I have an older "40V Worx 12" The guard broke. If I run 14" inches on electric, How would that effect lifespan of trimmer be effected.. Note , trimmer line eats itself Do I need a guard to waste my trimmer string? As an auto feed. Kills my line, If I take guard off ,I should be able to maintain that 12" string. And sustain life of trimmer. Yes, electric and gas diff. We run echo, at "my job" And I bet I push a Long string on cemetery. GodBless,t he cemetery landscapers
Started in 2001, with guard had to constantly respool after cut offs, removed guard that first year, running nothing but still kombi 131’s and have never had to waste time respooling again! Will be a “DIE HARD NO GUARD” for the rest of my life!👊
I mow a 12 acre cemetery so no guards for me. it's a lot of work and a lot of trimming and I use the black diamond string. thanks Brian for all your videos. I don't know how you have the time to do it and work and family and fun lol.
Hats off to you sir... Cemetery lawn maintenance is something a lot of people don’t think about. When I seasonally mowed for the city, I had to do a cemetery not even half the size of yours and that was a lot of whipping. Brutal in the summer. Just think about those massive military cemeteries, where by the time you finish whipping headstones it’s Friday and the grass has already grown back 😅
Honestly I’ve done both. When I first started my business 10 Years ago I swore by “no guard”. After years went by I just didn’t have the time to remove the guard so just left them on. I use echo 2620’s and I like how they run no guard but my cuts are just as fast and clean with guard on. I think it’s more of a novelty, once you start focusing more on business side of things things like “guard or no guard” aren’t important anymore. Just my two cents!
I just started a part time solo business this year. Finally went guardless the amount of time I save helps a ton. Btw Brian’s lawn maintenance videos helped a ton to get me started.
Always kept the guard on for years to be safe. But about 3 or 4 years ago I went guardless and the amount of efficiency I gain makes me regret not doing it years earlier.
Hey Brian !! Its me...the Guy that was gettin ripped off on the 2 acre commercial property with the pond in your area lol. I took the guard off my cheap trimmer after seeing your video a while back...Man what a big difference! Il never go back to guarded lolol
We did an extensive podcast on this topic. We found that the guards are there to protect the engine, not a third party whether that be property or a person. The operator would be partially protected, however it also depends on the angle that the whippy is facing when in use.
I don’t cut grass commercially anymore but when we did we never ran a guard and on my own personal yard I never use a guard I feel like it takes about three times longer to trim with a guard on I’ll never go back. Like you said having a little bit longest string is way easier to blend grass in and makes it harder to scalp in areas
We don't have concrete edges and driveways like in the video where I live. I prefer the "bicycle" style grips for my trimmer, but I don't do 80 properties a week. I tried one without a guard and would get too greedy with the line so would have to cut it manually in the beginning - just a learning curve I guess. I like my guard and the small blade on it.
Brian , I’ve done extensive research on this. I will never run a trimmer with a guard again. I save (approximately) 1 hours in a 12 hour work day by trimming with no guard verses using a guard. That’s a good several hours a week in time saved simply by running trimmer with long string and no guard.. but to each his own!!
Personal choice and it's yours. I ran them without guards and it plays havic on the clutch hub bearings along with the drive linkage all the way down to the knuckle where the line head screws on. The engine is not turning the correct rpms for cooling the engine as well. Everyone has their ways of doing the job. Good luck!
#1 Homeowner tip for edging without guard. Start motor then line up head and without cutting try tracing the edge up to the end of your property. Then pull the trigger and practice on your neighbors yard.
I’ve been trying a middle ground approach to this. I removed the line cutter and cut the lip of the guard off. My line extends and I still have some coverage from the guard.
Warning: electric trimmers are designed for the guard on. taking the guard off allows longer string to come out which can burn up the motor. I smoked a good trimmer doing that..
I’ve been doing this for 13 years and have never felt the need to go no-guard as I have a hard time seeing how it will save me time. Trimming ditches or large patches sure, but for residential mowing I’m just not seeing it. I can trim 99% of the properties in single-pass trim routes anyway, it’s not like I’m having to sweep back and forth to get the trimming done. And having the guars keeps the line length pretty standardized so it’s easier to be careful around flowers or other delicate items.
No guard it blocks my view and slows me down around small trees and swing sets. But even if the guard is on you still throw rocks. My personal opinion is the guard does nothing but waste trimmer line when you tap for more line.
Deff my favorite lawn channel on YT, i run a RedMax BCZ23OTS the TS at the end means it got the extra torq box on it, so i could run my string a little longer, but i like it how it is wit the gaurd
I've always kept my guards on for no particular reason. One thing I do on every new zero turn is bypass the safety switch on the seat. Very annoying when you lean or get off the seat and mower shuts down. Never had a safety issue with me or any of my employees.
Good morning Brian. Removing the guard also voids warranty. People save them to put them back on if they have to take back to the dealer, i throw mine out. The main purpose of the guard is not protection, its for the blade on the guard to keep your string at a certain length to protect the clutch on the trimmer. Keep up the great videos!
anecdotal opinion: We run all echo, some with guards, some without. We are around 120 properties a week. A few of those Echos are 4 years old without the guard and we still use them everyday, We run Red Armor 50:1. Weve replaced a few exhausts, choke levers, and pull cord assembalies, but never had any engine failure due to running trimmers without guards. (atleast not yet). We run pump gas, not non-ethanol.
I bought a Stihl FS 91 R last year over the summer from my local Ace Hardware. The gentleman behind the counter that day told me maybe once or twice to not take the guard off but I just kinda saw it as something that he has to say every time he sells a trimmer because it's of course intended for safety. I took the guard off as soon as I got home and put it to work. I have had zero issues with the trimmer since but just the other day I was talking to a local lawn care company owner, and he asked where I took my Stihl equipment since he needed some work done to a hedge trimmer. I told him I haven't had to take my equipment anywhere yet but if I do it will be Ace since they have a Stihl mechanic on site most of the time. After I told him that he immediately told me not to buy equipment from Ace because if you take the guard off they can not and will not work on your equipment. I'm not giving up on Stihl but definitely buying from somewhere else if this is the case. Yes I care about safety and I wear PPE but taking a guard off is almost a must where I work. Please let me know if anyone has experienced Ace denying service after taking guards off their equipment.
I've never went guardless. We've had foreman do it, and only in open areas. Never around objects. but never done it myself. PPE is a must without guards. Guards do actually protect your waist up. Not really meant for your legs. You take that guard off, you'll feel alot more hitting your face. Please be careful if you try it. Your eyes are more important than a plastic guard. Think smart, wear PPE
In my experience the amount of shrapnel from the trimmer hitting anywhere is less. The increased visibility, without the guard, offsets/reduces the risk. Of course the use of PPE is a must and I have experienced more shrapnel hitting my face and eyes with a guard, than without. The increased speed in trimming equals time savings, without increasing the risk of injury or damage to the property.
I cure just took my guard off and noticed that the trimmer line likes to wrap around the trimmer head alot at higher speeds. I like it more because it's easier to see when running my edge line and I can visually see more.
Either the line is too long, you're not throttling enough to cut and instead the line is bouncing off of things and wrapping in the head or itself, or you need a trimmer with a stronger engine and more torque.
I just took off my guards and wow it increased my productivity and able to go around things to use the back side that was always blocked by the guard. I will take off the guards moving forward.
I’m guard off. But I’ve been trimming solo for over 5 years. Took the guard off last year. I found that I get hit with less debris with it off. Idk. But I’m for sure guard off. Any new operator is getting one with the guard though to learn and feel comfortabl
I have to trimmer attachments, one with and one without. I carefully mow so close to my homes that I don't really need to go guard less. If I'm trimming around a pond or ditch I go with my guard less attachment.
Definitely no guard on the trimmer. You can trim wide on obstacles, curb lines, trees and around buildings without the guard on the trimmer which makes it a whole lot easier when it comes to cutting grass with a mower.
I rum my trimmer, echo 2620, with a guard. I put the bigger guard from a shindawia t262 on it so l get the 20inch cutting swath instead of the 17in one. And a little more protection. The stock 2620 guard is about worthless for stopping anything anyway. I feel like it was only as big as it needed to be to make the powers at be happy.
If you have properties that absolutely say you need to have the guard Here’s a trick we would do at my old job. The lip we would literally just cut it off that way the fan would still be visible and they would think we still have the guard on
I got a Stihl FS120 I cut a lot of weeds using there .095 line I always use the shield. Thought about making a larger one. But if cutting city residential lots the .080 trimmers would do. Would also wear a full face shield too which I do. Been to making times to the Hospital EYE room for dirt in my eye. Safety First!!!! Always
I run my 3020 (bull horn) with guard. Never tried it without tbh. I have a PAS 2620?? With strimmer attachment, also with guard, but I would consider removing the guard on that, just use it so very rarely (it’s for tight spaces or just as a backup)
In regards to insurance I would tell the truth. Lying is not worth it. I currently use a guard. I tried guardless one time and found that guardless scalped more easily than using a guard. One thing I would like to see is aftermarket guards that allow for wide swaths. You get the benefit of more cut capacity but retain safety and insurance. I’m sure someone could design and 3d print 19 inch guards or whatever diameter the user desires.
Watching your lawn maintenance channel,& others,l would prefer guard off. However, I can’t figure out how to take it off. I’m not mechanically inclined to do so. I have an Echo SMR-225🤦🏾♀️🤔
Another great video! I actually keep atleast 1 trimmer on the trailer because of liability reasons if something does happen. Also I just wanted to say thanks for all the help over the last few years starting and building my business and now a new RU-vid channel!!! Keep up the great videos and if you have time come check out the channel!!!
Guard off. Have seen some crazy spots, can get in between antenna tower posts and such that could not be done with a guard in place. Easier to trim around small trees or posts without having to almost walk the full circle around. Any brand, keep the head greased and keep them tuned up and they last.
No guard first thing that comes off even before we leave the dealer. I like being able to control the line length and edge better. you learn to stand a certain way not to get hit with debris. But to the legal end I understand completely redmax will not warranty your trimmer if you bring it in with the guard off ask me how I know
No insurance is going to ask was the guard on the trimmer. Accidents are accidents. Besides most windows are broken when edging and the guard serves no purpose in that position
Don't even start a new trimmer up before I take that guard off lol That long string helps me do a better job, can't explain why it's the case but I do trim better without it.
I’ve used no guard for 2 years and now I could not go back. I use Stihl trimmers. They are wearing out so fast though, my newest trimmer is 3 weeks old and is running so rough
If the guard is 4"or less wide its not a guard, its a knife holder. Yes the coil can overheat thats for you to determine if its worth it. 3 oz of weight way down on the end is huge after a 100 degree 90% humidity day. Just sayin'.
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