In the market for a bike handle trimmer

[bryanr2]

As it says, looking to buy a bike handle trimmer for brushing/ heavy grass weeds. Looking at Stihl’s website it says the fs240 has been discontinued. They have a new model fs251. I went to rural king as they said they had the 251 in stock. I was surprised to find that they had 5 of the fs240s as well. Price on the 251 bike handle is 679. Price on the fs240s is $749. The 251 is 42cc and makes 2.7bhp. The 240 is like 37cc and makes 2.3bhp. What am I missing? Why is the 240 $70 more. Both are pro models

 

[hacskaroly]

Why is the 240 $70 more.

Looking at the two models and some info around the web, it looks like the FS 240 cannot be sold in California. It appears the 251 (basically a larger and newer 240) bypasses some EPA regulations in CA due to having a few more cc's in the engine allowing it to be sold only with the 4 bladed brush cutter (however what you put on it after you buy it is your business - See how Stihl gets around that one). Its possible that Stihl wants the 251 to make an impression in the market and are making it more attractive for those who normally would want a 240, its possible they might start phasing out the 240. From documentation, the 251 can use all of the cutting heads that the 240 uses plus one that the 240 cannot, the Fix-Cut 31-2 (4001 710 2105). It appears the 251 (not yet on Stihl's chart) is creeping up on the FS 461 C-EM in cc and power, bypassing the 300 series trimmers.


Not sure what the weight difference will be between the 251 and the 240, but if the only real difference is piston and cylinder size and maybe a little more plastic, won't be much then and if you are using a bike handle and harness setup, probably won't even feel the difference except MOAR POWER!!!

 

[hacskaroly]

Just thinking too, with the price difference, early birds will get the FS 251 at a no-brainer great price vs. power ratio, where as the people late to the game that "need" a trimmer and the 251s are all sold out, will end up buying the 240s at the slightly higher price, because they feel that they don't have any other choice.

 

[bryanr2]

Off memory same weight… 15.2lbs

 

[hacskaroly]

Off memory same weight… 15.2lbs

Yeah, it appears that Stihl will get more bang for its production buck going with the FS 251 and that appears to be why they are discontinuing the 240.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I'm very happy with my bike handle FS-91, it eats through anything I've tried it on with the standard four tooth grass blade.

 

[PissRev]

Definitely get the 251.

 

[cowroy]

If you’d be willing to buy used I saw this

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[cowroy]

If you’d be willing to buy used I saw this

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Sorry just realized it wasn’t a bike handle.

 

[bryanr2]

I’ve got several weed eaters.. a Husq 323 (a favorite), a maruyama 30, a Kawasaki 27cc, and 4 others that aren’t running need carb work- John Deere 260g, shindaiwa t261 (I think), Stihl fs 91, and a Stihl fs 250. I’m wanting a larger cc machine that I can trim with and occasionally cut brush with. Specifically want a bike handle bc of a shoulder injury and think that a bike handle will help with positioning the arm in front of me and not across my torso like with a regular loop handle.

 

[FergusonTO35]

So on my FS-91 with 4 mix engine, do the usual rules about tuning a 2 stroke engine go out the window? I noticed that it runs smooth as glass at about half throttle, but is kind of rough at WOT. At WOT it acts like it needs a valve grind although I only have about 5 hours of use on it. The carb is adjustable, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Should I go ahead and adjust the valves? Put more hours on it and see if it gets better as it breaks in? The machine starts easily and works great.

 

[PissRev]

So on my FS-91 with 4 mix engine, do the usual rules about tuning a 2 stroke engine go out the window? I noticed that it runs smooth as glass at about half throttle, but is kind of rough at WOT. At WOT it acts like it needs a valve grind although I only have about 5 hours of use on it. The carb is adjustable, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Should I go ahead and adjust the valves? Put more hours on it and see if it gets better as it breaks in? The machine starts easily and works great.

You're probably hitting the rev limiter.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks. Is that normal for this machine? Should I richen it to where it doesn't do that?

 

[PissRev]

Take the guard off the machine and bump the line out a little longer to where you don't hit the rev limiter and see how it's running.

 

[FergusonTO35]

It has a blade on it.

 

[PissRev]

It has a blade on it.

I'd almost be willing to bet my paycheck that what you're hearing is nothing more than your engine hitting the rev limiter. It just sounds different in a 4-mix.

 

[Jay Hansen]

Thanks. Is that normal for this machine? Should I richen it to where it doesn't do that?

It is the rev limiter, and it's normal I've had two of them and both did it. If you're swinging a little more weight, (longer line-bigger blade) it will smooth out.

 

[Sloughfoot]

If durability and super low power to weight ratio is your thing, I highly recommend the Honda 4 stroke brush cutter with the GX35 motor.

 

[FergusonTO35]

It is the rev limiter, and it's normal I've had two of them and both did it. If you're swinging a little more weight, (longer line-bigger blade) it will smooth out.

Thanks. I ordered a bigger blade for it, the 8 incher it came with works well but is comically small.

 

[FergusonTO35]

If durability and super low power to weight ratio is your thing, I highly recommend the Honda 4 stroke brush cutter with the GX35 motor.

Agreed. My stepdad got 20 years out of one and I know he is not kind to machinery. Only time the oil was changed was when I took a notion to do it for him.