What Stihl trimmer should I get?

[hacskaroly]

I ended up with a bike handle FS-91

I made the mistake to get the 91R....we didn't sell the bike handle option at the time, sure wish I had it...

 

[Bill G]

I am not a fan of bike handles for normal trimming

 

[FergusonTO35]

I finally got the chance to exercise the FS-91 and I really like it. The noise and vibration level is so much lower than a conventional two stroke, I keep instinctively blipping the throttle when it's idling because I think it's going to cut out, that's how quiet it is! Of course, I had to add some length to the support strap because I'm 6'4 and they must think the typical user is a little Hispanic dude. The FS-91 just chops through anything with the regular grass blade I have on it, including saplings up to 1/2" thick. I don't think I would want it with a line head and conventional handles, I prefer my smaller Echo and Shindaiwa machines for that.

Overall, the FS-91 reminds me of the ancient Green Machine brushcutter I used working on a golf course in high school, high praise indeed!

 

[hacskaroly]

I'm 6'4 and they must think the typical user is a little Hispanic dude. The FS-91 just chops through anything with the regular grass blade I have on it, including saplings up to 1/2" thick. I don't think I would want it with a line head and conventional handles

I am 6' 8" and put the sling on and took it right off, yeah, not made for us tall types. Not sure if the harness would work out better by not tucking the trimmer in my arm pit. I just run mine through grass and brush without it and end up with Popeye arms by the end of the season!!

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I finally got the chance to exercise the FS-91 and I really like it. The noise and vibration level is so much lower than a conventional two stroke, I keep instinctively blipping the throttle when it's idling because I think it's going to cut out, that's how quiet it is! Of course, I had to add some length to the support strap because I'm 6'4 and they must think the typical user is a little Hispanic dude. The FS-91 just chops through anything with the regular grass blade I have on it, including saplings up to 1/2" thick. I don't think I would want it with a line head and conventional handles, I prefer my smaller Echo and Shindaiwa machines for that.

Overall, the FS-91 reminds me of the ancient Green Machine brushcutter I used working on a golf course in high school, high praise indeed!

Run good oil and set the valves at around 100 hours and it will last a long time. People a can say what they will about the 4-mix but i actually really like them.

 

[PissRev]

Maruyama B300L is the Toyota Hilux of string trimmers.
I've had Stihl, Husky, and Echo and Maruyama Is the best of them all.

 

[PissRev]

Maruyama B300L is the Toyota Hilux of string trimmers.
I've had Stihl, Husky, and Echo and Maruyama Is the best of them all.

Another good thing about this trimmer is that there's no catalytic converter like Echo and Husky have. You can look from the exhaust side of the muffler all the way out through the outlet and see daylight. This machine runs much cooler and you can put your hand on the plastic right over the muffler and it's not even warm enough to feel uncomfortable to touch. Catalytic converter trimmers run way too hot unless you do a muffler mod.

 

[Bill G]

I am 6' 8" and put the sling on and took it right off, yeah, not made for us tall types. Not sure if the harness would work out better by not tucking the trimmer in my arm pit. I just run mine through grass and brush without it and end up with Popeye arms by the end of the season!!

I have yet to find a sling/harness I like but even with your Popeye arms I bet you would struggle a bit with my FS550 or FS350 after a bit of time.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Another good thing about this trimmer is that there's no catalytic converter like Echo and Husky have. You can look from the exhaust side of the muffler all the way out through the outlet and see daylight. This machine runs much cooler and you can put your hand on the plastic right over the muffler and it's not even warm enough to feel uncomfortable to touch. Catalytic converter trimmers run way too hot unless you do a muffler mod.
View attachment 457448

I've always wondered why many machines have cats and others do not when the differences between the engines are so minor. For example, my Echo CS-400 has a cat when my CS-500 does not. Both are about the same year and technology generation.

 

[PissRev]

I've always wondered why many machines have cats and others do not when the differences between the engines are so minor. For example, my Echo CS-400 has a cat when my CS-500 does not. Both are about the same year and technology generation.

I've often wondered that same thing myself.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I've always wondered why many machines have cats and others do not when the differences between the engines are so minor. For example, my Echo CS-400 has a cat when my CS-500 does not. Both are about the same year and technology generation.

I’m sure it has to do with emissions standards ect. Different porting and hp outputs on the exact same engine in every other way will affect what it’s emissions output is. That along with needing to make a certain portion of your equipment cleaner for credits to average the dirty stuff out. I know if it were me as a company and I could make a 60cc blower and have it make say 4.5 hp and then add a cat or some other form of cleaning the engine up for emissions and make say 3.75 hp and sell it in a different model with 95% of the parts being exactly the same id do it. This gains them epa credits and makes an entirely different model of blower ect with almost all interchangeable parts between them so as a company it makes sense to do this because it cuts manufacturing costs at the same time as cleaning up the line to meet new standards.

 

[el33t]

I've always wondered why many machines have cats and others do not when the differences between the engines are so minor. For example, my Echo CS-400 has a cat when my CS-500 does not. Both are about the same year and technology generation.

CS-400 was a chainsaw with an engine displacement of more than 20 cc and less than 50 cc. Therefore, it fell into Class IV (of handheld engines) of the Phase 2 (EPA).
CS-500 was a chainsaw with an engine displacement greater than (or equal to) 50 cc, so it fell into Class V (of handheld engines).

The requirements for Class V were relaxed compared to the "lower" classes and were additionally introduced with a transition period.




In addition, the CS-500 had a higher compression ratio of 7.8 vs. 6.5 for CS-400, as well as a digital CDI module (resistor spark plug absolutely recommended by the manufacturer), which gives more advanced ignition control capabilities.

Quotes from EPA documents:

It should be noted that for Class V (engines with displacement above 50cc), we do not believe that manufacturers will need to employ catalysts to meet the standards being adopted today, and therefore catalyst heat management concerns should not be a concern.

Class V engines are expected to use the same technologies without catalysts to meet their Phase 2 emission levels.

 

[RCBS]

I like these so much I just bought a used one and put a new jug on it so I have a backup. 25cc, 1.1hp, 9.0 lbs. My trimmer sessions usually last 2-3 hours and is mixed between trimming and small brush. Everyone has their favorite....this is mine.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I tried the Husky straight shaft units and they don't fit me. To use one I have to bend over just enough to get a serious backache after awhile. Strangely, the curved shaft Husky fits me just fine and I have one.

 

[EFSM]

I like these so much I just bought a used one and put a new jug on it so I have a backup. 25cc, 1.1hp, 9.0 lbs. My trimmer sessions usually last 2-3 hours and is mixed between trimming and small brush. Everyone has their favorite....this is mine.

View attachment 457593

As much as I dislike Husqvarna overall, those trimmers are astoundingly powerful for how extremely light they are. I have one (a 223, very similar) that I've used for many hours with a brush blade trimming around electric cattle fencing.

 

[Jusgunn3]

I have two Husky 525l’s and I was about to post about this until I found this thread. I was cutting some tall thick grass today and I think they got beat up a bit, wanting something more powerful for the tall/thick stuff like blackberry. Is the 535lst any good?

 

[PissRev]

I have two Husky 525l’s and I was about to post about this until I found this thread. I was cutting some tall thick grass today and I think they got beat up a bit, wanting something more powerful for the tall/thick stuff like blackberry. Is the 535lst any good?

The 535 is a good solid unit.

 

[PissRev]

I tried the Husky straight shaft units and they don't fit me. To use one I have to bend over just enough to get a serious backache after awhile. Strangely, the curved shaft Husky fits me just fine and I have one.

You need a Darwin's grip. I will never ever run another trimmer without one.

 

[PissRev]

One thing that is often overlooked when selecting a trimmer is how much vibration does it have. I cut my teeth on an old FS80. It's one of the old ones where you had to prop it on its side to fill it up.

My Dad had a contract to cut the biggest cemetery in the county. I literally trimmed from sun up to sundown once a week for 9 months out of the year. When I got done trimming with it, my hands would be numb as hell. I think that contributed to me having carpal tunnel in my left hand.
So now I always select a trimmer that has the best vibration reduction I can find. For me, that's Maruyama. I cut 4 hours with it today and at the end of it there was no tingly feeling at all in my hands.

 

[FergusonTO35]

You need a Darwin's grip. I will never ever run another trimmer without one.

Yes, it's on the list!