I just got in an FS55R for the same rattle. If you stand the trimmer on end vertically, engine up, then reach in through the front slots with a small screwdriver you can move the clutch drum upward. Let go and the drum drops back down. Easily 1/8" play. I thought the center screw that holds the drum to the end of the crank came loose so I disassembled the unit. Screw was tight. Removed the drum and no signs of wear or problems. It is what it is.The good news is that the rattle isn't hurting anything.
Bro I have a small lawn maintenance business. I’ve always used Echo products and they are solid as can be. I bought my 1st FS94R and I’ve had problem after problem. Stihl has a bad taste in my mouth and I’ll never buy a Stihl product again. My $250 Echo out performs my $350 Stihl any day
Stihl Tech here, Its hard to tell by the video, but that power head (as well as other homeowner trimmers from Stihl) will rattle from the clutch. However, it does sound louder and a little more intense than normal (tricky to tell from just the video). Might be worth taking it into a different dealer, just in case.
The way I removed this rattle was by disassembling the clutch drum.. after taking out the metal bushing inside the clutch drum you can access the screw that holds it to the crankshaft and add one or two washers to get rid of some of the original play .. get it back inside the clutch drum and reassemble.. rattle gone 👍 for sure Stihl did this design for some reason, in my opinion.. it could be upgraded/improved so the machine runs smoothly at any rpm. It is a good machine with good power for it's size, but needing a design update for the clutch drum 😉
I have the exact same problem on my new one...my dad has one too so I called him up and asked him if I could bring mine over so he could use it to see if it was the same as his...he said they were identical. I find it incredibly annoying on a supposed "top of the line" machine. It feels like something is super loose...not a good feeling when you're supposed to be using the "best". The Echo trimmer I had that my new Stihl replaced was solid. Fix this Stihl..
Mine does the same thing. It’s really annoying, but its been running for over ten years now. I’ll probably end up replacing the clutch and drum to get rid of the noise
How long is your warranty? if you take it apart they will not warranty it! Just use it! wind the piss out of it. Make sure all your muffler bolts are tight. I believe its just the clutch bell too. Will probably run forever.
Your carb needs tuning hence the vibrations. It is the same for all of them, even 4Mix engines. If the carb is not tuned up right it will not fire the engine properly and cause vibrations. Another tell tale sign is inability to rev up smoothly. Also, let it warm up for few minutes first before you gin it, basic mechanical sympathy :)
Carb is fine tunned. The rattle is because the clutch drum has some play and at certain rpms it moves and hits the top end of the rod because the clutch is bearly grabbing the drum. I tried adding small washers inside, it worked for a few hours, but then the washers break or get loose and the rattle comes back. I must try a after market drum.. Maybe that would work.. But the machine still runs OK. It is just annoying at that certain rpms.
@@franciscoankiewicz3854 a solution to this could be playing with the l and la screws, but knowing how to reset them to the factory(previous) tune. Now i havent worked on weed eaters much, but maybe they use lighter clutch springs so it can grab on even at the lowest rpm, unlike a chainsaw which locks at about 3000 rpm and unlocks at around 1500 to 2000. If you happen to have a couple of regular drum springs, and if not they are quite cheap, try finding some which are just a little harder. Note: usually the best springs are the ones you buy for tc chainsaws(151tc,194tc..) because they offer much more control on low rpm's without it being erratic or making contact at any times.
Hi Adam, I got the same response from the dealer, as I said before, I disassembled the machine and the clutch drum has some play.. Added some washers to get it tight, it worked for a while.. The noise is back again at low rpm. The thing is I don't want to work with it always at high/medium rpm.. So if this is an engendered option.. What is it for? If it is a special feature fir some reason.. Why doesn't the stihl dealer know how to explain it to the customer? I dare anyone from stihl to explain.. So we all know. I have no other weed eater that has this feature.. Or flaw.. Feature or flaw? That's the question.
I have a stihl FS 100 RX and while it's an excellent trimmer with great power, the vibration gets so bad that my fingers will be numb for an entire day after using it. Probably not a good thing. Anyone else experience this or have any advice?
TAKE OUT OR REPLACE THE SPARK ARRESTOR. You will need a 15mm socket to take it out. Your motor is bogged down as if it is gasping for air. If you clean your old spark arrestor. Then you will burn off the carbon with a torch. But watch a few TH-cam videos to explain. Usually you can just replace it.
You seem like you know a lot about weed eaters so I'll ask you. I just bought a brand new echo weed eater and it shakes like this one does. the engine sounds good but it jumps around in my hands. And if I set it on pavement it quickly scoots away. is that normal?
@@thurm101 I do a few pulls with it on the cold start position until I hear the engine sounds like it wants to start. Then move it down and it starts on next pull. This is my first gas weed eater, I've always used electric.
I complained again, after only one gas tank, the dealer showed me that the clutch drum had some play and that was why it would do the vibration/rattling.. also one another new unit.. The same. I still wasn't conviced and wanted to return the machine but they would only give half the value. So I went home and added some washers in the clutch drum to remove the play.. Didn't work.. Still ratling.. I am convinced it has some piston slap or something but am not going to open the engine to check the piston. If it breaks it is under warranty. I don't like to use a machine that has this problem. I will never buy any machine from the same dealer again. If you ever get rid of the rattling, please share how you did it.
@@franciscoankiewicz3854 @Francisco Ankiewicz Hello, I'm from Italy and I have same problem at low rpm, but it is a good machine. I don't know how to do. Bye
I just bought one today, second hand, and was very worried about the rattle as my FS250 doesn't do that, so I'm very relieved that its not just my machine. 👍🏻
I just got in an FS55R for the same rattle. If you stand the trimmer on end vertically, engine up, then reach in through the front slots with a small screwdriver you can move the clutch drum upward. Let go and the drum drops back down. Easily 1/8" play. I thought the center screw that holds the drum to the end of the crank came loose so I disassembled the unit. Screw was tight. Removed the drum and no signs of wear or problems. It is what it is.The good news is that the rattle isn't hurting anything.
Your spark arrestor is clogged.
Had exactly the same problem. Returned it. Traded up to commercial FS94, it has a different vibration. Going to take it back too
Bro I have a small lawn maintenance business. I’ve always used Echo products and they are solid as can be. I bought my 1st FS94R and I’ve had problem after problem. Stihl has a bad taste in my mouth and I’ll never buy a Stihl product again. My $250 Echo out performs my $350 Stihl any day
Stihl Tech here, Its hard to tell by the video, but that power head (as well as other homeowner trimmers from Stihl) will rattle from the clutch. However, it does sound louder and a little more intense than normal (tricky to tell from just the video). Might be worth taking it into a different dealer, just in case.
The way I removed this rattle was by disassembling the clutch drum.. after taking out the metal bushing inside the clutch drum you can access the screw that holds it to the crankshaft and add one or two washers to get rid of some of the original play .. get it back inside the clutch drum and reassemble.. rattle gone 👍 for sure Stihl did this design for some reason, in my opinion.. it could be upgraded/improved so the machine runs smoothly at any rpm. It is a good machine with good power for it's size, but needing a design update for the clutch drum 😉
@@franciscoankiewicz3854 Thanks, now I know what I need to do 😂
Mine is the exact same sound!
My fs55r does the same right from new. I believe that’s how it should be. Seems strange though, the vibration can’t be great for you in the long run!
Yes mine is the same. Giving me the shits. Only used twice. Thought my misses used it while I was at work 😆
I have the exact same problem on my new one...my dad has one too so I called him up and asked him if I could bring mine over so he could use it to see if it was the same as his...he said they were identical. I find it incredibly annoying on a supposed "top of the line" machine. It feels like something is super loose...not a good feeling when you're supposed to be using the "best". The Echo trimmer I had that my new Stihl replaced was solid. Fix this Stihl..
Mine does the same thing. It’s really annoying, but its been running for over ten years now. I’ll probably end up replacing the clutch and drum to get rid of the noise
Jrlheñehñhph
the noise doesn't disappear even with a new clutch and clutch drum
guys, it is your clutch drum loose on shaft, it have brass bearing worn
There's a bearing in the drum?
@@bounjamina bushing not bearing
Thanks for clarifying @@conner5611
Did you try adjusting the idle speed rpm?
How long is your warranty? if you take it apart they will not warranty it! Just use it! wind the piss out of it. Make sure all your muffler bolts are tight. I believe its just the clutch bell too. Will probably run forever.
Replace your spark arrestor. It will run like need. Yours is clogged.
@@thurm101a spark arestor wont cause vibration only bogging.. you have no clue what your talking about
Good god man. Mine isn't vibrating that furiously.
Your carb needs tuning hence the vibrations. It is the same for all of them, even 4Mix engines. If the carb is not tuned up right it will not fire the engine properly and cause vibrations. Another tell tale sign is inability to rev up smoothly. Also, let it warm up for few minutes first before you gin it, basic mechanical sympathy :)
Carb is fine tunned. The rattle is because the clutch drum has some play and at certain rpms it moves and hits the top end of the rod because the clutch is bearly grabbing the drum. I tried adding small washers inside, it worked for a few hours, but then the washers break or get loose and the rattle comes back. I must try a after market drum.. Maybe that would work.. But the machine still runs OK. It is just annoying at that certain rpms.
@@franciscoankiewicz3854 a solution to this could be playing with the l and la screws, but knowing how to reset them to the factory(previous) tune. Now i havent worked on weed eaters much, but maybe they use lighter clutch springs so it can grab on even at the lowest rpm, unlike a chainsaw which locks at about 3000 rpm and unlocks at around 1500 to 2000. If you happen to have a couple of regular drum springs, and if not they are quite cheap, try finding some which are just a little harder. Note: usually the best springs are the ones you buy for tc chainsaws(151tc,194tc..) because they offer much more control on low rpm's without it being erratic or making contact at any times.
It's a rock in the clutch head
Sounds like your spark arrestor is clogged
Sounds like you got a bent flywheel in the engine!
I was told by my dealership yesterday that this is normal and it is supposed to do that.
U stupid ....do not use machine and it won’t make noise
Hi Adam, I got the same response from the dealer, as I said before, I disassembled the machine and the clutch drum has some play.. Added some washers to get it tight, it worked for a while.. The noise is back again at low rpm. The thing is I don't want to work with it always at high/medium rpm.. So if this is an engendered option.. What is it for? If it is a special feature fir some reason.. Why doesn't the stihl dealer know how to explain it to the customer? I dare anyone from stihl to explain.. So we all know. I have no other weed eater that has this feature.. Or flaw.. Feature or flaw? That's the question.
Spark arrestor is clogged.
@@thurm101nope
That's exactly what the FS55RC I'm working on is doing and won't idle
Haha - dude you need to let it warm up first b4 you rev it flat out.
How do you fixed that rattling
It does that
Do not waste ur money on a fs 55 get a 280 stihl better for ur job
I have a stihl FS 100 RX and while it's an excellent trimmer with great power, the vibration gets so bad that my fingers will be numb for an entire day after using it. Probably not a good thing. Anyone else experience this or have any advice?
Your spark arrestor is clogged.
TAKE OUT OR REPLACE THE SPARK ARRESTOR. You will need a 15mm socket to take it out. Your motor is bogged down as if it is gasping for air. If you clean your old spark arrestor. Then you will burn off the carbon with a torch. But watch a few TH-cam videos to explain. Usually you can just replace it.
You seem like you know a lot about weed eaters so I'll ask you. I just bought a brand new echo weed eater and it shakes like this one does. the engine sounds good but it jumps around in my hands. And if I set it on pavement it quickly scoots away. is that normal?
@@R-Lee- Normal. Do you have it at full choke(air coming in)? Choke closed (no air)?
@@thurm101 I do a few pulls with it on the cold start position until I hear the engine sounds like it wants to start. Then move it down and it starts on next pull. This is my first gas weed eater, I've always used electric.
@@thurm101defintly not normal no trimmer should "jump in your hand"s
@@thurm101man's out here giving everyone complete bullshit advice. 😂
I have the same Problem :(
I complained again, after only one gas tank, the dealer showed me that the clutch drum had some play and that was why it would do the vibration/rattling.. also one another new unit.. The same. I still wasn't conviced and wanted to return the machine but they would only give half the value. So I went home and added some washers in the clutch drum to remove the play.. Didn't work.. Still ratling.. I am convinced it has some piston slap or something but am not going to open the engine to check the piston. If it breaks it is under warranty. I don't like to use a machine that has this problem. I will never buy any machine from the same dealer again. If you ever get rid of the rattling, please share how you did it.
@@franciscoankiewicz3854 @Francisco Ankiewicz Hello, I'm from Italy and I have same problem at low rpm, but it is a good machine. I don't know how to do. Bye
@@franciscoankiewicz3854 That is the clutch doing that. It's extremely common on these.The noise is part of the experience 😂
I just bought one today, second hand, and was very worried about the rattle as my FS250 doesn't do that, so I'm very relieved that its not just my machine. 👍🏻