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Weed Whacker Heads

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In The Doghouse

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I have a Stihl string trimmer that I have owned for about 26 years. It was one of their upper end units with straight shaft and still starts pretty quickly. I still have the original 2-string head that I periodically rewind with .09X string. It is not a bump feed so when using it I have to manually feed new line, frequently along brick walls and chain link fencing.

I have been considering buying one of those fancy new weed whacker heads that do not require extending the line very often like you see in TV commercials and on the end cap at Lowe's.

Have any of you used one of these fancy weed whacker heads? What works and what does not?
 
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KinzeMech

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Your nearest stihl dealer can probably outfit you with a compatible autofeed string head. Not all heads are compatible with all trimmers, but if yours is the straight shaft with a small gearbox at the end, it should be capable of running the better class of heads. Of the top of my head, I can think of two stihl autofeed heads that will probably fit that trimmer. One has a single string, and feeds automatically, the other has two strings, and feeds out to the next ratchet click on the spool each time you bounce the head on the ground while spinning.
 
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softailgarage

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Do yourself an even bigger favor and dump the string all together. I used to waste so much time messing with the string it would piss me off to no end. Change out the head with one that uses the 3 flat plastic blades. No more feeder problems, or stopping to untangle the string or having to wind more string. The blades are tough and last and changing them is a breeze, less than 30 seconds.
 
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I

In The Doghouse

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softailgarage said:
Do yourself an even bigger favor and dump the string all together. I used to waste so much time messing with the string it would piss me off to no end. Change out the head with one that uses the 3 flat plastic blades. No more feeder problems, or stopping to untangle the string or having to wind more string. The blades are tough and last and changing them is a breeze, less than 30 seconds.
Click to expand...

I was wondering if that design really works and how durable they may be.
 
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TDLMOMOWERS

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I like the tap and go heads. I have these heads on all 4 of my trimmers. I bought my heads at the local Napa store. They have a catalog of parts for lawn and garden equipment. I bought universal heads that fit the threads on the shafts of my trimmers. I trim around a lot of chain link fence and concrete landscaping blocks so I go through a lot of line. I tried one of those heads with the plastic blades. It worked fine around the yard, but chain link fence tore hell out of it. Check with Stihl and see what they have.
 
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btrnuthatch

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SF Bay Area
I'm very pleased with the Tanaka 32307 No Brainer Quick Load Cutting Head. $20 on Amazon and agree with the positive reviews there. This specific one is for a curved shaft trimmer. There's one for a straight shaft if that's what you have. Cut some lengths from a spool and refresh in a few seconds.
 
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TheGrooveking

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Perfect timing as that I've had it with my Stihl string trimmer head, I have a home owners unit a R56CE or something like that, when I bought it I told the idiot at Ace Hardware I wanted the Kombi system unit, he pointed at this one and said that was it, so I bought it. A year + later I went to buy the pole prunner attachment and was told it wouldn't work, they educated me that I didn't buy the Kombi unit. I was pissed at myself for not doing my research (but will admit I bought it the same morning my other trimmer **** the bed), but will report that General Manager of that Ace store will remember me the rest of his life.

The Stihl head I have is a *************, it has never worked right, I even bought a second spool so I can change it quickly to get the job done. I'll be looking at the SpeedFeedheads.

TheGrooveking
 
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canuckian

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I have the kombisystem and the bump feed head on mine is no better. I regularly have to take it apart because the string often breaks off and ***** back inside the head causing It to not advance. May check out the speed feed heads to see if I have any better luck.
 
Z

zman8537

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The "Speed Feed" head works great! It is simple and a breeze to reload. I think that Shindaiwa may have designed that head but not positive. I have Shindaiwa Multi Tool and Brushcutter and they work GREAT! I would highly recommend the Speed Feed Head and I know that they have adapters to work with most brands of trimmers.
 
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bamajoe

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Brooksville, MS
Used a Stihl 25-2 head for 4 years in lawncare, never had a problem except to replace the spool maybe once a season.. Now I am a certified Stihl mech and ill agree that the stock head on the fs56 are junk... Go to your dealer and ask them for a 25-2 head. It's what all the pro trimmers come with.
 
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The Shop

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Texas
I would recommend the Stihl autocut 25-2 head. With this head you simply tap the head on the ground to advance the line out. Now Stihl does make a automatic head that advances the line out automatically, but I've never used one. And 90% of are yard pros. use the autocut 25-2 head with no problems besides the usual wear of the cap and spool button. And most Stihl dealers stock parts for the different Stihl heads if you need them.

And you said that your trimmers is 26 years old. Please tell me which model you have.
 
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The Shop

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canuckian said:
I have the kombisystem and the bump feed head on mine is no better. I regularly have to take it apart because the string often breaks off and ***** back inside the head causing It to not advance. May check out the speed feed heads to see if I have any better luck.
Click to expand...

It sounds like your line is old. Try soaking the line in water awhile before using it. As trimmer line hits old it gets brittle and soaking it in water helps make it more flixible.
 
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shoot summ

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I run the 25-2 on my trimmer, I did have issues with some types of line. I am running a square line right now that is very tough, and feeds very well.
 
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The Shop

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bamajoe said:
Used a Stihl 25-2 head for 4 years in lawncare, never had a problem except to replace the spool maybe once a season.. Now I am a certified Stihl mech and ill agree that the stock head on the fs56 are junk... Go to your dealer and ask them for a 25-2 head. It's what all the pro trimmers come with.
Click to expand...

I'm glad to see that we have another Stihl tech on the forum, welcome aboard. And I have to agree with you on the 25-2 C heads. There more trouble than they are worth.
 
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SARG

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I now have two reasonably new Stihl trimmers and I tried all the different type heads available.

After becoming frustrated with all the different issues they created I eventually went back to the stock 25-2 heads. I'm satisfied now they can't be improved upon.

I have six spare spools now so all I have to do is give the wife two cups of coffee to start her day and change out the spools on her machine when empty ......... and she's good for several hours of hard labor.:)
 
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C

canuckian

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The Shop said:
It sounds like your line is old. Try soaking the line in water awhile before using it. As trimmer line hits old it gets brittle and soaking it in water helps make it more flixible.
Click to expand...

picked up the line this past spring, unless it's been sitting on the shelf for a few years, I dunno. Bought it from a pretty high volume stihl dealer so I can't see it being old line. I'll give the water suggestion a whirl though. can't make the problem any worse, that's for sure! thanks!
 
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bindernut

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St. Louis
I am a silver level certified stihl technician as well!!! The pic on stihl's website shows the fs56 as having a 25-2. I think all the straight shaft trimmers come with this head, except the biggest model or 2.
 
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I

In The Doghouse

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The Shop said:
I would recommend the Stihl autocut 25-2 head.

And you said that your trimmers is 26 years old. Please tell me which model you have.
Click to expand...

Mine is a FS66 purchased new in 1987 or 1988. I have considered replacing it with a newer unit but it does not want to retire yet.

Today during my lunch break I will check out their 25-2 heads. A new head coupled with good quality line should keep me whacking weeks for another 1/4 century. :bounce:

Edit 1: My local Stihl dealer has the 25-2 for ~$38 out the door. I can order it online out of NC for ~$30 and should have it by this weekend's yard work.

Edit 2: I ordered the Stihl 25-2 online for $29.99 delivered and should have it by Friday. I'll report back the results of this upgrade after using it this weekend.
 
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O

oldtractors

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Iowa
softailgarage said:
Do yourself an even bigger favor and dump the string all together. I used to waste so much time messing with the string it would piss me off to no end. Change out the head with one that uses the 3 flat plastic blades. No more feeder problems, or stopping to untangle the string or having to wind more string. The blades are tough and last and changing them is a breeze, less than 30 seconds.
Click to expand...

I bought one of those and the head blew apart in less than 15 minutes. It was even American made. I took it back and got my money back.
 
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I

In The Doghouse

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Got the Stihl 25-2 and used it Friday. It did speed up my trimming time. You guys who like the Speedfeed make me second guess the purchase, but this one should do me just fine.

Now I figured out that the fuel leak is from the black elbow that connects the fuel line to the carb. Guess I will be going by the dealer once again.
 
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