Stihl Vs. Echo

[Ric]

Thanks for all the replies...

exotion what model is your echo?

And Rick do you have a certain place that you buy parts for your Stihl's? Your dealer? I'm kind of leaning toward the Echo right now, mostly because I don't want to take my trimmer places to do maintenance, and I don't even see a parts section on the Stihl website.

A_tank96

The Spark Plug Is a NGK-BPMR7A Replace it. Looking from the Back of the engine on the right side is the muffler, if you look inside you will see the spark arrestor, Take a 15mm socket and remove it, it will be tight so you may have to give it a little tap to loosen it. it just unscrews take it out use a wire brush and clean the screen and blow it out, make sure it's clean and re-install it back in the muffler and I bet you find your machine will work great. I just did the whole process I described and it took less than five minutes, and make sure you clean or replace the air filter.

 

[Ric]

Just my opinion, but my stihl is a lot easier to maintain than the echo. It seems like the echo's fuel lines crack, slip off and just are not up to stihl standards. My recommendation is look for a used stihl. Preferably from a homeowner who you know does not use it much because in my opinion stihl lasts a lot longer. Plus the 4 mix engines they have on the fs 90 and above sound cooler, thought they have a little different torque characteristics than a pure 2 cycle. 4 mix means that you stil mix the oil and gas, but the unit has valves, giving you the best of both worlds. Go with the stihl and you will be much more pleased.

The Stihls are a lot easier to maintain than the Echos without a doubt. I've run both the Stihls and Echos and the Echo Imo is a good unit for the Homeowner but is I'm running them six days a week five,six hours a day I want a Stihl unit, I personally will never go back to the Echo for commercial work.

 

[A_tank96]

The Stihls are a lot easier to maintain than the Echos without a doubt. I've run both the Stihls and Echos and the Echo Imo is a good unit for the Homeowner but is I'm running them six days a week five,six hours a day I want a Stihl unit, I personally will never go back to the Echo for commercial work.

So what do you guys think abou the Stihl FS 55? What's the difference between the FS 55 R and FS 55 RC E? I would definitely lie a straight shaft
Thanks for the maintenance info Rick.

Any other opinions?

A_tank96

 

[exotion]

Thanks for all the replies...

exotion what model is your echo?

And Rick do you have a certain place that you buy parts for your Stihl's? Your dealer? I'm kind of leaning toward the Echo right now, mostly because I don't want to take my trimmer places to do maintenance, and I don't even see a parts section on the Stihl website.

A_tank96

Mine is srm 225

 

[Bacon8r]

So what do you guys think abou the Stihl FS 55? What's the difference between the FS 55 R and FS 55 RC E? I would definitely lie a straight shaft
Thanks for the maintenance info Rick.

Any other opinions?

A_tank96

The difference Is that the "e" represents Stihls easy to start feature. Stihls are all ready so easy to start that I have never bothered with it. I just think it is just extra weight and another thing to break. The fs 55 is homeowner unit, but it does say on stihl's website that it is for light duty commercial use. A professional grade model is the fs 70 which is a true 2 stroke or the fs 90 and above which are 4 mix. Honestly any of the Stihls would fit the bill, but I always buy a price of equipment that is a little above what I need so that it the future I won't have to purchase another piece of equipment. You could also look into either Stihls kombisystem or echo's pas which are their multi tool systems. Helps cut down on cost if you do expand (hedge trimmer, pole saw, edger). Just my opinion though.

 

[A_tank96]

The difference Is that the "e" represents Stihls easy to start feature. Stihls are all ready so easy to start that I have never bothered with it. I just think it is just extra weight and another thing to break. The fs 55 is homeowner unit, but it does say on stihl's website that it is for light duty commercial use. A professional grade model is the fs 70 which is a true 2 stroke or the fs 90 and above which are 4 mix. Honestly any of the Stihls would fit the bill, but I always buy a price of equipment that is a little above what I need so that it the future I won't have to purchase another piece of equipment. You could also look into either Stihls kombisystem or echo's pas which are their multi tool systems. Helps cut down on cost if you do expand (hedge trimmer, pole saw, edger). Just my opinion though.

That's another hang I have been wondering about. I don't see any signs that a certain trimmer is Stihl 4 mix, I just see that is says two stroke. Why is there so little info on 4 mix? What is it? I have been thinking about a Stihl FS 70 or an Echo Srm 230. Now I'm leaning towards the Stihl. I think it will be better for the money.

A_tank96

 

[Ric]

The difference Is that the "e" represents Stihls easy to start feature. Stihls are all ready so easy to start that I have never bothered with it. I just think it is just extra weight and another thing to break. The fs 55 is homeowner unit, but it does say on stihl's website that it is for light duty commercial use. A professional grade model is the fs 70 which is a true 2 stroke or the fs 90 and above which are 4 mix. Honestly any of the Stihls would fit the bill, but I always buy a price of equipment that is a little above what I need so that it the future I won't have to purchase another piece of equipment. You could also look into either Stihls kombisystem or echo's pas which are their multi tool systems. Helps cut down on cost if you do expand (hedge trimmer, pole saw, edger). Just my opinion though.

That's another hang I have been wondering about. I don't see any signs that a certain trimmer is Stihl 4 mix, I just see that is says two stroke. Why is there so little info on 4 mix? What is it? I have been thinking about a Stihl FS 70 or an Echo Srm 230. Now I'm leaning towards the Stihl. I think it will be better for the money.

A_tank96

If your looking at the Stihl FS 70 or an Echo Srm 230 they are both 2 stroke units. The Stihl is $279.95 and is a 27.2 cc motor, weighs 10.6lbs. The SRM 230 cost $289.99 and is a 22.8cc motor, weighs 12.2lbs. Personally I wouldn't buy either. If I'm spending that much money I'd spend a little more and buy the FS 90R it cost $319.95 and is a 28.4cc motor, weighs 11.7lbs and is a 4 mix unit and is twice the trimmer of either of the others.
You ask what is the 4 mix? The Stihl 4 Mix Unit is a single cylinder four stroke engine that runs on a gas oil lubrication/ 50 to 1 mixture just like a 2 stroke. You are talking $30 to $40 difference in price between the Stihl FS 70 or the Echo Srm 230 and the Stihl FS 90R and it's a far better buy.

 

[A_tank96]

If your looking at the Stihl FS 70 or an Echo Srm 230 they are both 2 stroke units. The Stihl is $279.95 and is a 27.2 cc motor, weighs 10.6lbs. The SRM 230 cost $289.99 and is a 22.8cc motor, weighs 12.2lbs. Personally I wouldn't buy either. If I'm spending that much money I'd spend a little more and buy the FS 90R it cost $319.95 and is a 28.4cc motor, weighs 11.7lbs and is a 4 mix unit and is twice the trimmer of either of the others.
You ask what is the 4 mix? The Stihl 4 Mix Unit is a single cylinder four stroke engine that runs on a gas oil lubrication/ 50 to 1 mixture just like a 2 stroke. You are talking $30 to $40 difference in price between the Stihl FS 70 or the Echo Srm 230 and the Stihl FS 90R and it's a far better buy.

So what is involved with a 4 mix engine? Pro's? Con's? One of the big pros for four stroke is that you don't have to mix up gas. I've heard you mix petrol or something? If I get the Stihl FS 90 R, Pros of the engine? and what makes it better than the other two?

One thing I definitely do not like is the Echo's small brush guard. If I'm working in the summer, I want to wear shorts. Tried an older echo with the same brush guard and my legs were all beat up.

A_tank96

 

[Ric]

So what is involved with a 4 mix engine? Pro's? Con's? One of the big pros for four stroke is that you don't have to mix up gas. I've heard you mix petrol or something? If I get the Stihl FS 90 R, Pros of the engine? and what makes it better than the other two?

One thing I definitely do not like is the Echo's small brush guard. If I'm working in the summer, I want to wear shorts. Tried an older echo with the same brush guard and my legs were all beat up.

A_tank96

Ok the 4 mix engine is a single cylinder four stroke engine that runs on a gas oil lubrication/ 50 to 1 mixture just like a 2 stroke, you still mix gas and oil. Stihl eliminates the crankcase so your mixing gas and oil just like you would in a two stroke. Stihl eliminated the crankcase and by eliminating the crankcase it eliminated about 2lbs of weight. Example the Stihl 4 mix 90R weighs 11.7lbs, the Honda four stoke with the crankcase weighs like 13lbs. The Stihl 4 mix uses less fuel than the conventional 2 stroke(cost less to operate) and it's more environmentally friendly than the 2 stroke. You will also find the Stihl 4 mix will start easier and are far more quiet than a 2 stroke like I said before and I believe the 4 Mix vibrates less than a comparable 2 stroke engine. I run the Stihl 90R, 110R FC90 and the BR550 all 4 mix units and I wouldn't trade them for any two stroke unit.

 

[ericds]

I use Stihl fs 90r and it's great. I had bought an echo srm 225 two years ago and hated it. It was so temperamental and under powered. I had taken it to the shop twice telling them the problems I was having and they said they'd fix it, yet they didn't. It would get extremely hot and it only started half the time. I bought my Stihl last season and it has stood up very well. Amazing torque and power and I have used to cut over grown yards without a problem(the echo could not stand up to those yards). I just sold my echo for $120 so I only lost about $110. Anyway, I would highly recommend the Stihl 4 mix engines