Summary:
I don't think you can beat Stihl products. They just work like they should.

Strengths:
This guy is consistantly at the top of Consumer Reports rattings. Its clearly built more solid than many other trimmers at this price point. The string head is much easier to work with than many others, including other model stihl's.

Weaknesses:
The trimmer head, while nice, does not hold much string. I've had to rewrap it once a season. My old Stihl with the larger head could last 2-3 years.

Summary:
I have always been impressed by the quiet, powerful, stress-free stihl product. With a company so willing to back up their product with a good manufactures warranty, I will continue to buy from stihl.

Strengths:
FS-45 i personally own and from what I have used it, it is a reliable machine, it is powerful and can tear through what I give it.

Weaknesses:
The only flaw I can give a complaint about is the handle is not quite at the correct height for myself.

Summary:
Very good Stihl quality as usual.

Strengths:
Quiet, easy start and powerful motor.

Weaknesses:
Trigger finger gets tired after a while, because hand is in an awkward position.

Summary:
I have a small yarn and I would go electric again. I want to sell this thing.The gas/oil mix is a pain. I guess if you use it all the time it may be worth it, but in S Cailf I use 2x per month...

Strengths:
When it runs it cuts well.

Weaknesses:
Hard to start . Constantly stalls. Takes over an hour to get started and use. Always some thing wrong with it.

Summary:
To own any gas powered is to make sure that the maintainence is kept up on it. Don't expect it to start right up if you put it away for 2 months and never change the gas. Gas doesn't stay fresh!

Strengths:
Great brand, built solid

Weaknesses:
none

Summary:
Great trimmer for an elderly person with back problems when it will start.

Strengths:
Light weight, great trimmer head that is easy to refill with cutting string. Cuts very well.

Weaknesses:
Purchased an FS 45c at end of last season by recommendation of a friend because of it ease of starting. It worked well. Did not leave fuel in it over winter. Put fuel in it and started it this season. It ran for about 15 minutes then locked up. I am using Stihl's oil and recommended 89 octane gas mixed at recommended proportions. The gas does have 10@ ethanol. It has totally locked up and I cannot pull the rope. Is it the 10@ ethanol? Have cleaned air filter, taken spark plug out & turned the fins with a slinder screwdriver. Still won't budge. Guess I will take in for repair. Not pleased with it at this time. Wondering if I did something wrong?

Summary:
My ratings will be based on it's first six years of use. Not the last year.

Strengths:
I have had this trimmer for over 7 years. Up until this year it has been problem free.

Weaknesses:
Going on it's 7 year of service I found the unit was stalling and cutting out more so when inverted. I cleaned the Carb out and it worked better but has not been the same. Was then and is now Consumer Reports top pick. It has a broken gas tank because I through it on the ground. Do I buy another one? Many of the older Stihl dealers are carrying Echo now and trash on Stihl. Not sure what to buy?

Summary:
will not buy sthil again

Strengths:
My old McClough ran for 20 years with heavy use, this thing is three years old and seems to be a piece of junk

Weaknesses:
I use fresh gas, run the carb dry each fall, however it constantly cuts out (runs like a 2 cyl with one bad plug) so called bump stringer is worthless, shut the engine off and do it by hand

Summary:
have had for 2 years,harder to start than the homelite i sold in a garage sale for 5$.

Strengths:
pos

Weaknesses:
junk since day of purchase

Summary:
Over priced piece of trash

Strengths:
Looks nice

Weaknesses:
Just purchased in June of 2009. My old Ryobi is a much better machine. Impossible to start at first. What they don't tell you in the manual is that it floods very easily and you should abandon the starting instructions after 2 pulls, take the choke off and put the throttle in its lowest postion. Took it to the retailer twice and they had a hard time starting it. Eats up trimmer line in a matter of minutes. Trimmer advance doesn't work. A real piece of junk for a high price.

Summary:
good unit and hard to kill. plenty of power. seems to last forever. best spool system i have even owned. i had a few sears trimmers at first. they were junk. stihl makes an excellent product.

Strengths:
still runs after 8 years of hard use what's not to like

Weaknesses:
very touchy on gas. if gas is even a few months old, it runs poorly. also, stupid spark arrestor gets plugged. i removed it and run it without.

Summary:
Keep line head clean and take out spark arrestor when they get clogged up and clean or leave out. Use only Stihl oil and Stihl line you won't have any trouble. Keep your Stihl, Stihl!!!

Strengths:
Great trimmers have 4 of them, 2 of them are 8 years old. We use them everyday at a school with about 28 acres of mowing. These are second to none.I replace the autocut head yearly and have to replace the bump button on the bottom half way throgh the summer bacause we trim around so much curbing and sidewalks through the summer months.These are light and easy to use.

Weaknesses:
None

Summary:
I wouldn't recommend this piece of junk to anyone.

Strengths:
well balxnced,light weight

Weaknesses:
starts hard, string doesn't advance. You need to take head off to get string to advance.

Summary:
I had an older model FS45 for several years. When it came time for a new one, I wanted the same thing. Well, I hate this one. You have to hold it against the ground when cranking it and it's still hard to hold while trying to pull the rope. The rope is very hard to pull. Currently it won't start at all. I've had it for 3 months and it looks like it's going to have to go out with the trash. I still love my Stihl chainsaw, but will never buy another Stihl trimmer. The FS-45 is nothing but a piece of junk.

Strengths:
none

Weaknesses:
Hard to start. Hard to hold when cranking. Hard to pull the rope.

Summary:
Actually I have a FS46 which is identical to the FS45 except for a slightly longer curved shaft. The trimmer has stood up to very heavy use for over 7 years and still runs as good as the day it was purchased. It is used approximately 4 hours each week. Just be sure to run a good 50 to 1 fuel mix (I use the Stihl Ultra synthetic oil) and check the fuel and air filter a couple times each season. Also be sure to check the muffler screen to make sure it isn't clogged or do like many do and just remove it. I also have a commercial Stihl FS130R with a brush blade attached for brush, tall weeds, and keeping about 5 miles of fence line clean. After lugging around the 12+ pound FS130R all day it's a real joy to pick up the lightweight 9.3 pound FS46 to use around the house. The model FS45 is even a few ounces lighter. All in all the FS45/46 series are great low cost trimmers.

Strengths:
Easy starting, plenty of power to use .095 line in taller grass and weeds, very lightweight, and it's proven to be very dependable over the past 7 years.

Weaknesses:
Only problem I have had is that the original fuel line started to leak after 3 or 4 years. Replaced it (cheap $10 fit) with an upgraded 'green line' and it still runs as good as new. I use it weekly to trim approximately 2 acres and sometime wish it had a slightly larger fuel tank.

Summary:
Ok machine, had it 3 years, first 3 months had to replace spool head,that was 25 dollars. Starts ok runs good. I would buy another one but, the best weed eater i had was a Sears weed trimmer, lasted 12 years with out any trouble..

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Cheap head on Machine

Summary:
I have had this trimmer for three years and never had a problem till now. I took it in for to get it running right and a new pull cord. Then I thought I flooded it and just wouldnt run period. I changed the sparkplug then took it in again. They told me I was using old gas and took it home and the new gas didnt do anything so back again I went for repair and they told me that it was the ignition coil. Now it sat out in a bad rain storm and it started running bad again. In the attempt to start it the pull cord broke again and I threw it against my fence and walked inside... I now own a Echo...

Strengths:
cuts well, lightweight, comfortable to use.

Weaknesses:
hard to start, stalls for no reason, takes forever to finish my lawn.

Summary:
Won't buy another....will go with a cheaper model and buy a service contract Beginning to wonder about the quality of these products,,,Seem to hear same complaints from many...Dealer ie useless, and corporate will not return any inquires

Strengths:
Great when you can get it started.......ignore start directions and only prime a couple times and pray it runs w/choke. If it continues to run your good to go, but mine runs 10 to 15 minutes before starts to sputter and quits

Weaknesses:
Hard to start.....trimmer rarely advances, and eats string up quicker tthan others I have used (Craftsman)

Summary:
I own 3 Stihl chain saws, 1 hedge trimmer 3 string trimmers. All have been very dependable except for the FS-45. Come on Stihl if your dealers aren't going to be on the ball with parts at least let us buy them online.

Strengths:
Seems to be a good machine for the money Starts good Stihl oil is a must

Weaknesses:
Shaft bearing [trimmer end] gives out quick. $50.00 to fix! Stihl waiting for parts. Handle is uncomfortable for a taller person

Summary:
While this was initially a good trimmer, it is not worth the frustration of spending hours on maintenance, and still it will not keep running.

Strengths:
Worked great for over 2 years. Lightweight, and cuts through heavy grass and weeds easily.

Weaknesses:
Very unreliable. After year 2, very hard to start even with new spark plugs, fresh gas and so on. In year 3 it runs great for 2 minutes and stops and will not start. Replacing fuel filter made no difference. Local dealer seems to have no clue except suggesting replacing carb, which is very expensive. Previous to this, my Ryobi went 10 years with no problems. TroyBilt is also very reliable and always starts for me.

Summary:
Thought it would have lasted longer than three years.

Strengths:
Normally starts easy

Weaknesses:
Stihl uses Chineese parts on this thus it does not have the quality that I expected.

Summary:
junk not happy at all.

Strengths:
I have had a sthill for a number of years good tools

Weaknesses:
Bought this one ney in july 08 it has been in the shop 5 times the dealer blames it on the gas and epa rules now days. wont idle the carb. is dirty when took apart dumped gas out of can clean hard to start the dealer has offered me a new one or i can up grade dont know what to do now.

Summary:
No better that a $70 cheapo from Homedepot.

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Bought one new in March. The first time I use it and tried to shut it off the switch didn't work. I guess there was a bad connection in the switch, had to flip it back and forth several times to get it to shut off. I have a Stilh chain saw that works really well and always starts with just a few pulls no matter how long it sits. That is why I bought a Stihl weed eater. Each time I used it it became harder and harder to start. I used the proper gas, the proper oil and kept it clean. The last time I tried to use it it would not start. I wasted 2 hours of my life on this piece of junk and got so mad I smashed it into a million pieces and threw it into the garbage. These problems shouldn't happen after 8 months. I have a Ryobi prior to this that lasted 6 years. I also have another Ryobi that I found on the side of the road in someones trash. I fixed a broken wire in it and left it sitting in my garage for a year after that and guess what happened when I tried to start it, fired right up. After I destroyed the Stihl I took the spool off the shaft and the spool fit the old Ryobi but the nut that holds it on was different. Other than that the spools are exactly the same. HMMM is Ryobi making the lower end weed eaters for Stihl?

Summary:
I hate it. Next year I will buy an Echo and throw this one out.

Strengths:
Seems to be well made, that's about it.

Weaknesses:
The line is impossible to install so that it advances automatically. I have to take it apart and pull more line out by hand every time I use it. Maintenance instructions are vague--unlike Echo that shows you what to do step by step. Unit is so short so that you must use it bent over and the vibration this thing gives off will kill your hand and arm. I have lost all respect for Consumer Reports after their high rating of this trimmer.

Summary:
This is my second trimmer I've owned. I had a Ryobi trimmer before and let's just say I don't have it anymore. I didn't even now STIHL made trimmers I thought they were just a big chainsaw company. I was online looking at different trimmers and I went to Home Depot and Lowes to check out Echo and Huskvarna but they were pretty expensive and cheap looking. I went to a couple of STIHL places and looked at the FS 45 and they looked much more durable but the shaft was pretty short, so I opted for the FS 46. It was pretty expensive but I gave it a shot. This trimmer has been great from day 1. It starts easy, has loads of power and it's easy to install new line. I don't know if it's the synthetic oil they pushed me to buy but it only takes 1 or 2 pulls to get it going. It comes with what the salesman calls an easy spool head. I simply just insert the trimmer line into each socket and twist the knob and it loads by itself!

Strengths:
Powerful and lightweight

Weaknesses:
Expensive!

Summary:
I read Consumer Reports ,thought I was making an educated choice.It seems many others are having the same problems.I suppose we need to inform Consumer Reports of our problems

Strengths:
none

Weaknesses:
auto line feed doesnt work;carb floods;I have used only Stihl air filters,NGK sparkplugs annd Stihl oil - 9o+octane .Had a Sears Craftsman that lasted 10+ years.Have had this Stihl 1 year

Summary:
Do not buy this unit

Strengths:
looks good

Weaknesses:
POC, does not start , took it in out of warrenty charged 125 dollars to fix