In addition to the Echo PB602 backpack blower that I picked up this weekend, I also bought a Stihl FS-80 trimmer. I have looked at the Shindiawa's, Echo's and Stihl's (I would have liked to look at the Redmax, but these other dealers were more convenient).
I got to use the new trimmer late Saturday afternoon. I was cutting for a customer that has ditches on both sides and in the front of their property. Therefore, a lot of trimming and a good test for this trimmer. The trimmer is well balanced and light. Stihl states that for brake-in purposes, you should not use the trimmer at more than 1/2 throttle for the first 3 tankfuls of fuel. This trimmer has plenty of power at 1/2 throttle or less and is very responsive. It did excellent work in the ditches as well other trimming tasks. It has a flex cable drive (this is what differentiates it from the FS-85 with its solid drive shaft) but has a lifetime warrenty on the flex cable.
The advantage of the FS-85 is that although it is not the multipurpose model, you can take off the head and add a hedgetrimmer head, a powerbroom head, or a pruning saw head. Stihl says you should use these only with the solid shaft. However, to upgrade the FS-80 to the FS-85 is just adding the solid shaft which costs about $20-25 and a bit of your labor.
At a price of $259, I am very satisfied with this trimmer and look forward to a great deal of service from it.
Rob
Taybritt Lawn and Landscape Services
I got to use the new trimmer late Saturday afternoon. I was cutting for a customer that has ditches on both sides and in the front of their property. Therefore, a lot of trimming and a good test for this trimmer. The trimmer is well balanced and light. Stihl states that for brake-in purposes, you should not use the trimmer at more than 1/2 throttle for the first 3 tankfuls of fuel. This trimmer has plenty of power at 1/2 throttle or less and is very responsive. It did excellent work in the ditches as well other trimming tasks. It has a flex cable drive (this is what differentiates it from the FS-85 with its solid drive shaft) but has a lifetime warrenty on the flex cable.
The advantage of the FS-85 is that although it is not the multipurpose model, you can take off the head and add a hedgetrimmer head, a powerbroom head, or a pruning saw head. Stihl says you should use these only with the solid shaft. However, to upgrade the FS-80 to the FS-85 is just adding the solid shaft which costs about $20-25 and a bit of your labor.
At a price of $259, I am very satisfied with this trimmer and look forward to a great deal of service from it.
Rob
Taybritt Lawn and Landscape Services
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