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Stihl FS 38
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Greatest garbage of all time
I finally solve my problem with this weedeater after 3 years. I returned it where he came from... In a trash. He burned just 10 tanks in is life and no longer works properly. It was my first Sithl and the last....What a garbage company ! Fisher price product
Purchased in for $200.
Horrible trimmer head
Stihl FS38 trimmer: The head doesn’t feed well at all. I spend more time trying to get the line out than actual trimming. The tap feature doesn’t work. When you turn the machine off and try manually to get some line out, it won’t turn. I have to take the whole head apart to succeed. However the engine starts and runes well.
Purchased in for $179.
Garbage
problematic since day one, always difficult to start. After 4 years of medium level usage on a house block it is finally dead despite best efforts of servicing and carny rebuild. If you want a weed eater that will go forever if properly looked after - this is not it
Purchased for $200.
Poor Quality lost a 35+ year user of Stihl
Bought an FS38 a couple of years back, at 2 years had problems starting it, So bought a new plug, then priming button blew
took it to the Stihl shop for repair. Diagnosed with faulty carburettor. repair cost $10 less than a new machine.
not viable
It hadn't done any more than a fortnightly edge cut
Complained to Stihl, pointing out I have had numerous items of theirs , concrete saw, chain saws, brush cutters blowers, over last 35+ years.
Stihl response, not our problem its out of warranty, see the local agent he may be able to do you a deal on a new one, if he wants to, but we wont help or provide a discount. My last email to them went unanswered
They have lost a loyal customer forever
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Will not buy another ever again
Hard to start. Keeps stopping once reved up and once running you have to rev the hell out of it to try and keep it cutting. Goes through cord at the speed of lightning. Going back to my Ryobi.
Purchased in .
- 3 reviews
Ok for the money
No problem starting and has plenty of power, the auto feed head works well but wish it was a straight shaft. Probably wouldn't buy again if I needed another trimmer.
Purchased in at Mitre 10 for $199.
Rubbish
Have had nothing but trouble from day 1. Starts fine but the second you jump on the throttle it’s dead. It’s been taken to get looked at and tuned but still have had no luck. This one is going straight to the bin.
Purchased in at Stihl Dealer.
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- 4 reviews
- 5 likes
Bad design.
Starts and runs fine, but standing straight, the cutting head is too high off the ground, leaning hurts your back, lifting the rear sits your arm directly over the exhaust.
Purchased in at Mitre 10 for $199.
- 10 reviews
- 6 likes
- Verified
Wish I never bought it, struggles to gain power
Purchased this for the wife in Jan 2021 as she has bad joints so needed a light trimmer. Using the STIHL premixed fuel as well. The FS-38 has been an absolute pain since day 1, starts ok, but unless you want flat out unnecessary high revs for thick grass, it keeps bogging down and can get revs up off idle for actual trimming. It's a trimmer, meant for around trees and edges as well but there is not throttle control for lesser powered jobs like these. Will throw in bin once I find something better. Machine is a total disappointment.
Purchased in for $175.
Find out how Stihl FS 38 compares to other Petrol Whipper Snippers
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Works for a small average yard
Has always been a harder snipper to start, but once you get used to it it’s not a drama. Is very light, which is a good thing for most, but it can jump all over the place too because of that. I’m upgrading to something more powerful and heavier for the size of our lawn. I’m on the fence, it will suit buyers on a smaller block with standard grass, but anything too large or thick and it’s pretty useless. Always wanted one, and found out the model I bought was actually made in a China, not Australia.
Purchased in for $199.
- 2 reviews
- 3 likes
Almost complete dud
I should have been suspicious when I couldn't find "Made in Germany" anywhere on the new one. I bought an earlier FS38 in 2005, clearly made in Germany; it just went and went and went. Tricky wind-on mechanism, otherwise amazing. Eventually it died in 2021, and sucker that I am, was delighted to find apparently identical item to 2005 version, even cheaper in dollar terms. This new one is virtually impossible to start after sitting for more than a day, although once running it goes ok, sort of. The wind-on mechanism is a bad joke, useful only fo...
Read morer removing skin and fingernails. Nowhere on it can I find a country of manufacture, which I did not think was legal in Australia; can't find a definite answer to this on line either, so I presume production (of this model at least, or of key parts) has moved to you know where, a fact which is being quietly glossed over. I am going out tomorrow morning to a reputable, small independent firm for advice, and to purchase something else. Anything else. $200 down the tube, but you need to know when to give up.Purchased in for $200.
- 49 reviews
- 25 likes
Not good.
We bought this whipper snipper in June 2021 from the stihl dealers for our 300m2 or so of mowing we do on our block. Mostly edging.
We were shown how to use it and start it etc. and hubby is very experienced with all power tools as he is a tradie by day. This isn't our first whipper snipper either.
The positives:
It works well...IF you can get it to start and keep running. Does the job its supposed to do.
Not overly heavy (are any though?)
The negatives.
Absolute nightmare to try and start
Has sharp pieces of plastic on the parts where you pull the cord from and actually tore hubbys fingernail OFF while he was trying to get it to start. ...
Purchased in .
Find out how Stihl FS 38 compares to other Petrol Whipper Snippers
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Contented Buyer
Overall good product. Can be a dog on the odd occasion but you have to expect that from the bottom of the range dirty 2 stroke. Recently bought a service kit off ebay and performance has improved. Stihl wacken the weeds with fury after 7 years :)
Purchased in at Stihl Dealer for $199.
- 8 reviews
- 5 likes
3 years old now, never had an issue.
I've personally not had a single problem with this trimmer and have gone from using it on a 600m2 block to a 4000m2 block and it works flawlessly everytime. I strongly suggest you ask your dealer to show you how to start the machine and how to feed the line in. I think a lot of people don't know how to start these things (myself included before the dealer showed me). I also struggled like an idiot to feed the line for the last 3 years. It's beyond simple. If its taking you longer then 2 minutes you're doing it wrong. I also always let all my machines idle for a minute or two and and I think this helps the longetivity of tools. Far superior to any random brand machines. Would happily buy again.
Purchased in for $199.
unreliable
mine broken in carburettor not even 2 years old poor quality product unreliable will buy different brand next time too much down time with warranty
that should not happen on a new machine
Purchased in for $249.
Questions & Answers
What fuel do I need for a fs38 is it 2stroke or petrol thanks
It’s 2 stroke (special 2 stroke oil mixed in gasoline). It’s a great string trimmer! Love it!
My Stihl FS38 is shocking me while cutting grass. What could be the reason? Thank You
My Stihl FS38 is 5 years old and now starts ok ,but then suddenly cuts out, usually with a little backfire, ive clean out the carby, spark arrester,fuel filter etc but no joy,plug looks ok, re-tuned the carby, run out of ideas, anyone got any clues ???
Get an answer from our members and Stihl representatives
Details
Category | Petrol Whipper Snippers |
---|---|
Price (RRP) | $199.00 |
Handle Type | Loop Handle |
Shaft Type | Bent |
Power Source | Petrol |
Engine Type | 2-Stroke |
Engine Displacement | 27.2 cc |
Power | 650 W |
Cutting Head Type | Blade |
Weight | 4.1 kg |
Manufacturer Warranty | 2 year(s) |
Release date | |
Manual | Download manual |
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This is a C6-2 head. I replaced the string with .95 inch line (2.4mm) and after finding out how to use this advanced head properly, it woks great. I’d now give it a 5 star. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t understand the product properly.