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I've been liking much more the ECHO than the STIHL for a while, because it gives a longer trimmer line than the STIHL. I was wondering if there was any other way to get more line on the STIHL apart from removing the shield (I've tried it and I don't like it). A different guard? If not, I might get ECHO trimmers instead.

Lawnboy18 said:

I've been liking much more the ECHO than the STIHL for a while, because it gives a longer trimmer line than the STIHL. I was wondering if there was any other way to get more line on the STIHL apart from removing the shield (I've tried it and I don't like it). A different guard? If not, I might get ECHO trimmers instead.

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Yeah ide like to know. That's why I took my guard off.

Lawnboy18 said:

I've been liking much more the ECHO than the STIHL for a while, because it gives a longer trimmer line than the STIHL. I was wondering if there was any other way to get more line on the STIHL apart from removing the shield (I've tried it and I don't like it). A different guard? If not, I might get ECHO trimmers instead.

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First thing I do on any trimmer is take the guard off.
It just gets in the way.
I like echo over stihl
If someone gave me a new stihl first the guard would come off. Second I would put a echo speed feed head on it.

guards on trimmers are there for the purpose of user protection & a cutter cuts the line to a specified length to maximize clutch, drive shaft, gear-head wear. the longer line length the more load on the drive components & affects engine performance. over the years i have seen many trimmers with out guards & heavier line which in time mainly wears the clutch, the other issue is your warranty may be void if you have a drive component problem in the warranty period. yes i agree it's easier to see what your are trimming with out one on but my opinion is to keep the guard on:smile:

Lawnboy18 said:

I've been liking much more the ECHO than the STIHL for a while, because it gives a longer trimmer line than the STIHL. I was wondering if there was any other way to get more line on the STIHL apart from removing the shield (I've tried it and I don't like it). A different guard? If not, I might get ECHO trimmers instead.

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Well to begin with when your talking about line length between the two brands your basically talking about a moot point considering there isn't enough difference between the maximum line length to make a difference in anything you would trim. As 066 already stated anything longer than max length will only effect the clutch, drive shaft, gear-head wear and affect engine performance.

If your looking for more cutting power and effective cutting power with the maximum line length you have, I'd suggest you start looking at the engine spec's and see what machine offers the most effective engine power between the two brands.

Thanks for the input.

I always run with my guards. I just want more trimmer line from the STIHL. In fact, I should measure the line lenght on both trimmers.

The Speed-Feed 400 head takes 20 feet of .095 line to be fully loaded.

I have same head on my Shindawia T235, it had a cut swath of 20 inches, but I turned the line cutter around (2 bolts) so it now has a cut swath of 18 inches.

If your talking about line capacity of the trimmer head and not cutting swath The Stihl Auto-Cut 25-2 holds 26 ft. of 095 fully loaded.

Ric said:

Well to begin with when your talking about line length between the two brands your basically talking about a moot point considering there isn't enough difference between the maximum line length to make a difference in anything you would trim. As 066 already stated anything longer than max length will only effect the clutch, drive shaft, gear-head wear and affect engine performance.

If your looking for more cutting power and effective cutting power with the maximum line length you have, I'd suggest you start looking at the engine spec's and see what machine offers the most effective engine power between the two brands.

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Gees,
I am agreeing with Ric again ( must be getting old )

If you need much more than 10" of cut then you might look at your procedures .
Mowing is faster & better with a mower and trimming should be kept to a minimum.
I would be unlucky to trim much more that 3" to 4".
Even on the steep banks it i still a lot faster with a mower, even a tiny 16" one.

I am talking about cut swath. I just feel the STIHL doesn't give as much as the ECHO. I like the lenght on the ECHO

bertsmobile1 said:

Gees, I am agreeing with Ric again ( must be getting old ) If you need much more than 10" of cut then you might look at your procedures . Mowing is faster & better with a mower and trimming should be kept to a minimum. I would be unlucky to trim much more that 3" to 4". Even on the steep banks it i still a lot faster with a mower, even a tiny 16" one.

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We cut many places that a mower can't get into. Fence corners and other places.

Cemeteries are also a place where there's a lot of trimming with a string trimmer. Therefore the more string out the bigger swath. The bigger swath the faster you are through.

I have a couple of guys who run weedeaters for me that are very fast and very efficient with them.

There are many places where one has to trim more than 10".

Lawnboy18 said:

I am talking about cut swath. I just feel the STIHL doesn't give as much as the ECHO. I like the lenght on the ECHO

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OK, The Echo SRM 225 has a 17" cut swath, which is 6-1/2 inches from head to string cutter x 2 + 4 inch head = 17 inch cut swath.

I think some of the Stihl's, like the FS 55 has same 17 inch cut swath. (I think).

Lawnboy18 said:

I am talking about cut swath. I just feel the STIHL doesn't give as much as the ECHO. I like the length on the ECHO

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Really? Echo has a 17" cutting swath. Stihl has a 16.5 and you can tell a difference in 1/4 inch of string. WOT on the Echo is 8 to 10000, the Stihl is 10.500 cut off.

That isn't a big difference. I guess I do feel the difference tho.

Lawnboy18 said:

That isn't a big difference. I guess I do feel the difference tho.

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I doubt you can feel the difference in a quarter inch of line length. The difference you feel is in the engine power making one model feel shorter or longer than the other. It's the same feeling you get by changing line diameter or line swath, the shorter your line the less power your engine has to use to spin the trimmer head and the more line you have out the less effective the cut especially with the smaller engine because it can't compensate.

So, with the ECHO, I feel it that it has a bigger swath because it isn't as strong as opposed to my STIHL that cuts effortlessly? Am I right or weong?

Kinda depends on the Echo model you are speaking of. The SRM225 has a 21.2cc

The Stihl has a long time proven 27.4cc engine they use in many.

Lawnboy18 said:

So, with the ECHO, I feel it that it has a bigger swath because it isn't as strong as opposed to my STIHL that cuts effortlessly? Am I right or wrong?

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Basically yes. Thing is and I don't care what make trimmer you use, it's impossible to tell the difference in a quarter inch of line. You can measure your line if you wish, it doesn't make a difference because the second you start using the trimmer on anything you use line and it shortens and in a very short period of time your bumping the head and extending line and you don't know how much line is left out when you bump, you don't know how much line is being extended so you don't know how much line is out at any given time.

There to many variables involved to tell line length swath like the type of line your using? Is it round, is it square or how about star shape. What size are you using, 080, 095, or 0.105. What make line? Stihl, Echo, Gator line that's reinforced? All and more can make a difference in how a trimmer feels. Ever wonder why you can take Echo line and use it on a Stihl trimmer and go through it twice as fast as the Stihl line?

7394 said:

Kinda depends on the Echo model you are speaking of. The SRM225 has a 21.2cc

The Stihl has a long time proven 27.4cc engine they use in many.

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Actually it's a 27.2 cc and everything Stihl has in there residential line up is a 27.2 cc engine. Stihl makes like seven different Commercial engines ranging from 27.2 to 37.7 cc. Echo has only three a 21.2, 25.4 and there largest being a 28.2 I believe, and yes engine can make a big difference.

Yep, 27.2cc. for Stihl. Stihl my neighbor has, I used a couple times was a FS 55, hard on gas.

But can't beat Echo & Shindaiwa warranty of 5 years & lifetime on drive shaft & ign coil pack.

7394 said:

Yep, 27.2cc. for Stihl. Stihl my neighbor has, I used a couple times was a FS 55, hard on gas.

But can't beat Echo & Shindaiwa warranty of 5 years & lifetime on drive shaft & ign coil pack.

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The FS 55 is a homeowner unit and as far as gas usage goes I couldn't say how it does because I've never used a Home owner version trimmer. I do use the Stihl HL-45 hedge trimmer and it seems a little hard on gas but when you compare the two (Echo vs Stihl) it only stands to reason the stihl products would use more gas when the the stihl is a 27.2cc engine vs the echo's 21.2cc engine. The thing about a comparison is how can you really compare the two units??

As far as the warranty goes I never payed to much attention to Echo's 5 yr because it's for the homeowner. I think Stihl has 4 year and on their trimmers and blowers or gas operated equipment by buying their oil, moto mix or what ever so the difference between the two warranty's is really moot because if anything is going to happen to either it will happen within the first two years of usage and after that period you'll have problems getting any type of warranty work done by either company.

On the commercial end Echo's warranty is no better than Stihl, there both two years.

Wow, quite the discussion I have started. Thanks Ric for clearing that up for me. It makes a lot of sense!

By the way, I use a STIHL 90. No homeowner stuff.

First thing I do on any trimmer is take the guard off.
It just gets in the way.
I like echo over stihl
If someone gave me a new stihl first the guard would come off. Second I would put a echo speed feed head on it.