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

[kozal01]

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

Its better to have a dry sump than a tiny crankcase with a small amount of oil, especially when running the unit on its side or upside down for extended periods of time. Its actually a great idea and works great.

 

[Spanky100]

Update.

I did purchase the Stihl KM 131 (4Mix) Kombi powerhead. Just working through the first tank of fuel with the line trimmer attachment. It seems to have more power than will be need for trimming and even heavy weeds but did I get the Bed Re-definer attachment that will likely use more power since it is digging into the dirt.

Only thing I. do not like so far is the cold start process which calls for full choke then when it starts to release the choke by opening the throttle by operating the trigger throttle.
Most times it stalls out and requires a restart. After running a few tanks of fuel through the engine if it is still doing this, I will likely raise the idle RPM some in and effort to avoid the initial engine stall when pulling throttle to release choke. If that does not fix it I will have dealer look at it.

I appreciate easy consistent starting with no more than two pulls on the recoil starter.

Summary. Thanks to all of you for your great input and help empowering me to lighten my wallet.

Now with the Kombi Attachments I can keep buying more tools and spending more.

Currently I have the Line trimmer and Bed re-definer attachment. Will get the blade edger this week for son, daughter and their older retiree neighbors that have concrete drives and sidewalks (thankfully I do not have any edging at my country home).

My wife's birthday is coming up so she might want a rotary brush attachment and a pole saw attachment to add to her tractor with implements.

Thanks again for your input to my post.

Best regards

 

[TractorTech]

Absolutely the best. My Kombi is 25 years old and I have never used any special gas or Stihl mix oil. It runs great today and beats my electric Stihl every time!

 

[ArlyA]

Update.

I did purchase the Stihl KM 131 (4Mix) Kombi powerhead. Just working through the first tank of fuel with the line trimmer attachment. It seems to have more power than will be need for trimming and even heavy weeds but did I get the Bed Re-definer attachment that will likely use more power since it is digging into the dirt.

Only thing I. do not like so far is the cold start process which calls for full choke then when it starts to release the choke by opening the throttle by operating the trigger throttle.
Most times it stalls out and requires a restart. After running a few tanks of fuel through the engine if it is still doing this, I will likely raise the idle RPM some in and effort to avoid the initial engine stall when pulling throttle to release choke. If that does not fix it I will have dealer look at it.

I appreciate easy consistent starting with no more than two pulls on the recoil starter.

Summary. Thanks to all of you for your great input and help empowering me to lighten my wallet.

Now with the Kombi Attachments I can keep buying more tools and spending more.

Currently I have the Line trimmer and Bed re-definer attachment. Will get the blade edger this week for son, daughter and their older retiree neighbors that have concrete drives and sidewalks (thankfully I do not have any edging at my country home).

My wife's birthday is coming up so she might want a rotary brush attachment and a pole saw attachment to add to her tractor with implements.

Thanks again for your input to my post.

Best regards

We find running large strings is what takes the greatest hp.

 

[RjCorazza]

Update.

I did purchase the Stihl KM 131 (4Mix) Kombi powerhead. Just working through the first tank of fuel with the line trimmer attachment. It seems to have more power than will be need for trimming and even heavy weeds but did I get the Bed Re-definer attachment that will likely use more power since it is digging into the dirt.

Only thing I. do not like so far is the cold start process which calls for full choke then when it starts to release the choke by opening the throttle by operating the trigger throttle.
Most times it stalls out and requires a restart. After running a few tanks of fuel through the engine if it is still doing this, I will likely raise the idle RPM some in and effort to avoid the initial engine stall when pulling throttle to release choke. If that does not fix it I will have dealer look at it.

I appreciate easy consistent starting with no more than two pulls on the recoil starter.

Summary. Thanks to all of you for your great input and help empowering me to lighten my wallet.

Now with the Kombi Attachments I can keep buying more tools and spending more.

Currently I have the Line trimmer and Bed re-definer attachment. Will get the blade edger this week for son, daughter and their older retiree neighbors that have concrete drives and sidewalks (thankfully I do not have any edging at my country home).

My wife's birthday is coming up so she might want a rotary brush attachment and a pole saw attachment to add to her tractor with implements.

Thanks again for your input to my post.

Best regards

I'm sure you will like that trimmer. Do yourself a favor and get an Echo SpeedFeed head for it. I run them on my Stihl trimmers, and they feed well and reload much faster.

 

[Spanky100]

Absolutely the best. My Kombi is 25 years old and I have never used any special gas or Stihl mix oil. It runs great today and beats my electric Stihl every time!

TractorTech

Good to hear on your old equipment. I love keeping good equipment running forever.

I typically use VP red 2 cycle synthetic oil at 45:1 (like to be conservative). I think it is a lower cost of Echo Red Armor. Usually get it at Walmart or other stors for $12.99 for 16 ounce dispenser bottle. Sometimes at season end I find it marked down lower.

What electric Stihl equipment have you used. I like the battery Stihl except for the high price of the batteries and the less run time.

 

[Spanky100]

We find running large strings is what takes the greatest hp.

ArlyA

That is a good point about the larger diameter line using more power.

For light residential use I usually use 0.080 inch but do change to either 0.095 or 0.105 when in heavy weeds.

Another good reason to get the largest displacement unit of the 3 Stihl Kombi Power Heads (KM91R/KM111R/KM131R). Interesting the 3 units were all the same weight so the choice was easy. IIRC the KM131 develops about 1.9 bhp which is more than any trimmer I have used in the past as mst are about 1.4 bhp.

Thanks

 

[Spanky100]

I'm sure you will like that trimmer. Do yourself a favor and get an Echo SpeedFeed head for it. I run them on my Stihl trimmers, and they feed well and reload much faster.

RjCorazza

I will have to get Echo Speed Feed Head as I hear many including you suggesting the change.

Our Redmax and Husqvarna Line Trimmers still have what there brand heads on them but I need to try the Echo

Thanks

 

[John0829]

What electric Stihl equipment have you used. I like the battery Stihl except for the high price of the batteries and the less run time.

I don't find any issue with the run time, I have both the two of the AK20 and five of the AK30 batteries I use them in a string trimmer and blower. I did not buy the AK20's they came with the tools, I much prefer the AK30 batteries. I can get anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on use. They do tend to run down about the time I am ready/need for a short break, usually when I am as far away from the other charged batteries as I can get.

As for cost of the batteries, I find them in line with other battery tools which are all costly.

 

[TractorTech]

TractorTech

Good to hear on your old equipment. I love keeping good equipment running forever.

I typically use VP red 2 cycle synthetic oil at 45:1 (like to be conservative). I think it is a lower cost of Echo Red Armor. Usually get it at Walmart or other stors for $12.99 for 16 ounce dispenser bottle. Sometimes at season end I find it marked down lower.

What electric Stihl equipment have you used. I like the battery Stihl except for the high price of the batteries and the less run time.

It is an FSA86R. And yes, the batteries are expensive! What I don't like; when it runs down, you need to have another battery ($$$) or wait for it to charge. Also, the head that came with it, Autocut C 6-2, is absolutely the worst. I have some $99 B&D trimmers with better heads. The Stihl head jams and is a pain to remove. I can't understand how a company that has been making heavy duty trimmers for so long could come up with an absolutely atrocious design like this.