Stihl FS250 trimmer...Wow!

[Topkicker]

I bought a new home in Indiana recently and the property has alot of mature trees, a half acre pond, a studio apartment, and an outbuilding. Alot of trimming is involved to keep the property looking nice. After looking at professional trimmers I went to the local Stihl dealer and decided to check out the handle bar design. It felt really comfortable with my arms extended and the shoulder harness supported the trimmer very well. The model I "test drove" was a FS 130. The FS 250 offers more power with not much more weight so I had the dealer order me one. Took this 2.15 HP machine home from the store two days later with some Stihl X line and a new pair of safety goggles. When I got it home I suited up and started trimming around the pond. This thing was chewing through tall grass like it wasn't there. I then went down the fence line where thick weeds and vines were abundant. It was slinging cut weeds in every swipe I made with absolutely no bogging. I never knew a trimmer could be so comfortable and powerful. The trimming took over an hour and I didn't feel tired afterwards. I would recommend this trimmer to anyone who has property where alot of trimming is involved.

 

[Jim Thompson]

These are great trimmers. I have a 250 and a 120(250 replaced the120).I actually preferred the 120 until the 250 was broken in because of the trimmer head speed. They are pretty equal now even though the 250 has a 10cc larger engine. You should notice improved performance after about 6 months. The more you use it, the better it runs. I run my trimmers at full throttle primarily for engine cooling and to reduce carbon build-up. With the durability of these machines, you may never have to buy another trimmer. My FS 120 has now lasted 12 years in a commercial application.

Good purchase.:thumbsup:

Jim

 

[Baby Grand]

I have a 20 YO FS62 - it's a great light duty grass & weed muncher. It starts every Spring after a few pulls. I have never had it serviced and I have not used it at all for 2 and 3 year stretches at a time. I'm now in need of something beefier that I can use on heavy weeds, small roses, barberry, etc. Any suggestions on model and cutter type? I'd like to get another Stihl. Between the FS trimmer and my MS361 chainsaw I am sold on their value in terms of performance, quality and durability.
-Jim

 

[Will_C]

I am glad to hear you like yours. I just picked one up last week, have not used it yet. I bought to use on a property I bought, I am clearing saplings and brush where the field transitions into the woods. I also have 700' of ditch on the front to maintain, too steep and rough for a mower. I have had a FS 85 for 7 years-it has been a great trimmer, I just wanted one with more power and a bike handle.

Will

 

[gauthier]

I got a 260 and a 280 echo,,,now that 280 will flat out weedeat!!!

 

[Groo]

love the handle bar design.

seams like when using a traditional one, I end up using it 1 handed with my forarm resting on the engine shroud.

 

[Topkicker]

Used the new trimmer again today after running the rotary cutter on the Massey. The field I mowed has a ditch along the roadside so the new Stihl was needed for the job. Took some quick pics of the new machine before starting.

 

[beenthere]

And you can add the chisel tooth saw blade to this machine to handle larger brush and small saplings easily up to 1 1/2" and I've taken down 4" trees with it (takes a little time but will do the job).
It is a priceless tool in my tool chest.

 

[Jim Thompson]

I got a 260 and a 280 echo,,,now that 280 will flat out weedeat!!!

Before I bought my newest Stihl FS 250 two years ago, I tested an Echo 260 w/ high torque head and purchased an Echo 340 which subsequently stolen. I was very disappointed with the 340. Mechanically, it was a good trimmer and it had excellent power, but the head design allows tall grasses/ vines etc. to much more easily become entangled than does the Stihl. The Stihl trimmer head has a plate that fits snugly between the head and the gear box that leaves very little space for anything to wrap around the trimmer head, whereas most other brands have a fairly wide space there.
I think, and experience suggests that the Stihl design is superior in areas that are overgrown.

Jim

 

[gauthier]

Well,never had a sthil trimmer so you might be right about that weed wrapping thing,mine does wrap a little with certain grass types,not weeds or vines,just very fine 2-3 ft tall grass,now normal grass,[bluegrass/rye,,no problems],,,but I weed eat more than anybody I know,[unless you was getting paid to do it],,and many areas I just weed eat once a year[places I can't hog],,and once a year grass/weeds in w.v. are 3-5 tall,,,and they both go through it no problems,,had that 260 for 10 years or so,,,,had the 280,3-4 years,,,only problem with either is a vacum related problem,,if you don't keep that little vent filter clean,,when you mow with it and than put fresh gas in,,and than turn weedeater at angle,,it wants to sputter for a while,guess untill gas heats up,,but not a big problem,,must be a design heat related thing. They both start very easy,use.109 line[think thats what it is],thick line anyways,,power to spare,can cut 1/4 branches or more with it,to trim sides of paths,drive way,,,but the professional sthils are I'm sure good ones to,,but when you buy a sthil,pro model,you pay,and 1-200 dollars of that is the name you are buying,[never did like that pro homeowner thing that husky and sthil does,echo don't do that,,just different models,different sizes.]

 

[6thgpSF]

Topkicker,I've got the fs90 with the handle bar.Not sure where the power range is compared to yours but I put the red string on mine and was cutting 6' cornweed and pokeweed with it and hardly used any string compared to the orange string. russ

 

[Jim Thompson]

Well,never had a sthil trimmer so you might be right about that weed wrapping thing,mine does wrap a little with certain grass types,not weeds or vines,just very fine 2-3 ft tall grass,now normal grass,[bluegrass/rye,,no problems],,,but I weed eat more than anybody I know,[unless you was getting paid to do it],,and many areas I just weed eat once a year[places I can't hog],,and once a year grass/weeds in w.v. are 3-5 tall,,,and they both go through it no problems,,had that 260 for 10 years or so,,,,had the 280,3-4 years,,,only problem with either is a vacum related problem,,if you don't keep that little vent filter clean,,when you mow with it and than put fresh gas in,,and than turn weedeater at angle,,it wants to sputter for a while,guess untill gas heats up,,but not a big problem,,must be a design heat related thing. They both start very easy,use.109 line[think thats what it is],thick line anyways,,power to spare,can cut 1/4 branches or more with it,to trim sides of paths,drive way,,,but the professional sthils are I'm sure good ones to,,but when you buy a sthil,pro model,you pay,and 1-200 dollars of that is the name you are buying,[never did like that pro homeowner thing that husky and sthil does,echo don't do that,,just different models,different sizes.]

Did not, in any way, mean to suggest that Echo wasn't a good trimmer- just that in that one area I found the Stihl to be better. I do use them commercially. Also, I have a number of Echo products that I'm quite happy with - PB755 blower, power hedge clippers, extended hedge clippers,15' expanding pole pruner, and a PE 311 edger- all very good units. I don't see much price difference between Stihl and Echo when comparing apples to apples.:thumbsup:

Jim

 

[jcmseven]

I have one of the FS 250 trimmers and it is a monster. I have used it to death and it still runs great. It is not the best weight balanced trimmer I have operated but it has a ton of power for heavy jobs and will power a brush blade like a champ. For my general lawn trimming I just bought an FS90R Stihl and like it. Obviously not as much power but very solid and lightweight with good balance. A much better choice for general trimming. Like them both. There are some excellent trimmers out there from other companies but I really like the Stihl products.

John M

 

[gauthier]

Yeah,many good brands,[well three or four maybe],but you get the top dollar one in about any of those brands and you just increased your chances of having a good trimmer,no guarantee,but good chance,,,always amazes me[I am easly amazed],,when you see people with a 6 grand lawnmower and a 15-20,000 dollar tractor and weedeating[or trying to] with a 150-200 buck weed eater,,,gotta spend a couple hundred more,thats all...

 

[KeithT]

i have a 130 and have been very happy with it. I debated the handle bar design verses the standard handle i got. I trim a lot of steep banks, do the handle bar trimmers work well for that?

 

[Topkicker]

i have a 130 and have been very happy with it. I debated the handle bar design verses the standard handle i got. I trim a lot of steep banks, do the handle bar trimmers work well for that?

I adjust the side strap a little higher on the bank in front of the house. Gives it a steeper angle and it works great. This is my first handle bar trimmer and I wouldn't go back to a traditional handle. I suffer from tennis elbow so being able to extend my arms out vs by elbow being bent gives me pain free trimming. I can also make a much wider swipe with the handle bars.:thumbsup:

 

[Topkicker]

Yeah,many good brands,[well three or four maybe],but you get the top dollar one in about any of those brands and you just increased your chances of having a good trimmer,no guarantee,but good chance,,,always amazes me[I am easly amazed],,when you see people with a 6 grand lawnmower and a 15-20,000 dollar tractor and weedeating[or trying to] with a 150-200 buck weed eater,,,gotta spend a couple hundred more,thats all...

I was one of those people you mentioned. I'm on my third tractor, love my John Deere lawnmower, but never thought of buying a pro trimmer until I bought property where alot of trimming was involved. I guess I'm easily amazed too. I never knew a trimmer could perform like the Stihl FS 250. I'm more amazed with the new trimmer than I am the tractor.:laughing:

 

[MoKelly]

OK, I'm going to say something most people will think is nuts.

I, too, love to trim weeds. I'm talking about normal grass/weeds ... not brush. We have lots of trimming along ditches, trees, fences, buildings, culverts, berms, etc.

I have an expensive Echo I got when we purchased the property believing I needed a "professional" trimmer. However, the trimmer I like the most (and use the most) is a plain ole Weedeater Featherlite I bought at Sears for $69.99. It is very light (hence the name ... marketing folks are brilliant), uses the dual .08 line, and cuts and cuts and cuts. I can use it for along time and not hurt by shoulders or back.

This trimmer has lasted me 3 years now and my guess is I use it on average about 3 hours every weekend. My theory on why this cheap, normal suburban lawn homeowner trimmer has performed so well is that it gets used alot. It doesn't get used for 5 minutes a week and then put away. It has lots of gas run through it. If I can continue to get 3 years good use from a $69.99trimmer I'll take that every day and twice on Sunday.

MoKelly

 

[Molerj]

Every piece of equipment has its place. The light duty trimmers are great for trimming around the house. They aren't bulky & are easy to manuever around. When you get into the bigger stuff, it's time to bring out the Stihls & Echos. When the weedeater featherlite starts having troubles it's not worth the expense to get it fixed. It is a throwaway.

 

[mark1]

Ok guys.I been looking (thinking) about getting a new weed wacker.My old homelite desperatly needs to be put at the curb!. I can't find any prices on line for a Stihl 250. About how much are they going for??
Thanks
M