As a former corporate environmental/safety compliance mgr, and now a landscaping/application business owner, I can understand both positions of the debate. However, I will say that I've been weed eating with my guard on for the past 3 years and it doesn't seem to stop much. I still get debris to the face, legs, and arms. I think it's designed for keeping knuckleheads who weed eat in flip flops from accidentally sticking their feet into the string lol.
Yup chainsaws have a chainbrake but that chain is wide open and stupid users still get hurt. These kind of folks don't belong access to tools that don't understand it's operating characteristics of said tool.
@@drunkingsailor2359 I agree. You can't engineer every tool to be safe all the time. Eventually a user has to use their brain. A guard over the tip of that chainsaw may prevent the user from cutting with the tip, resulting in fewer kickbacks. However, once it plugs up with debris you know someone will clear it with the engine running and cut their fingers off. Guards have their place, but not when they actually increase the risk of getting hurt.
@@thedudeguy2356 I've seen it quite often in industry where jigs and homemade fixtures are built to manufacture a certain item. In the average consumer market, most of those issues are engineered out long before the product goes to market.
I am a 77 year old woman. Have used a weed eater on my ranch's since they first were available. Removed the guards from every weed eater I have used. When you spend up to 4 hours or more a day weed eating YES you need to see every space you are covering. Good reasoning!!!!
i ve been working for years with guard off, i was dumb, it is very dangerous for ppl who are standing around and even for yourself , not to mention u can get a lot of stuff hitting your tibias
My cousin lost his left eye while using his string trimmer without the guard. The rock hit his eye so hard it was beyond repair. Think about that the next time you're using your trimmer with no guard.
From New Hampshire...#5 reason was a gem. Yes, people scroll around looking to criticize because they have nothing better to do. Unbelieveable. Good presentation. I'm here because I wanted to hear another experienced person's opinion on the subject. Thank you. Again, I found your style right to the point and interesting.
.... actually the weirdos are a tiny minority, unfortunately they are extremely loud and supported by "certain politicians" because it gets them votes...
I have been in Lawn and Garden equipment sales for 40 years. The first thing that most commercial landscapers take off are the guards off of trimmers. It does void the warranty, but they don't care, they have jobs to get done and it works better mainly for edging. We have to make sure the guards are in place when sold for liability reasons. The reason it voids the warranty is the longer the line the slower the engine goes and this can overheat the engine, that's why there is a line limiter so the engine cools appropriately. Nice Video
Been using a trimmer for almost 8 years and always saw commercial workers with the guard off as I drove by them in my car. I always wondered why. Your video is accurate and makes sense and now I know what is the better way to do the job. But I stress to wear glasses, I have had all kinds of debri fly up and hit me in the face. Thanks for the vid it is going to help me do a better job on my yard!
I’m a lawn care professional & this was some of the best & most useful advice I’ve ever been given. It contradicted what the local saw shop/dealer told me but I gave your advice a try cuz it made sense & bcuz I knew I was experienced enough & familiar enough w/ my machine that I could do it safely & efficiently. & now a year after taking the guard off of my 3 main high end trimmers, & after countless hours of work w/ them w/ the guard off, I can confidently say that this was a game changer, in SO MANY WAYS! Thank u so much! U explained everything perfectly! & u made sure to point out numerous times that THIS ADVICE ISN’T FOR EVERYBODY! & u r absolutely correct! But for those who it IS for, it’s HEAVENT SENT! THANKS AGAIN! DEFINITELY SUBSCRIBED!
Thanks Jason!! Another great video. I started a small lawn care business this year to give me something to do since I am now retired from the military. Your videos have helped me tremendously and I appreciate you for doing them. I too agree with taking the guard off because it raised my efficiency/speed greatly. I started noticing that most of the lawn care folks that I would see had theirs removed so I tried it and was immediately hooked. I feel that I got hit with as much debris with the guard on as I do now with it off, and the efficiency is worth the risk, IN MY OPINION!! Thanks again!
The visibility issue from having a guard on caused me to get hit by much more than I do after removing the sucker. That is only my anecdotal experience....but I will never use a guard again.
YOUR AWESOME. IM A 76 YR OLD HOME USER. 😊 Said good-bye to my lawn service. I'm a new ECHO SRM 225 owner. I use 50:1 non ethanol premix gas in the gallon can. 5th time using to date my Echo. It's rotation is counter clockwise. I wear pants, protective glasses and a chainsaw loggers helmet unit with ear muffs, and a full face shield. Frustrated I am as I cannot SEE my edging line with that guard.. Thought it was me, the newbee. Then I found you, a professional whose trimmer is guardless. Your reasoning is spot on with solid logic. Thank You. ADIEU Mr. Guard. UA-cam is great, however alot of charlatons out there acting like professionals which they are not. They are dangerous in some cases, insulting, demeaning and quite un-Christian, I say. An then there are some saying the Echo guard attachment is an integral support for the gearhead, clutch and you void your warranty. I will trust a professional who uses trimmers daily in their business over the latter. My property is 3,295 Sq. Ft. with lots of trees and a fenced back yard. Now I can really make my edging supremely satisfying and looking beautiful thanks to you. My turf is awesome. I cut 3 and 3/4" high with a new Toro AWD mower and bagger. While my neighbours cut to the bone with burnt grass by June, mine will look great all summer. I also have aeration, seed spring/fall with multiple fertilizations service. Edging is more than a chore. It's awesome entertainment every time with that "Ahh what a feeling look" when done. Thank you for this awesome video and your channel. I just subscribed because I want to learn more and you're genuine, backed with experience and knowledge. God bless and lots of health and prosperity in your business endeavours. Sincerely, Christopher B. Living the life in the Great Lakes Region. Ps. My yard maintenance is great fun. A form of exercise, mental sharpness and balance agility. More Seniors should do it if they can.
I have 45 yrs of safety training in the petro-chem industry! I can sum up your 5 reasons easily! Number 1-4 very well articulated. But I need to translate number 5 into plain english "To give them something to bitch about" Great video and I agree with your reasoning! Calculated risk!! Good job!
This is a common misconception. The deflector is not there for your safety. Its only purpose is to keep the line at the proper length for optimal engine speed. If your line is too long you will break the trimmer. Most commonly the shaft will slip in the clutch housing, rendering the trimmer useless. -Former Stihl Tech
I used to take the guard off and I'm in my 25th year of property maintenance and keep it on so why? saves trimmer line and prevents objects hitting me in the eye.
Another good reason for taking the guard off that you didn't mention is that it also reduces a fair amount of weight at the trimmer head which actual changes the balance point making the trimmer easier and more comfortable to wield.
Especially for females! There is a huge difference in strength between men and women.my male family members and co-workers pick up weed trimmers as if they were brooms and push mowers like a shopping cart,while I struggle like crazy. So imagine if little alterations to equipment helps men,how much it helps us females!
@@terminator7137 When I was trimming at a Gulf Corse I worked at. When I had to lean down toward the lake side. My back would feel the burn, it got easier as the summer went on. It was a workout for the forarms as well, but riding dirt bike helped with that. 🍎🍊
After watching your other video about the five reasons to keep the guard ON, I immediately took mine off (lol) and tried it, as well as edging with the trimmer upside down. What a difference, it's a game changer. With the guard off, it's lighter at the head end, and way easier to move around and actually hit the areas I'm aiming for. Edging with the trimmer upside down was initially awkward for me as I was used to doing it sideways, but now, it's more accurate and faster. I'm using an Echo trimmer from a big box store, and I'm not a professional, just doing my own property. Thanks for the advice, Jason, it made a difference for me. By the way, when I took my guard off, I found all kinds of long stringy grass and other crap wound around the shaft area under the guard, and now with the ability to clean that all off, the head is running a bit cooler.
String trimmers and hedgers have what's called a "diaphragm carburetor" as opposed to a "float bowl" carburetor on lawnmowers. The reason trimmers and hedgers use a different carb is because they are designed to be used upside down and not flood in use.
Correct, because when I re string my gas trimmers when Im in the middle of my backyard, I simply turn my engine off and sat it on its head and re string it and crank it back up and ive never had a problem. Then go figure the trimmer pole saws used require the engine head to be upside down and run when you reach up for high branches
@@brettblack7049 Its because we did this as a test, so we could see if anyone was stupid enough to think if they raised their trimmer if it would ruin it. Lets sit back because from the people I have encountered there is probably some idiot that believes that
I use mine for intricate trimming in a shade garden. Using the guard side allows me to trim right up to expensive plants without risking cutting them down.
@@wynastefanik4045 this can become a problem for sure but for me I have a green works and only when I restart it, it autofeeds so I am good. But great question
I've been a professional gardener in the UK for 20 years and use trimmers with and without guards ( I do prefer without) with no worries. I always wear a clear face shield so no problem 😉
Been doing this for 30 plus years with a guard on my trimmer. Always wondered why professional lawn people never had a guard on their weed trimmers. Now it makes sense. Taking mine off. Thanks.
It's nice to see somebody who's so deep into using one method willing to completely change the approach and try a different method. I like it, les us know how did you go and if you feel the difference.
@@robertcornelius3514 - Thought about that but it just so happens there are no rocks of any size in my lawn. Just clay in South Texas. But I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.
I'm a sole small business operator and quite often have to slash fast growing still wet green winter weeds or grasses (south western Australia) which used to stick to the guard and increase the weight of the head significantly on my Husky. I was having to stop frequently to remove the wet mass, wasting so much time. Now my swathes are wider, quicker, with almost negligible strain on the arms and body. My only regret is that I didn't take the guard off years earlier! Thanks for sharing :)
The only thing I miss is the correct cut to the proper length of the line the guard provides. I bang out too much line sometimes and my engine bogs down, unable to spin the head fast enough. If I remember I carry wire cutters to cut the line.
@@awboat If the string is too long for your weak trimmer, find some concrete, a rock, whatever, and wear it down a little. Quick and easy to do. No need to carry cutters.
I landscaped for years, used the Stilh FS250, great machine. We never fully removed the guard, but you can remove the twine cutter, then cut the guard about half an inch shorter, and the twine will go under the guard, but you still get a lot of the safety of the guard.
First off, I trim my landscaping twice a year wether it needs it or not 😁 This is mainly due to the fact I HATE USING STRING TRIMMERS. For many of the reasons Jason outlined in the video. Today after removing the guard, I hate the string trimmer a little less 😁 It is so much easier to maneuver and I can place it better into tight spaces. I realize the guard string cutter is gone, but it seems that the string goes much further. I will add that I use a full face shield with muffs and safety glasses. It does get hot, but I have had multiple pieces of debris hit my face. I'm sure Professionals see this as overkill, however I'm also sure they control and use the trimmers much better than I. Jason thanks for sharing, I think maybe I'll trim four times a year 😁 My wife will appreciate that!!!
To Greg H. who trims twice a year weather it needs it or not. I don't belive it's your imagination that your string would last longer, because you no longer "bounce" out 12 inches and auto cut off 4, "ware down" to 5, "bounce out 12 auto cut off 4 "ware down" to 5. Those 4s, or what ever they actually are, that the guard USED to "automaticly"cut off would add up. And you won't find in your yard those little pieces of strings that went to waste before. Less wasteful. Good Point. I like your mention of face and hearing protection.
Don't know if they're still available, but a mesh face shield would be cooler & you wouldn't need ear muffs with an electric trimmer. For me, noise. fuel costs & petroleum fumes make the electric worth the initial cost. Can't beat a bladed brush machine for blackberries, though.
Thank you. I like the idea of seeing where I'm trimming. I butcher my edges with a guard. I'm 74yo and just starting lawn care after the death of my husband. This males sense❤
@@marija2387 Did you know that you can edit your post if there's a typo? Click on the three vertical dots on the RHS and select 'edit'. Sorry to hear about your husband, BTW.
I am 64 and need to do my own yard care cuz my adult kids are too busy ! I was using a hand clipper but that will take all day all summer - and will Ruin my back. So am using the weed wacker we bought which is pretty light weight. Maybe it’s able to weigh less without the guard ? I wonder
I've always used a guard to help keep the debris in a line and keep the line the right length. Can certainly see the positive of not having a guard on and how it would make the sight line better. You have some really good examples of using logic to erase the argument against. Simple thing in life is the fact that no matter what you do, it's impossible to make everything idiot proof. Mankind once had the ability to reason; it is more apparent every year that we are becoming more like the animals and refuse to think for ourselves.
I too use a Husqvarna trimmer and the dealer turned me onto the Husqvarna high torque gear head for their trimmers. It's great if you have to trim overgrown properties. Keep up the great content.
At 72 I grew up in an age where tractors with open flywheels and so many other types of equipment had open pulleys and...shocker..riding mowers often didn't have seat safety switches. One was assumed to be smarter than their equipment. Most were, some weren't. There have always been Darwin Award winners 🙂 I can't imagine what some fine folks would say about my 30 year old 52" mower...with open pulleys on the deck. Great video and I'm still smiling over your comments.
Along with modern technology came huge advances in safety. It's sad in a way though because the human race is not getting stronger, it's becoming weaker. Sometimes a few Darwin award winners are needed to keep the gene pool strong.
This was a great video bro. I'm weak 😂😂. People with the guard on are just weekend trimmers. They will never understand how annoying that guard is until they have to weed eat an area the size of a football field in 100 degree heat.
I started my lawn care business in a trailer park, I found the guard was useful in moving extension cords and cable tv lines just hook and drag. I just got used to the guards, however the trailer park is only about 1/3 of my customer base at this point so I will take the guard off of one of my trimmers and give it a shot. Good video.
One of the best reasons to take it off: trim around small stumps, posts beds/obstacles etc without walking entirely around the item. You're able to trim on all 360 degrees around the head, not just the open section that the guard isn't covering.
Experience will soon prove you should have left the guard on and modified it so the string can be longer than the factory limit cutter. I hope you don’t lose a tooth or eye.
better if you don't encounter a steel wire left in the grass, at 11.000 rpm it could rip your feets to the bone. with the guard on, it could break the guard.
I thought I was the only one who takes the guard off. I first started doing this when I was a kid having to weed eat our fishing pond. My Dad wasn't very happy and told me I was a idiot for doing that but the pond was huge with steep banks on the back side. Taking the guard off really cut down the time I spent cutting and gave me more time to fish.
I noticed the vast majority of lawn care businesses have no guards on thier trimmers. I always assumed that they just broke them off and just n3ver got a new one. Never considered they took them off for a reason.
That’s how I got started taking mine off too. Had to keep our pond trimmed and nice looking. The guards really got in my way and limited how and where I could put it, on top of really slowing me down…
@@davidhodge0201For my old weed eater that's what happened, the bearing in the end of the curved shaft failed and the end of the shaft got so hot the plastic guard melted. Cheap domestic unit. I took the remains of the guard off when I took it apart to fix the bearing, never got around to replacing it and just used concrete to "trim" the line when I let some new line out. Got used to not having a guard and just using proper eye protection (and making sure my legs were covered, old jeans do that job just fine).
Thanks for doing this video. I appreciate your common sense approach to the variety of ways to use this tool. Your way is the industry norm for commercial business applications! Most folks should probably keep the guard on for the now and then users.
Thanks! I am going try try with guard off. I have a hill side that's a pain. Looks like you moved a lot faster with no guard! ( & I can see the advantage for edging too) Plus I'm sure my warranty has expired anyhow.
1000% Behind you mate. The guard is such a pain. I currently still run mine, but would love to run longer line. A good operator will always be safer than an idiot with a guard.
I have had the guard on since brand new, and have still had idle issues on my km131r. When I looked it up, it was part of normal routine maintenance to adjust the idle screw. Maybe it moves slightly during operation or wears marginally I'm not sure, either way it only took a minor adjustment, now it idles perfectly again. As stated in this video, these machines are tools to make an income. A good businessman always looks for ways to reduce time and increase efficiency. Increasing profitability is key.
"A good operator will always be safer than an idiot with a guard." The official quote of everyone who will leave the earth with fewer extremities than they came onto it with. There are times and places to drop the guard. This ain't it.
@@spud13x13 A good operator with a guard is obviously the safest outcome. But as stated, an idiot with a guard will be more prone to injury than a good operator without a guard. People still crash cars with airbags. Believe it or not. Don't drive like an idiot, and be aware of other road users (aka a good operator) and you will be safer.
I like how you stressed " if you want the guard on leave the guard on''. Too bad there are some people who don't understand or even hear that part. You can put the horse directly IN the water until he drowns and he still don't know where to get a drink. I totally agree with everything you said about the guards. Great video.
I've been trimming 2 hours a day serving lawn care customers for the last 7 years. I had the guard on the first year in the interest of safety. Well i hit the ground alot as the guard was always catching on something as i moved the head around. Then i saw a video by Stan discussing the the benefits of no guard. I took the guard off and the control I have is great, i hardly ever hit the ground and I trim many ditches and over the edges of banks. In the interest of safety, when I'm trimming near the road I stop when I see a car, some people freak out when they see a trimmer near the road. 😂 In wear safety glasses and long pants and sleeve arm protection. 13:46
If you take the guard off and get injured by flying debris and make a workers comp claim, it will be denied due to illegal modification /i proper use of a power tool i.e. removal of a safety feature.
I totally agree with you and it’s a personal choice , unfortunately in the uk the gardens generally not large and as you say the risk of braking a window or damaging a car is a lot higher Salute to a fellow garden maintenance man 🍺👍🏻
Some guards have a built in knife to keep the line at a certain length. Without the guard you loose less string but performance (RPMs) drops with longer string. I’ve used mine (Stihl Kombi) with and without. Great video!
I love my weed whip. I call it my magic wand. I wave it and the grass gets cut. I'm about to remove the guard to get longer line for greater coverage. I cut dry grass which cuts easily so I throttle back for lower speed so the line doesn't break as often. With a guard I still kick up rocks and sticks so I wear my forestry safety helmet with mesh face shield and ear muffs, which attenuates the noise. I hifhly recommend wearing one. I have one anyway for chainsaw work. I also wear a face mask to block all the dust I kick up.
Reasons to keep the guard on. There is a clipper on the guard to trim the strings to equal length giving better spin balance. Also, Clipper keeps the ends of the string sharp for better cutting. Keeping the string to a manageable length gives higher rpm for cutting in higher grass a clears out the grass faster. I have used trimmer without a guard and find the above reasons give a much better cut
thats one of my reasons and my other reason is being able to back the guard up to the tree base and trim the grass around the tree without risking scarring the tree trunk, especially on younger trees.
Sorry ,,,But I disagree.I have been in the commercial mowing business and I own a small engine shop and there are NO arguements that hold water for having the guard on.Jason is spot on!
Only when you feed it initially. Once it gets worn down to be slightly shorter than the guard cutter, then you can have one side that is the full 7-1/2 and the other might get nicked and be 1/2” long.
I personally like one with and one without the guard depending on the situation. Cutting curbline and walkway cracks is much safer with the guard, edging and trimming around where the mower wont get and steep hills are much easier without the guard. Its easier to have both options readily available for your needs. Thats my personal and professional opinion
After using mine (and others) without a guard for two decades, there is no way I could ever use one with. I don't care what the situation is, without the guard is always going to be an advantage for me. 🙂
I agree with every one of your reasons you gave to take off the guard. I took mine off when one of the screws came out and got lost. I see better, work more quickly, and get more done without guard in place.
I grew up using a "WeedEater" made by WeedEater before they were bought out by Poulan. It was a big, heavy unit with 4 strings and never had a guard (or a string trimmer). It did have a little metal rod loop so when you set down the gear the head would be held off the ground and the unit wouldn't roll over. Other than the string trimmer, I don't find the guards on modern trimmers actually guard anything. Still just as much debris flying around and hitting me and everything else. That's the nature of the beast. Motor strain is up to you. Don't run the string too long.
I have a weed eater. It's a little green trimmer. Bought it about 15 years ago. It was about $100 as I recall. It starts on a few pulls and never had a problem with it.
Most trimmers are 2 stroke so no worries about “tipping” the unit up to edge. As for removing the guard the string gets to be longer and you can cover more ground.
You only cut with the edge of the trimmer line ideally so I really doubt how much more ground you're covering especially with a slower rpm due to the increased length of the string.
Thank you very much for the confirmation of removing my gaurd! I just edged my new yard and messed up the clean lines it had BECAUSE OF THAT DARN GUARD!!! I had just said I was going to take it off 'safe or not' for the next trim! You have made me feel confident I can do this with the BEST tips for keeping myself as safe as I can be WITHOUT the guard! Love watching and learn a lot from you!
I took the gaurd off my new Dewalt 54v strimmer and got whacked in the ankles repeatedly with bits of lawn and tough grass. But, the strimmer was SO much easier and quicker to use! I then put the guard back on, and boy it's huge! I instantly remembered why I took it off.... So I'll be taking it back off again this weekend! Thanks LCL...
I have mastered my ego trimmer for my small yard with guard on. If I had to do a big area or ran a business I probably would take it off but for now I am all about safety and leave mine on as a single home owner usage. 5000sqft. No hate from me Jason you are a pro you know what you are talking about! Congrats on 100k subs brother!
Im surprised nobody has mentioned the weight savings of removing the guard. The guard might be light in hand, but when you get it extended out on the end of the shaft it feels like it weighs 3x as much. My back definitely appreciates it not being on there lol
I have twice had some idiots without the guards on shoot rocks into my windshield while I was driving. Both times they were trimming the gaps between the sidewalk and road surface that run parallel to the road. Getting compensation would of been a pain so they were productive and I payed for it. A properly placed brush guard (not a dinky grass guard) can block the area where you/others/cars are going to be. It won't get everything but at least you can prevent it from going to far off the ground. The orientation of the gap means you are going to send rocks. No matter your skill, that gap is going throw rocks in line with the road. Operator skill goes a long way to mitigate risks, but even the most skilled can be fatigued, distracted by life events, call from the next job, etc... Great video that has a title that almost matches the contents of the video. Those are 6 solid reasons to take off the guard.
Hi Jason, Great video. I have two reasons. 1. You don't litter little bits of orange cut off all over the place. 2. The reduction in weight on the head makes it easier to trim hillsides or where you need to raise the head to get to certain areas. The line always wears itself to the right length for the trimmer also.
Great point on #1. With everyone worried about single use plastics and micro plastics in the environment manufacturers should consider how rattling off little pieces of trimmer string for no reason every time you pay out another inch effects the environment.
Well said, never used a guard for many years, understand the machine and use it sensibly , like most things, the instructions and guards are for safety for insurance and claims, like don't drink hot coffee it might scald you,
I just bought a new weed eater, and will take it off. For this reason went thru a lot of line in 1 day, because of the line cutter on guard. Usually takes me two weeks to go thru same amount. I also like my line a little bigger so I don’t have to keep bumping head on concrete every 6 ft. You made a lot of good points.
Lawn Care Life: You just have to love the haters. The points you have made on the use of trimmer are vailed. It's basically different strokes for different folks. I am more into safety but your breakdown works for you 👍👍
Trimmer guard comes off before I even start a new trimmer.RPMs being a bit slower will not hurt the engine as long as your not going crazy on string length.The few less rpms also lets the string last longer,and makes it possible to cut a few heavier weeds that would normally just fox tail a shorter string.I save the guard just in case I ever decide to trade or sell,but in 25 years that has yet to happen.
I bet you run into a lot of carbon build up in your exhaust though. The lower RPMs doesn't allow for proper burn out and will clog that screen in a heartbeat, bogging the unit down. We always tell our customers to run things wide open, as they're intended, for that reason.
@@MavericksGoosed I have only clogged one spark arrestor and that was from GRC 2 stroke oil. I agree that running the string 7 or 8 inches longer would choke up an engine and make it run hot, but an extra 3-4 inches will not harm a thing.
Most of the professionals I see here in Oklahoma working commercially have the guard removed. I am watching this to see if it's worth removing for my home use. Good Video!
Coming from a mechanic, with that guard removed you need to be careful of string length. Part of why the guard is there is to cut the string when it gets too long so as not to overload the engine. These 2 strokes are designed to run in all positions, flipping upside down can cause issues with the fuel pick up hose sucking air when low on fuel, but it is not hurting anything.
we've been doing lawn service for 30 years and we've always taken the gaurds off. If you carry it all day that extra wieght makes a difference in addition to the points you've covered. And yes you will get hit occasionaly but the speed and productivity is what we're after
@@SuperballsSupervidsOnYT As someone else mentioned in another thread, it's not just the weight, but the inertia/momentum that matters. You're changing direction with every sweep of the strimmer, and the extra effort involved adds up over time.
This is one of the best video lessons that I have ever learned from. I just put high boots and glasses on and my work done at least 1/2 of the usual time. 😂Thanks a lot!
I had a model older than this one that I love. My sister has difficulty with tools that are too heavy and she actually loved mine and found it easy to use ua-cam.com/users/postUgkx_rBCFuDW1zD6blTGhLkvAkxU657uR_lG . This is a newer model but was even lighter which she really appreciates. She enjoys it and I no longer have to go to her house to trim as she can handle it fine. Haven't used it enough to comment on the battery life but lithium batteries last longer than the old style. Being cordless makes it easy to trim the far edges of the property. The entire yard can be trimmed with one charged battery.
I've never seen an actual professional operate a string trimmer with the guard on. Same goes for the handle safety-stops on 36" and 48" type walk behind commercial mowers. Knowing how to use your equipment, and wearing eye and ear protection, as well as pants, will keep you safe.
I work for Briteview and we have to keep them on for the safety reasons but I definitely would like to take the guard off but I'm used to working with the guard and it doesn't hinder me to much.
There are some situations, albeit unlikely, that even a skilled operator could fail to forsee that that guard would protect against (the center piece shattering comes to mind). Once you get past the string attachment and into the blade or saw attachments, operator skill starts to get even less relevant to the question of removing the guard. A skilled angle grinder operator would still do well to leave the guard on it, and I see zero difference with a weed-whacker.
I just took mine off yesterday and I don’t know why I didn’t do it a long time ago. Game changer. Edging speed and efficiency drastically improved plus its lighter, and I don’t find myself bumping out the line anywhere near as much either.
As a life long dealer of power equipment this is one of main reasons for trimmers carboning up and failing. And yes it keeps the The engine in the sweet spot for performance. We always loved our customers who took the guards off because it meant increased revenues in our shop!
That's a load of horse shit. I've had my Shindaiwa weed trimmer for well over ten years and have never had a problem with it. Starts every year on the the first pull. I also have worked in the lawn care business and we used Stihl and Shindaiwa brands as well as echo (which I could care less about) and those trimmers have lasted a whopping 10 years of constant everyday use including up to 40 % edging. As a matter of fact there was one solely devoted to edging that we installed a tri-blade brush cutter to edge sidewalk so that it could dig below the surface making it look more professional. (Edgers are too bulky to lug around) Yes it's hard on the engine but if you get a heavy duty one with a strong motor it will last a long time. Carboning out is bc ppl don't know how to operate their trimmer right. That's all it is. Nothing to do with the design of the motor.
@@joetroutt7425shindawa and echo are the same exact trimmers except the gear head and clutch on the shindawas are inferior. Echo runs the best gear head and clutch in the game by far. If you've been running a trimmer that long either your not putting any hours on it or it's carboned up and you just don't realize it. I own 13 trimmers and two kombis that we also use as trimmers all Stihl and echo. Just because it starts and runs doesn't mean it's not carboned up. Remove the muffler and take a look at the exhaust port and you'll probably see wat I'm talking about. Your welcome.
@@T_81535 I know what a clean running weedeaters sounds like. There's nothing wrong with it. Just ran it for the first time the other day after sitting all winter. Ran great. No sputtering, no bogging, not even a hard start. Believe me I know what I'm doing. I don't need you to sell me snake oil.
As someone who only does my own lawn and doesn't have the expertise or skill you do, I like that the gaurd gives me a better idea of the radius of my cut. Also i can position the gaurd to protect my garden plants and some bug mesh i have in the yard to get a tight trim and not worry about messing stuff up. But i still get hit with debris all the time so it definitely doesn't protect much from that.
I can give 2 reasons to remove the guard. I noticed that when you were trimming the hillside, the grass did not clump together due to the missing guard. This is a plus. Another reason at least for non Atlas strength people is the accumulation of grass on the guard adds significant weight to the END of the trimmer, thus increasing arm fatigue and increasing muscle and tendon problems.
@@awboat lol I own a landscaping company in south Georgia and I guarantee you that I have been running a weed eater, for just as many hours as you, if not more. The fact that you resort to such a defensive statement with your banter, shows that you need to work on your business approach, brother! Instead of just getting defensive and using a playground argument, trying to say you’re more experienced than me, maybe you should give me a good reason as to why to take the guard off. You do not need to remove the guard to be able to do proper edging with a weed eater if you know what you’re doing. Any self-respecting landscaper will tell you this. Good day, sir.!
@@T_81535 different strokes for different folks! I do not recommend taking the guard off, ever! I always leave the guard on, and I can still edge with the weed eater without any problems at all! Also, it’s worth mentioning that if your equipment is under warranty, and you take it to the shop without the guard, or if they find out you are running the equipment without a guard, they are more than likely NOT going to honor the warranty.
I had an electric strimmer for about 10 years and the guard only lasted a few days on it before it annoyed me too much. But then I got a battery powered strimmer last week and since it was new I decided to attach the guard, and went out cutting the garden... But 5 minutes later I remembered exactly why I took the guard off the last one, and you covered pretty much all of these reasons here. I hate those stupid guards!
Thanks for the well reasoned video. Tomorrow I am taking the guard off of my trimmer. I am not in the lawn care business, but I cut and trim several lawns that are quite large and require a lot of trimming. Thanks for the information. I believe it will make my job easier.
Just go slow, and you’ll like having 8-12 of line out, depending on what you are trimming. It’s easy to trim under decks, trampolines, kids playground equip, with the longer line.
I remove my guard because I can trim along my fence rows from one side of the fence and not having to waste time going on both sides of the fence. It’s a high tensil fence with the bottom open. Thanks for a great video, Mike
I use weed eaters and tractors for 18 years and I took the guards off of every weed eater I ever owned. It improves your cutting to a 360° instead of 180° right? In the front of the weed eater. The weed eater will cut better, cut faster and if you you're wearing protective hearing and eye shades, you don't have to worry
Loved this, absolutely agreed with every word he said. Can’t believe how many people I see wearing full chainsaw apparel while using a lawn strimmer,especially in hot weather, pouring sweat, reduced visibility with a full face shield, and ear defenders so they can’t hear anyone coming…. First thing I do is throw the guard away,it just gets in the way all the time, and massively reduces productivity. If you disagree, then fight me!🤣🤣🤣
How Would The Weedeater Cut The String To Specified Length When String Wear Out? Rocks, Sticks, Etc. Can Fly From Weedeater. I Broke Windows Out Of My Home & Car Parked From Weedeater. Rocks & Sticks Have Hit Me. I now wear Chainsaw Hard Hat With Ear Muffs & Screen Face Shield.
Years ago I had a guard break, and very soon after I noticed how much better it worked without it, and I actually used much much less string. As soon as it gets just a little to short, it slows the work way down, and soon as you bump it, it cuts a big piece off. Does make a mess, that’s true enough, but it also forces you to wear your gear which you should have been wearing all along.
lol... same thing here... Broke guard halfway through job; realize how much better it was without. Going guess they are there due to lawyers and lowest common denominator of human beings suing companies; because they weed trimmed in flip flops and lost a toe.
@@Aerogrow yup lol, like the guy that tried, and failed to trim his hedges with the lawnboy, I mean they are light compared to most mowers but wow! Once in a while, somehow one string gets to short and I have to cut the long piece with a knife or cutters but still, overall I like it without the guard, and you’re probably dead right, just there to make the lawyers happy.
Took the pulley guards off my 48in mower deck last week when replacing the spindles and belt .Did not put them back on. . . Result: . . . .No grass getting stuck in around the spindle shafts!!! I know the pulleys are there. . .I can see them. . .lol . . . .Don]t step on the deck is an easy rule to follow yes? . . I can also now see the deck belt and assess its condition easily, this allows me to replace it b4 it gets thrown. . . . Now I'm headed out to take the guard off the trimmer. . . .Thank you.
I have followed this debate for quite a while now. I just had bilateral hernia surgery, and after about four weeks of recovery, my doctor had finally allowed me to pick up my string trimmer. In an effort to minimize strain, I decided to remove the guard from my Echo trimmer. I have the Echo 225 PAS trimmer. I selected this trimmer because it was the lightest weight commercial trimmer I could find. At my age, every ounce counts. The guard on this trimmer is relatively small and probably weighs less than a pound. So, before my surgery, my incentive to remove it was low. Now that I have removed the guard and used the trimmer, I have some observations I would like to share. Even though the change in weight is minimal, it makes more of a difference than I expected. The weight reduction occurred at the opposite end of about a six-foot shaft which magnifies the advantage. In addition, the side-to-side motion of the head is a constant source of inertia. You move left, stop the momentum, restart the momentum in the opposite direction, time after time. This really starts to add up over the course of your day. Another factor I had failed to consider, was the accumulation of grass and mud on the guard as it is used. This probably doubles the weight of any guard. I found that using the trimmer took much less effort than I expected. Many thanks to this channel, and the others who have recommended this modification.
Thank you! A year later, I'm still using the trimmer without the guard. Overtime, I realize has much faster I'm able to work without the guard. Visibility and access to tight spaces is much improved without the guard.
My main reason for leaving the guard on when I was a contractor was for liability reasons. If you are a one man operation, sure do whatever. If you have a crew or crews running trimmers, leaving the guard on closes a HUGE liability door. Personally, I take the guard off.
Excellent and very helpful advice! Bought a new trimmer, and used it once and thought, what the heck, way too short! Will try this approach, and truly appreciate the video! Thank you kind Sir! You are a Pro in your business, and great job!!! Now a subscriber, and thank you again!!!
Stumble on your channel today and thanks for sharing knowledge. I'm not a professional mower but i do have a large area to mow. I have 2 Deere mowers a 1445 (72 inch )and X500 ( 54 inch) 2 stihl weed eaters and it takes my Wife and I about 4 hours to mow everything. Guard coming off next time we mow.
1:57: when people say that you can’t turn your trimmer upside down to edge, it shows they don’t understand how these two strokes work. Unless it’s a true 4 stroke trimmer, where there is separate sump for oil, you can flip the engine any direction you need to without any issues. These two strokes (and Stihl 4-mix engines, that still require mixed gas) are built and designed to run in more positions than just upright. That’s why handheld equipment is most often two stroke, because the manufacturers assume it will be run in a wide range of different positions. You will not hurt a thing, if you turn a two stroke ( or Stihl 4 mix ) upside down, to edge.
The 25cc Honda trimmer I have is a true four stroke, with separate oil sump in addition to a timing belt and two overhead valves. It holds 2.7 oz of 10w-30 and burns plain, unmixed gasoline. Did I mention it runs in any position including upside-down without hurting it? Oh and I have put it away as long as two years in the garage to have it start up and run wirhout issue. Today I pulled it out after having it sit since November… it started on the second pull wirhout choke and ran great.
@@gilessteve When I first got it, I wasn't confident running it upside down either, so I did a torture test. Basically, I had a friend who runs a lawn company edge 71 front yards with it only turning it upright to put out more string. It did fine upside down for a good few hours that day.
@@NETWizzJbirk I picked mine up and used it for the first time yesterday (rain today). I got the 35cc model. It starts so readily I can reach behind me and start it while it's attached to the harness. I'm very impressed so far, and not having to mix oil in with the fuel is a game-changer for me.
A responsible tool operator of any kind knows their equipment well enough to trust their own abilities. If you’re comfortable removing the guard, then remove the damn guard. I keep mine on simply so I don’t blast my neighbor’s cars with debris. It is a pain to see around, and I can understand your productivity standpoint. Keep up the good work!
Great video! I've been taking the guards off all my trimmers for over 40 years now. Agree with everything you say. Only thing mandatory in my opinion is safety glasses. Everything else is just a suggestion.
I never taken my guard off. I've used several other crews equipment with guard off. There is a small difference in how debris are directed. I've noticed a small difference with guard on, mostly legs get it. Guard off, my chest and face get it more. Guards are what to be described as a safety feature for multiple reasons according to echo. It's there to prolong engine life as string is more manageable, and to keep debris lower. Belive it or not, if your guard is on, it will be like a mower deck. Caked with grass. So obviously it's working to some extent. I'll keep my guard on. Personal preference of course
I get the old Echo style guard and cut away the right half of it (CCW rotation) and drill small holes in the top surface for further weight reduction. Just enough guard for protection and less than half the weight. I also get rid of the "ring", the "top T" and the gas tank cage. Trim the throttle trigger down before it snaps off.
Absolutely correct. The only people with the right to complain about his work are his customers. And they should be more concerned with the result more than the method. Especially when part of his reasoning is faster, higher quality work.
8:58 You forgot to mention that running the string out longer also results in lower fuel consumption. With the string longer, you can use a lower RPM due to the string speed at the tip increasing due to its length. That savings in fuel can be quite noticeable when doing a large property like an apartment complex. I use my Redmax trimmer at half throttle most of the time due to letting the string out longer.
As a former corporate environmental/safety compliance mgr, and now a landscaping/application business owner, I can understand both positions of the debate. However, I will say that I've been weed eating with my guard on for the past 3 years and it doesn't seem to stop much. I still get debris to the face, legs, and arms. I think it's designed for keeping knuckleheads who weed eat in flip flops from accidentally sticking their feet into the string lol.
It does cause potential overtork which causes the engine to possibly jump and make your trimmer not idle. From what I read.
Yup chainsaws have a chainbrake but that chain is wide open and stupid users still get hurt. These kind of folks don't belong access to tools that don't understand it's operating characteristics of said tool.
@@drunkingsailor2359 I agree. You can't engineer every tool to be safe all the time. Eventually a user has to use their brain. A guard over the tip of that chainsaw may prevent the user from cutting with the tip, resulting in fewer kickbacks. However, once it plugs up with debris you know someone will clear it with the engine running and cut their fingers off. Guards have their place, but not when they actually increase the risk of getting hurt.
@@andrewb2111 kinda confused me when you said not when guards increase risk. What guard is made that increases risk?
@@thedudeguy2356 I've seen it quite often in industry where jigs and homemade fixtures are built to manufacture a certain item. In the average consumer market, most of those issues are engineered out long before the product goes to market.
I am a 77 year old woman. Have used a weed eater on my ranch's since they first were available. Removed the guards from every weed eater I have used. When you spend up to 4 hours or more a day weed eating YES you need to see every space you are covering. Good reasoning!!!!
It’s the world we live in. Anyone who disagrees with you has to either silence you or attack you personally. Great video. Carry on sir.
i ve been working for years with guard off, i was dumb, it is very dangerous for ppl who are standing around and even for yourself , not to mention u can get a lot of stuff hitting your tibias
Came here looking for a trimmer string tutorial. Left here to go take the guard off. Thanks.
lol, me too.
My cousin lost his left eye while using his string trimmer without the guard. The rock hit his eye so hard it was beyond repair. Think about that the next time you're using your trimmer with no guard.
@@kevinhoffman8112 cousin should have had on safety googles.
@@kevinhoffman8112I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin.
@@kevinhoffman8112 thats why thers safety glasses or face shields and then no probs
From New Hampshire...#5 reason was a gem. Yes, people scroll around looking to criticize because they have nothing better to do. Unbelieveable. Good presentation. I'm here because I wanted to hear another experienced person's opinion on the subject. Thank you. Again, I found your style right to the point and interesting.
It is so refreshing in 2024 to hear a fairly young person speak with common sense and intelligence. And not afraid to do physical work for a living.
.... actually the weirdos are a tiny minority, unfortunately they are extremely loud and supported by "certain politicians" because it gets them votes...
I have been in Lawn and Garden equipment sales for 40 years. The first thing that most commercial landscapers take off are the guards off of trimmers. It does void the warranty, but they don't care, they have jobs to get done and it works better mainly for edging. We have to make sure the guards are in place when sold for liability reasons. The reason it voids the warranty is the longer the line the slower the engine goes and this can overheat the engine, that's why there is a line limiter so the engine cools appropriately. Nice Video
Does it void my warranty if I put it back on before I bring it back to where I bought it ?
@@mycowboyways915 If you reinstall the guard before you take it in for possible warranty repair then the shop wouldn’t know of course 😊
@@mycowboyways915 dirty trimmer and a clean guard will get you a voided warranty everyday. And your tech will be smiling the whole time.
@@colaves1 So those big heavy saw blades don't though right? Explain that to me.
@@itchybhole So if he dirties his guard and cleans his trimmer can he smile as well?
Been using a trimmer for almost 8 years and always saw commercial workers with the guard off as I drove by them in my car. I always wondered why. Your video is accurate and makes sense and now I know what is the better way to do the job. But I stress to wear glasses, I have had all kinds of debri fly up and hit me in the face. Thanks for the vid it is going to help me do a better job on my yard!
I’m a lawn care professional & this was some of the best & most useful advice I’ve ever been given. It contradicted what the local saw shop/dealer told me but I gave your advice a try cuz it made sense & bcuz I knew I was experienced enough & familiar enough w/ my machine that I could do it safely & efficiently. & now a year after taking the guard off of my 3 main high end trimmers, & after countless hours of work w/ them w/ the guard off, I can confidently say that this was a game changer, in SO MANY WAYS! Thank u so much! U explained everything perfectly! & u made sure to point out numerous times that THIS ADVICE ISN’T FOR EVERYBODY! & u r absolutely correct! But for those who it IS for, it’s HEAVENT SENT! THANKS AGAIN! DEFINITELY SUBSCRIBED!
Thanks Jason!! Another great video. I started a small lawn care business this year to give me something to do since I am now retired from the military. Your videos have helped me tremendously and I appreciate you for doing them. I too agree with taking the guard off because it raised my efficiency/speed greatly. I started noticing that most of the lawn care folks that I would see had theirs removed so I tried it and was immediately hooked. I feel that I got hit with as much debris with the guard on as I do now with it off, and the efficiency is worth the risk, IN MY OPINION!! Thanks again!
The visibility issue from having a guard on caused me to get hit by much more than I do after removing the sucker.
That is only my anecdotal experience....but I will never use a guard again.
YOUR AWESOME. IM A 76 YR OLD HOME USER. 😊 Said good-bye to my lawn service. I'm a new ECHO SRM 225 owner. I use 50:1 non ethanol premix gas in the gallon can. 5th time using to date my Echo. It's rotation is counter clockwise. I wear pants, protective glasses and a chainsaw loggers helmet unit with ear muffs, and a full face shield.
Frustrated I am as I cannot SEE my edging line with that guard.. Thought it was me, the newbee. Then I found you, a professional whose trimmer is guardless. Your reasoning is spot on with solid logic. Thank You. ADIEU Mr. Guard.
UA-cam is great, however alot of charlatons out there acting like professionals which they are not. They are dangerous in some cases, insulting, demeaning and quite un-Christian, I say. An then there are some saying the Echo guard attachment is an integral support for the gearhead, clutch and you void your warranty. I will trust a professional who uses trimmers daily in their business over the latter.
My property is 3,295 Sq. Ft. with lots of trees and a fenced back yard. Now I can really make my edging supremely satisfying and looking beautiful thanks to you. My turf is awesome. I cut 3 and 3/4" high with a new Toro AWD mower and bagger. While my neighbours cut to the bone with burnt grass by June, mine will look great all summer. I also have aeration, seed spring/fall with multiple fertilizations service.
Edging is more than a chore. It's awesome entertainment every time with that "Ahh what a feeling look" when done. Thank you for this awesome video and your channel. I just subscribed because I want to learn more and you're genuine, backed with experience and knowledge.
God bless and lots of health and prosperity in your business endeavours.
Sincerely,
Christopher B. Living the life in the Great Lakes Region.
Ps. My yard maintenance is great fun. A form of exercise, mental sharpness and balance agility. More Seniors should do it if they can.
i love my echo 225 , ive had a lot of trimmers and my exho runs the best out of all hands down
I have 45 yrs of safety training in the petro-chem industry!
I can sum up your 5 reasons easily! Number 1-4 very well articulated.
But I need to translate number 5 into plain english "To give them something to bitch about"
Great video and I agree with your reasoning! Calculated risk!! Good job!
The petro chemical industry 😂
2024's 'Let's give them something to talk about!', 'Lets give 'em sumthin' to bitch about!' misspelled slang typed on purpose.
This is a common misconception. The deflector is not there for your safety. Its only purpose is to keep the line at the proper length for optimal engine speed. If your line is too long you will break the trimmer. Most commonly the shaft will slip in the clutch housing, rendering the trimmer useless. -Former Stihl Tech
I used to take the guard off and I'm in my 25th year of property maintenance and keep it on so why? saves trimmer line and prevents objects hitting me in the eye.
Insightful, ty
@@knacket1
Don’t believe a word of that
Yea I don’t believe you
@@CDG91 it's right in the name Deflector
Another good reason for taking the guard off that you didn't mention is that it also reduces a fair amount of weight at the trimmer head which actual changes the balance point making the trimmer easier and more comfortable to wield.
Especially for females! There is a huge difference in strength between men and women.my male family members and co-workers pick up weed trimmers as if they were brooms and push mowers like a shopping cart,while I struggle like crazy. So imagine if little alterations to equipment helps men,how much it helps us females!
💯 percent correct. I have no problem either way but if you're trimming for hours the subtracted weight makes a huge difference
they are plastic.... they weight less than a pound... go to the gym
@@terminator7137 When I was trimming at a Gulf Corse I worked at. When I had to lean down toward the lake side. My back would feel the burn, it got easier as the summer went on. It was a workout for the forarms as well, but riding dirt bike helped with that. 🍎🍊
Thanks for this info will have to look into taking mine off just got a new STIHL bouta be a absolute shredder
After watching your other video about the five reasons to keep the guard ON, I immediately took mine off (lol) and tried it, as well as edging with the trimmer upside down. What a difference, it's a game changer. With the guard off, it's lighter at the head end, and way easier to move around and actually hit the areas I'm aiming for. Edging with the trimmer upside down was initially awkward for me as I was used to doing it sideways, but now, it's more accurate and faster. I'm using an Echo trimmer from a big box store, and I'm not a professional, just doing my own property. Thanks for the advice, Jason, it made a difference for me. By the way, when I took my guard off, I found all kinds of long stringy grass and other crap wound around the shaft area under the guard, and now with the ability to clean that all off, the head is running a bit cooler.
i’ve edged many years with a gaurd
@@MrComradebuttons - Me too, for over 50 years.
String trimmers and hedgers have what's called a "diaphragm carburetor" as opposed to a "float bowl" carburetor on lawnmowers. The reason trimmers and hedgers use a different carb is because they are designed to be used upside down and not flood in use.
Correct, because when I re string my gas trimmers when Im in the middle of my backyard, I simply turn my engine off and sat it on its head and re string it and crank it back up and ive never had a problem. Then go figure the trimmer pole saws used require the engine head to be upside down and run when you reach up for high branches
As do chainsaws and even some small rototillers.
Why are we talking about this.
@@brettblack7049 Its because we did this as a test, so we could see if anyone was stupid enough to think if they raised their trimmer if it would ruin it. Lets sit back because from the people I have encountered there is probably some idiot that believes that
@@brettblack7049 Exactly, Brett! It was in response to what Jason stated @1:55 about people saying you shouldn't flip your trimmer upside down.
@@Rekkcellent okay, I missed that, thanks 😊.
I use mine for intricate trimming in a shade garden. Using the guard side allows me to trim right up to expensive plants without risking cutting them down.
They make a 360 degree guard now. I don't recall the name but it may be something you can use for that application.
good thinking. i actually never thought about using the guard, as a guard lol. will have to give it a try next time
Is someone going to address how to control string length with no guard ?
@@wynastefanik4045 this can become a problem for sure but for me I have a green works and only when I restart it, it autofeeds so I am good. But great question
I've been a professional gardener in the UK for 20 years and use trimmers with and without guards ( I do prefer without) with no worries. I always wear a clear face shield so no problem 😉
Been doing this for 30 plus years with a guard on my trimmer. Always wondered why professional lawn people never had a guard on their weed trimmers. Now it makes sense. Taking mine off. Thanks.
Expect to break a lot of windows.
Don't do it, unpredictable deflections and engine will run out quicker
It's nice to see somebody who's so deep into using one method willing to completely change the approach and try a different method. I like it, les us know how did you go and if you feel the difference.
@@rixogtr - Will do.
@@robertcornelius3514 - Thought about that but it just so happens there are no rocks of any size in my lawn. Just clay in South Texas. But I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.
I'm a sole small business operator and quite often have to slash fast growing still wet green winter weeds or grasses (south western Australia) which used to stick to the guard and increase the weight of the head significantly on my Husky. I was having to stop frequently to remove the wet mass, wasting so much time. Now my swathes are wider, quicker, with almost negligible strain on the arms and body. My only regret is that I didn't take the guard off years earlier! Thanks for sharing :)
The only thing I miss is the correct cut to the proper length of the line the guard provides. I bang out too much line sometimes and my engine bogs down, unable to spin the head fast enough. If I remember I carry wire cutters to cut the line.
@@awboat If the string is too long for your weak trimmer, find some concrete, a rock, whatever, and wear it down a little. Quick and easy to do. No need to carry cutters.
I think you are a absolutely National Hero for removing the guard. 😊
Rugged individualism!
Yeah this is how you measure a man? Must have been born after 1978
I landscaped for years, used the Stilh FS250, great machine. We never fully removed the guard, but you can remove the twine cutter, then cut the guard about half an inch shorter, and the twine will go under the guard, but you still get a lot of the safety of the guard.
thats exactly what im doing now,just remove the cut metal but keep the guard.
Exactly what I did, just don't tell my boss😂😂😂
Now this is a good idea however I use electric machines and I don’t know that they’re capable of handling the stress on the motor
Stihl FS250 probably the best trimmer ever made. Very light with great power. of course no longer made
I’m restoring a fs250. It’s a real beast.
First off, I trim my landscaping twice a year wether it needs it or not 😁 This is mainly due to the fact I HATE USING STRING TRIMMERS. For many of the reasons Jason outlined in the video.
Today after removing the guard, I hate the string trimmer a little less 😁 It is so much easier to maneuver and I can place it better into tight spaces.
I realize the guard string cutter is gone, but it seems that the string goes much further.
I will add that I use a full face shield with muffs and safety glasses. It does get hot, but I have had multiple pieces of debris hit my face. I'm sure Professionals see this as overkill, however I'm also sure they control and use the trimmers much better than I.
Jason thanks for sharing, I think maybe I'll trim four times a year 😁 My wife will appreciate that!!!
Glad to help. Thanks for watching the video and leaving a comment
To Greg H. who trims twice a year weather it needs it or not.
I don't belive it's your imagination that your string would last longer, because you no longer "bounce" out 12 inches and auto cut off 4, "ware down" to 5, "bounce out 12 auto cut off 4 "ware down" to 5. Those 4s, or what ever they actually are, that the guard USED to "automaticly"cut off would add up. And you won't find in your yard those little pieces of strings that went to waste before. Less wasteful. Good Point.
I like your mention of face and hearing protection.
Absolutely not overkill.
The string goes further because it is physicalllu longer cause it’s not getting cut by the guard
Don't know if they're still available, but a mesh face shield would be cooler & you wouldn't need ear muffs with an electric trimmer. For me, noise. fuel costs & petroleum fumes make the electric worth the initial cost. Can't beat a bladed brush machine for blackberries, though.
Thank you. I like the idea of seeing where I'm trimming. I butcher my edges with a guard. I'm 74yo and just starting lawn care after the death of my husband. This males sense❤
Makes sense
@@marija2387 Did you know that you can edit your post if there's a typo? Click on the three vertical dots on the RHS and select 'edit'. Sorry to hear about your husband, BTW.
I am 64 and need to do my own yard care cuz my adult kids are too busy ! I was using a hand clipper but that will take all day all summer - and will
Ruin my back. So am using the weed wacker we bought which is pretty light weight. Maybe it’s able to weigh less without the guard ? I wonder
I've always used a guard to help keep the debris in a line and keep the line the right length. Can certainly see the positive of not having a guard on and how it would make the sight line better. You have some really good examples of using logic to erase the argument against. Simple thing in life is the fact that no matter what you do, it's impossible to make everything idiot proof. Mankind once had the ability to reason; it is more apparent every year that we are becoming more like the animals and refuse to think for ourselves.
I agree 100%, look who is running (ruining) America.
One of the best lawn care channels out there!
Taking the guard off tomorrow. It's always in the way of me getting that crisp clean line and I've always worn safety glasses. Thanks for the video!
How did it go after taking the guard off?
I too use a Husqvarna trimmer and the dealer turned me onto the Husqvarna high torque gear head for their trimmers. It's great if you have to trim overgrown properties. Keep up the great content.
At 72 I grew up in an age where tractors with open flywheels and so many other types of equipment had open pulleys and...shocker..riding mowers often didn't have seat safety switches. One was assumed to be smarter than their equipment. Most were, some weren't. There have always been Darwin Award winners 🙂 I can't imagine what some fine folks would say about my 30 year old 52" mower...with open pulleys on the deck. Great video and I'm still smiling over your comments.
Along with modern technology came huge advances in safety. It's sad in a way though because the human race is not getting stronger, it's becoming weaker. Sometimes a few Darwin award winners are needed to keep the gene pool strong.
First thing I do when using a new mower is disconnect the safety switch under the seat, just a pain in the backside!
I'm 73 and I feel exactly like you do . We'll said buddy...
This was a great video bro. I'm weak 😂😂. People with the guard on are just weekend trimmers. They will never understand how annoying that guard is until they have to weed eat an area the size of a football field in 100 degree heat.
I started my lawn care business in a trailer park, I found the guard was useful in moving extension cords and cable tv lines just hook and drag. I just got used to the guards, however the trailer park is only about 1/3 of my customer base at this point so I will take the guard off of one of my trimmers and give it a shot. Good video.
You need more than one trimmer if you want to use the guard but won't it off as well.
One of the best reasons to take it off: trim around small stumps, posts beds/obstacles etc without walking entirely around the item. You're able to trim on all 360 degrees around the head, not just the open section that the guard isn't covering.
Experience will soon prove you should have left the guard on and modified it so the string can be longer than the factory limit cutter.
I hope you don’t lose a tooth or eye.
What model of husqvarna?
I do that with the guard on. Just can't do anything too big of a diameter that way
better if you don't encounter a steel wire left in the grass, at 11.000 rpm it could rip your feets to the bone. with the guard on, it could break the guard.
@@2008razvan i doubt that would ever happen lmao. A little over exaggerating there
As a 68 year old farmer,I totally agree with you.I take the pully guards off New riding mowers,they trap grass.
I thought I was the only one who takes the guard off. I first started doing this when I was a kid having to weed eat our fishing pond. My Dad wasn't very happy and told me I was a idiot for doing that but the pond was huge with steep banks on the back side. Taking the guard off really cut down the time I spent cutting and gave me more time to fish.
I noticed the vast majority of lawn care businesses have no guards on thier trimmers. I always assumed that they just broke them off and just n3ver got a new one. Never considered they took them off for a reason.
That’s how I got started taking mine off too. Had to keep our pond trimmed and nice looking. The guards really got in my way and limited how and where I could put it, on top of really slowing me down…
@@davidhodge0201For my old weed eater that's what happened, the bearing in the end of the curved shaft failed and the end of the shaft got so hot the plastic guard melted. Cheap domestic unit. I took the remains of the guard off when I took it apart to fix the bearing, never got around to replacing it and just used concrete to "trim" the line when I let some new line out. Got used to not having a guard and just using proper eye protection (and making sure my legs were covered, old jeans do that job just fine).
Thanks for doing this video. I appreciate your common sense approach to the variety of ways to use this tool. Your way is the industry norm for commercial business applications! Most folks should probably keep the guard on for the now and then users.
Thanks! I am going try try with guard off. I have a hill side that's a pain. Looks like you moved a lot faster with no guard! ( & I can see the advantage for edging too) Plus I'm sure my warranty has expired anyhow.
Thanks for the tip! Looks like your line lasts a lot longer without the guard too. Nothing frustrates me more than messing with the line
1000% Behind you mate. The guard is such a pain. I currently still run mine, but would love to run longer line.
A good operator will always be safer than an idiot with a guard.
Its more about the overtork messing up your engine which causes the trimmer not to idle.
I have had the guard on since brand new, and have still had idle issues on my km131r. When I looked it up, it was part of normal routine maintenance to adjust the idle screw. Maybe it moves slightly during operation or wears marginally I'm not sure, either way it only took a minor adjustment, now it idles perfectly again. As stated in this video, these machines are tools to make an income. A good businessman always looks for ways to reduce time and increase efficiency. Increasing profitability is key.
"A good operator will always be safer than an idiot with a guard." The official quote of everyone who will leave the earth with fewer extremities than they came onto it with. There are times and places to drop the guard. This ain't it.
@@spud13x13 A good operator with a guard is obviously the safest outcome. But as stated, an idiot with a guard will be more prone to injury than a good operator without a guard.
People still crash cars with airbags. Believe it or not. Don't drive like an idiot, and be aware of other road users (aka a good operator) and you will be safer.
@@thedudeguy2356 what are you talking about, is this something you know from your own personal experience or did you read about it on the internet 🤔.
Wow! So much better without the guard. I’ve noticed most landscaping company’s don’t have the guards on. Now I know why.
Thanks
This man is 100% right! Ive been guardless for 2 years... I've almost eliminated the need to push mow.
We have guards on all of ours and almost never push now. 🤷🏻♂️
You can cover a hell of a lot more ground with a good trimmer than you can with a push mower
@@T_81535Not true
I like how you stressed " if you want the guard on leave the guard on''. Too bad there are some people who don't understand or even hear that part. You can put the horse directly IN the water until he drowns and he still don't know where to get a drink.
I totally agree with everything you said about the guards.
Great video.
I've been trimming 2 hours a day serving lawn care customers for the last 7 years. I had the guard on the first year in the interest of safety. Well i hit the ground alot as the guard was always catching on something as i moved the head around.
Then i saw a video by Stan discussing the the benefits of no guard. I took the guard off and the control I have is great, i hardly ever hit the ground and I trim many ditches and over the edges of banks. In the interest of safety, when I'm trimming near the road I stop when I see a car, some people freak out when they see a trimmer near the road. 😂
In wear safety glasses and long pants and sleeve arm protection. 13:46
If you take the guard off and get injured by flying debris and make a workers comp claim, it will be denied due to illegal modification /i proper use of a power tool i.e. removal of a safety feature.
I totally agree with you and it’s a personal choice , unfortunately in the uk the gardens generally not large and as you say the risk of braking a window or damaging a car is a lot higher Salute to a fellow garden maintenance man 🍺👍🏻
Some guards have a built in knife to keep the line at a certain length. Without the guard you loose less string but performance (RPMs) drops with longer string. I’ve used mine (Stihl Kombi) with and without. Great video!
Get you a Shindiawa and you won't loose any rpm. They kick ass & take names
How about carrying small scissors, snip line if too long ?
@@garyhaley3072 Very aggressive, hostile and scary remarks for a weedeater-video, wow!
I love my weed whip. I call it my magic wand. I wave it and the grass gets cut. I'm about to remove the guard to get longer line for greater coverage. I cut dry grass which cuts easily so I throttle back for lower speed so the line doesn't break as often. With a guard I still kick up rocks and sticks so I wear my forestry safety helmet with mesh face shield and ear muffs, which attenuates the noise. I hifhly recommend wearing one. I have one anyway for chainsaw work. I also wear a face mask to block all the dust I kick up.
Reasons to keep the guard on. There is a clipper on the guard to trim the strings to equal length giving better spin balance. Also, Clipper keeps the ends of the string sharp for better cutting. Keeping the string to a manageable length gives higher rpm for cutting in higher grass a clears out the grass faster. I have used trimmer without a guard and find the above reasons give a much better cut
thats one of my reasons and my other reason is being able to back the guard up to the tree base and trim the grass around the tree without risking scarring the tree trunk, especially on younger trees.
You can always fashion some clipper holder out of scrap metal. It still gets in the way, but far less than a full guard.
Sorry ,,,But I disagree.I have been in the commercial mowing business and I own a small engine shop and there are NO arguements that hold water for having the guard on.Jason is spot on!
I find if my string gets a bit long I just run the string against concrete for a few seconds and it just grinds it down.
Only when you feed it initially. Once it gets worn down to be slightly shorter than the guard cutter, then you can have one side that is the full 7-1/2 and the other might get nicked and be 1/2” long.
I personally like one with and one without the guard depending on the situation. Cutting curbline and walkway cracks is much safer with the guard, edging and trimming around where the mower wont get and steep hills are much easier without the guard. Its easier to have both options readily available for your needs. Thats my personal and professional opinion
Man, you got your cake, and eating it too! Lucky man, bro!
That guard’s not doing you any good. But since you’re a “professional” I’ll take your word for it.
@@jamiepippin3892 His opinion is professional
After using mine (and others) without a guard for two decades, there is no way I could ever use one with. I don't care what the situation is, without the guard is always going to be an advantage for me. 🙂
I agree with every one of your reasons you gave to take off the guard. I took mine off when one of the screws came out and got lost. I see better, work more quickly, and get more done without guard in place.
Took the guard off my echo at 10 years old. Rocking this style for 21 years now 👊
Thanks for being real and honest! It’s so true that this can be a dangerous tool with or without the Guard.
I like how you started with reasons of keepin it on before your main point
I grew up using a "WeedEater" made by WeedEater before they were bought out by Poulan. It was a big, heavy unit with 4 strings and never had a guard (or a string trimmer). It did have a little metal rod loop so when you set down the gear the head would be held off the ground and the unit wouldn't roll over.
Other than the string trimmer, I don't find the guards on modern trimmers actually guard anything. Still just as much debris flying around and hitting me and everything else. That's the nature of the beast. Motor strain is up to you. Don't run the string too long.
I have a weed eater. It's a little green trimmer. Bought it about 15 years ago. It was about $100 as I recall. It starts on a few pulls and never had a problem with it.
Most trimmers are 2 stroke so no worries about “tipping” the unit up to edge. As for removing the guard the string gets to be longer and you can cover more ground.
@Tommy Ealey It wears away just like it normally does when you need to bump feed more line.
Idiots that run the line to long kills the RPM on the engine which stops up the exhaust port over time.
You only cut with the edge of the trimmer line ideally so I really doubt how much more ground you're covering especially with a slower rpm due to the increased length of the string.
You’re spot on! Whatever damage you do, that just happens to be the one thing NOT covered by the warranty! Waste of time and money👍
Thank you very much for the confirmation of removing my gaurd! I just edged my new yard and messed up the clean lines it had BECAUSE OF THAT DARN GUARD!!! I had just said I was going to take it off 'safe or not' for the next trim! You have made me feel confident I can do this with the BEST tips for keeping myself as safe as I can be WITHOUT the guard! Love watching and learn a lot from you!
You can blame the guard for crooked edges, but body really believes that.
@@fomoco300kexcuse me?
Good idea. I’m going to try this. I always wish the line would be longer when I’m trimming. This will solve it!
I took the gaurd off my new Dewalt 54v strimmer and got whacked in the ankles repeatedly with bits of lawn and tough grass. But, the strimmer was SO much easier and quicker to use! I then put the guard back on, and boy it's huge! I instantly remembered why I took it off....
So I'll be taking it back off again this weekend!
Thanks LCL...
I have mastered my ego trimmer for my small yard with guard on. If I had to do a big area or ran a business I probably would take it off but for now I am all about safety and leave mine on as a single home owner usage. 5000sqft. No hate from me Jason you are a pro you know what you are talking about! Congrats on 100k subs brother!
Tried to master my ego once and failed miserably
Im surprised nobody has mentioned the weight savings of removing the guard. The guard might be light in hand, but when you get it extended out on the end of the shaft it feels like it weighs 3x as much. My back definitely appreciates it not being on there lol
Especially when the guard accumulates a significant amount of dead grass, mud, sticks, and other crap.
Wimp
@Fantisan95, I was about to make the same comment, but you beat me to it👍
Yes makes them easier/faster to swing
1 oz? ?
I have twice had some idiots without the guards on shoot rocks into my windshield while I was driving. Both times they were trimming the gaps between the sidewalk and road surface that run parallel to the road. Getting compensation would of been a pain so they were productive and I payed for it.
A properly placed brush guard (not a dinky grass guard) can block the area where you/others/cars are going to be. It won't get everything but at least you can prevent it from going to far off the ground. The orientation of the gap means you are going to send rocks. No matter your skill, that gap is going throw rocks in line with the road.
Operator skill goes a long way to mitigate risks, but even the most skilled can be fatigued, distracted by life events, call from the next job, etc...
Great video that has a title that almost matches the contents of the video. Those are 6 solid reasons to take off the guard.
Hi Jason, Great video. I have two reasons. 1. You don't litter little bits of orange cut off all over the place. 2. The reduction in weight on the head makes it easier to trim hillsides or where you need to raise the head to get to certain areas. The line always wears itself to the right length for the trimmer also.
Great point on #1. With everyone worried about single use plastics and micro plastics in the environment manufacturers should consider how rattling off little pieces of trimmer string for no reason every time you pay out another inch effects the environment.
@@VermelhoLobster oh brother...
@@VermelhoLobster 🤣🤣🤣
Well said, never used a guard for many years, understand the machine and use it sensibly , like most things, the instructions and guards are for safety for insurance and claims, like don't drink hot coffee it might scald you,
I just bought a new weed eater, and will take it off. For this reason went thru a lot of line in 1 day, because of the line cutter on guard. Usually takes me two weeks to go thru same amount. I also like my line a little bigger so I don’t have to keep bumping head on concrete every 6 ft. You made a lot of good points.
Lawn Care Life: You just have to love the haters. The points you have made on the use of trimmer are vailed. It's basically different strokes for different folks. I am more into safety but your breakdown works for you 👍👍
Trimmer guard comes off before I even start a new trimmer.RPMs being a bit slower will not hurt the engine as long as your not going crazy on string length.The few less rpms also lets the string last longer,and makes it possible to cut a few heavier weeds that would normally just fox tail a shorter string.I save the guard just in case I ever decide to trade or sell,but in 25 years that has yet to happen.
I bet you run into a lot of carbon build up in your exhaust though. The lower RPMs doesn't allow for proper burn out and will clog that screen in a heartbeat, bogging the unit down. We always tell our customers to run things wide open, as they're intended, for that reason.
@@MavericksGoosed I have only clogged one spark arrestor and that was from GRC 2 stroke oil. I agree that running the string 7 or 8 inches longer would choke up an engine and make it run hot, but an extra 3-4 inches will not harm a thing.
@@MavericksGoosedDude, you can't even see that, what on earth are you talking about, lol
Most of the professionals I see here in Oklahoma working commercially have the guard removed. I am watching this to see if it's worth removing for my home use. Good Video!
Coming from a mechanic, with that guard removed you need to be careful of string length. Part of why the guard is there is to cut the string when it gets too long so as not to overload the engine. These 2 strokes are designed to run in all positions, flipping upside down can cause issues with the fuel pick up hose sucking air when low on fuel, but it is not hurting anything.
A mechanic has no say so whatsoever about weedeaters.
@@user-pq6mr6op3p piss off
@@user-pq6mr6op3pRight, actual experience trumps everything
we've been doing lawn service for 30 years and we've always taken the gaurds off. If you carry it all day that extra wieght makes a difference in addition to the points you've covered. And yes you will get hit occasionaly but the speed and productivity is what we're after
The guard weights a pound 😄👍👍
@@Frank-mv6xv I doubt it weighs that much
@@Frank-mv6xvso what. That pound wears at you over time and after 8 hours it feels heavier and heavier.
@@SuperballsSupervidsOnYT As someone else mentioned in another thread, it's not just the weight, but the inertia/momentum that matters. You're changing direction with every sweep of the strimmer, and the extra effort involved adds up over time.
This is one of the best video lessons that I have ever learned from. I just put high boots and glasses on and my work done at least 1/2 of the usual time. 😂Thanks a lot!
I had a model older than this one that I love. My sister has difficulty with tools that are too heavy and she actually loved mine and found it easy to use ua-cam.com/users/postUgkx_rBCFuDW1zD6blTGhLkvAkxU657uR_lG . This is a newer model but was even lighter which she really appreciates. She enjoys it and I no longer have to go to her house to trim as she can handle it fine. Haven't used it enough to comment on the battery life but lithium batteries last longer than the old style. Being cordless makes it easy to trim the far edges of the property. The entire yard can be trimmed with one charged battery.
@singuyenvan790 dude, you're either a bot, or a paid shill! I've seen this exact comment on every weed eater video I've watched. Stop it!
I've never seen an actual professional operate a string trimmer with the guard on. Same goes for the handle safety-stops on 36" and 48" type walk behind commercial mowers.
Knowing how to use your equipment, and wearing eye and ear protection, as well as pants, will keep you safe.
I work for Briteview and we have to keep them on for the safety reasons but I definitely would like to take the guard off but I'm used to working with the guard and it doesn't hinder me to much.
There are some situations, albeit unlikely, that even a skilled operator could fail to forsee that that guard would protect against (the center piece shattering comes to mind). Once you get past the string attachment and into the blade or saw attachments, operator skill starts to get even less relevant to the question of removing the guard. A skilled angle grinder operator would still do well to leave the guard on it, and I see zero difference with a weed-whacker.
I can see the way you handle your equipment that you are a professional! Also a genius! The guard thing is history. Thank you.
I just took mine off yesterday and I don’t know why I didn’t do it a long time ago. Game changer. Edging speed and efficiency drastically improved plus its lighter, and I don’t find myself bumping out the line anywhere near as much either.
As a life long dealer of power equipment this is one of main reasons for trimmers carboning up and failing. And yes it keeps the The engine in the sweet spot for performance. We always loved our customers who took the guards off because it meant increased revenues in our shop!
That's a load of horse shit. I've had my Shindaiwa weed trimmer for well over ten years and have never had a problem with it. Starts every year on the the first pull. I also have worked in the lawn care business and we used Stihl and Shindaiwa brands as well as echo (which I could care less about) and those trimmers have lasted a whopping 10 years of constant everyday use including up to 40 % edging. As a matter of fact there was one solely devoted to edging that we installed a tri-blade brush cutter to edge sidewalk so that it could dig below the surface making it look more professional. (Edgers are too bulky to lug around) Yes it's hard on the engine but if you get a heavy duty one with a strong motor it will last a long time. Carboning out is bc ppl don't know how to operate their trimmer right. That's all it is. Nothing to do with the design of the motor.
@@joetroutt7425shindawa and echo are the same exact trimmers except the gear head and clutch on the shindawas are inferior. Echo runs the best gear head and clutch in the game by far. If you've been running a trimmer that long either your not putting any hours on it or it's carboned up and you just don't realize it. I own 13 trimmers and two kombis that we also use as trimmers all Stihl and echo. Just because it starts and runs doesn't mean it's not carboned up. Remove the muffler and take a look at the exhaust port and you'll probably see wat I'm talking about. Your welcome.
@@T_81535 why should I do any of that if it runs ok. Don't fix what ain't broke.
@@joetroutt7425 if it is carboned up inside the exhaust port you can clean it and that baby will wake up and run much better
@@T_81535 I know what a clean running weedeaters sounds like. There's nothing wrong with it. Just ran it for the first time the other day after sitting all winter. Ran great. No sputtering, no bogging, not even a hard start. Believe me I know what I'm doing. I don't need you to sell me snake oil.
As someone who only does my own lawn and doesn't have the expertise or skill you do, I like that the gaurd gives me a better idea of the radius of my cut. Also i can position the gaurd to protect my garden plants and some bug mesh i have in the yard to get a tight trim and not worry about messing stuff up. But i still get hit with debris all the time so it definitely doesn't protect much from that.
I appreciate your straight forwardness and good ole common sense. God bless. Larry
I can give 2 reasons to remove the guard. I noticed that when you were trimming the hillside, the grass did not clump together due to the missing guard. This is a plus. Another reason at least for non Atlas strength people is the accumulation of grass on the guard adds significant weight to the END of the trimmer, thus increasing arm fatigue and increasing muscle and tendon problems.
Seriously? If you’re getting so much grass on there that is making it THAT Much heavier, then you need to clean your equipment between uses lol
@@Damageincorpor8d I guess you've never weedeated hours of stilt grass have ya
@@awboat lol I own a landscaping company in south Georgia and I guarantee you that I have been running a weed eater,
for just as many hours as you, if not more.
The fact that you resort to such a defensive statement with your banter, shows that you need to work on your business approach, brother!
Instead of just getting defensive and using a playground argument, trying to say you’re more experienced than me, maybe you should give me a good reason as to why to take the guard off. You do not need to remove the guard to be able to do proper edging with a weed eater if you know what you’re doing. Any self-respecting landscaper will tell you this. Good day, sir.!
@@awboat because I certainly watched your video and you definitely didn’t give any good reasons in there lol
@@T_81535 different strokes for different folks! I do not recommend taking the guard off, ever! I always leave the guard on, and I can still edge with the weed eater without any problems at all!
Also, it’s worth mentioning that if your equipment is under warranty, and you take it to the shop without the guard, or if they find out you are running the equipment without a guard, they are more than likely NOT going to honor the warranty.
I had an electric strimmer for about 10 years and the guard only lasted a few days on it before it annoyed me too much. But then I got a battery powered strimmer last week and since it was new I decided to attach the guard, and went out cutting the garden...
But 5 minutes later I remembered exactly why I took the guard off the last one, and you covered pretty much all of these reasons here. I hate those stupid guards!
Thanks for the well reasoned video. Tomorrow I am taking the guard off of my trimmer. I am not in the lawn care business, but I cut and trim several lawns that are quite large and require a lot of trimming. Thanks for the information. I believe it will make my job easier.
Just go slow, and you’ll like having 8-12 of line out, depending on what you are trimming. It’s easy to trim under decks, trampolines, kids playground equip, with the longer line.
I remove my guard because I can trim along my fence rows from one side of the fence and not having to waste time going on both sides of the fence. It’s a high tensil fence with the bottom open. Thanks for a great video, Mike
I do the same,and can even get around the whole post from the wire side.
Your right i agree no guard is better especially if ur doing whole yards ,it just looks better when you're done
I use weed eaters and tractors for 18 years and I took the guards off of every weed eater I ever owned. It improves your cutting to a 360° instead of 180° right? In the front of the weed eater. The weed eater will cut better, cut faster and if you you're wearing protective hearing and eye shades, you don't have to worry
Loved this, absolutely agreed with every word he said. Can’t believe how many people I see wearing full chainsaw apparel while using a lawn strimmer,especially in hot weather, pouring sweat, reduced visibility with a full face shield, and ear defenders so they can’t hear anyone coming…. First thing I do is throw the guard away,it just gets in the way all the time, and massively reduces productivity. If you disagree, then fight me!🤣🤣🤣
I came for the fight club but I see no one else has challenged you 😪 I'll be back in a couple weeks bye.
I agree with no guard but ppe, regardless if hot or not, ain't a bad idea if you can stand to wear it. I'll fight if that's what your looking for.👊
How Would The Weedeater Cut The String To Specified Length When String Wear Out?
Rocks, Sticks, Etc. Can Fly From Weedeater. I Broke Windows Out Of My Home & Car Parked From Weedeater. Rocks & Sticks Have Hit Me. I now wear Chainsaw Hard Hat With Ear Muffs & Screen Face Shield.
Years ago I had a guard break, and very soon after I noticed how much better it worked without it, and I actually used much much less string. As soon as it gets just a little to short, it slows the work way down, and soon as you bump it, it cuts a big piece off. Does make a mess, that’s true enough, but it also forces you to wear your gear which you should have been wearing all along.
lol... same thing here...
Broke guard halfway through job; realize how much better it was without.
Going guess they are there due to lawyers and lowest common denominator of human beings suing companies; because they weed trimmed in flip flops and lost a toe.
@@Aerogrow yup lol, like the guy that tried, and failed to trim his hedges with the lawnboy, I mean they are light compared to most mowers but wow! Once in a while, somehow one string gets to short and I have to cut the long piece with a knife or cutters but still, overall I like it without the guard, and you’re probably dead right, just there to make the lawyers happy.
Wow, took my guard off today, that's a game changer, so much easier.
Took the pulley guards off my 48in mower deck last week when replacing the spindles and belt .Did not put them back on. . .
Result: . . . .No grass getting stuck in around the spindle shafts!!! I know the pulleys are there. . .I can see them. . .lol . . . .Don]t step on the deck is an easy rule to follow yes? . . I can also now see the deck belt and assess its condition easily, this allows me to replace it b4 it gets thrown. . . .
Now I'm headed out to take the guard off the trimmer. . . .Thank you.
I have followed this debate for quite a while now. I just had bilateral hernia surgery, and after about four weeks of recovery, my doctor had finally allowed me to pick up my string trimmer. In an effort to minimize strain, I decided to remove the guard from my Echo trimmer. I have the Echo 225 PAS trimmer. I selected this trimmer because it was the lightest weight commercial trimmer I could find. At my age, every ounce counts. The guard on this trimmer is relatively small and probably weighs less than a pound. So, before my surgery, my incentive to remove it was low. Now that I have removed the guard and used the trimmer, I have some observations I would like to share. Even though the change in weight is minimal, it makes more of a difference than I expected. The weight reduction occurred at the opposite end of about a six-foot shaft which magnifies the advantage. In addition, the side-to-side motion of the head is a constant source of inertia. You move left, stop the momentum, restart the momentum in the opposite direction, time after time. This really starts to add up over the course of your day. Another factor I had failed to consider, was the accumulation of grass and mud on the guard as it is used. This probably doubles the weight of any guard. I found that using the trimmer took much less effort than I expected. Many thanks to this channel, and the others who have recommended this modification.
That's a great point about inertia.
Thank you! A year later, I'm still using the trimmer without the guard. Overtime, I realize has much faster I'm able to work without the guard. Visibility and access to tight spaces is much improved without the guard.
My main reason for leaving the guard on when I was a contractor was for liability reasons. If you are a one man operation, sure do whatever. If you have a crew or crews running trimmers, leaving the guard on closes a HUGE liability door. Personally, I take the guard off.
I wouldn't work for you
Excellent and very helpful advice! Bought a new trimmer, and used it once and thought, what the heck, way too short! Will try this approach, and truly appreciate the video!
Thank you kind Sir! You are a Pro in your business, and great job!!! Now a subscriber, and thank you again!!!
Stumble on your channel today and thanks for sharing knowledge. I'm not a professional mower but i do have a large area to mow. I have 2 Deere mowers a 1445 (72 inch )and X500 ( 54 inch) 2 stihl weed eaters and it takes my Wife and I about 4 hours to mow everything. Guard coming off next time we mow.
Ok so I don't know how in the world I ended up here but I'm going to take the guard off my trimmer today 😂
I should try it. I get peppered with stuff constantly anyway so the guard doesn't help much.
I use a face shield instead of glasses.
1:57: when people say that you can’t turn your trimmer upside down to edge, it shows they don’t understand how these two strokes work. Unless it’s a true 4 stroke trimmer, where there is separate sump for oil, you can flip the engine any direction you need to without any issues. These two strokes (and Stihl 4-mix engines, that still require mixed gas) are built and designed to run in more positions than just upright. That’s why handheld equipment is most often two stroke, because the manufacturers assume it will be run in a wide range of different positions. You will not hurt a thing, if you turn a two stroke ( or Stihl 4 mix ) upside down, to edge.
Thank you
The 25cc Honda trimmer I have is a true four stroke, with separate oil sump in addition to a timing belt and two overhead valves. It holds 2.7 oz of 10w-30 and burns plain, unmixed gasoline. Did I mention it runs in any position including upside-down without hurting it? Oh and I have put it away as long as two years in the garage to have it start up and run wirhout issue. Today I pulled it out after having it sit since November… it started on the second pull wirhout choke and ran great.
@@NETWizzJbirk I'm buying one later today. Your comment has reassured me. Thank you.
@@gilessteve When I first got it, I wasn't confident running it upside down either, so I did a torture test. Basically, I had a friend who runs a lawn company edge 71 front yards with it only turning it upright to put out more string. It did fine upside down for a good few hours that day.
@@NETWizzJbirk I picked mine up and used it for the first time yesterday (rain today). I got the 35cc model. It starts so readily I can reach behind me and start it while it's attached to the harness. I'm very impressed so far, and not having to mix oil in with the fuel is a game-changer for me.
A responsible tool operator of any kind knows their equipment well enough to trust their own abilities. If you’re comfortable removing the guard, then remove the damn guard. I keep mine on simply so I don’t blast my neighbor’s cars with debris. It is a pain to see around, and I can understand your productivity standpoint. Keep up the good work!
Great video! I've been taking the guards off all my trimmers for over 40 years now. Agree with everything you say. Only thing mandatory in my opinion is safety glasses. Everything else is just a suggestion.
I never taken my guard off. I've used several other crews equipment with guard off. There is a small difference in how debris are directed. I've noticed a small difference with guard on, mostly legs get it. Guard off, my chest and face get it more. Guards are what to be described as a safety feature for multiple reasons according to echo. It's there to prolong engine life as string is more manageable, and to keep debris lower. Belive it or not, if your guard is on, it will be like a mower deck. Caked with grass. So obviously it's working to some extent. I'll keep my guard on. Personal preference of course
I get the old Echo style guard and cut away the right half of it (CCW rotation) and drill small holes in the top surface for further weight reduction. Just enough guard for protection and less than half the weight. I also get rid of the "ring", the "top T" and the gas tank cage. Trim the throttle trigger down before it snaps off.
People choose what works best for you and quit whining about what others are doing. This guy does this for a reason it works for him.
Absolutely correct.
The only people with the right to complain about his work are his customers. And they should be more concerned with the result more than the method. Especially when part of his reasoning is faster, higher quality work.
I liked how he gave examples and reasons that dismisses the complainers in a serious but funny way at the same time.
8:58 You forgot to mention that running the string out longer also results in lower fuel consumption. With the string longer, you can use a lower RPM due to the string speed at the tip increasing due to its length. That savings in fuel can be quite noticeable when doing a large property like an apartment complex. I use my Redmax trimmer at half throttle most of the time due to letting the string out longer.