Stihl FS240

[ultrarunner]

We have had the FS240 for about a year at the ranch and no complaints... it has been a real workhorse.

I still use the old Echo SRM Brush Cutter we gave Dad for father's day 40+ years ago.

Hoping the FS240 lasts as long as the Echo...

If I did have a complaint it would be every Brush Cutter seems to be a little short for someone 6'4"

I think Echo now makes at least one model that is telescopes which would be ideal for me.

PS... A 5 gallon jug of Motomix is $150 at the my local Dealer and they said they sell several a week and a lot more in the gallon size.

I was given a quart and the old Echo really perked up... ran flawlessly... then went back to the mix I had and noticed it just didn't have the power and wouldn't rev as high... still enough power to keep working... only the performance difference was very noticeable.

 

[murphy1244]

I use the moto mix at the beginning of the season and the end of the season. The middle I use non ethanol 90 octane and echo mix.

 

[oldballs]

Although I have a FS90 Brush Cutter, with handle bars..........here's a couple observations:

I put the stop limit shield on with just the 105 string. Being only 5'3' and 83 Years old I found the rig to be too long for good maneuvering. Just like ultrarunner, who is tall, the rig doesn't fit me all that well. I use the full body harness, which is easier on my back after 3-4 hours of wacking.

Also the "shield" gets in the way of certain maneuvers when fine trimming as opposed to broad swings. Thus I cut off about three inches from the left side of the shield which works a lot better. At the same time I use the Stihl helmet with the face shield down along with a pair of safety glasses. So far,so good and I'm a happy camper. I haven't used the chisel blade on this new model (previous model was an FS80 for years and years which I wore out before it wore me outunch

 

[ultrarunner]

On the old Echo SRM-300E the shield long ago fatigued and fell off.... Echo has no source for parts on a soon to be 40 year old brush cutter so I use it with no shield for my .095 line...

Of course I wear my forestry helmet with full face shield and hearing protection plus a quality respirator, gloves, long pants and long sleeve shirt... NO ONE is around when I out mowing the hillsides...

It's been maybe 20 years this way and works well...

My only issue is when a took a tumble and cracked the plastic tank... thanks to suggestions here at TBN I was able to epoxy patch it and so far so good!

I'm thinking of buying canned fuel since it ran so well when I tried a quart... 5 gallon prices range from about $75 from Zoro to about $150 from Stihl...

No other option exists here for non-ethanol fuel.

 

[oldballs]

As to fuel............I've only used the BP gas station 93 octane with the Stihl oil........whatever formulation that was current. Between the Stihl chain saw, the Stihl leaf blower and the Brush cutter, I go thru about 5 gallons a year with no fuel problems. That warranty thing never seemed likely to me. I make up about 1-2 gallons at a time as the season or the work goes on.

Cheers,
Mike