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I have recently started using the Speed Feed 375, I think. I like the head. It is light, bumps easily and seems durable. There are two minor issues though, at least for me. First, it is sometimes difficult to align the head so that string can be rewound and the string wraps around the head more easily than with the Redmax head I had been using forever. I really like the lighter weight of the sf head though.
Yeah iv noticed mine wraps up around the head "once in a while" don't know what causes it and it doesn't happen often enough for me to worry about it too much.
 
Have you seen Oregon's version? It's called the Gator Speedload trimmer head. Got it sitting here on my lap because I haven't installed it on a trimmer yet. As soon as I do and run it through some use I'll be posting a review on it. My Dealer pushed this thing on me for free to try, instead of running trimmer line in there and winding it up it has pre-loaded disks. Cool huh? I don't know though, how much $ are the disks and what if you use up your last disk, can you refill the disk?? Like I said I'm gonna try it and give a review, can't beat free but I like the convenience of having a 1000 foot roll of string and pulling off a long strand of it & winding her up. I don't know how much more simple the Speed Feed could be.
At open house this year, the Oregon rep tried pushing one on me, and I seriously considered it, but the refill spool/disks are kinda pricey, though not that much more than a 3 or 5 lb spool (you can get different sized boxes of disks to equal either weight in actual footage of line). The main thing I didn't like is the fact that you are limited to one, and only one type of line, and it is not the type/shape I like to use. The disks take up a lot less space than a spool, and the re-loads are unbelievably fast compared to any other head including the SF.
 
At open house this year, the Oregon rep tried pushing one on me, and I seriously considered it, but the refill spool/disks are kinda pricey, though not that much more than a 3 or 5 lb spool (you can get different sized boxes of disks to equal either weight in actual footage of line). The main thing I didn't like is the fact that you are limited to one, and only one type of line, and it is not the type/shape I like to use. The disks take up a lot less space than a spool, and the re-loads are unbelievably fast compared to any other head including the SF.
The main thing that would worry me is getting out in the field thinking I got a disk in the truck but dont... I'm the exact idiot that would do that and then not have a dealer close by to get a disk. Plus did you feel how heavy the thing is?
 
The problem I had this morning was I could not find the hole. It was early and my eyesight is not the best. That said, i think the head was slightly out of line. Like you, I need to get better acclimated to the new head.

One thing I wished these heads had is a way to see inside and determine how much line is left before needing to reload.
Wow that's worse than my thread on here: "Her Bush is full of stink tree" lmao
 
The main thing that would worry me is getting out in the field thinking I got a disk in the truck but dont... I'm the exact idiot that would do that and then not have a dealer close by to get a disk. Plus did you feel how heavy the thing is?
I told the local shop I would purchase one like that and haven't stopped in to get it yet. That's a great point about not finding them just anywhere in a situation like that (and also the slim selection of line). I won't back out now since I told him I'd take it but probably won't of said yes had I been thinking like you guys.
 
I told the local shop I would purchase one like that and haven't stopped in to get it yet. That's a great point about not finding them just anywhere in a situation like that (and also the slim selection of line). I won't back out now since I told him I'd take it but probably won't of said yes had I been thinking like you guys.
I don't even know what they cost to tell you the truth, lol but I kinda have a feeling I'm not gonna like it one bit.
 
I have a hard time once in a while getting the line through the head all the way, but I think that is because I am just new to it. I've found though, if you straighten the last few inches of new line first, then stab it through, it usually goes right on through easily.
what happens is inside the head on spool theres sort of fins at the openings where string threads thru , and over time those fins can get bent inward towards opening causing difficulty feedin string thru . take an awl or big nail and whirl it around in the openings to make em back normal size

concerning which heads - redmax is all i run n their heads are trash . so several year ago some folk here said shinny speed feed heads , and cant emphasize enough what a huge improvement they r over redmax heads . weve a 100+ account / 40 hour route and i guarantee when went 2 speeders it easily cut an hour off route prob 2 hour because theres ZERO hassle gettin string to feed out

so past 5 year or whatever ive been runnin the full size shinny speeders . so i go buy me an echo speed feed at homedepot for 25$ for my personal redmax 25cc unit . and this echo is smaller in diamter than the full size speeder by ide say 1 1/2'' or more . and son of a gun if this smaller head dont spin WAY faster , creating much better head speed adding up to greater power . and shockingly the same amount of string fits in it . and the smaller head gets into tighter spots . ive not run this echo speeder at work , only at home and on 3 acres of side jobs every week so its not been work tested , but because of the increased head speed i HIGHLY recomend it . i think shinny makes there speeder in the smaller diameter too

i run 29cc redmax at work anfd like i said with the larger head and my unit runs top notch as maintained by our great mechanic , its an awesome tool . but the smaller head on my smaller 25cc home trimmer spins faster and thusly has more cuttin power
 
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I was having the threading issue right from new. I realized before to long that the new line is sorta curled from being wound on the spool, so just straightening the last 3-4" out right before threading is working great, but I will keep an eye out for the issue you mentioned as well, so thanks for the heads up on that.
 
ya the curled string end does that

cut all your string in lengths off the spool and put em in 5 gal bucket on truck . this way the strings way less curled , ecspecially near end of spool when the seriously curled string dont pay out as smoothly from the trimmer head
 
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Shindaiwa Speed Feed. Much better than the Stihl heads. (I have both)
 
Speed Feed heads all the way dude, not sure if they'll fit Stihl but man you save so much time when restringing your trimmers. Comparable in price to the T35 as someone mentioned above.. and hands down the best trimmer heads on the market!
 
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