Sthil Commercial Line Trimmers with 4 Cycle engines (still require 50:1 fuel/oil mix) - any experience

[John0829]

John0829 and Keith

Nice to know the Sthil 4 cycle (gas and oil pre-mix) can at least tolerate one tank of straight fuel and keep on running without destroying the engine. I worry about that when I have help sometimes. I do keep my fuel cans marked well.


Keith (just kidding you ) at least you were sharp enough to blame the wife for filling the tank with straight fuel.
John admitted it was himself.
It took me 10 years of marriage to stop blaming the wife for her mistakes. Now after finally getting wiser I just say "yes dear it was my fault whats for dinner".

Best regards

My cans are well marked in LARGE letters but apparently I cannot read my own labels or writing . Blaming SWMBO, she will not pick up any gas powered equipment, to heavy, even some of the battery tools the weight is complained about. So she bought her own lightest weight tools she could find, so she has hers and I have mine and any screw up... it's all on me.

It took me longer than 10 years but I finally learned ALL mistakes are my mistakes... because I should have known my help was needed.

 

[ArlyA]

We have a dedicated can for mixed fuel that does not look like straight fuel cans. One of these.

 

[Mattmotors]

My take on a 4 stroke and still have to mix gas and oil, What's the point?

 

[ArlyA]

My take on a 4 stroke and still have to mix gas and oil, What's the point?

I believe they are getting more HP out of the fuel.

 

[dodge man]

If you don’t have a sump with oil, you have to mix oil with the fuel. Saws, weed eaters, pole saws etc end up at weird angles so an oil pick up and traditional sump won’t work.

 

[Will_C]

I too have a KM 130 that is 10-12 years old. Between the power paddle, pole saw, and trimmer attachments it gets 20-30 hours use a year. Had the filters and spark plug changed once and the valves adjusted. It has been trouble free.

 

[KeithT]

My cans are well marked in LARGE letters but apparently I cannot read my own labels or writing . Blaming SWMBO, she will not pick up any gas powered equipment, to heavy, even some of the battery tools the weight is complained about. So she bought her own lightest weight tools she could find, so she has hers and I have mine and any screw up... it's all on me.

It took me longer than 10 years but I finally learned ALL mistakes are my mistakes... because I should have known my help was needed.

This was all my fault for my refusal to write “mixed gas” on the Can that I have been using exclusively for 2+ decades for 2cycle fuel…. I was on the rider and wife ran the weed-eater out of fuel, re fueled, and got it started. I though wow. Good job there. She then ran it out again and I observed her grabbing the fuel container that is not mixed. I stopped what I was doing “whoa! That’s not mixed”. Went and got the proper container. Then it hit me

What did you use to re fuel earlier? . Yep. Non mixed

I tried to convince myself it was not running properly after that. But actually, it runs as good as new! Even all these years later.

 

[Richard001]

My take on a 4 stroke and still have to mix gas and oil, What's the point?

It took me about an hour of searching the internet to finally figure out how that engine is suppose to work. And even the authors of the info I found were not completely sure of how it works. Plus it appears that Sthil has had trouble with their plastic cam gear.

Richard

 

[Cycledude]

I have had one for 5+ years, not sure the model number but it’s been pretty much trouble free, the idle speed should be adjusted so it would idle slightly faster but I’m not sure how to adjust it and haven’t bothered to take it back to the dealer. It’s a little heavy but has plenty of power, I would like to put a Echo string trimmer head on it but so far haven’t done that either, the Stihl trimmer head is a big pain to put string in.

 

[TMGT]

Nothing wrong with Stihl but have you looked at Echo PAS, mainly the 2620? I went with Echo PAS266 years ago over the Stihl and have been very happy with them, pretty much have all Echo 2 strokes now except for a couple of chainsaws.

They have been very reliable with a good warranty (only needed it 1 time for a coil issue on a handheld blower).
Either way you'll have good equipment, just putting out another option.

 

[ArlyA]

No matter what you think of its 2-4 stroke power plant, they have lots of other features we like over the Echo and Honda's we used and owned over the years.

 

[John0829]

I would like to put a Echo string trimmer head on it but so far haven’t done that either, the Stihl trimmer head is a big pain to put string in.

I never seemed to be able to restring the bump head without the stuff getting bound up inside so I changed to one of these heads. Using .155 line (same as the Cub big wheel trimmer uses) it lasts for a LOOONG time and really works great on the heavier vegetation that I use the gas trimmer for. While it is not a bump and go head it only take a moment to replace the line.

 

[ArlyA]

155 string is great to use but tough any trees, bushes or a house you like.

 

[TMGT]

No matter what you think of its 2-4 stroke power plant, they have lots of other features we like over the Echo and Honda's we used and owned over the years. View attachment 3582206

Like what? Haven't really used the Kombi setup.

 

[ArlyA]

Like what? Haven't really used the Kombi setup.

I have a thread about the Stihl and its kombi setup which we like better than the Echo. I can't find it at this time so please allow me some time..

 

[ericm979]

It took me about an hour of searching the internet to finally figure out how that engine is suppose to work. And even the authors of the info I found were not completely sure of how it works. Plus it appears that Sthil has had trouble with their plastic cam gear.

That was one factor why I didn't get one, although the failure rate may be overblown. Mostly I just like two strokes.

The 4-mix oils the engine by circulating incoming fuel/oil/air mix through the bottom end, past the cam and followers and through the valve cover. It's not a lot of oil but it's enough for mostly ball and needle bearings.

 

[Soloz2]

I have a HT103 pole saw I bought new in 2018 and it’s been fantastic. I use canned fuel as it’s not used weekly over the summer and I’ve adjusted the valves once. It always starts and runs well.

Some common complaints of the 4 mix are due to the weight.

For trimmer, I went with a Milwaukee M18 fuel and love it. I have the original one, then I got the quick lock version with some attachments including the articulating hedge clippers and just got the bicycle bar brush cutter.

 

[Torvy]

Part of the reason I switched over to DeWalt was that the batteries for trimming are the same ones I can use for my drill and other power tools.

Got the pole saw/hedge trimmer combo and the string trimmer that swaps with a blade for brush.

There are jobs that need the gas options, but I love being able to avoid the hassles of those small engines. The batteries last longer than I can. It's hot and humid in NE Texas all summer long. One beauty of retirement is being able to adapt my schedule to my life rather than my life to my schedule.

 

[P113565]

Want to add a Commercial Line Trimmer and Blade Edger to my tool/toy list, so thinking about purchasing a Stihl Kombisystem where you can use one powerhead unit with a changeable line trimmer head and a blade edger head. With my yard, older retirees yards, and kids yards I maintain 5 yards one day a week during growing season. Thus I have about 90 minutes of line trimmer weekly runtime and some concrete blade edging once a month at the one location with the 4 yards that are together. Currently using 22 plus year old 2 cycle Redmax Commercial dedicated trimmer that works like new. Just adding trimmer/edger at the second location to avoid having to transport equipment. The new equipment will be used for the 4 yards that are together.

First started looking at the battery powered commercial power heads (KMA 135 R and KMA 200 R). They appear to have sufficient power but no longer considering due to high battery cost and runtime that would require (3) $300 batteries and charge time. I like operation of the battery systems, just not the cost and runtime. Someday if battery cost reduces and capacity increases.

So now looking at the Sthil 4 cycle commercial powerheads. While being 4 cycle they still require use of 50:1 gas oil mix for engine lube since these engines do not have a dedicated oil sump crankcase. Stihl used to call these 4 cycles "4 MIX" but no longer use that name now calling them 4 Cycle.

What I am wondering does anyone here use the recent commercial Sthil 4 cycle powerheads and what are your experiences good and bad. I typically only run the trimmer fast enough to cut the grass to avoid scattering grass clipping debris on landscaping and me. With a conventional 2 cycle like my Redmax unit. this results in spark plug oil loading and requires me to run the engine RPM up to clear plug every 10 minutes or so. Hoping the 4 cycle with gas oil mix does not load the pug up with extended low speed operation.

The Powerheads I am considering are Sthil KM94R, KM111R, or a KM131R (28, 31, 36 cc displacements).

Any thoughts good or bad for my intended use.

Best regards

I have the 131 Kombi head. Don’t use it commercially but I do use it a lot. I’ve had it for 15 years or so. I have hedge trimmer, pole saw, string trimmer and blower attachments. I use the string trimmer and blower the most. Never had any of them them back to the shop for service. Marine gas w Stabil and it always cranks. I would buy same again if needed.

 

[ArlyA]

No matter what you think of its 2-4 stroke power plant, they have lots of other features we like over the Echo and Honda's we used and owned over the years. View attachment 3582206

In response to the better connection system that Stihl uses, compared to the Echo. Below is Echo's that using a pin. The camp will not compress the connector onto the tools shaft. It stays slightly lose and its lock pin is harder to get tools on/off. Have broke them.

Below is Stihl's Kombi system. They use key and keyway system to keep it from spinning, then the camp does compress onto the tools shaft. These are much easier to get on/off and the drive shafts ends are designed differently and goes together better.