Stihl Kombi System

[Exmark Guy]

Hi, Ive been looking into an edger and saw that you can get a edger attachment for the kombi. Do you guys have or use these. I already have kombi system with a straight shaft and am looking to pick up the edger. For you guys that have them, how long does it take you to switch attachments. Can you do it on the job or would you rather just have a edger and a trimmer. Oh yea, the cost for the FCB curved shaft runs about 99.95$ and the FCS straight runs 179.95$ Whitch of the 2 would you prefer. Thanks

[DiyDave]

I have the straight edger, takes less than a minute to switch out, I do it, as I walk back to the trailer, to get the edger. I kept the rubber plugs that came with each attachment, so when I change out the attachment, I put the rubber plug back on, to keep dirt out of the male end of the attachment. One thing with the edger, it operates the engine and trigger assembly at a different angle than the weedeater does, you use your thumb for throttle, as opposed to using your index finger, for the weedeater. Takes a little getting used to.:waving:

[Exmark Guy]

ok thanks.

[White Gardens]

I have the straight edger, takes less than a minute to switch out, I do it, as I walk back to the trailer, to get the edger. I kept the rubber plugs that came with each attachment, so when I change out the attachment, I put the rubber plug back on, to keep dirt out of the male end of the attachment. One thing with the edger, it operates the engine and trigger assembly at a different angle than the weedeater does, you use your thumb for throttle, as opposed to using your index finger, for the weedeater. Takes a little getting used to.:waving:

Is that a curved shaft edger, or strait shaft.

If it's strait, then loosen the torque head bolts on the edger head and rotate it so you can use your index finger instead of your thumb.

[Juan_Deere]

I wasn't full time, but my Kombi system served me well when I was mowing. I have an older KM85R based Kombi system that I bought in beginning of the 2005 season. The only problems I had was the releasing handle stripped out once, but I think that is because I was torqueing it down much more than was necessary.

It takes about 10 seconds to switch between attachments. That has been my experience, unless you are referring to switching out components at the head via the allen screws.

[Exmark Guy]

thanks, and yes i was talking about attachments, not the part with the screws.

[rlitman]

My first edger attachment attempt was with a homelite power head and a universal attachment from Lowes. Hey, I'm a homeowner, not in the lawn care business, so it seemed like a good idea.
Just a couple of hours of edging torture (spin the blade up, insert blade, hear awful deceleration of blade, remove blade, repeat), ended with the machine blowing up. You could pull the starter rope and it sounded like rocks were bouncing around inside.

Anyway, a friend talked me into looking at commercial equipment, and I ended up with a Stihl KM110 and the straight shaft edger.
You really cannot compare the two. Its actually unfair to even mention them in the same post.

The KM110 and straight shaft edger can edge as fast as I can walk.
There's power to spare, and I only run it wide open, if I skipped edging for a few months, -and- feel like moving fast.
Even though the straight shaft edger looks more "open", I have NO crap kicked back at my face. The string may throw lots of stuff back at me, but I don't even really need goggles with the edger. I've read that the more open design clogs less than the curved shaft version, and curved shafts always deliver less power to the cutter, especially since Stihl uses solid straight shafts.
Its maneuvers easily around the curves at my corner, and is pretty easy to handle, except that you need to keep some downforce on the handle, or it wants to run away from you. On that note, the Kombi D handle isn't quite as nice as the dedicated Stihl edger's handle for edging, and mine rotates a little bit, but not in a way that's really annoying.

Switching attachments doesn't take longer than reading this sentence.

[Lazer_Z]

I've got the big boy, KM 130 R, with the FCS straight edger. I had an FC110, but wanted the versatility of switching attachments without removing the gear heads. I love the machine and also have the straight shaft trimmer and the 180* hedge trimmer attachments for it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

[rlitman]

Yeah, the hedge trimmer is fantastic. The fact that both blades move really helps it from getting stuck. It just glides though whatever I use it on.

How do you think the 130 is vs. the 110? Is the extra power worth the added weight?

[Lazer_Z]

Yeah, the hedge trimmer is fantastic. The fact that both blades move really helps it from getting stuck. It just glides though whatever I use it on.

How do you think the 130 is vs. the 110? Is the extra power worth the added weight?That's a tough one, I've only used a 110 as an edger and trimmer. The 130 is a beast with the hedge trimmer though, I think a 90 or the 110 would have been able to what I did just as well. I helped a friend with some hedge trimming and I will admit I did get a little sore from having it over head at times. I'd say it was equal to using my HT101 for a full day and I think the 130 feels heavier with the edger attachment on it. With the hedge trimmer on it the motor wanted to sit on the ground, same with the trimmer attachment the motor wants to sit on the ground.

I thought about the 110, but like I said I had a dedicated 110 edger and I wanted not only ease of attachment swap, but more power. The 130 did that for me and I'm happy with the money I've spent on it. With more power sometimes comes more weight. The weights aren't bad thought, the 110 power head comes in at 9.9lbs and the 130 power head come in at 10.1lbs. The 130 only has a 4.9CC jump in power compared the 110, so it's not huge, but I'd say it's just enough.