Stihl KM 131R kombi review

[ArlyA]

^^^^
Agreed. We have plenty of rocks in the soil and I get plenty of sparks and premature wear on my blades but, this blade annihilates brush. As unnerving as it is, I’m willing to deal with the compromise. Mike

Mike, have you ever tried heavy string?? By heavy, I mean .140 or larger.

 

[two_bit_score]

^^^^
Agreed. We have plenty of rocks in the soil and I get plenty of sparks and premature wear on my blades but, this blade annihilates brush. As unnerving as it is, I’m willing to deal with the compromise.

Mike

I see Oregon has one like it as well as a 3 tooth blade. I may be trying one out soon.

 

[two_bit_score]

Funny that where ever you use your equipment, sure changes what works or doesn't. I'm referring that we tried steel bladed cutters and got tired of all the sparks coming off of the rocks we hit. Yes, we have rocks everywhere in this glaciated country.

We are so happy with our Stihl KM 131R kombi, we are looking to get another this summer.

I’ve considered a combi unit for awhile and your thread has me leaning heavily to this one.

 

[ArlyA]

I see Oregon has one like it as well as a 3 tooth blade. I may be trying one out soon.

We used these for years. They are made for grass but we used them on brush and would even take those larger
"shoots" .. We occasionally cut things 1" in diameter but we discontinued their use because the shock they'd put through the drive system was quite hard on tools. Those couplers mounted on the drive cables took a beating with them! We eventually went to less assertive cutting type of steel blades. Than after that, we went to 155 and .180 strings.
.

 

[Rdrcr]

Mike, have you ever tried heavy string?? By heavy, I mean .140 or larger.

Absolutely. I have a push-trimmer (7hp) with heavy string (and a blade attachment). The heavy string can’t handle the vines and gets destroyed by the brush. Even the blade attachment for the push trimmer can’t handle it.

The 131R with the mulching blade does it all! I’ll have to post up some more pictures when I clear some more areas soon.

Mike

 

[the old grind]

I have a 6hp 22" walk-behind trimmer that takes .155" line, IMO enough to learn what it will and won't whip. It's ok for soft-stemmed annuals, ferns, & farm weeds but woody-stemmed 'anything' is its bane. My line 'sticks' are looped in and when they don't fray or break on twiggy sprouts the snag & pull out. btw, I don't believe I've ever re-strung a hand-held w/o going up one size in line, or put both lines back on a dual-line head. Anchoring to the spool can be a bear on cheapo trimmers.

Anyway, I read this thread because I follow the driveway-gravel thread and like the Kombi with rubber broom attachment. Either way I'm another drawn to the Stihl having at least one use. I have a wicking 'cane' applicator I'd use w/glypho on olive shoots & I like what I'm learning about saw-blade options vs making a flail head for the walk-behind. I'm looking at two 'heads' already and going to check out the Kombi. On YT.

 

[ArlyA]

Absolutely. I have a push-trimmer (7hp) with heavy string (and a blade attachment). The heavy string can’t handle the vines and gets destroyed by the brush. Even the blade attachment for the push trimmer can’t handle it.

The 131R with the mulching blade does it all! I’ll have to post up some more pictures when I clear some more areas soon.

Mike

Below is the head style I'm speaking of. These will take out shoots nearly pencil sized. If it doesn't cut them off, they are beat to death anyway. The middle photo is the string bundles we carry with us. This is .155 string but Stihl is suppose to be coming out with a head to hold 180. We're going to get that asap.

 

[Rdrcr]

^^^^
That looks promising!

The one benefit of the metal mulching blade...is the ability to mulch the material on the ground once it lands. It really cleans things up really well.

Mike

 

[MoKelly]

^^^^
That looks promising!

The one benefit of the metal mulching blade...is the ability to mulch the material on the ground once it lands. It really cleans things up really well.

Mike

Plus, you never run out of metal blade.

MoKelly

 

[ArlyA]

We have so many rocks here, steel blades are spark or fire makers and we can teach new people to used them in 15 seconds. We can and do run these right against the ground. This is why we migrated to heavy strings.