Trimmer guards

[STIHL GUY]

who here uses the trimmer guards?
i have always used mine but today i
tried without it and it was soo much
lighter. The guard is behind the trimmer
so it seems like it only stops rocks and
such from hitting the opperator because
with the guard on rocks still fly in all
other directions. So what im asking is
who here uses the guards or doesnt
use them and why?

[FYS777]

You've asked and answered your own ? the other part is you can see better what your trimming.

[DLAWNS]

I keep them on because they keep some stuff from hitting myself and employees and because if an employee loses an eye at least I can say that I had the proper safeties in place for insurance reasons. Last but not least I believe if you take it off the string can get to long causing extra wear on the engine. Just some of my thoughts.

[MowerMedic77]

Last but not least I believe if you take it off the string can get to long causing extra wear on the engine.

Very very true, beyond the already mentioned safety issues. Removing the guard is a direct cause for many trimmer issues. Allowing the line to be run longer then the engine was designed to handle. This means that the engine rpm's and temps are not were they need to be to burn the oil/fuel mixture properly in turn you get carbon build up. When you run full throttle and the lines are too long this makes the clutch slip in the clutch drum creating premature wear @ the clutch and drum. As the clutch shoes and drum wear the shoes have to open further to make contact putting strain on the spring and this will usually end with the breakage of the spring. Worse case is stripped driveshaft @ either the drum or gear head and even further the stress of the excess load can strip the gears inside the gear head itself and most brands the gear head can be in excess of $100.00

[mowerdude777]

I took my trimmer guard off for one day and thought it really sucked, I got cut up real bad

[DLAWNS]

Very very true, beyond the already mentioned safety issues. Removing the guard is a direct cause for many trimmer issues. Allowing the line to be run longer then the engine was designed to handle. This means that the engine rpm's and temps are not were they need to be to burn the oil/fuel mixture properly in turn you get carbon build up. When you run full throttle and the lines are too long this makes the clutch slip in the clutch drum creating premature wear @ the clutch and drum. As the clutch shoes and drum wear the shoes have to open further to make contact putting strain on the spring and this will usually end with the breakage of the spring. Worse case is stripped driveshaft @ either the drum or gear head and even further the stress of the excess load can strip the gears inside the gear head itself and most brands the gear head can be in excess of $100.00

That's what I said. Ha Ha :laugh: I knew it wasn't good....just didn't know the technicalities.

[JeffNY]

trimmer guards? Ohhhh those plastic things that come on the trimmers?

I used them a couple times, and stuff still hits you in the face and legs. Safety glasses block a lot.

[Lbilawncare]

Clutches are cheaper than labor. Guards off for us, as long as the line doesn't get too long the trimmers will last and have only minimal extra wear.

[Lawn Freak]

I keep mine on, not for safety or any other concerns. But I just don't have the need to take it off. It never gives me any troubles or anything like that so I just leave it on

[land_scaper70]

Off for our outfit. I have an account who is lawyer, he has asked about it a couple of times, also complained that the weeds were growing out from under the stairs on his deck. I asked which it was, weeds or safety, his reply, "my weeds your business". Off makes it so much easier to get into those tight places, also you do not have to walk a the way around the tree to get all the grass.

[bighaydenslawn]

I leave mine on. Keeps debris from hitting you or other things on the property. I always wear goggles when trimming. I like to keep short line anyway.

[4.3mudder]

Mine stay on and never come off. It helps when I have to trim or edge in a certain direction and don't want the debris going in the other direction.

[beegreenlandcare]

I can't understand how people can run w/o them. Its a huge liability. IF you ever have an "issue" w/ OSHA you can bet they WILL look for all guards being in place on not only mowers, but trimmers and everything else. Whether u get a citation or not for those guards being in place, it will not shine favorably upon u.
I run w/ 'em on!

[just4funthen]

Whatever MowerMedic77 lol, I run both of my Stihls w/o guards for better control and longer line feeds. I have a line span of 20" or more while I trim. Makes trimming large areas easy and faster, trims turns and curves fast and makes it faster for the mowers to make a perimeter pass. When I buy new trimmers I take the guard off before I leave the store!! The guard keeps the line so short its pathetic! For all you worried about getting hit in the eye, then wear sunglasses! I went all year with shorts and trimmed, sure my legs got nicked up but grow some balls people. They are minor scratches!! People that trim with guards on and/or line thats about 2 inches long just make me laugh at them. Plus, the only reason why rocks and dirt shoot at you is cause you hit the ground. Meaning you scapled the grass and thats is not professional quality now is it?

[barlowlawncare]

I agree gaurds def off! you can use the whole head to cut, otherwise u have to walk around everything, and if you use your trimmer as an edger as most of us do, the gaurds are just annoying. If you have been using a trimmer for any amount of time you should be able to hear and feel when your line is two long, it happens sometimes i over bump but i keep a leatherman on my side at all times and quickly snip off an inch or so and keep goin. Even with guards you will gaurds u will get hit with stones and whatever so wear long pant and safety glasses and get ur jobs done faster without gaurds, cause in the end thats what matters. you can be at home nursing your wounds or out working for extra hrs id rather be home

[Mowbizz]

I keep mine on, not for safety or any other concerns. But I just don't have the need to take it off. It never gives me any troubles or anything like that so I just leave it on



Ditto for me too...I don't find it getting in the way of anything in particular...so...it stays on.:drinkup:

[Perfect Image TLM]

Yea I heard OSHA will hit ya with a $250 fine per trimmer if it doesn't have a gaurd, $500 per mower. I had mine off on my new 2401 Red Max and the head went out in a year. So I went to buy a new one...$140 and a new trimmer was $280. Luckily I put the gaurd back on before we got there and the issue ended up being under warranty. Just my experience....

[offroadrider12]

My guard on my RedMax BC225 seems perfect. The FS110 I have I made a 3" spacer out of some steel scraps that pushes the guard back another 3" for some extra line.

[MLAWCARE]

I cut with my guards off for three reasons. 1. It makes it lighter 2. It uses less line because it does not get cut off 3. I still got hit with rocks when it was on my trimmers

[mowerdude777]

Well I now run my shiny with no gaurs and the rmax with a gaurd I perfer the shiny when in a hurry thats for sure

[kemco]

I used to run without guards but found out the hard way it voids the commercial warranty... not sure if that's the case for all makes, but for kawasaki it is. Reason already posted, extra wear or gears etc.

[RonAyersMotorsports]

Just a little advice. I have customers that run them and others that don't. But I make every one aware that the unit regardless of make is designed to run only the amount of string the guard allows. Extra will decrease engine life and rpms. Most manufacturers will actually void your warranty by removing the guard. I've never had a unit wear out within a warranty period without a guard though. I choose to keep my guard on my personal trimmer. Keeps me from getting to wrapped up.

[Stillwater]

Ya, for the no guard guys with liability insurance, great that you got it but good luck being covered when your trimmer without a guard puts out the little girls eye as she gets off the school bus.

[Green Industry Pro]

I keep them on because they keep some stuff from hitting myself and employees and because if an employee loses an eye at least I can say that I had the proper safeties in place for insurance reasons. Last but not least I believe if you take it off the string can get to long causing extra wear on the engine. Just some of my thoughts.

I have never tried them without guards.I think they might be lighter and more comfortable to use(barring imbalance from the engine being heavy and the head being light).I dont have any employees yet except for my bro so I really dont have to worry about injury concerns except for us(although i think it might be safer to use em and keep debris from hitting your legs).I might run my t242 without the guard a little bit to see which way I like best.I do agree though that you will have to watch line length more carefully so as to not overwork your engine.:usflag::usflag:

[Stillwater]

I really dont have to worry about injury concerns except for us(although i think it might be safer to use em and keep debris from hitting your legs


Ya, what about people who happen to be around you like kids, or parked cars, plate glass windows. Whats your name again Green industry Pro whens the pro come in?

[Green Industry Pro]

Ya, what about people who happen to be around you like kids, or parked cars, plate glass windows. Whats your name again Green industry Pro whens the pro come in?

As I said already,I have never ran em without the guards so I really dont have to worry.Its not my fault that you dont comprehend what Im saying.:usflag::usflag:
You dont know how much experience I have and also,my name can be whatever I want it to be.Im not so stupid that I cant do things without asking all of you guys on LAWNSITE.Im just getting a reading of what others are doing.
p.s. If kids,cars,and animals are near, I can use my common sense and work so that I dont damage or injure something or someone.No offense.

[Stillwater]

As I said already,I have never ran em without the guards so I really dont have to worry.Its not my fault that you dont comprehend what Im saying.:usflag::usflag:
You dont know how much experience I have and also,my name can be whatever I want it to be.Im not so stupid that I cant do things without asking all of you guys on LAWNSITE.Im just getting a reading of what others are doing.
p.s. If kids,cars,and animals are near, I can use my common sense and work so that I dont damage or injure something or someone.No offense.


Don't mind me man, I was just being a smart ass......

[Country Side Lawn Care]

Ditto for me too...I don't find it getting in the way of anything in particular...so...it stays on.:drinkup:

I agree. Mine stay on...:)

[grassman177]

we run guards, just dumb not too for all the great reasons already posted here.

we do however put different guards then come with it, still the same brand though. we are able to sue the string about 1.5-2 in longer and get better trimming overall especially under pine trees that are hard to get(we dont skip anything ).

we also use ultra twist line which has significantly reduces wear on the engines and clutches. we clean the ports once a year on newer trimmers and about twice per year on older much more used. we consider that great. clutches seem to last two years or even more depending on the operator.

[1993lx172]

My guards stay on.

[unkownfl]

OSHA lol they only come after there is a accident. I bet no one on here even does a job briefing at all never mind every job or when things change. I run without mine. Its harder on the engine sometimes but I don't care. I save time and money without it on. I don't use nearly as much string.

[Blue2000]

I was thinking about modifying my current trimmer guard for my new STIHL FS100RX to make it 2" longer...If I could mold them and sell them I think there would be a market for it.....any suggestions how to at least modify it?

I currently run my STIHL FS90 with no guard...It saves time...line...and weight.

I'm not too worried about OSHA or the warranty it looks pretty well built...if I get 2 years out of it I would be happy I think. I was also in commercial and residential construction site supervision for 5 years and built hundreds of homes without seeing an OSHA inspector....just my personal experience.

SUGGESTION FOR TAKING YOUR TRIMMER GUARD OFF- SAVE IT!!! AND MAKE SURE TO PUT IT BACK ON BEFORE BRINGING IT BACK TO YOUR DEALER!!!!!

Thanks and good luck!

[newz7151]

SUGGESTION FOR TAKING YOUR TRIMMER GUARD OFF- SAVE IT!!! AND MAKE SURE TO PUT IT BACK ON BEFORE BRINGING IT BACK TO YOUR DEALER!!!!!

Thanks and good luck!

Yes, because all dealers are stupid and will never be able to tell when they take the engine apart that all the excessive heat load damage came from the trimmer guard (which still looks new compared to the rest of the lower end) being removed. :dizzy:

[Blue2000]

How about "You no warranty I no spend $15,000 / yr at your shop any more"

[newz7151]

How about "You no warranty I no spend $15,000 / yr at your shop any more"

You seem to be under the misconception that a dealer warrants a product like a trimmer, blower, mower, etc. You get a MANUFACTURER'S warranty when you buy something. If the manufacturer isn't going to cover it, what makes you think the dealer is going to go around losing money trying to repair or replace something that you intentially sought out to void a warranty on by removing the guard?

Removing a trimmer guard increases LOAD on the engine, which in turn increases HEAT in the engine. The manufacturer does not spec/design the unit and its components to run at the higher temperature that YOU are causing, so why should you expect them to cover something like that under a warranty?

And on your statement "You no warranty I no spend $15,000 / yr at your shop any more"

my reply

"I no kiss your ass for $1,500 (not counting costs involved with carrying wholegoods in the first place) profit/yr, here is name of next nearest dealer"

[Shasta Lake Landscaping]

I run without mine. Its harder on the engine sometimes but I don't care. I save time and money without it on. I don't use nearly as much string.

Same here, plus I like to use the back cutting edge for certain applications.

[green monster]

If you take the trimmer guard off, be prepared for performance issues and mechanical problems later. They were not engineered to run with that much extra line.

[RHill]

I have always left mine on.

[MLAWCARE]

I got a new trimmer and the guards are smaller now so I was planning on leaving it on but after I went through over a head of line in less than a tank of gas I just could not justify leaving it on and wasting all that line.

[FYS777]

warranty on trimmers are short, take them off after it runs out, been running one of my trimmers now for a year without guard, uses less line, plus the weight difference at the end of the day/week makes a difference on my arms, but the biggest plus is that less stuff is thrown at my face, yes less stuff hits me in the face, so from now on, the guards come off.!!!!!

[MLAWCARE]

but the biggest plus is that less stuff is thrown at my face, yes less stuff hits me in the face, so from now on, the guards come off.!!!!!

I completely agree with this!!!

[Stillwater]

warranty on trimmers are short, take them off after it runs out, been running one of my trimmers now for a year without guard, uses less line, plus the weight difference at the end of the day/week makes a difference on my arms, but the biggest plus is that less stuff is thrown at my face, yes less stuff hits me in the face, so from now on, the guards come off.!!!!!

yep something to tell your insurance company when you put out the eye of the little girl getting off the school bus... if you even have it.

[FYS777]

yep something to tell your insurance company when you put out the eye of the little girl getting off the school bus... if you even have it.

that makes no sense. the guards on an echo are what 5 inches across, if i am weedeating the guard is directlly towards me so everything else is open, if i am edging with it its straight up, so i guess the sun wont get hit with something. o brother.:rolleyes:

[ochosdaddy]

I like the guard size on Stihl FS80-90 trimmers. Large enough it works, small enough you still see what you're trimming. By no means would I consider myself a slow trimmer....quite the opposite. Coarse I also edge with trimmers, so nice to have that guard in place.

Now perhaps I can understand removing large monstrous guards that cover more than 40% of the line that resemble a half a Frisbee. I also find those dinky Echo guards to be worthless, however, most Echo products are to begin with. ;)

I leave them on.....after all, they're on there for a reason.

[TroyLawnService]

It's no guard for me.

[rwaters]

How about "You no warranty I no spend $15,000 / yr at your shop any more"

I gotta ask how much do you break that you average 15k at a single shop every year?

[bobcat48]

I leave mine on.

[mrlandscaper]

Im surprised no one has mentioned the Edge - It yet. I have an edge - it on my current echo. I love them. They also can be used as a blower if you need to blow a sidewalk off right quick. I will be getting more in the future.

[NarNar]

I keep the guard on and now I wear eye protection... almost lost an eye. The eye protection doesn't look great, but they do work.

[gasracer]

I keep the guard on and now I wear eye protection... almost lost an eye. The eye protection doesn't look great, but they do work.
It shouldn't matter if you have the guard on or off,Safety glasses should be worn all the time with trimmers.

[NarNar]

It shouldn't matter if you have the guard on or off,Safety glasses should be worn all the time with trimmers.

You will be surprised how many people don't wear safety glasses.

[mrlandscaper]

I wear safety glasses. Too many times ive been hit in the eye with debris. I make my other guy and myself wear hearing protection to. Even if its just using a trimmer.

[NarNar]

I wear safety glasses. Too many times ive been hit in the eye with debris. I make my other guy and myself wear hearing protection to. Even if its just using a trimmer.

I definitely make them wear eye protection, just because their is a high margin for injury from debris. I give them the option with hearing protection.

I am reconsidering this option for next season. It is good to have hearing protection though.

[stan the man]

guard on and safety glasses and hearing protection all the way

[gasracer]

I wear prescription safety glasses. This year I had a pair of prescription safety sunglasses made and they worked great.Being polarized it makes gas pump screens look blank. If it became overcast you would think it was getting dark.

[RGM]

Keep the guard on and all ways wear safety glasses

[nolanjim]

No guards on ours and some shades for protection.
Posted via Mobile Device

[NarNar]

No guards on ours and some shades for protection.
Posted via Mobile Device

no gaurds... you are brave my friend.

[nolanjim]

Yeah, it just gets heavy after an 8hr day. There is also a safe way to trim. If you keep the head level most debris won't go near your head. I have gone many days without shades with no issues.
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[NarNar]

Yeah, it just gets heavy after an 8hr day. There is also a safe way to trim. If you keep the head level most debris won't go near your head. I have gone many days without shades with no issues.
Posted via Mobile Device

You should get your technique on video and share with us. I am sure it will be a big hit.

[nolanjim]

No, its best to learn from experience. If you do something long enough you'll discover things along the way. Eye protection is a must, but if I forget them it's not the end of the world.
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[NarNar]

No, its best to learn from experience. If you do something long enough you'll discover things along the way. Eye protection is a must, but if I forget them it's not the end of the world.
Posted via Mobile Device

I agree its not the end of the world, until you lose an eye...even then it's not the end of the world, except the world will look a little different with one eye down. :usflag:

I see a lot of guys around here no eye protection, no hearing protection, and they seem fine.

[cuttin-to-the-Max]

Yeah i wear Work tunes allll the time! Music makes the day go by faster.....most of the time!


But i gotta say i dont always wear saftey glasses but i dont usually weed whip or edge......
Now for fall clean ups i've been wearing them everyday!

Untra vac stuff......
Leaf loader dust.....

[Rcgm]

I run no guard. But I do wear safety glasses. Wish I would of started wearing hearing protection when I started about 17 years ago. I can tell you all over 17 years of running equipment that my hearing has gotten alot worse. My wife says I say huh and what did you say alot more. LOL

[PLS-Tx]

I will not work without eye and ear protection but trimmer guards they come off as soon as we leave the dealer.

[FYS777]

Ha ha, that was a good one, it must be the 17 years, she will probably hear those words even more now.
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