Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
You may misunderstand how they work... even if the flex shaft gives out (very rare), the gear box and outer drive tube housing still hold the blade... It just stops spinning..
Brush-cutting
- Thread starter MAG58
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You may misunderstand how they work... even if the flex shaft gives out (very rare), the gear box and outer drive tube housing still hold the blade... It just stops spinning..
blis
Addicted to ArboristSite
oh kay, thought it was different kind of design, anyway, wouldnt want flex shaft for any real cutting...
with real cutting i mean, thick grass and small wood... something like this
about half meter tall thick grass and scrap wood growing in it, I doubt a brush cutter would survive that kind of cutting, oh, and i used triangle blade when cutting that...
This is pic of my "cabin" where i spend most weekends on summers, cutting wood and building stuff... Couldnt resist posting that pic :rockn:
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
Nice area!!! Not too dissimilar brush/grass to the growth we have up here... Got any bad blackberry? 10 feet high, 1 inch canes... I can send some
It likely varies among the brands, but the Stihl flex shaft seems to hold up fine, and if it doesn't, it has a life-time warranty anyhow.
It likely varies among the brands, but the Stihl flex shaft seems to hold up fine, and if it doesn't, it has a life-time warranty anyhow.
MikeInParadise
ArboristSite Guru
That is not at all true...As a matter of fact the only echo brush cutter that even has a solid shaft is the very top model.
It is fine up to about 2 inch trees. Over that I used my MS260.
Some before and after pics of areas cleared by my echo with the flexible shaft...
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MAG58
ArboristSite Guru
My small Partner Colibri II grass-trimmer have flex shaft, and my Husqvarna 232RD brush-cutter have split rig solid shaft.
I think that the only reason to use flex shaft in a brush-cutter is if the engine is small (to small) :help:
I think that the only reason to use flex shaft in a brush-cutter is if the engine is small (to small) :help:
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Woodie
"Cap'n Bullcrap'n"
Okay...help me understand this, cause I'm currently in the market for a string trimmer and edger.
Wouldn't a flex-shaft ROB power from the engine? A flexible shaft would lose power between the engine and the attachment because some of the rotational energy gets turned into vibration, right? So if you HAVE to have a flex cable due to a curve in the outer shaft, wouldn't you need a correspondingly larger engine to spin it?
Not saying anyone is wrong here...don't think of this as a challenge to anyone. Just trying to understand.
blis
Addicted to ArboristSite
flex shaft is lighter which leads to that less power is needed to make it spin...
shoptime
New Member
Can someone give me a good reason why carbide toothed blades aren't used on brushcutters? I had an old Ryobi string trimmer that I rigged up with a 40 tooth carbide 7 1/4 inch circular saw blade. I put the blade in a lathe and cut the 5/8 inch hole out to match the 1" arbor. I hit rocks with it and it still cut like a house on fire in brush an inch in diameter and less. The max RPM on the blade seemed to be reasonable with what I estimated the head to turn. I tried a carbon steel blade and it seemed like it was always dull.
SawTroll
Information Collector
Depends on how you define a brushcutter, I believe....:yoyo: :yoyo:
Wanted to revive this thread to announce that I picked up an FS200 yesterday, and by this time next week it'll be set up with a tri-blade and circular saw blade. Should be able to do some testing come next weekend...
XJWoody
ArboristSite Guru
Three-trimmer plan
Glad to hear you found yourself one!
I've been thinking long & hard about the 3-trimmer plan (akin to the three-saw plan, but not as sexy)
I scored a decent FS360 a few weeks ago, so far haven't messed with it much (Mainly just opened it up to inspect, did a compression-test, cleaned it up, freed up the muffler outlet & tach-tuned it.) I had to splurge on a new harness, and still lack a blade and limit stop. Probably gonna get a chisel-tooth type blade for this one, unless I can be convinced that a 'scratcher'-tooth is better.
Also want a new or 'gently used' FS250 with bike-bars... The intent for that one is spinning a metal tri-blade 'brush knife' for minor scrub and a trimmer head for heavier weeds, briars, field-grass etc.
And to complete the plan, supplement our baby Husky 123L with a FS80R loop-handle before the 80-models go bye-bye (don't need it, but sometimes I overload the little 123) I'll use this one for line trimming only. I figure the FS80 with or without a muffler-mod should easily whip the Husky (+ 0.5 hp by my guestimate) in the thicker stuff, but will be a little bit heavier.
Glad to hear you found yourself one!
I've been thinking long & hard about the 3-trimmer plan (akin to the three-saw plan, but not as sexy)
I scored a decent FS360 a few weeks ago, so far haven't messed with it much (Mainly just opened it up to inspect, did a compression-test, cleaned it up, freed up the muffler outlet & tach-tuned it.) I had to splurge on a new harness, and still lack a blade and limit stop. Probably gonna get a chisel-tooth type blade for this one, unless I can be convinced that a 'scratcher'-tooth is better.
Also want a new or 'gently used' FS250 with bike-bars... The intent for that one is spinning a metal tri-blade 'brush knife' for minor scrub and a trimmer head for heavier weeds, briars, field-grass etc.
And to complete the plan, supplement our baby Husky 123L with a FS80R loop-handle before the 80-models go bye-bye (don't need it, but sometimes I overload the little 123) I'll use this one for line trimming only. I figure the FS80 with or without a muffler-mod should easily whip the Husky (+ 0.5 hp by my guestimate) in the thicker stuff, but will be a little bit heavier.
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
Because the carbide tips shatter and come off like bullets! :chainsawguy:
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
Nice!!!
I was going to pick up a nice new KM130 and an FS250... but....
I was given an Echo 310U - Bike handled - (maybe two years old), then a few days later an Echo 2200 - D handle (older red style).
The 2200 started up on the gas the guy left it it - flooded, and the 310 had old gas and blocked tank vent... Damn... and I was Echo free for a few months. The 310 now has a tri-blade and the 2200 a commercial disc line head.
Oh well, I can sell them both later in the season and buy my KM130 with the cash!
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callagher
ArboristSite Lurker
Want a free Husky 223L trimmer/cutter?
You guys may remember my little rant about a 125L Husky trimmer/grass cutter I bought a year ago. Turns out Husky decided not to offer a "J-handle" kit for the 125L after they took the solid shaft out of it in the 2005 production year, and replaced it with a flex shaft, without telling anyone & still marketing the 125L with a "combi-guard" and blade compatible.
Well,
Our friends over at Northern Tool (who were selling the 125L) were surprized when I notified them of this. Long story short...Husky sent me a new 223L UPS 2nd day air. All thanks to Northern Tool, that actually cares so much about thier reputation and thier customer base, they put the finger on Husky for mis-representing the 125L and got something done. Husky flat out blew me off. I believe Husky is offering to replace a 125L's with another model for all owners that had the same issue I did.
Just thought I would pass this along.
Thank you Northern Tool!
You guys may remember my little rant about a 125L Husky trimmer/grass cutter I bought a year ago. Turns out Husky decided not to offer a "J-handle" kit for the 125L after they took the solid shaft out of it in the 2005 production year, and replaced it with a flex shaft, without telling anyone & still marketing the 125L with a "combi-guard" and blade compatible.
Well,
Our friends over at Northern Tool (who were selling the 125L) were surprized when I notified them of this. Long story short...Husky sent me a new 223L UPS 2nd day air. All thanks to Northern Tool, that actually cares so much about thier reputation and thier customer base, they put the finger on Husky for mis-representing the 125L and got something done. Husky flat out blew me off. I believe Husky is offering to replace a 125L's with another model for all owners that had the same issue I did.
Just thought I would pass this along.
Thank you Northern Tool!
SawTroll
Information Collector
I have a European FS200, that has the same power output as the FS250, in spite of the smaller (36cc) engine - is that the case in the US also?
It came with string heads and saw blades.
It works well with the saw blades for brushcutting and really small trees, but it is of course not a proper clearing saw.
I haven't tried other kinds of blades - no need to so far.......
Pablo26
ArboristSite Guru
What a coincidence, I just scored a mint FS250R from my sister-in-law a couple of days ago.(not even broken in yet) The loop handle was broken by her movers I think, but I think I will be buying the bike bar and converting to a 250 anyhow.
Pablo26
ArboristSite Guru
I have a European FS200, that has the same power output as the FS250, in spite of the smaller (36cc) engine - is that the case in the US also?
It came with string heads and saw blades.
It works well with the saw blades for brushcutting and really small trees, but it is of course not a proper clearing saw.
I haven't tried other kinds of blades - no need to so far.......
Yes, the 40.2cc engine of the FS250 has the same 2.15bhp of the 36.3cc "quad power" engine of the FS350,(I have my spec sheets/catalog)right here in front of me! :biggrinbounce2:
Bowtie
Gearhead
I was given 2 Echo srm 210's to fix from a friend. Ya know, the old "take 2 and make me a good one and you can keep the rest" type deal. I got the better of the 2 running good with a carb cleaning and mostly just fuel lines, filter and tank vent. i tried it out in my yard and was impressed enough I bought a new SRM 260 Echo today. Tomorrow I will put it to the test. never owned an Echo before, thought i would give it a try. By the way, I stihl love my Stihl chainsaws!:hmm3grin2orange:
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Call me crazy but I prefer using my ford 800 tractor on brush
five foot hog makes quick work of that stuff and I stay out
of these awful chiggers. For the people up north that don't
have these beautiful little creatures they suck literally and
if you run that machine here I would be laughing at you the
next day seed ticks and chiggers are thick down here.
five foot hog makes quick work of that stuff and I stay out
of these awful chiggers. For the people up north that don't
have these beautiful little creatures they suck literally and
if you run that machine here I would be laughing at you the
next day seed ticks and chiggers are thick down here.
The 125L's we have been stocking for several years have always had a flex shaft cable. The 125L was introduced in 2005 and never had a solid shaft, and neither did the 123L which was the previous model to it. The 123L was marketed as blade capable but only with the 4 prong grass blade. Also, the 223L is almost identical to a 123L and they use the same flex shaft part number.
And for troll and whomever else posted about the 200/250....i'm pretty sure you're right about the 200/250 thing regarding going to the 40cc in the 250 because of EPA standards. Also, as of this year the FS350 is moving away from that old engine too and switching to the 40cc unit from the FS250. Not that it makes a difference at my store though cause it's been 2 or 3 years since we sold anything bigger than a FS250. FS80, 90, and 110 are the primary sellers for us.
