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]

Originally Posted by DLAWNS

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]

Originally Posted by MowerMedic77

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 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.