trimmer debris

[Buffalo1]

I've used the search and can't find an answer to this problem.....I use an Echo trimmer.....the string rotates in a counter-clockwise direction......my left pant leg ends up covered with grass and grass juice after about 30-45 min of trimming.....I wear long pants primarily for this reason......here in Texas it gets "Hot as H___" in the summer (in the 90's today).....is there anything I can do with my trimming technique or whatever that will allow me to wear shorts and not end up looking like the Jolly Green Giant at the end of the day?

[BO-TY]

I have the same problem being right handed my let leg is closest to the head it would be nice if you could get that turned either direction for righty's or lefty's cause it works best with my echo's to trim around things clockwise it throws the grass away but this direction is backwards for a righty.

[mowerman90]

Next time you trim stop for a moment and examine the way you position the trimmer head. I imagine that the head is to your left slightly ahead of you, thereby throwing all debris toward your left leg. Now try trimming with the head to your left but "behind" you instead of in front of you. Most, if not all debris will be now thrown behind your left leg and you'll stay much cleaner. It may be a little ackward at first but you'll get the hang of it. Believe it or not I learned this little trick from a manual tht came with one of my trimmers many years ago. It's something that almost everyone ignores in the manuals thinking that they already know how to use something so simple as a string trimmer.

[BigJim]

:) Thats why I use Homelite,head spins clockwise and all the debris is tossed out front of you,I got sick of coming home covered in grass and battered by stones and trimming walking backwards.Now trimmings a breeze...........

[Russo]

CALLING BUSHHOGBOY!

This sounds like a chance to use your super fabricating powers to invent something.

I'm only half joking. If anyone can do it, it's him.


Sounds like you got two options. 1 - get a Homelite that spins the other direction. 2 - send your clippings into the beds.

I can't say I like your choices.


Good Luck , Landscraper

[Russo]

Hey BigJim,

Shame on you for sneaking your post in while I was typing mine.

[Esby]

I believe my Echo GT2400 also spins clockwise. The SRM2400 spins counter clock wise:cool:

[darryl gesner]

Buffalo - I also like to wear shorts when it's hot, so here's what I do. I just put on a pair of gaiters when trimming. They are made for hiking and skiing to keep snow and debris out of your boots. They are usually made of nylon and have a strap for under your shoes/boots and are a split tube design with either a zipper or velcro. They look a bit silly off the slopes and trails but do the job. I was thinking of buying some pants with zip off legs and see how they work. Campmor sells both of these items, as would any good hiking/camping retailer such as LL Bean.

[TJLC]

Probally a dumb question but... does anyone know why some trimmers spin clockwise and some spin counter-clockwise?

[Brickman]

In answer to the last question on clock wise or counter clock wise. It has been my experience that clock wise is a home owner model, and counter is commercial grade. I am sure this will raise a rucus. :D

My Redmax trimmers run the same way. Counter clock wise. I just deal with it. In my dry climate by the time I get done mowing, the grass has all dried and brushes off easily before I get in the truck. I wear long pants all the time, (don't own a pair of shorts). And yes it gets very hot here at times. Two reasons I don't wear shorts, one is I hate getting my legs sand blasted, and the other is I don't think it looks professional. But that is my opinion, I am not trying to push that one on any body else. (Unless you want to work for me, then it is long pants only.)

[GLS]

When determining the direction the head spins, are we looking down at the top of the cutting head, or from the bottom. If we are looking at the top, my homelite spins the same direction as my stihl--counter-clockwise.

Although some debris still deflects on to my pants, when I trim the edge of a drive, I trim with the head to my right side, and the debris flows straight out in front of me.

Here is an example:

[Runner]

Here's the answer to your problem. www.wechapps.com . These are awesome, and with the velcro, they are fast and easy on and easy off.

[darryl gesner]

Runner - the strap chaps are pretty much the same as the gaiters I mentioned above, except the gaiter cover the back as well. Thanks for the link.

[HOMER]

Next time you crank your trimmer pull the cord out a little ways and then yank it towards the ground. This will start the motor in reverse thus spinning the head clockwise vs. counterclockwise. :rolleyes:

[hoagie]

Look a little silly, but no more green legs w/ cuts all over them.

[southside]

In Australia all trimmers spin the other way. Problem is our
trimmers are all right hand drive so we have to stand on the other
side of the trimmer.

:D

[Martino]

Originally posted by TJLC
Probally a dumb question but... does anyone know why some trimmers spin clockwise and some spin counter-clockwise?

Most straight shaft trimmers rotate counterclockwise because the drive shaft/cable enters a gear box at the business end of the trimmer, which changes the direction of the rotation. Curved shafted trimmers do not have gear boxes, so the cutting head rotates in the same direction as the engine.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Yes, it is as John Martino says.
I read Mowerman90's post a few times and it still did not make sense, that may be only because i'm not extremely familiar with straight shaft trimmers. I prefer them, but all I have is a curved shaft. It seems that you want the trimmer head to be spinning "against" the direction you are moving instead of "with" it. Example: a common straight shaft trimmer moves in a counter clockwise direction. This means that you want to move left to right for normal trimming. A curved shaft always turns clockwise, so you want to move it, or swing it, left to right. Using a trimmer "with" the direction you are moving seems to make it dig into the fence or wall, tree, whatever, whereas going against keeps it from digging in (or wrapping a string around a small tree or chain link fence!) and makes your blade/string last longer and keeps from damaging property. Maybe a larger shield (like on most homeowner electric trimmers) that covers more head area would help, but it seems that the larger the guard, the more it gets in the way. Just try to move your body differently, or maybe rotate your guard to be more between you and the trimmer head. Another example: I'm right handed and use a right hand rotation trimmer (curved) so I hold it kind of directly in front of me, but if i'm trimming a wall or fence, I will walk with the building on my left, and the trimmer ahead of me, angled to the left of me, but holding it in my right hand (throttle with right hand). This throws the debris to the right of the trimmer and in front of me, not on me. Maybe when using a straight shaft'er , if right handed, you should walk with the wall/fence on your right, and the trimmer parrallel to the wall, or stand alittle ways from the wall/fence with the trimmer slanted. This should give the same effect, throwing it in front of you instead of on you. If this doesn't help, i'm stumped! :eek: :eek:



:D:cool: :p

[TJLC]

Thanks, guys for setting me straight (no pun intended) on the matter of straight vs curved shafts.:D