Just picked up a high torque trimmer attachment for my Shindaiwa M262. While I have used a high torque head on a Maruyama and an echo 3020T, I really couldn't make a fair assessment of how well they work compared to the standard heads because both trimmers are larger more powerful trimmers than anything I have with a standard head to begin with.

With that said, I felt like the Echo 3020T didn't bog down in the slightest, but neither do trimmers with that type of power using standard gearing, so the high torque thing seemed silly on a trimmer with close to 2hp. All it really did was slow the head speed down IMO. Anyways, it just seems like the 2 to 1 gear ratio would work better with the smaller trimmers that actually do bog a bit in the thick stuff. I also feel like the high torque would work better with a blade, particularly the mulching blades I use for Blackberries here in the north west.

Since I use my Shindaiwa M262 multi tool for blade stuff (I find it easy to switch between a mulching blade or saw blade with two separate attachments already set up), I decided to get an Echo high torque head that fits on the Shindaiwa for my mulching blade, and turn the existing head into a back up trimmer head.

But before I did this, I set both a standard head and the new high torque head up with a speed feed 400 and tried some .105 square line without a guard cut to 17" 20" and 23"

These where my findings.

At 1.35 HP, the M262 using the standard gear head with a 17" swath cuts better than the high torque head in knee high field grass. It wasn't even close. Like not even remotely. The standard absolutely rips compared to the high torque. Neither bogged despite the grass being very damp, but the standard visibly cut better and felt more powerful with the high RPMs

Next I cut the same grass with a 20" swath. The power difference was less noticeable, but the the standard still had better head speed and was cutting better with very little to no bogging.

Finally, I tried both heads with a 23" swath. I know a lot of guys do this to trim banks or ditches in a hurry. I got to be honest, the standard once again cut better, but you could feel it bog a bit when you really pushed it whereas the high torque did not bog. However, the the line on the high torque would also bend a lot more and often wrap around the head in the thickest stuff because of the reduced centrifugal force as a result of the reduced RPMs.

Conclusion-
The high torque thing is a bit gimmicky unless you're running a lot of string or really big string. I'll try some .130 and give an update. I could see the high torque head being easier on the machine by not stressing it as much, but with string, they do not cut as well. If I were going to clear a bank with tall thick grass, I would use the standard head with a 17" swath with my 25cc multi-tool.

Ill try some blade stuff and give an update in regards to the comparison.

Thanks for the in-depth review. I run the Echo 2620 T with guard on which is 17" swath. I cut some serious heavy dense grass on farm. Never bogs, but I also use common sense and give it time to cut according to conditions.

Occasionally I've considered purchasing the 3020 T, but weren't sure if the difference in factory rated power would be significant enough to justify the cost.

Based on your evaluation of torque versus non torque, maybe I should purchase a non torque head for the 2620 T and evaluate the difference.

To change heads, do you simply unbolt one and replace with other version. I assume everything else is equal since the only difference in the 2620 verses 2620T is the high torque head.

From your research do you have a suggestion for best place to purchase a standard head for 2620T ?

 

I'm swapping entire attachments on a split shaft that have different heads. I suppose you could just swap out a head on a designated trimmer, but I'm not sure if it would be too cost effective.

 

Just remember speed kills. The standard gear ratio works the best for me.

 

I'm confused by your reply. You said "speed kills", followed by "the standard gear ratio works best for me".

The standard ratio 2620 has more speed 1.62:1 gear ratio, than the torque model 2620T, 2:1 gear ratio producing more torque, but less speed.

Please explain your reply, thanks.

 

To even further clarify RPM for RPM the higher gear ratio engine is revving less and unless you're running no guard in a mile long line, the higher gear ratio trimmer is working more efficiently and using less gas.

 

You did not answer my questions in my last reply, please answer previous questions.

The engines are identical in both models, the only difference is the gear head. The engines themselves do not have different gear ratios, only the gear heads.

 

I've had the husky 525 LS and the LST and I greatly preferred the LS. I don't even run a guard either and line longer than running it with the guard allows. I can see if you're cutting knee high grass but if you're doing weekly or bi-weekly lawns there really is no need for the torque model.

 

Even with knee high grass the standard ratio cuts better is what I've found. I think as long as you have sufficient power, the standard gearing performs better at everything.

My guess is that the high torque gearing might perform better with the little 21cc engines in tall grass, but at tat point, you should be using a more powerful trimmer anyways.

Echo/Shindaiwa's 25cc engine that produces 1.35 HP works better with the standard hearing for gutting grass with string regardless of using a guard or not was the point of this thread. With more powerful engines, I feel like there would be an even pigger gap in performance between the standard and high torque. A 2 to 1 gear ratio with Echo's 30cc engine seems absolutely pointless.

Like I said in the OP, I will test the two gear heads with the same 25cc multi tool power source with a few different types of blades to see if the high torque runs a blade better.

 

All I buy any more are high torque models in the 25cc range. Last standard model was an SRM2620 in 2018, and no one wants to use it.

 

What kind of stuff are your guys cutting with them?

Standard gearing definitely does a better job cutting the tall grass I used for my comparison.

 

I’m not expert on this
Would the high torque gimmick be more ideal for saw blades and brush cutters and not necessarily a line trimmer?

Thats probably like having a Nissan skyline with a high torque mod
It’s probably not going to be pulling any trailers, so it’s just pointless.

 

I'm not expert on this
Would the high torque gimmick be more ideal for saw blades and brush cutters and not necessarily a line trimmer?

Thats probably like having a Nissan skyline with a high torque mod
It's probably not going to be pulling any trailers, so it's just pointless.

If you're gonna run long string, get the high torque. Long string is gonna bog your trimmer and hold the RPM low anyway, so why not get the high torque model and take the load off your clutch and let the engine work in it's power band?

If you run a guard, high torque models are pointless...

 

All of y'all having problems with .095 line next time try some of the Desert Vortex line. Actually now I think it's marked Copperhead Vortex since it was bought out by the Rotary Corporation.

 

I run .130 in a speed feed 450 bump head in an older Stihl brush cutter with bike handles for property clean ups sometimes if said property is over grown with light brush and berry bushes. I use a mulching blade on my Shindaiwa multi tool and a chainsaw for really thick brush, but the .130 with around 2hp pushing it pretty much takes care of any type of light brush around here. The .105 works to, but with that type of power it wears out and breaks a lot faster than the .130.

Same experience here.

The 450 accepts 130 line huh? Didn't know that, have to look into one...

 

It does, but the basic round line that Stihl makes definitely feeds the best. Sometimes with the square or serrated lines, I have to open the head up to pull the last bit of line out when reloading new line. Seems like such a trivial thing since that was the norm before Speed Feed heads, but we're spoiled a bit these days. I feel the Square or serrated line cuts a bit better when using my Shindaiwa multi-tool head, but when you got a legit brush cutter with standard gearing (which gets you the RPMs" the shape of the line doesn't seem to matter nearly as much. The plain old round line crushes most light brush just the same.

 

All of y'all having problems with .095 line next time try some of the Desert Vortex line. Actually now I think it's marked Copperhead Vortex since it was bought out by the Rotary Corporation.

Only "commercial" 095 I have trouble with is Black Diamond. My favorite is actually Redmax twist line. Only recently one of the local dealers started carrying it, and only way to get some was online or buy a new Redmax trimmer.

 

Black Diamond is terrible IMO. It does cut like a razor, but it breaks on dandelions. Even the.105 stuff is pretty weak compared to most high quality commercial lines. I like the Diamond edge square line in .105. It's not quite as durable as some of the twist lines, but it cuts cleaner and definitely lasts longer than any of the serrated stuff.

http://www.alamia.us/ProductDetails...RDzARIsAIVQUOcQZwgcrVRzEbfgS2Dg4to0ejZq0dmSU9HSneDbEjFn2_1I3thcwJsaAlkOEALw_wcB

 

100% speculation:
Perhaps the torque models benefit the manufacturers more than the end users as far as warranty issues/etc?

 

Never thought about that, but I bet they have less issues for sure

 

So, I finally did an apple's to apple's comparison of the high torque head vs the standard head with .130 square diamond cut line with a 20" swath.

Finally, it appears that I have found a point where the high torque head out performs the standard head with a 1.35 hp motor pushing them. This really made my day because I love using the .130 stuff here in the Pacific northwest on blackberries. I just got done blasting some Barry bushes in my field out back, and I will no longer need to use a legit brush cutter or blade to handle them. I can now just use the high torque attachment on my multi-tool with .130 line.

Here are the videos for comparrison. Notice the high torque head not only recovers faster, but also has a higher top rpm with the .130 line

 

This was the high torque head. the first video was the standard. You can clearly hear the difference

 

I haven't had any problem with that at all so far, new or dried out some. I will add, my experience with it has always been in a SF400, so maybe that makes a difference, but I can't say for sure.

 

Trimmers and trimmer line are all a very personal flavor. It's kinda like ford, Chevy, dodge, Toyota thing. There's so many variables, a)string diameter, b) string cross section shape, c) bent shaft/ straight shaft, d) brand of machine, e) hi-torque vs regular, f)and then all the different heights and types of grass...and then there's the closeness of proximity to dealerships and the quality of dealership that they are..... Im always reading everyone's perspective on whatever topic is being discussed and find joy in applying different ideas as I go along, some things/ideas work better, and others not so much. Its all good, and i appreciate everything that everyone ads to this forum trying to add their ideas and insight to a career that I myself thoroughly enjoy. Thanks to everyone for any and all input, have a Very Merry Christmas and an awesome New Year....btw,2021 can't be as bizarre as 2020

 

Well said.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well, and to all the members here!

 

Thanks for the in depth apples to apples reviewing. I had been looking for something like this for a long time. My stuff is so old I haven't experienced any of the torque head stuff and it is not the kind of thing you can demo. So this is helpful. It's also nice because my old redmax is the same engine size plus the Shin M262 was one of the machines I was looking at for a multi-tool option.

I was leaning to Shindaiwa and Redmax over Echo because I was a little afraid the flex cable Echo may have more vibration. Do you have any idea if Echo tools will attach to the M262? I have heard yes and no on that. My memory is fuzzy but I don't think Shin offers the bed edge redefiner attachment.

 

Yes, Echho attachments will fit the M262 and M242 power heads. They will not fit older power heads or power heads from Canada.
The high torque head I purchased and used for comparison in this thread is only offered by Echo and not Shindaiwa.

Also, Shindaiwa uses the flex cables just like Echo now. The only big difference between Echo and Shindaiwa other than price and color are the handles, triggers and grips. The Shindaiwa feels MUCH better in the hands than the Echo IMO. If you like the way RedMax feels, Shindaiwa is the way to go. It's worth the extra $20-$30 IMO