Stihl fs56rc cable drive to solid drive shaft conversion?

[Jerryp]

I would love to be able to put a solid drive shaft in my stihl fs 56 but i can't seem to find any for it online. Is there any other models that the driveshaft would work in? Thanks

 

[jack stand]

No expert here, but (I think) you'll need everything from the power head out. The straight shaft driven units use an angled gear head out on the working end where the cable driven models come into the end from the top @90* eliminating the need for a gearbox. It may be more expensive than it's worth.
What's your reason?
I can't help on weather it's an interchangeable part from other models but I'd start with a dealer.

 

[Jerryp]

No expert here, but (I think) you'll need everything from the power head out. The straight shaft driven units use an angled gear head out on the working end where the cable driven models come into the end from the top @90* eliminating the need for a gearbox. It may be more expensive than it's worth.
What's your reason?
I can't help on weather it's an interchangeable part from other models but I'd start with a dealer.

It is a straight shaft model. But they just happened to put the flex cable in there even though it doesn't flex. They claim they did it for light weight purposes. I wanna convert it because the flex drive has more vibration because it just kinda flops around some in there. I also do ********* 3 ft tall weedeating and ive heard of the flex cables not liking the load very well and apparently they break after a while.

 

[mike93lx]

Seems like a lot of work and cost for a $200 trimmer. Doesn't make sense to sell it and buy a better fit for you?

 

[jack stand]

If you're cutting 3' high grasses with the "string" try one of the blade types.

 

[bwringer]

If the flex drive shaft is flopping around in there, it may be that the liner (the extruded plastic star-shaped spacer inside) has failed. Or perhaps the drive shaft itself is on the way out.

If you Google "Stihl parts diagram" for whatever model you're interested in, you'll find parts diagrams and part numbers from the UK and Europe, where the gubbamints don't let Stihl get away with hiding and restricting access to basic information like in the freedom-loving US of damn A.

This will enable you to at least do some research and cross-referencing. If you can, perhaps, figure out that the outer tube and the parts at either end are the same, you may be able to figure out the odds of a solid driveshaft being compatible. Hard to say, but there's a chance.

For example: https://www.diyspareparts.com/parts/stihl/group/brushcutters-1/

Part number in hand, you would then need to persuade a Stihl dealer to cooperate with your wild plan.

And then the part would very likely be a significant fraction of the cost of just buying the machine you need, with no guarantee it would work or make the improvement you're looking for.

Will it be worth it in the end? Ehhhh...

 

[redmondjp]

Like others have said, I would just shop Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, NextDoor, and whatever other social media for-sale sites to find another used trimmer, either to use or for parts. I recently snagged a straight-shaft Echo trimmer for $40 (which I just converted to a blade with a kit on clearance from Home Depot), and a curved-shaft Stihl string trimmer and Stihl 2-cycle hedge trimmer for $50 for the pair. Good deals are out there if you act fast one they are posted for sale.

 

[jonesg]

I had the same problem putting a blade on a curved cable drive weed whacker, I found a good used craftsman bushwhacker for $40, comes with a shoulder harness to help with the extra weight and a long handle to control any kick backs.

I also see used walk behind brush hogs on craigslist, depends if you're in the country or city I guess.