there are folks here that do care about what they are spending thier hard earned money on. Again, I was just clearing up for people that do not know the tech / terminology.

I didn’t mean anything either - I try to help folks.
Yes the 4 stroke hybrids that take mix gas have been difficult to get people to understand for years.
About 10 years ago I sold Shindaiwa and they has introduced a line of those engines

 

[Car0linab0y]

I have a troy-bilt 4 stroke that runs on straight non-ethanol gas. Have a sickle-bar attachment as well. I use it residential, half acre lot, so probably not up to most of your needs.

I like not having to figure out mixtures; chainsaw and mantis tiller already take different ratios and at least this will run on the same gas as the lawn mower.

 

[Squanchy]

Went in the store to buy a fs70 but found out the gearbox (head thing at the end?) Is not user service or grease-able so I bought an fs91 instead. Kid helping me was lost said you're not supposed to grease them.

Odd the cost cutting the fs55 I had (residential trimmer) you could grease or remove the head.

 

[AVL_AK]

I’ve never tried one of those.

But I went through a couple different kinds that used the 3 or 4 “blades” before finding one similar to this:

View attachment 507602



You simply cut a piece of string 12” or so long and double it over though the rotating orange circles in the pic. They sell packages of precut pieces, but it’s much cheaper to just buy a 100’ (or however longer they are) bulk pack of string and cut it up. No bumping required and no possible feeding issues. Very satisfied with it for years…

I'm weedeating against a stone wall bordering my driveway, string doesn't last long. Looks like it would cut faster with just grass.

 

[AVL_AK]

I have a Stihl FS 85T I bought in 2002 with the weedeater head and hedge trimmer that I have used plenty. I had to replace the worn out weedeater head, primer bulb on the carburetor, and remove the stopped up spark arrestor screen but it still runs strong. I bought a MS250 chainsaw the same year, used it yesterday to take down and saw up a smaller tree. I always used the Stihl ultimate mixing oil in the silver container. Buy once. cry once. (though, I'm not up on the newer emission control models, a friend that was impressed with my 036 went to buy the new model of it, on the shop mechanic's advice he got an old stock MS361 instead of at the time current MS362.)

 

[Squanchy]

Sthil did great today. Thanks everyone for the help

On a separate note, wife won't let me burn this pompass grass. There is one on either side of the driveway Should I get my chainsaw running (ms250 needs some carb love) and cut it or buy a brush blade for this fs91?

 

[Car0linab0y]

Burn it. If you have to, chainsaw it down to the ground; then torch it when she's out for a few hours.

Otherwise that shit will grow back. Of you burn it you will get 90% or so; lather rinse and repeat.

 

[beamernc]

Sthil did great today. Thanks everyone for the help

On a separate note, wife won't let me burn this pompass grass. There is one on either side of the driveway Should I get my chainsaw running (ms250 needs some carb love) and cut it or buy a brush blade for this fs91?

View attachment 510162

Couple of years ago, my younger sister was mowing my older sister's yard with my mom's zero turn mower, they live on each side of my mom's house. Older sister had 2 huge clumps of this nasty grass growing along her driveway along a ditch similar to your pic. Some how younger sister got the mower hung up in the clump of grass and was able to get it unstuck and continue the next pass. When she turned back on the next lap, both clumps of grass were blazing higher than the grass and headed toward the house. She ran to my mom's house and called 911. Fire department got it put out before it got to the house, but it scared her to death.

I believe using a chainsaw on this is going to have issues with it getting caught up in, around and under the chain. I would use a brush blade on the weed eater. I use this style blade on my trimmer and they work well. Get them off Amazon.

 

[Tailhunter]

Burn it. If you have to, chainsaw it down to the ground; then torch it when she's out for a few hours.

Otherwise that shit will grow back. Of you burn it you will get 90% or so; lather rinse and repeat.

Undoubtedly his wife knows something about him we are not privy to.

 

[thekaiser]

Well, I can't speak for anything available now. I bought a Husqvarna 223 L straight shaft trimmer in 2009 or so. I'm still using it today. I am hard on lawn equipment. I have used it on three yards every week as needed for about 13 years now. It has never been serviced. It always starts on the second pull if not the first. The only part I've ever replaced on it is the bump head string holder. It broke and I bought a new one before realizing how easy it was to rebuild the old one. Which I did several years ago and now have it as a backup that I've never needed.

Can't speak for the current quality but if I ever need a new one, Husqvarna will get the first serious look.

 

[recreationalhandgrenade]

I think the clutch is broken? Idk but there is what looks like a drum brake where the motor assembly connects to the shaft. It's broken and all jacked up. I spent 30 minutes attempting to get the cover off and ended up cracking the cover. Dropped it off my workbench and just walked off angry.

When it ran very loud screeching noise and no power at the head. The shaft is one piece, the joint at the end is also okay. But now that I've busted the cover and the bump head is already worn out figured its time to give up on the old gal.

My chainsaw is from the 60s beacuse I refuse to throw things Away. Walking away confused and angry is part of the process. I rebuilt a carb twice before figuring out that wasn't the issue

 

[CZfool68]

Grabbed this one today. Stihl FSA 60R. Worked well on medium brush and grass to about 1-2’ tall. Using 2 Amp Hour battery I got almost 40 minutes of continuous run time. I didn’t need to tackle anything huge. I’ll report back if I do.