Thread: Whipper Snipper

I have just bought a Honda 4 stroke, about $375 from memory. I love it.

It replaced a Ryobi 2 stroke that gave up the ghost after 10 years (which surprised me, I thought it would only last for about 5)

I am currently replacing everything with 4 stroke when it needs to be, I don't miss having to mix fuel, they run quieter and cleaner, and start a helluva lot easier.

Stihl I think mine is an 043 model.

4 years old and starts just like the one in the advert

Most professionals seem to use stihl or shindawa.

I have 2 old stihls, an FS74 and a FS220, which is like a lawnmower on a stick, but then by yard reduces me to tears whenever I try to mow it...

Honda make spectacularly good stuff but like stihl it's not cheap.

I have had a Honda for about 5 years now. I bought the biggest one they made, as I live on a large rural block.
It's great, still starts first pull every time.

Useing straight unleaded fuel is a lot more convieniant than 2-stoke mix

My Stihl F536 starts first go at about ten years of age. Never broken down.

Cheers

Graeme


PS: Have a look on the backs of pro-gardeners & pro-handimen's utes. Stihl and Honda dominate.

i have an ancient fs105 and a new fs 130 that cost me $1200 money well spent in my book. nothing will beat it especialy with teh serated french string that i use.

stih all the way

Is there a trick to winding the string ? Mine always jams. I have a tap to feed head on both.

Next time I'm going to fit the grass blade and see if that works better. I've got that darn clumping elephant grass. Tough as nails grows about 4' in no time, seeds like crazy. Tried poisoning it, tried everything...

i use bump heads. sometimes it binds but normaly its fine. the bump heads are the best for time saving and also dont waste any string.

are you windign teh sting the right way?

glysophate kills that elaphant grass we have round here well. needs some wetting agent in with it to. dont buy roundup brand.

I have a Stihl FS90 which does the job nicely and starts very easily even with old fuel after not being used for 6 months.

If you mean teh right direction yes. Even if I layer wind it dinds up sometimes.

I get glypho 360 from bunnings, it's the cheapest I've found.

I'm off to town tomorrow to buy my first ever whipper snipper. Think I'll go for a 4 stroke Honda.

<O</OStill have the old (21 years old) Honda Buffalo mower. gets oil change, plug, valve clearance, air filter annually and still runs like new.<O</O
<O
What’s the go with the straight vs bent shaft, all the different handle (bar) setups and the changeable heads?<O</O

:

Straight shafts ahve a bevel gear set and are much stronger/longer lived. Curved shafts ahve a felxible cable inside like a speedo cable, cheaper.

The wide bars are much more comfortable for longer use, the loop handles are cheaper and possibly better for confined spaces.

String is best around hard objects like trees, fences, house. There are several grades of blade for cutting grass, small plants or woody stuff. There are some cutter heads with replacable plastic blades as an alternative to string but they don't seem to have taken off.

If you buy from a proper garden shop they will be able to advise on what's available and what will be good for your situation.

Thanks Damian

Thats exactly what I wanted to know

:

get a streight shaft the bent shaves have a capble that can break easily.

bull bar handles with a good harnes is best for long use, the loop handle is ok if you intend to put a saw on teh end or only do a little use around the yard.

HEADS

first i had the old standard stihl head that woul had to stop adn wind witch is fine if ya only doing a little work but gets to be a PITA if you are using it all day,

I than had a alloy head you put short lengths in this was good and saved time but u wasted a lot of string cos for every 12" cutting length you were left with 4" that could not be used.

i have hada bump head for about 2 years and it has doubled the amount i can do in a day. becous you are working to optimum length all the time.

teh auto feed heads dont last long and are only meant for low powerd machines.

Blades

for heavy cutting of woody weeds adn saplings i highly recomend a stihl blade that has teath like a chainsaw. it will cut saplings up to 4" with care.

the blades with inserts i would steer clear of as teh inserts have been known to fly out.

String

dependign on the size you buy you may be limited to a thin string. dont buy the cheepest you can find. the spiral stuff is good, the square stuff is better and the imported serated stuff is best.

i buy teh serated stuff called fleyblade in 300m rolls it comes in 3 sizes. lats twice as long as any other string i have used and cuts heaps better.

personaly i dont like the 4 stroke whippersnippers, conventional 4 strokes have a lower power to weight ration sa they have a sump to store oil. my fs130 is the new 4 mix it is 4 stroke buy you still mix the fuel this is to reduca weight. it is quieter than a 2 stroke and has heaps of power.

hope this healps