Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong?

   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #1  

ning

Elite Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2017
Messages
3,588
Location
Northern California
Tractor
Branson 3520h
This guy regularly trims next door.
Is this how you do it? Rev-rev-rev non-stop? Have I been doing it wrong this whole time?

 
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   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #2  
Steady throttle for me… slow around sensitive areas and speed for tall grasses and scrub…

Maybe he likes to sound?
 
   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #3  
I do that lot keeps the heat down and stuff does not kill you flying around. Full throttle for thick patches. I see no reason for wide open around breakable things like rocks or launchable nuts on the ground (Hickory, acorns, walnuts, etc).
I have cut back since I retired but used to trim around 50 campers and their stuff, hidden stuff can be dangerous to people and things.
 
   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #5  
Innocent... I run mine wide open all the time and mine is over 30 years old and no issues at all. Stihl FS66 straight shaft and ususally has the Stihl metal brush blade in the end 2 strokes are meant to run at rated rpm anyway. I do run canned gas in it, Echo 50-1 Red Armor.
 
   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #6  
I operated my trimmer without the guard mounted, in order to have maximum control and manouverability. I also always wore the face screen/earmuff protection, several times something big enough to notice bounced off the face protector screen. Eyeglasses cought the smaller stuff.
I didn't mow near people, and used extreme caution around windows, etc.
 
   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #7  
Not me, I let go at each end of the swing when its not cutting and full throttle in the between (if required), a 2 stroke engine like throttle variation.
 
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   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #8  
If he wants to rev it that much, he should take the guard off and let a couple more inches of line out (like I do). He could cover the area faster and longer line helps keep up the momentum for when you hit heavier weeds.
 
   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #9  
Not me, I let go at each end of the swing when its not cutting and full throttle in the between if required, a 2 stroke engine like throttle variation.
I believe 2 strokes run cooler revving up and down that at steady throttle.
 
   / Have I been using my weed trimmer wrong? #10  
Only time I run mine wide open is when I'm cutting down heavy or thick stuff that needs it. Rest of the time its half throttle at best and feathering it as I go. No need to run it harder if it's cutting down what you're aiming at. Had an old timer small engine mechanic (one of the best in the business in the N. Phoenix area, 30 years worth of reputation and knowledge running his own shop at the time) tell me decades ago, no reason to run one that hard, it's only hard on the equipment. Wastes fuel, wastes trimmer line, hard on the engine, hard on the shaft and bearings, and doesn't do any better of a job.
 

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