Widget, the number of problems I see with FS38, fs45 and FS55 trimmers is incredible. Its stihls bargain basement motor and I don't feel they are made or engineered well.

They have an accelerator pump thing in the carby for better response and this little plunger has a tiny little o-ring. Since the ruixing chinese carbies they use aren't that great with finishing, this o ring is often draged up and down through a rough bored hole. Pretty soon its sucking air - a symptom is a primer that won't fill up.

Can't buy the o ring on its own and usually can't get it in a kit - new carby time.

Another known problem with them is that if they backfire they can often bend or snap the connecting rod - just think about that; a backfire snapping a connecting rod. Have personally seen it myself 2 times (bending) and heard about it another few clean breaks. Apparently stihl are happy enough to fix it under warranty, but tell you to get stuffed otherwise.

Then FS38 or 45 you are stuck with the sthil crap feed heads - they aren't terrible but you can't fit many after market heads easily. FS55 you can, but the gearbox is sealed so you can't add grease to bevel gears

All this doesn't add up to a long term reliable trimmer.


With regards to cc, it all depends on use. I could comfortably live with 14cc (ancient stihls had these), but for most people I recommend 25cc+. The 322l only has 22cc but really punches above its weight. Look up husqvarna X Torq, its a clean air purge system which they use now. Runs cleaner and has more power.

The main thing I like about the 322 is the weight - really light.