Stihl FS-40 any good?

[FergusonTO35]

Local pawn shop has a Stihl FS-40 that looks like it has been used just a few times, owner said she would let it go for $60.00. As I recall, Rural King had them on sale for $130.00 recently. Are these any good? Any known problem areas? A friend is in the market for a new weed eater. He usually just buys whatever is cheapest at Wal-Mart, I'm trying to convince him to try a respectable marque for once in his life. Especially since this one will still cost less than what he would get otherwise!

 

[BGE541]

Not worth it... those FS are a pain to work on and not worth the cost of OEM parts IMHO. I work on a lot of 2 and 4 stroke FS and I’ll tell you I’ll never pay for one.

 

[Dub11]

Not worth it... those FS are a pain to work on and not worth the cost of OEM parts IMHO. I work on a lot of 2 and 4 stroke FS and I’ll tell you I’ll never pay for one.

So who makes the least *s-wordty cheap trimmer?

 

[FergusonTO35]

Not worth it... those FS are a pain to work on and not worth the cost of OEM parts IMHO. I work on a lot of 2 and 4 stroke FS and I’ll tell you I’ll never pay for one.

Thanks. I'll tell him to keep rolling with the cheap mart specials or look for a used Echo.

 

[FergusonTO35]

So who makes the least *s-wordty cheap trimmer?

I must say, most of the 1990's-2000's Poulan and Weed Eater machines were an excellent value. I have a Poulan BC2400 I purchased new around 2000 and have put alot of hours on it. For years it was the only weedeater on a 65 acre farm. It still runs but is understandably pretty tired. I'm going to treat it to a rebuild, already got the parts but no time as usual!

 

[Dub11]

I must say, most of the 1990's-2000's Poulan and Weed Eater machines were an excellent value. I have a Poulan BC2400 I purchased new around 2000 and have put alot of hours on it. For years it was the only weedeater on a 65 acre farm. It still runs but is understandably pretty tired. I'm going to treat it to a rebuild, already got the parts but no time as usual!

I'm using a 4 stroke Troybilt and a Echo from the 90's now. I'm just wondering what cheap ones sold today are worth a hoot.

 

[FergusonTO35]

The Weed Eater models at Walmart appear to be little changed from the 90's. For what little they cost, they can serve a small yard well. I've known quite a few people who had them.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I would have no problems with an fs 40 looks pretty similar to the fs 45 as far as working on and if it’s even half the trimmer of a 45 or 46 “same machine except shaft length” for 60$ it would be a deal. My parents have a rocky lake place and most of the work needed to be done with a trimmer. Took them 6-8 hours to trim the whole yard. That trimmer went 10 years no issues then the carb failed internally. Dad bought another one and it’s been around for 8-9 years. The old one I finally put a whole new carb on when the price came down to around 40$ and it’s at my brothers house in use last 3-4 years.

 

[redline4]

I'm using a 4 stroke Troybilt and a Echo from the 90's now. I'm just wondering what cheap ones sold today are worth a hoot.

I would have to look at the model, but I have a big box store Husqvarna I have been flogging like a rented mule for 3 summers now.
I had to open up the moofler and tweak the carb though.

 

[BGE541]

So who makes the least *s-wordty cheap trimmer?

From my standpoint Echo/Shindaiwa. They Stihls seems to be very finicky and the parts are wildly priced with no longevity. Huskys seem ok but seen a lot of issues with the Stihl and Husky 4 strokes I don’t think the cable setups are reliable quiet a few out of adjustment or canted rockers that make a very frustrating no start condition.

They Echos are very simple and by far the easiest to work on (I think Stihl tried to make it as complex as possible to get to most motors.)

The new T262s and 2620s have great power and are amazingly responsive for the money especially when you get 10 tanks through them. YMMV...

 

[BGE541]

I will say I use trimmers of every make (I like to make sure when someone gets a trimmer I worked on it’s good to go) and when I have to trim or edge I always grab the Shindawa T262... so at least an experienced/bias opinion lol

 

[Dub11]

I meant to snag a t262 during dealers days and spaced it out.

Theres always next year.

 

[KYsawman]

Here is my favorite, it came with me to the RV park where I am living... I also have a Husqvarna 223R and a Stihl FS151,which is a 015 chainsaw with the brush cutter bolted to it.

 

[dmb2613]

I think the FS trimmers are ez to work on. And I find the parts are cheap for the smaller ones

 

[FergusonTO35]

From my standpoint Echo/Shindaiwa. They Stihls seems to be very finicky and the parts are wildly priced with no longevity. Huskys seem ok but seen a lot of issues with the Stihl and Husky 4 strokes I don’t think the cable setups are reliable quiet a few out of adjustment or canted rockers that make a very frustrating no start condition.

They Echos are very simple and by far the easiest to work on (I think Stihl tried to make it as complex as possible to get to most motors.)

The new T262s and 2620s have great power and are amazingly responsive for the money especially when you get 10 tanks through them. YMMV...

Not sure you could call anything from Echo/Shindaiwa cheap nowadays. They have some modest price models, but they are very good quality. Certainly above anything from Poulan, Weed Eater, or the various MTD made names.

 

[BGE541]

I think the FS trimmers are ez to work on. And I find the parts are cheap for the smaller ones

Most trimmer here go to large grounds keeping companies and very very few want AM parts.

 

[Stonehillfarm]

You can't go wrong with any of the Echo trimmers. And the newest X series engines are incredible and the speed feed heads are excellent.

 

[shadco]

Wifey uses the hell out of our FS40. We have 2.5 Acres and she keeps it nice and trimmed up with ours including 400 feet of driveway edging. But it’s only 6 years old.

.

 

[MACHINE]

Yes
A lady gave me one a few weeks ago, the bearing in head was bad , 40 bucks , runs perfectly

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