Weed Whacker Kwik Loader or Bump Feed Head?

[troverman]

Shindawa/Oregon/Echo SpeedFeed head is what I use. Super easy loading.

Those ones that take the pre-cut line are supposed to be the newest greatest thing, but I thing Id spend too much time replacing short pieces of line vs tapping the head on the ground/ Dealer was pushing them when i bought my last Speedfeed

Well, it looks like I'll be in the market for one of these speedfeed heads, then.

Thanks for the info.

 

[troverman]

Shindawa/Oregon/Echo SpeedFeed head is what I use. Super easy loading.

Those ones that take the pre-cut line are supposed to be the newest greatest thing, but I thing Id spend too much time replacing short pieces of line vs tapping the head on the ground/ Dealer was pushing them when i bought my last Speedfeed

Well, it looks like I'll be in the market for one of these speedfeed heads, then.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

We tried a head that sounds like the Kwik Loader on a trimmer at work and the guys didn't like it at all.

I recently bought a different trimmer for here at home because of some heavier cutting that was taxing the string trimmer. It's a Stihl Kombi with what they call a power scythe. It really does the trick on the heavier stuff. It cuts woody things at least as thick as your thumb. Since it shears the weeds like a sickle bar it doesn't throw the clippings all over you. Whenever I use the string trimmer it looks like I was doing battle with a food processor.

Chim, does that power scythe cut thicker stuff than their hedge trimmer cuts? And will it cut grass ok? I've got a Kombi 130 and I've thought about getting the articulating hedge trimmer to use for cutting stuff in places I can't get with my rotary cutter, but the power scythe looks interesting too.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I've got one of the Echo trimmers with the Rapid Loader heads that uses 2 pieces of line. I like it a lot. I use .130 line and it lasts a LONG time between changes, even using it around fences posts and concrete headwalls and culverts.

 

[Scooby074]

Well, it looks like I'll be in the market for one of these speedfeed heads, then.

Thanks for the info.

Youll like it.

Make sure you get the correct one. There are a couple variations. Some have more capacity and some are brand specific and some are universal. All are the same basic design, but the adapters that fit the gearbox on the trimmer are different.

For example on my Stihl, I have a Echo branded Speedfeed, that was sold as a "universal" kit. It comes with all the adapters for (almost) all the different gearboxes on the market.

On my Honda I have a Oregon 450 Speedfeed universal, that has a larger capacity (4.5" dia, PN 55-265) than the Echo"400" model on my Stihl. One nice thing is that once you have the adapters from a universal set, you can buy the cheaper model specific kits and swap in the correct adapter for your trimmer. The large Oregon model is also heavier duty than the Echo 400 model, with replaceable eyelets where the line exits. Its also considerably more money however, close to $55 vs the $30 for the Echo up here.

 

[chim]

Chim, does that power scythe cut thicker stuff than their hedge trimmer cuts? And will it cut grass ok? I've got a Kombi 130 and I've thought about getting the articulating hedge trimmer to use for cutting stuff in places I can't get with my rotary cutter, but the power scythe looks interesting too.

I haven't used the hedge trimmer so I can't really compare the two. I used the scythe on the bushes at a neighbor's place and it worked real well. I did do quite a bit searching and reading before the purchase and from what I read the blades are very similar and differ in length. The gear box of the power sythe is supposed to be a bit more robust. I visited a real hardware store nearby and mentioned that to their Stihl guru. He said he thought the gears were the same and it bugged him enough to go have a look at the part numbers. He called me later with an answer to another question I had and confirmed there was a difference between the gears of the trimmer vs. the scythe. The scythe has a stainless bottom cover that serves as a sort of skid plate because they expect it to be drug along the ground.

The scythe performs best on anything heavier than lawn grass. It worked OK on grass but the old Stihl string trimmer is a lot faster on pure grass. I can manage to use the string trimmer along the house and sidewalks without getting all green.

It really shines on the creek banks and cutting the fencerow and tree branches under control that want to scrape the tractor and me. The adjustable angle of the head is very useful. The creek banks have been difficult to deal with ever since we built here in '89. Regardless of how carefully I start out with a string trimmer it always reaches the point where I end up proceeding with reckless abandon and getting so miserably covered with plant bits and juice that I need to hose off my glasses and face afterward. With the scythe, the cut plants simply fall over. My clothing, glasses and face are as clean when the trimming is finished as they were when I started. Since we have poison ivy lurking here and there, that's major for me.

Mine is a 94R and has plenty of power. It will saw through tree branches to about 3/4" without too much effort.

 

[crazyal]

My Honda has saw blade. It'll cut through hardwood saplings up to about 2" without even slowing down. The problem is that you can't see what's in the brush. Around here there's lots of rocks that will ruin the blade. I like the idea of that scythe. It kind of takes hidden rocks out of the picture.

 

[bcp]

I stopped at a Stihl dealer today to see what the power scythe looked like. They don't stock it, but said it is the same mechanism as the hedge trimmer, but with a blade about half as long. It looked that way in their pictures, too.

Bruce

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I haven't used the hedge trimmer so I can't really compare the two. I used the scythe on the bushes at a neighbor's place and it worked real well. I did do quite a bit searching and reading before the purchase and from what I read the blades are very similar and differ in length. The gear box of the power sythe is supposed to be a bit more robust. I visited a real hardware store nearby and mentioned that to their Stihl guru. He said he thought the gears were the same and it bugged him enough to go have a look at the part numbers. He called me later with an answer to another question I had and confirmed there was a difference between the gears of the trimmer vs. the scythe. The scythe has a stainless bottom cover that serves as a sort of skid plate because they expect it to be drug along the ground.

The scythe performs best on anything heavier than lawn grass. It worked OK on grass but the old Stihl string trimmer is a lot faster on pure grass. I can manage to use the string trimmer along the house and sidewalks without getting all green.

It really shines on the creek banks and cutting the fencerow and tree branches under control that want to scrape the tractor and me. The adjustable angle of the head is very useful. The creek banks have been difficult to deal with ever since we built here in '89. Regardless of how carefully I start out with a string trimmer it always reaches the point where I end up proceeding with reckless abandon and getting so miserably covered with plant bits and juice that I need to hose off my glasses and face afterward. With the scythe, the cut plants simply fall over. My clothing, glasses and face are as clean when the trimming is finished as they were when I started. Since we have poison ivy lurking here and there, that's major for me.

Mine is a 94R and has plenty of power. It will saw through tree branches to about 3/4" without too much effort.

That's exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks a bunch!