Does anybody else remove the guard from their trimmer?

[extraspecialman]

I know its kinda stupid,but safety glasses or a face shield should be worn while runnin a weed eater anyhow.I like runnin the line just a little longer than the guard allows,I get a smoother cut and the string last longer.Of course,runnin the line too long is hard on the engine and the shaft bearing,but my FS 250 has no problems runnin the string about 3 or 4 inches longer than the guard allows.

 

[Timberhauler]

I've seen people run their trimmers without guards so they can run their line longer.The longer line then caused excessive vibes that caused bolts to start coming loose.

 

[skid row]

No guard on my FS 85. I run my line a tad longer than the guard would allow before cutting it off. Remember the line is the engine load and if ya get too long it bogs the rpm's and is hard on the clutch springs.

Without the guard I can trim alot faster around obsticles. Eye protection always.

 

[Blowncrewcab]

Thats one of the first things I do to my trimmers.. Not so I can run longer line, So I can fly around fence posts from any angle ( I have 300+ Fence posts) I carry a set of side cutters in my pocket to cut the line when It gets too long and starts bogging the motor..

 

[COLD_IRON]

I only take the guard off to run blades.

 

[stihl sawing]

I had an old shinny brushcutter one time that didn't have a guard. Better have some kevlar pants on to run it. Rocks on the shin are painful, So i have left the guards on all the others.

 

[AngelofDarkness]

I leave them on. They usually deflect the worst of the crap, and most of the small, curved shaft homeowner trimmers I come across don't have the CC's or torque to turn the line any longer than the guard cutter will allow. The exception was my old 31cc Ryobi, that thing had some power for a $99 POS, too bad it fell apart after 3 seasons. When my little Mac 2500 finally dies I am gonna get an Echo, or a used Stihl.

 

[Wicked500R]

I NEVER run a guard on a wacker and always run my string on the long side. When it's short... it'll "bite too much if you know what I mean. When it gets too long, I'll run it on a curb or something to wear it down a little... I can use a wacker to cut hills and slopes just as good as a mower with longer string. Also longer string is better for edging sidewalks with the head 8-10" away from the walk... sooooo much smoother! And... much better visibility for a pro job on a high dollar home without any scalp marks

 

[extraspecialman]

yep you can weedeat a big area without a guard and make it look like a push mower done it.One of my favorite trimmers of all was an FS 85.I now have a FS 55 and a FS 250,1 is too little,the other is too big.

 

[crashagn]

Ive had a wally world purcashed Weed eater.. striaght shaft trimmer for the past 6 years. Not 1 issue. Changed the plug and kept the filter clean. 2 years ago took the guard off and have yet to put it back on. The line stays out an average 7-10 inches on ta duel line. It dont ever go past that when i have fence to go around and the tall weeds in the ditch. I use some type of weird tapored type of string and that has greatly improved the time between reloading the spool. Even tightened up the throttle so it stays wide open over 4 years ago for the cruise control. If i need to go through saplings and such i take the spool off and put on the fine tooth circler saw blade and dont even run the saw past half throttle and wing wing wing right through the little suckers

 

[Wicked500R]

My trimmers are all Redmax... And my backpack blowers are all Redmax... I do run Stihl hedge trimmers... those I like from Stihl but thats it... other than the saws of course!! I will say... The commercial Echo trimmers are ok too... I've had a few back in the 90's and they had some serious power and lasted a long time... would spin long string without a sneeze! My guy that does the chemicals has a BG85 handheld Stihl blower to clean the sidewalks of fert.... that kicks some butt for a handheld!

 

[Lakeside53]

longer lines just overheat engines... on a FS80/85, 4 inches more will raise the engine temps 200F

I leave my guards on. Of the 500 or so weed eaters we service a year, only a handfull have no guards....

 

[Wicked500R]

And heres a little tip for NO GUARD users... when cutting... if the head spins counter clockwise like most... angle the head slightly so the right side of the head does the cutting... and shoots the crap away from you...get it??? you can weed wack places with shorts on and get minimal battle scars including overgrown gravelly parking lots!!

 

[Wicked500R]

longer lines just overheat engines... on a FS80/85, 4 inches more will raise the engine temps 200F

I leave my guards on. Of the 500 or so weed eaters we service a year, only a handfull have no guards....

I guess its a little different in my area... Guards are for homeowners here... no pro uses a guard in my neck of the woods.. Then again...pros know when its too long and when its not....so overheating is never an issue

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

I guess its a little different in my area... Guards are for homeowners here... no pro uses a guard in my neck of the woods.. Then again...pros know when its too long and when its not....so overheating is never an issue

It's more to do with pros breaking the guards and never replacing them, or so is the case in my area.

 

[B_Turner]

Any suggestion on the toughest line to run? I have a Shindaiwa c270 (if I recall right) and use it to fight brush, blackberries, etc (not much grass).


Currently I use Arnold brand .095 line, and wonder if soimething else would hold up a little better to the abuse I give it.

Mine still has a guard on, but it's only a matter of time before it'll break off from the tough life fighting bushes, etc.

 

[Lakeside53]

Use a tri-blade....

 

[Wicked500R]

It's more to do with pros breaking the guards and never replacing them, or so is the case in my area.

I've been in the business 16 years and never really seen broken guards.... I've seen them worn out to #### on the edges but not really broken....they are pretty flexible.. if the guard was broken... I would assume the employee throwing the wacker into the trailer...lol

 

[B_Turner]

Use a tri-blade....

Did a google on tri-blade and am not sure what that is. I know they make heads with trimmers other than string but I've not tried one.

Would like to try something else though. a few times an hour I have to pull the head off and deal with getting the string to feed again. (From constantly catching on bushes and brush.)

I also have a blade, but I want to try something between a solid blade and string.

Sometimes I put a long bar on one of my small saws and clear brush with that, but I have to be careful not to damage trees in the overgrown brush that I want to keep.

 

[Wicked500R]

Any suggestion on the toughest line to run? I have a Shindaiwa c270 (if I recall right) and use it to fight brush, blackberries, etc (not much grass).


Currently I use Arnold brand .095 line, and wonder if soimething else would hold up a little better to the abuse I give it.

Mine still has a guard on, but it's only a matter of time before it'll break off from the tough life fighting bushes, etc.

Echo Crossfire string...