Stihl FS 90 head blew apart

[Junk]

Must have been either faulty plastic or something else that I didn't notice. Fired up the FS 90 today and the string head blew apart with the plastic in pieces. WTF?

Are there better than OEM replacements out there or should I just replace with OEM?

 

[e9999]

I was surprised to see that my new-to-me 110 came with a bump feed affair that ran something like 90 thou line and I don't think can handle much thicker. I had been using 130 for ages with my other wacker. When this one conks out I'm going for heavier duty stuff. There are quite a few out there, different types of feed too.

 

[splitshot]

Any kind of gravel or rocks is pretty hard on them. Did you loose just the cover and spool insert, or the whole body?

 

[D'Animal]

Junk

Take the head to the dealership. There was an injection molding "opportunity of improvement" a few years ago. The problem was the clips on the base ring would not hold it on correctly. There is a hole in the top of the gearbox. A pin should have come with the unit but if not a 8 penny nail works pretty slick. Slide the pin in the hole and it will lock the washer and you can unscrew the head assy to the right (backwards thread).


Or send me a PM with your addy and I will send you one or two of them.

 

[e9999]

I did check mine. It's an "Autocut" of some sort I believe. Line is 95 thous which is what Stihl recommends for most of their heads apparently. Don't know why they aren't going thicker, odd for pro stuff. They do sell 130 line it seems though.

 

[D'Animal]

The size of the line greatly depends on what you are mowing/cutting.

Most people use the wrong diameter stuff and get frustrated.

 

[e9999]

well, I'm getting sorta frustrated because in my area, it's pretty unwise to use metal blades given the chances of hitting a rock and starting a fire. So I'd gone previously to 130 line to be able to cut down heavy weeds without having to change the line all the time. The latest one I tried, some black corrugated Sears affair does look much stronger than the red stiff stuff I had before, so that was good. But now I'm back to 95 with the 110.
Unfortunately, the plastic knives would not last long either with the rocks and those things are expensive, but I'd love to try them sometime to see what the fuss is all about.

 

[Junk]

D'Animal - can't thank you enough man. Thank you very much!!!