Stihl String Trimmers

[Garandman]

4 stroke engines benefit from immense worldwide R&D investment.

I was curious if two strokes were still available given that they are long gone from the motorcycle, outboard, and even lawnmower market.

 

[C4Ranch]

Not sure about the 4 mix stuff but I thought an issue with 4 strokes is you couldnt operate them at extreme angles (flipped on side to edge, etc) vs 2 stroke you can basically operate any way as long as its getting gas.

Is that true?

Btw, I have a echo srm 230 for 12 yrs and have nothing bad to say about it..

 

[nybirdman]

4 stroke engines benefit from immense worldwide R&D investment.

I was curious if two strokes were still available given that they are long gone from the motorcycle, outboard, and even lawnmower market.

2 stokes are not gone from the outboard motors.Most of the major manufacturers offer them.Do some reading ,they have less emissions and more performance than past motors.Four stoke outboards require a yearly service to the tune of $200+.

 

[mikehaugen]

Not sure about the 4 mix stuff but I thought an issue with 4 strokes is you couldnt operate them at extreme angles (flipped on side to edge, etc) vs 2 stroke you can basically operate any way as long as its getting gas.

Is that true?

Btw, I have a echo srm 230 for 12 yrs and have nothing bad to say about it..

Stihl engines are called "4-mix" engines because they still require mixed fuel. The problem with other 4 strokes running at odd angles is fighting gravity and the oil going places it shouldn't. This is how stihl gets around that issue. Other 4 stroke string trimmers use an oil sump still but I have heard that the oil is vaporized while running. (I don't know for sure that it is true, but it kinda makes sense)

I am a little surprised that stihl hasn't come out with a 4-mix chainsaw yet. Maybe its a weight issue, but I would think a chainsaw would benefit from the extra low end torque.... but then again I guess with a chainsaw you pretty always have it wide open while cutting so it's not that big of a deal.

 

[DHD]

I recommend looking at the Echo trimmers.

 

[Bird]

I have a echo srm 230 for 12 yrs and have nothing bad to say about it..

My Stihl FS55 is only nine and a half years old (exactly today, in fact). I just bought another big spool of line for it; expect to be using it a long time.

 

[ruffdog]

I'm happy I bought my FS85 when I did.

 

[Garandman]

I have a Stihl FS90, great machine.
Its the only trimmer I have ever had that the trimmer head works properly, and feeds right.

Fourmix motor is great, starts good, good torque and sounds cool, runs 2 cycle mix for lubrication, but is a four stroke, does not have a sump for crankcase oil.

Thanks, based on your comments and others and the dealer, that is what I bought. Echo seems like a good machine and Husquavarna had some good choices but I bought my chainsaw at the same dealer.

I asked the dealer and read up on the engine. It has mechanical valves and runs on a four cycle combustion cycle, but uses mixed fuel so that the crank can be lubricated no matter what orientation the engine is in: there is no crankcase or oil sump. Stihl claims 5% more hp and 17% more torque than a standard two stroke.

Only did a quick trim around the corners at home in Boston, but it is well balanced, easy to control, the should strap makes it pretty comfortable and it really ko's greens and some small branches. I had to get used to the mass of the machine with the engine behind me, compared to the battery unit we've been using.

 

[2458n]

2strokes have higher RPM's I believe. One stihl weedeater that is a 4mix But you still are mixing oil. Older models in this case are a better deal to me. Echo used to have two rings and chromed cylinder wall. Sure this has changed too. Other then carb rebuilds all my old junk is still running.

 

[Bird]

2strokes have higher RPM's I believe.

I have no idea whether that's right or not, so it very could be. But it reminds of a time, back in the last '60s when I had a little Yamaha motorcycle that was a 2 stroke. A friend had a Honda that was a 4 stroke. Now my 2 stroke definitely sounded as if it was turning a lot more rpms, but in reality the Honda 4 stroke was.

 

[oldballs]

My Stihl FS81 was purchased in 1983 and (still:laughing runs great. It is a Brushcutter with handle bars. I run it with a shoulder strap and a large pad for the left shoulder. I also homemade a leather pad for the right hip where the machine rubs. With the Stihl helmet and ear protection I can run it for 3-4 hours at a time using the 0.95" string or one of the metal saw blades....make that 1-2 hours at a time now that I'm 81. I do the maintenance, and currently use the 93 octane gasoline with Sithl mix which I make in 2 gallon batches, that keep from season to season as a rule. As to the new models I have no experience.

Now , Bird, I too had a Honda 360 4 stroke two banger (10,000miles) and a Suzuki 550, 2 stroke, 3 banger (30,00mile). I loved that Suzuki, but don't remember which was reving the most.

 

[Garandman]

I have no idea whether that's right or not, so it very could be. But it reminds of a time, back in the last '60s when I had a little Yamaha motorcycle that was a 2 stroke. A friend had a Honda that was a 4 stroke. Now my 2 stroke definitely sounded as if it was turning a lot more rpms, but in reality the Honda 4 stroke was.

You hear combustion. Two strokes fire on every piston stroke, four strokes every other: the second piston stroke is used to exhaust the fired charge and recharge the cylinder.

Many [4 stroke] street motorcycles rev over 10,000 rpms. Formula One cars and racing motorcycles rev even higher.

 

[Garandman]

Well this is interesting. This seems to be a four stroke operating cycle, but the charge is fed from the sump like a two stroke.

 

[JimRB]

I got a used Stihl 110 powerhead from a guy that supposedly services engines for people. It did not run/sound right to me. Of course you do have to get used to the 4 cycle sound but it still did not sound right. I adjusted the valves which were really loose, somewhere between 2 and 3 times the specified clearance. It ran and sounded better after that adjustment. Note it takes a funky feeler gauge from Stihl or you butcher one of your existing feeler gauges.

 

[om21braz]

I'm happy I bought my FS85 when I did.

+1 My FS85 is over 10 years old and the dealer has given me a standing offer of full purchase price for it back should I want to sell.

Sorry, I realize it is an old thread - new reader.

 

[Will_C]

Those FS 85s are legendary. I have had mine for 14 years of fairly regular use. I know some landscapers that bought all of them they could find when Stihl discontinued them. My dealer tells me the FS 94 is a new model similar to the 85.

Will