Bad Stihl Weedeater Wobble (1 Viewer)

[romegadave]

I've got a Stihl FS55 weedeater. Runs great after 8-9 years of use but it has a horrible wobble that feels like my hand is being electrically shocked. Can't see the wobble but the vibration is intense. Do I have a bad bearing or is the head unit the cause? I have not oiled the shaft but will if anyone has any instructions.

Hopefully Dan and other knowledgable folks will chime in. TIA on this matter, Dave

 

[fsusteve]

you can try greasing the cable in the shaft.

 

[romegadave]

Thanks will look into that.......pretty much useless as it is right now.

 

[Weedhopper]

Should have two lines coming out of the head. If you lost one it will be off balance and that will get worse if the line gets longer.

No bearings in the head.

The shaft may need some lube... pull the shaft out and coat it with grease.

Do I sound like D'Animal ???

 

[D'Animal]

What cutting head are you running?

 

[romegadave]

Original head still in place. I've had string break off before leaving me with a single string but this vibration is strong. Will check into lubing and replace string to see if it improves. Thanks, Dave

 

[Weedhopper]

I found a FS 45 in the shop. Similar. Check #4 cylinder... tends to cause rough running, especially with the turbo.

 

[D'Animal]

Maybe the camshaft as well.

I found a FS 45 in the shop. Similar. Check #4 cylinder... tends to cause rough running, especially with the turbo.

The engine is the same on the FS 45 and the FS 55. The FS 55 is a straight shaft unit with a gearbox. The head turns the opposite direction on most units without a gear box.


Remove the head and washer from the gearbox and run the unit. It has a rev limiter built into the carburetor and the ignition system so you will not blow anything up.

 

[romegadave]

Removed head and applied white lithium grease and then some regular bearing grease inside shaft. Replaced head and still had wobble. Cleaned head but left cover off. No vibration. Looks like I just need to get a new head cover which is pretty worn. Glad I greased the unit tho.

Thanks for all the suggestions, Dave

 

[D'Animal]

You haven't found the problem.


Greasing the shaft should have helped. Unless the base ring and spool are bad, they wear evenly and should not cause it to vibrate. If the lawn clippings get packed in the base ring and spool housing it can cause an off balance situation.

 

[romegadave]

Dan,

Ran it without base ring and spool and it was super smooth. I did clean out the base ring which helped. Only 1/2 vibration now so I thought it might be the base ring (what I called the spool cover) and spool that was causing vibration. Guess I will try to get them at our Stihl dealer next time in town. Thanks for the advice!

 

[D'Animal]

What is the serial #?

 

[romegadave]

Dan,

The silver tag is partially rubbed away and all I can read is
S 0527147 ( I kinda question whether that is really an "S"). I looked over the unit and thought there might be something stamped into the plastic body (nope) but eventually decided on the silver tag number.

I ran it Saturday and Sunday and it held up fine. I'm thinking that all the rain we had recently and my using it on some wet grass may have really been the culprit. Thanks, Dave