Strimmer cable, which one?

[doobin]

do not say why not use a flail mower next on list when i can afford one. but need some more line and not many stock this large size. thank you

 

Flail mower won't do that anyway. Long grass kills flails- a single blade/length of cord is much more efficient.

 

If it's just grass you're cutting with 2.5mm line and you're having trouble, then you're doing something wrong.

 

You say it keeps breaking? Do you mean breaking where it goes into the head? If so it's because you're not bumping it out often enough, and the constant flexing on one point is causing it to snap.

 

I'd say filling the head 4 times is about right for a full day's strimming.

[doobin]

Operating a brushcutter at less than full throttle does impose greater loads on the engine and transmission, and increased wear will certainly result.

 

Cord at the correct length acts as a governor, as it wears and shortens, the revs increase. This is a bad thing.

 

Removing the guard and blade in order to run longer cord is also a bad thing as the engine and transmission are severely loaded.

 

But if it is your chosen practice and gets the job done then fair enough if you are prepared to accept the higher repair costs.

 

And, if you want your chosen cord (whichever size you prefer) to last as long as possible then store it in water. The co-polymer nylon soaks up to 12% moisture which stops it becoming brittle. This greatly increases its resistance to wear.

 

I agree with you up to a point. However, on larger brushcutters such as the FS400 and above, there is way more power available than that needed to run the 'normal' length. So long as it's not too long and causing the engine to lug, I can't see a problem. In five years of doing it I haven't had any repairs (other than having to decoke the exhaust) that I could attribute to not running flat out all the time. I used two second hand FS400s for three years, and now have three bought from new FS460s two years in.

[GardenKit]

I agree with you up to a point. However, on larger brushcutters such as the FS400 and above, there is way more power available than that needed to run the 'normal' length. So long as it's not too long and causing the engine to lug, I can't see a problem. In five years of doing it I haven't had any repairs (other than having to decoke the exhaust) that I could attribute to not running flat out all the time. I used two second hand FS400s for three years, and now have three bought from new FS460s two years in.

As I said, if it works for you then great.

 

But the guard and blade is the length it is for a reason. Stihl designed it that way.

 

Sure, if the work is not too heavy then you will get away with a longer cord on a bigger engine, but heavy work will overload it, and a machine which is constantly overloaded will not last as long as one that is not.

[GardenKit]

well after all the threads re using smaller line for strimmers i got oregen starline 2,5 have tried it on grass and have to say not impressed at all with my normal 3.5 line i can go half a day cutting long grass and engine does not loose power just cuts it down the new line filled it 4 times today just keeps breaking not a happy bunny will not buy any more on line can any one say where i can get 6mm cord need it for my echo bearcat walk behind now thats a beast cuts it down did a 2 mile footpath both sides grass 6ft tall in 4 hours. do not say why not use a flail mower next on list when i can afford one. but need some more line and not many stock this large size. thank you

Fair point hedge sparrow, but 2.5 mm starline is nowhere near as strong as 2.4 round. I am not at all surprised that it breaks and wears rapidly.

[difflock]

I am aware that I am (hopefully) preaching to the converted.

But over 40 years of occasional strimmer use, and 23 of supervising strimmer use.

In respect of long grass cutting.

Some intuitively understand to use a strimmer like a sythe.

The line cuts the grass stems at the bottom, and the sward of grass or weeds falls behind.

The line ONLY cuts the stems once at or near ground level.

IT does not be used to MO-CO the cut grass.

Or in lieu of a flail mower, if a flailed finish is the desired result.

Others can-not be taught, their stubbornly ingrained technique more resembles stirring shite with a stick.

A good "hand" on a strimmer should be a pleasure to watch and make it look easy and relaxed.

I am now a skilled observer:001_tt2: or perhaps:confused1:and:blushing:

[doobin]

As I said, if it works for you then great.

 

But the guard and blade is the length it is for a reason. Stihl designed it that way.

 

Sure, if the work is not too heavy then you will get away with a longer cord on a bigger engine, but heavy work will overload it, and a machine which is constantly overloaded will not last as long as one that is not.

 

Why is it the same length across the range then? Rev up an FS85 with the cord the 'correct' length and try it in a bit of light grass. Then do the same with an FS400, especially one with a smaller head on it. The FS400 is at the top of the rev range straight away. No need for it to be there, it's a waste of petrol. A chainsaw operator constantly at the top of the rev range would be told to stop messing around and actually start cutting....

 

A decent operator can tell when a machine is about to become overloaded, and will avoid bumping the cord out that much. As mentioned before, there's a sweet spot. Point is, that sweet spot is a lot different on an FS400 to an FS85. But the 'proper' cord length is the same.

 

Surely then an FS 85 used for anything more than light grass trimming will be subject to the same or even more wear as an FS400 with the cord bumped out a bit more? I know which sounds more overloaded when being used in typical long grass.

 

I think it's operator error with 95% of the machines you see if you're attributing the damage to the longer cord. Too much cord, and a bad technique. Basically no mechanical sympathy

[doobin]

I am aware that I am (hopefully) preaching to the converted.

But over 40 years of occasional strimmer use, and 23 of supervising strimmer use.

In respect of long grass cutting.

Some intuitively understand to use a strimmer like a sythe.

The line cuts the grass stems at the bottom, and the sward of grass or weeds falls behind.

The line ONLY cuts the stems once at or near ground level.

IT does not be used to MO-CO the cut grass.

Or in lieu of a flail mower, if a flailed finish is the desired result.

Others can-not be taught, their stubbornly ingrained technique more resembles stirring shite with a stick.

A good "hand" on a strimmer should be a pleasure to watch and make it look easy and relaxed.

I am now a skilled observer:001_tt2: or perhaps:confused1:and:blushing:

 

Indeed. A decent bloke can leave the grass in a windrow ready for a machine like a digger to clear up.

[doobin]

Fair point hedge sparrow, but 2.5 mm starline is nowhere near as strong as 2.4 round. I am not at all surprised that it breaks and wears rapidly.

 

Then I retract my earlier statement that I wanted to try some! Thanks for the heads up!

[bobh]

Fair point hedge sparrow, but 2.5 mm starline is nowhere near as strong as 2.4 round. I am not at all surprised that it breaks and wears rapidly.

 

Sorry Barrie, got to disagree with you.

In my FS55 I had always used 2.4mm Stihl orange line, last year someone gave me some 2.4mm Oregon nylium starline.

I my experience it has better wear resistance and cuts far better.

Needless to say I've switch over to it completely.

It may of course be the difference between the starline and the nyliun starline.

[GardenKit]

Sorry Barrie, got to disagree with you.

In my FS55 I had always used 2.4mm Stihl orange line, last year someone gave me some 2.4mm Oregon nylium starline.

I my experience it has better wear resistance and cuts far better.

Needless to say I've switch over to it completely.

It may of course be the difference between the starline and the nyliun starline.

You are right Bob, the Nylium is far superior to the std starline in terms of wear resistance. In my opinion, due to the reduced amount of material in the cross section, it is still more liable to breakage than equal quality round line, but if it suits you, then thats great.