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I got a new Stihl HS95 with the new 4 mix engine a few weeks ago. Nice machine, 4 mix engine has a deep pleasant tone, very little vibrations, easy to start, apparently i have to bring it back to the dealer after 20 hours use to get the valves adjusted. Cost about £560.
Never had any problems with my 4-mix engine............. use an FS130 strimmer and just put the hedgecutting head on when I need a long-reach hedgecutter...... the valves do need adjusting after so many hours use...... thought it was 100 but maybe it is 20!, but its a very simple job that anyone who is reasonably mechanically minded, can do in 20 minutes or so.
John, not to hijack the post but my question is relevant. I am considering getting a a combi over a dedicated long reach trimmer as i could do with a pole saw attachment but how do you find the weight of the 130 plus extension plus hedge attachement and do you use a harness with it to help?
Also is the Km90 not much kop then?
Because of expediency I purchased the Stihl HL 95.
Mindful of the fact that I have been using a Shindaiwa AH 230s for 4 years and therefor very use to the machine.
My first impression of the HL 95 is "oh what a disaster"
The machine is heaver by one kilo, which I knew about
The balance is horrible compared to the Shindaiwa
Requires two hands to adjust the blade angle. Not much fun up a ladder . Shindaiwa one hand operation.
Cant run the Stihl with the blade folded back in the storage position. A bit dangerous as the blade is close to your hand but usefull some times.
The Stihl does not have any more cutting power than the Shindaiwa.
The starting procedure of the 4 mix is annoying compared to the Shindaiwa and other 2 stroke engines.
What I don't know and wont for a while is how well the machine stands up to the rigors of use compared to the Shindaiwa. I would expect the Stihl to be at least as good if not better.
I know the evaluation is a little premature but at this moment I would say the Stihl machine is over hyped and could find its self on ebay by spring next year.
The problem with Shindaiwa is the lack of dealers and the poor service when it comes to spare parts. This is of course a major consideration as I have just found out.
Countax have taken over the UK imports of Shindaiwa and hopefully things have started to improved, however I waited two weeks for a spare part but this was due to supply issues in Japan which at the time was understandable.
The 4 stoke Stihl does have more gunt and will last the test of time but I do keep going back to the long arm Shindaiwa for those quick and or trickly little jobs due to the lightness and ease of operation which is so important when you are up a top of a ladder :-)
hi geoff, any advice on the valve adjustments if they do need doing then mines due !! whats the procedure thanks..
Geoff Norfolk said:
We bought a couple of the HL95's and I can agree with the adjustment compared to the shindaiwa, we find the power is greater on the stihl and especially conifers look neater when cut with it. Our change was also forced on us because of spare parts and we are changing all our kit to Stihl.
Just to add my own experience on the Stihl combi km100 and 130 r. I've just purchased the 130r for my own business having used the km100 for the past couple of years in my full time job as a county council head groundsman (it had plenty of use).
Overall I would have to say the combi is a brilliant bit of kit although I have to agree with several on here that have said you need arms and shoulders of steel to operate the combi, extension and hedge cutters for a long amount of time through thick hedges.
There are a few things I have noticed with the combi km100 and 130r such as when the hedge cutters are being used at full revs the engine kind of flutters and sounds almost like a limiter has kicked in. However, when you use the blower (which is excellent (slightly more blow than a sh/bg 86) or strimmer at full revs there is no engine flutter?. My agent told me this is due to the power required for the individual head units??? not to sure on this one.
The idol can also be quite erratic on the machines but when it comes down to the hard stuff and reliability they have never let me down. Also the km100 we had at work was generally kicked about by the caretakers and run on poor oil. I've been recommended to use the stihl low ash. Anyway, just thought i'd share my views on the combi, hope it helps.
Your right the flutter makes no difference to performance and as i've used the km100 for a couple of years with no problems and my new km130r does the same, and so does yours I guess this is normal. I do wonder though if using the stihl low ash oil will make a difference to this???.
I use the normal heavy extension and there is no rattle, but it is a super upper body workout, probably not to good for you really!.
It was a couple of years ago I did it!!........ Basically, turn the engine over with the starter, plug out, till the piston is at the top of the compression stroke........... both valves will then be fully closed and thats when to do the adjustments. Stihl make their own "special" gauge for checking the gap but you can use ordinary feeler gauges......... you just need to trim the width down slightly with a pair of scissors so that it will fit into the gap ok. Then its just a question of using the adjuster so that the gauge just slips in but not loose..... an "interference" fit. Really is very easy.
mark thomas said:
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