homeowner vs pro questions.

[josh1981]

Hello everyone. I bought a stihl FS 45 trimmer and KM55R powerhead 5 yrs ago thinking they would hold up to heavy working conditions but guess what- they didnt. FS45 fried last year, km55R is running but not in great shape. I also bought a Stihl SH85 blower vac at the same time and still going strong like new (Just had to adjust LA idle screw, never replaced fuel filter, 1 new plug and air filter). I know this is a pro blower. I always cleaned plug/air filter, entire machine on fs45 and km55r, good gas always.

Now to my questions.

I bought a fs90r trimmer last summer to replace the fs45. This has seen some heavy duty work that the fs45 could not hold up too. How long can I expect it to last (more than 5 years??) I clean it down and blow it off with air compressor every week or two (depending on how dirty), keep plug and filter clean, always use good gas.

How LOng can I expect my sh85 to last (Again I keep everything clean and what not).

How long can I expect my ms361 chainsaw to last (always has sharp chain, cleaned down- even under bar cover- good gas- stihl oil).

How long can I expect a HS45 hedge trimmer to last (use 3-4 times a year at my condo, off and on occasionally at moms, etc). Again I keep it maintained to highest standards.

ALso I should add I do check the bolts occasionally make sure tight from bouncing on trailer.

Thank you for the help.

Josh

 

[HorseShoeInFork]

To put it in perspective - I have a $40 Homelite weedeater that I bought 18 years ago. It still starts the same as the day I bought it, maybe less power. It's been thrown across the yard once and I broke the air filter housing which I replaced. I still use it when my $300 Echo is out of string and I don't want to respool. I could say the same about some of my saws. Bottom line - you take care of something it will last as long as you want it to.

 

[josh1981]

To put it in perspective - I have a $40 Homelite weedeater that I bought 18 years ago. It still starts the same as the day I bought it, maybe less power. It's been thrown across the yard once and I broke the air filter housing which I replaced. I still use it when my $300 Echo is out of string and I don't want to respool. I could say the same about some of my saws. Bottom line - you take care of something it will last as long as you want it to.

yea I do take care of them but they couldnt hold up to the heavy abuse!

 

[SkippyKtm]

I think as long as you buy the correct tool for the job and maintain it, it'll last as long as you take care of it. Most things I own, only die if I want them to (which is never, for most things!) I have an old Stihl FS80AV straight shaft Trimmer which I use for wacking heavy weeds and brush from around the pond, It'll probably be around as long as I am.

 

[apattie]

I agree, if you take care of them don't leave them outside or back over them (happens) should be around for years.

 

[mountainlake]

Looks like your figuring out that Stihl has good stuff and cheapo stuff. Steve

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

"It all depends"

In reality I can tell you how long landscapers, and tree services get out of their equipment, so you should be getting much more out your stuff. Because they don't take care of any of their stuff.

Trimmers- about 5 seasons is typical before they're just plain worn out. Most guys and are have switched to FS90's or 110's for grass trimming, and I haven't seen any die yet.

Blowers- 3 to 5 years, they very first BR550's and 600's are starting to die. Same goes for handheld, but most of those die, due to being dropped off of roofs.

Chainsaws- Tree Services and commercial firewood cutters are getting 5-10 years. Alot of guys are still running around with 036 Pro's and MS360's as their 60cc saws

Hedge Clippers- 3-5 seasons All we stock is the HS45's and the HSE electric clippers, it's been 3 years since we've sold any of the Pro clippers. The commercial users are getting 3-5 seasons out a pair of HS45 clippers.

All of these are averages of what i've seen commercial users get out of their equipment, and none of these guys do any maintenance, and abuse their gear all the time.

 

[rarefish383]

"It all depends"

In reality I can tell you how long landscapers, and tree services get out of their equipment, so you should be getting much more out your stuff. Because they don't take care of any of their stuff.

Trimmers- about 5 seasons is typical before they're just plain worn out. Most guys and are have switched to FS90's or 110's for grass trimming, and I haven't seen any die yet.

Blowers- 3 to 5 years, they very first BR550's and 600's are starting to die. Same goes for handheld, but most of those die, due to being dropped off of roofs.

Chainsaws- Tree Services and commercial firewood cutters are getting 5-10 years. Alot of guys are still running around with 036 Pro's and MS360's as their 60cc saws

Hedge Clippers- 3-5 seasons All we stock is the HS45's and the HSE electric clippers, it's been 3 years since we've sold any of the Pro clippers. The commercial users are getting 3-5 seasons out a pair of HS45 clippers.

All of these are averages of what i've seen commercial users get out of their equipment, and none of these guys do any maintenance, and abuse their gear all the time.

I hate to admit it, but I'm guilty. I never took real good care of our saws. If I got home late I'd leave them on the back of an open truck to get rained and snowed on. On the other hand, I did keep the air cleaners clean and run high test Ammaco white gas in them. We also ran them richer than the 32:1 used back then. I forget exactly what Dad's ratio was, but he put a quart bottle in a big gas can just for the mixed gas. I think I figured it out to some where around 20:1. I still have 2 of his 1050's and one runs great. The other one I burned up a year or so ago out of my stupidity. It was sucking air through a leak in the carb and I just kept working, trying to fiish up that last few cuts. At the time I didn't know that running a 2 stroke lean could burn them up. An other way to abuse a good saw is by gassing it up on the chute of the chipper and leaving it there. I fired the Asplundh up and before I could walk around behind it one of our climbers Poulin XXV's vibrated into the drum, not much left, Joe.

 

[GASoline71]

Asking how long OPE will last is relative to the user. I don't know if you use good fuel and oil... I don't know if you clean your air filters on a regular basis... or replace fuel filters... your "highest standards" might be "sub-standard" to my standards.

I have an FS45 that runs like a top since the day I bought it. But it doesn't see "heavy use"... it's a 129 dollar srtring trimmer for home and garden... I use it just for that... So, if you beat on them... they won't last.

When I need to go brush bustin... I break out the heavy artillery...

Saws??? Again... for all I know you might have straight gassed a few saws in your lifetime... so a saw might not last as long for you as it would for me. My Stihl 028WB was bought brand new in 1984... still runs like the day it was purchased. That saw has cut more wood than any other saw I own. and that is a lot of homes heated over the years...

So your stuff will last... long enough... prolly...

Gary

 

[jbighump]

i have a fs45 that i bought in 2003 or 2004 cant remember and it gets used for prolly 2-3 hrs a week. 2 years ago work was slow so i started my own little landscaping business and it along with my troybuilt backpack blower got used 4 days a week for prolly 6hrs a day and never gave me a problem. to this day the only problem ive had was a clutch on the fs45 but that was a fluke and the dealer fixed it under warranty.

as long as you take good care of stuff and keep fresh properly mixed fuel in it it should last a long time. also not to mention make sure the carb is adjusted correctly, heck i know a guy that has had a wild thing for who knows how long and it is still serving him well to this day:greenchainsaw:

 

[Gologit]

yea I do take care of them but they couldnt hold up to the heavy abuse.

Define abuse.

 

[GASoline71]

Bein' married to my ex-wife...

Gary

 

[Gologit]

bein' married to my ex-wife...

Gary

lolololol...

 

[stihl sawing]

Nobody can tell you how long they will last as we don't have a clue how much their used and type of oil and gas you use. Do you leave the gas in them during the off season and is you're gas old? All those type of questions will have to be answered. I've seen lawn equipment that was really old and still worked fine and newer equipment that was wore out from neglect. Some people can screw up a chrome plated cannon ball anyway. Just take care of it and it will take care of you.

 

[josh1981]

Good gas stihl oil clean plug and filter and gas filters wipe down and clean

After reading I realize I made a mistake buying them thinking I could get heavy use out of them and thinking they would last so I'm going pro now.

Appreciate the help.

 

[josh1981]

Bein' married to my ex-wife...

Gary

Isn't that at least 50 percent of marriages? Lol