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So i have and have had mostly echo and honda trimmers and have used other brands also. So today i used my buddys fs130r (4mix) and his fs250r (2 stroke) and i like both machines except for 1 thing. The throttles are snapper which is nice but way too much like a light switch especially the 130r. So if your mowing like a maniac in high field grass it doesnt matter because the throttle is pinned. But, if you are trimming grass that grows weekly it is like impossible no matter how smooth you try to be it is hard to keep constant rpm smoothly. Why are stihl trimmers like this. Is it because neither has any freeplay when you pull the throttle? very light flywheels or what. I tried his redmax trimmer also and it had a 2 stroke that was not as powerful as 250r but super smooth motor. The fs250r actually vibrates more then i thought but it felt just a hair lighter then the fs130 even though they say the weight is both 13.2 i believe. Anybodys thought would be appreciated. BTW I have never used a trimmer with balls up the @$$ like the fs250r, what a beast.

I run mine wide open almost all the time, the line stays more consistent...almost like a rigid blade...I am only speaking as to what I prefer. I do not like the inconsistent feel at lower speeds.I know that running it fide open moves more air across the cooling fins and keeps the clutch engaged...... I have found I have far more control over the finished cut using it this way......also the Stihl throttle levers are much more durable the way they are enclosed..... just my thoughts.....25+ years in the biz.

Grasmo said:

I run mine wide open almost all the time, the line stays more consistent...almost like a rigid blade...I am only speaking as to what I prefer. I do not like the inconsistent feel at lower speeds.I know that running it fide open moves more air across the cooling fins and keeps the clutch engaged...... I have found I have far more control over the finished cut using it this way......also the Stihl throttle levers are much more durable the way they are enclosed..... just my thoughts.....25+ years in the biz.

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So let me get this straight......You run your trimmers WFO almost all the time. Why, holy gas hog. If you are trimming customers lawns weekly and use full throttle while your trimming like 1-1/2" of grass off the top I do not understand why you would be WFO all the time. Brush cutting for sure I get it but whatever floats your boat. But like you said you do not like it at low rpm (probably because its a light switch) I typically use about say 30-50% throttle during normal weekly trimming with no need ever to use full throttle unless I am cutting High grass in a field or something.

Grasmo said:

I run mine wide open almost all the time, the line stays more consistent...almost like a rigid blade...I am only speaking as to what I prefer. I do not like the inconsistent feel at lower speeds.I know that running it fide open moves more air across the cooling fins and keeps the clutch engaged...... I have found I have far more control over the finished cut using it this way......also the Stihl throttle levers are much more durable the way they are enclosed..... just my thoughts.....25+ years in the biz.

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I run my Stihl 90r and 110r wide open all the time, that's the way there designed to run. The only time you shouldn't or vary your speed is during the break-in period, the first five tanks of gas.

I would guess, that he does it wide open, because he has learn how to use and control it after more hours of use than the average guy. I wish I had that type of control, as I have found the faster I can cut, the better job I can do. Can only run my Echo at 3/4 throttle. He is also using less fuel running full throttle, as he is getting more work done in less time.

dfbrown said:

So let me get this straight......You run your trimmers WFO almost all the time. Why, holy gas hog. If you are trimming customers lawns weekly and use full throttle while your trimming like 1-1/2" of grass off the top I do not understand why you would be WFO all the time. Brush cutting for sure I get it but whatever floats your boat. But like you said you do not like it at low rpm (probably because its a light switch) I typically use about say 30-50% throttle during normal weekly trimming with no need ever to use full throttle unless I am cutting High grass in a field or something.

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Well to each his own but I've found that using my trimmers at a low rpm tends to tear the grass rather than cut it. Running wide open gives me a better quality cut on the grass and I can move faster. I've always looked at it like using a trimmer at a low rpm is like using a mower with dull blades.

I run wide open. Gives a better cut less brown tips. The only time I slow it down is on chain link fence

(( cowboy up and get over it ))

If there is one of those cheap Stihl trimmers within several blocks running on a calm day here in town you can pick it out from a bunch of others by the noise they make running wide open all the time.

I have a lot of fence and a lot of trees on my property. I would like to have more control over the speed of my FS 110R at low RPMs. Having said that, I love how it performs! It has been a worry free trimmer, and that's worth every penny.

Ric said:

I run my Stihl 90r wide open all the time, that's the way there designed to run..

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This is true i have tryed running mine low it just will not do it.

Back when the lower end push mower came out with a fixed rpm/full, I realized that there was an army of nuts out there that thought their mower/trimmers
should operate at low rpms.......

The stuff is designed to run at 1 speed, get over it.

I used to fool around with old dudes biatchin about their pushmower's cut and all. Turns out that the problem was they were running the mower @
2000 rpm or so.....

They refused to run at the advised rpms

Fish said:

I used to fool around with old dudes biatchin about their pushmower's cut and all. Turns out that the problem was they were running the mower @
2000 rpm or so.....

They refused to run at the advised rpms

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For all of you that read this now. There is no way your running these things wide open (off the rev limiter) all the time when cutting weekly residential yards. No way. I am not saying to run it like a sissy but no way wide open all the time. Anything around half throttle or so is fine but good luck doing it on a stihl 4 mix. I used them today both fs130r and fs250r (2 stroke) and they are less then 1 year old and get used 2-3 times a week so it aint like there wooped or anything. I mean i understand if you go too slow that you can tear the grass no crap but, telling me you hold them wfo is just stupid. When we do this section of high grass near a field yeah your wfo for a while no doubt but when your just doing trimming on a residential yard weekly and you have mulch near by, stones, windows, cars around etc it is just totally stupid to run one wide open. Uses excess fuel, harder on motor, easy to shoot a rock to a window, would vibrate your hands numb, real sensitive to bumping the head for more string when probably not needed.

UPDATE: Also just saw that the new fs94r 2 stroke coming out soon has a new throttle/handle and a lever (like a wheel) on the new handle to hold the rpm at multiple throttle positions and you can stilll give it more throttle when needed and it comes back to the setting that you set on the (lever wheel) so maybe i am not the only one in the world that doesn't run wfo throttle 24/7 as some claim. Check it out stihl fs94r 2 stroke trimmer coming out soon. (also a fs240) Maybe this is the fix or a nicer way to use it for smoother throttle application. bottom line, the ones made now are just way too twitchy whether its a lean mixture which makes stuff snappy(strict epa regulations) , too light a flywheel, carb/throttle cam design or what it is. I know i am not the only one to complain about this as I have read about it on internet so I know i am not the only one. They are nice trimmers but its a pain in the *** to use these machines. Built well I will say.

btw old men running those mowers at stupid low rpm, yeah i have seen that before but your talking about a mower at max say 3,300rpm on a 21" mower compared to a trimmer running 10,000rpm. I get what your saying though.

Running partial throttle and running without the shield/cutter is bad and voids Stihl warranties. I have been using an FS90 for a couple of years, and yes,
I might throttle down a tad when I get into small loose gravel, but otherwise, the thing is slow enough as it is.

possum said:

If there is one of those cheap Stihl trimmers within several blocks running on a calm day here in town you can pick it out from a bunch of others by the noise they make running wide open all the time.

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You can pick it out because it's a 4 stroke and has a different sound than the two stroke.

Fish said:

Running partial throttle and running without the shield/cutter is bad and voids Stihl warranties. I have been using an FS90 for a couple of years, and yes,
I might throttle down a tad when I get into small loose gravel, but otherwise, the thing is slow enough as it is.

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I pulled my shields of after the things went out of warranty, I really hate running the shields they just get in the way and there just added weight.

I do too, I have a big trimmer and run the good stuff extra long. If it does cause any problem, I fix it and don't blame the mfgr.

We used to have to deal with commercial guys bringing their stuff back in with problems, they though that just clamping back on their new looking shield
would fool us....

I now I'm a newbie but most people do not realize they have to run it at wide throttle to get the line to advance.
just my .02

Ric said:

I run my Stihl 90r and 110r wide open all the time, that's the way there designed to run. The only time you shouldn't or vary your speed is during the break-in period, the first five tanks of gas.

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I sometimes question that. I run my FS90r to wide open and it sounds like the revs jump just like a car hitting the rev limiter. I sometimes wonder if that is bad or not. I've read somewhere that it isn't good to let a trimmer wide open all the time, but those are just specultions that I have read.

I have no problems with the switch and I can make the trimmer go slower if I want. I guess I have good abilities with my STIHL.