OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters Two Stroke Trimmers & Brushcutters Stihl FS90 four mix

Hi fellas, just drumming up some conversation on this really. I needed a snipper/brushcutter for the lighter end of the scale with the handlebar/bullhorn set up. I currently have a loop handle Kawasaki and it has been and still is brilliant.

I have been looking the last few weeks at machines because a mate of mine needed to be steered anway from the hardware shop type machines. I convinced him into a favourite brand of mine in the end, Tanaka entry level straight shaft.

Then it was my turn and something I never thought I would do was buy Stihl. I picked up the bullhorn FS90 four mix and put it through it's paces today mowing a customers lawn which hadn't been mowed in probably 7 to 8 weeks!!

The two mowers simply couldn't cut it so I'm going back on the trusty Greenfield.

I had to cut large areas with the new Stihl so I didn't have to poke the Greeny into corners and I was pretty impressed. It vibrates more than the Kwaka at idle but it just seems to have a great torque sweet spot and just chowed through 1 to 2 foot grass with ease. I found the harness and bullbar worked great for the back and forth slashing.

Anyway I was impressed and it just drops back to a nice slow idle with no issues then revs cleanly away to what seems like a much lower top end than a conventional two stroke.

Anyway if you have any info on these "four mix" motors let me know. Hopefully it will last me a few years and I won't regret the Shindaiwa I really wanted but couldn't afford.

I went back today to finish the job and took the Kawasaki instead. It is a KLB26A. I have to say that the Stihl coped with the tall grass easier, I wouldn't say much easier but in the thick of it, it maintained it's revs and just chowed through.

I guess it would be unfair to compare a 9 year old machine, albeit immaculately maintained to a new product.

I have put around 5 hours on this in two weeks and I have to say I am impressed. It has got loads of torque and rips through long grass at a constant rev without the need to blip the throttle to keep revs up etc. No having to pull away for the engine to take a breathe and build up revs etc. I haven't worked out the start up technique yet as it takes about 6 pulls to get it going from cold. After that it's one pull and it's away.

I do like Stihls bullbar locking device. It's a large t handle knob which is superb for adjusting on the go. If you are clearing drains or embankments where you need to adjust the angle so that the harness continues to take the weight it takes all of 5 seconds and no tools.

happy customer so far.