After resurrecting my string trimmer many times it finally gave up. Lookin at a Stihl fs50. Anyone have any experience with this model or have a suggestion for one?
Why the FS50? You like the longer curved shaft models? I'd be leaning towards the FS56 myself but I have an absolute preference for straight shaft trimmers.
What mastermech said. Now way I would buy a curved shaft trimmer for $200. I just bought a husqvarna 525 (basically same as redmax) that I really like but it is $100 more.
I have never run a straight shaft. What is so much gooder about it. Could bump up to the fs56 for a few bucks more n go straight if they are tremendously better. But why? Please tell.
You loose less power with the gear vs the bend, they are usually a lot longer with more reach (great if you are taller and want to keep it away from you) and they are tougher therefore rated for thicker line and brush cutters.
The FS50 is a much taller curved shaft than most. Replaces the old FS46. All of the Stihl homeowner trimmers use the same engine. But the 56 is king because as HaveIssues said, you lose less power through a straight shaft design. Plus a straight shaft machine will reach under and around places a curved shaft can only dream about going.
How touchy are they for scalping as that seems to be mentioned often on straight shaft. Do the gearbox on straight shaft need any attention that curved shaft eliminates?
It is a bit easier to scalp with a straight shaft but that's part of its appeal. You can burn weeds down to the dirt if you so desire. It's also way easier to rotate the unit 90 deg and cut clean edges next to the driveway or sidewalks. As far as gearbox maintenance goes, there is a screw you can remove to add grease every so often but I don't know anybody who actually does that and I see units that get used commercially every day. It's rare for the engine to outlast the gearbox on any trimmer. I should mention that the straight shaft Stihls come with a much nicer string head than the FS38/40/50. Same head and gearbox they use on the pro models.
I have to be the exception- I grease my 2 Stihls every year, once in the spring and once in the late summer. Will
I'm a fan od straight shaft myself. And X2 on the grease. I always did my old Poulan pro and I treat my KM 130 no different. Only takes a second.
I use the tube from Stihl. It screws into the hole and you just squeeze. It cost about $7 or so, but it is clean and neat to use and I have my tube for several years.
I use the Stihl grease that screws on the gear head. Once per year when I put it up for the winter. I think I have the last of the two stroke stihls string trimmers with the FS 250.
I know where there is one of those, NOS. I keep telling myself I should go get it but then keep talking myself out of it.
I didn't notice they discontinued them, although it doesn't surprise me. I saw they were raising the price of it when I last checked. You should go get it..... Just saying...
Went down to the dealer today. Didn't want to dump a lot of coin so just got the homeowner version of a trimmer. I dun got myself a FS 56 C. Even splurged and got the one with bobcat handles. Really surprised how smooth this thing is. Ez start and shoulder strap make me wish I had done this years ago let alone not feeling the vibration of the curved shaft ones I used to run. Thanks for the input guys!
