loop or bicycle bars for weed whacker?

[panahead]

i live in the steep mountains of central california and have a lot of fairly tall grass and brush that needs to be cleared every year (4 to 5 acres).... i am looking to buy a stihl fs 250 trimmer.... what type of bar set up should i get? i want something that is going to work well on steep slopes as well as level ground... and i would use the tool for at least a couple of hours at a time... i am looking for something that is comfortable and works well.... i will not be using a saw blade (due to the fire hazard of making a spark off a rock in the very dry conditions) but will be using a very heavy line... i had a loop handle in the past and it worked fairly well... but i have never tried the bike set up.... also is the shindowa or the husky a better machine?
thanks in advance...

[yungman]

I have a bike handle Honda big trimmer. I also use full harness. I only have experience using it on level ground, so can't tell you about slope.

It is very very comfortable. To trim for 2 hours, it would be very tiring to use a regular trimmer. Only one thing, with the bike handle, it is not very useful other than trimming, can't exactly turn in sideway to do edging and others. Buying the new cable and loop handle is a lot of extra money.

For such a big job, you might want to conside the Stihl FS250!!! I won't recommend Honda, I have carb problem with mine and paid to change one and never work right.

Shindaiwa have a new one out that is 28cc. But I have a suspicion that you need 30+cc in your application. So far, I hear nothing but good things of the FS250. It is only 13lbs.

[Scaper-S2k]

i live in the steep mountains of central california and have a lot of fairly tall grass and brush that needs to be cleared every year (4 to 5 acres).... i am looking to buy a stihl fs 250 trimmer.... what type of bar set up should i get? i want something that is going to work well on steep slopes as well as level ground... and i would use the tool for at least a couple of hours at a time... i am looking for something that is comfortable and works well.... i will not be using a saw blade (due to the fire hazard of making a spark off a rock in the very dry conditions) but will be using a very heavy line... i had a loop handle in the past and it worked fairly well... but i have never tried the bike set up.... also is the shindowa or the husky a better machine?
thanks in advance...

You should get a dedicated brush cutter/trimmer. They come with the larger style handles standard.

I bought a used Honda 4 stroke brush cutter and it is a beast. The first day I used it, it had a saw blade attached. I cut down a 4"-5" wild cherry tree.

Obviously that's not the normal thing to do, but I was curious.

You can buy those nylon swinging blades that will work better than the heavy line.

By the way, the Honda was originally a Home Depot rental item, so it's been used pretty good I'm sure. But it fires right up and chews through any brush you have.

[yungman]

You should get a dedicated brush cutter/trimmer. They come with the larger style handles standard.

I bought a used Honda 4 stroke brush cutter and it is a beast. The first day I used it, it had a saw blade attached. I cut down a 4"-5" wild cherry tree.

Obviously that's not the normal thing to do, but I was curious.

You can buy those nylon swinging blades that will work better than the heavy line.

By the way, the Honda was originally a Home Depot rental item, so it's been used pretty good I'm sure. But it fires right up and chews through any brush you have.

I have the HHT31SUNBA 31cc brush cutter. If it is not because of the carb, I really like it. The engine is so smooth. It is also very quiet. The new carb seems to stall at idle after using it for a while and hard to start. Always have to lock on part throtle to pull start again. Brought it in twice still don't help. Getting to the point of wasting gas to drive long ways to the dealer.

[Lawnsmen]

So what would anyone recommend between bike handled bars or the loop style design for commercial yard use. Times ran usually under an hr of weedeating per job. Usually flat ground but many angles, under trees, and along walks (edging). As for the weedeater itself, im going stihl either fs90,100, or 110? Main concern is handle type.

[panahead]

loop or bike handle?

i agree... i a still trying to get some advice regarding loop or bicycle bars.... i plan on buying the stihl 250 and to use it only for clearing the brush and tall grass... don't really need it to do edge work... this is more of a ranch... not very manicured.... i am looking for something that will be comfortable and work well on the steep slopes... any ideas out there???

[Scaper-S2k]

If you're using it to clear brush, I'd get the larger handles and put a blade on it. If you're mostly going to be using it as a regular trimmer for smaller stuff, the loop handles are the best with good trimmer line being used.

[yungman]

i agree... i a still trying to get some advice regarding loop or bicycle bars.... i plan on buying the stihl 250 and to use it only for clearing the brush and tall grass... don't really need it to do edge work... this is more of a ranch... not very manicured.... i am looking for something that will be comfortable and work well on the steep slopes... any ideas out there???

As I said, if you have to do an hour at a time, bike handle is absolutely more comfortable. Particularly you don't need to edge.

If you need to go under bushes, into tight space and edging, bike handle is not suitable. It is a trade off.

[panahead]

thanks for your reply!!!! i was told by the local stihl dealer nearby that using a blade was dangerous because of the extreme fire danger and that it might cause a spark if it hits a rock.... he suggested a line set up... but it is a very thick line.... looks almost like a small plastic chain? and you have two lengths of it threaded through a metal head.... so that you wind up with 4 pieces of thick plastic as cutters....

[yungman]

So what would anyone recommend between bike handled bars or the loop style design for commercial yard use. Times ran usually under an hr of weedeating per job. Usually flat ground but many angles, under trees, and along walks (edging). As for the weedeater itself, im going stihl either fs90,100, or 110? Main concern is handle type.

An hour of trimming per job!!! You might want to consider two. One with bike handle and big motor to do simple trimming and a small light one with loop handle for tight space and edging. The light loop handle don't even have to be expensive, Echo SRM210 will do the trick.

I have coporal tunnel syndrome on my hands, using a loop handle an hour at a time might give you one too!!!

[roost-1]

Bike handles are more presice but slower to move around with. I cant stand a strap around my neck so loops are what I use.

[Blake]

I do so much trimming that I just use one hand most of the time. I use a Redmax with the gaurd taken off. That trimmer has been (by far) the best, most dependable, longest lasting piece of equipment that I have ever used. I hope I didn't jinx it by bragging about it.

[yungman]

I do so much trimming that I just use one hand most of the time. I use a Redmax with the gaurd taken off. That trimmer has been (by far) the best, most dependable, longest lasting piece of equipment that I have ever used. I hope I didn't jinx it by bragging about it.

What model? I heard the new Strato engine have more issue like starting and warmup.

[buster57]

An hour of trimming per job!!! You might want to consider two. One with bike handle and big motor to do simple trimming and a small light one with loop handle for tight space and edging. The light loop handle don't even have to be expensive, Echo SRM210 will do the trick.

I have coporal tunnel syndrome on my hands, using a loop handle an hour at a time might give you one too!!!

Exactly what I did. I have an FS250 with bike handels & harness and a Shin 231T for smaller jobs.

[SPENCER HUNTER]

My Coworker Just Got Him The 2009 Stihl

My Coworker Just Got Him The Stihl With Handle Bars 09 Model It Seems To Work Great On Steep Banks,, Mr Gene Said His Arm's Don't Seem To Get As Tired After About 1 Hr To 2hr's,, I Have The Echo 210 With Loop Handle,, When It Is Time To Replace Some Of My Equipment I'm Going W/stihl,,, Little More Bang For The Buck,,easyer To Crank,,and Cuts Through Johnson Grass Like Cutting Butter,,, Way To Go Stihl Great Machine !!!!!