Straight shaft vs. bent

[awkknottedup]

I need to buy a better string trimmer this summer, it will be a Stihl. I am undecided between a straight shaft and a bent shaft, what are the advantages/disadvantages of each over the other?

This will be for maintaining a place in the Ozarks and possibly some small brush clearing, places where the brush hog cannot go and smaller than needed for the chainsaw.

 

[Tim Casbolt]

I think the straight shaft ones let you stay a little further away from the action. Gets less on your shoes.

 

[Georgetown]

I prefer the straight shaft, can't exactly say why. The straights have a gearbox by the trimmer head, so the head runs opposite the direction of the curved shaft ones.

 

[oliver power]

Bent shaft for light duty grass trimming. straight shaft for anything else. That's how it was 20 plus years ago when I did my research. May be different now. At the time I bought mine (straight shaft), I had a choice of braided shaft, or solid shaft. I choes the braided shaft. Thought it would absorb shock better. Don't know if it absorbed shock better or not, but never had a problem. I'd buy the same set-up again. By the way, mine is an echo. Worked it hard. Spark plug still looks brand new. Still runs like new.

 

[Jon Hagen]

Curved shaft has no gear box to fail, but the working end is taller, makes it harder for getting under low obstructions and a curved shaft machine has more "twist when cutting tough material.

If the gear box only needs a repack with fresh grease every few years, no problem. If the little gears fail and are impossible or expensive to replace, then might be a problem.

My experience is only with the curved shaft machines.

 

[MF165farmer]

If your going to be doing brush cutting I'd go with the a strait shaft it will put the blade out farther form your feet than a curved shaft an it will get under things easier

 

[Sidekick]

I've got a bent shaft Stihl that I've had for maybe 15 years. I've never had any problem with it. I bought it because I'm taller than average and at the time it had a longer shaft than the straight ones and I can use it without stooping nearly as much. I'd get whichever one is longer.

 

[Oldmax]

Always use a harness when cutting brush with any type cutter will keep blade away from you if you fall. Had a friend that fell on blade he survived after 6 weeks in Hosp.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Straight shaft is the only way to go. Easier to get under obstructions, just plain less awkward. I've never seen a commercial landscaper with a curved-shaft trimmer. For that matter, there are no commercial-grade trimmers with curved shafts.

Even with Stihl, you might be interested to know that most of the straight-shaft trimmers use a flexible shaft just like a curved-shaft trimmer.

I've had my Stihl trimmer for close to 15 years. It has held up well despite very rough service cutting brush. But you might look at other brands as well; the RedMax trimmer is very popular with the commercial boys, as is Shindaiwa.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Curved shafts don't have a gearbox, they also rotate opposite of straight shafts. I use a straight shaft, because of personal preference. I use a stihl split shaft, which enables you to switch off attachments, everything including a tiller, edger, hedge trimmer, blower, pole saw, and, of course weedeater.

 

[guido]

Hello Georgetown,
Straight shaft weed wacker turn CCW as you look down the shaft. Curved shaft weed wacker turn CW as you look down the shaft.
Its the engines that turn that way, not the head attachments..
Guido.

 

[guido]

Hello Georgetown,
You are right about the gear box.
I never had a problem with any of the attachments
and i thought that the engine turned the opposite. So the engines both turn in the same direction.
Now i know why the attachments are expensive. THE GEAR BOX!!
Guido.

 

[JayinNY]

Not true my stihl fs 80 and shindiawa t27 both have soild steel drive shafts.

 

[kwright]

I've owned both bent and straight shafts... buy a quality brand and straight shaft all the way.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Jay,

I did say "most". My FS-85 has a solid shaft.

 

[JayinNY]

Sorry, I miss read your post ;(, I thought you said all straight shaft trimmers... You cant beat the Stihls though. Iv got 2 fs80 and an older fs85.