Brushcutter questions

[Brik]

OK, first off, who makes combination units? Ones that easily convert from brushcutting to string trimming. I have identified Echo and Stihl so far. I have had great success with Husqvarna for their chainsaws in the past and would like to show some brand loyalty but I cant seem to find a combi system form Husky online. My father has an Echo string trimmer (unsure of model#) that works great. I have the brush blade for it and that works OK too. Unfortunately its a pain to swap back an forth. It takes about 10 minutes and requires several tools because its not a combi unit, many parts to get lost too.

I'm looking for a quick change system such as
Echo PAS-230 22.8cc $249
Echo PAS-260 25.4cc $289
Stihl KM 90 R 28.4cc $279
Stihl KM 110 R 31.4cc $329

I require the ability to handle pretty heavy brush to minimize swapping over to my chain saw. I have over a mile of fence line to clear this summer. No fence, lust a property line. Thick, THICK, underbrush, stickers, thorns, scrub trees, etc. I figure 70% will get cleared with the brushcutter, 20% with the chainsaw and the rest with the string trimmer or my machete.

I want the combi unit so I can re-purpose the machine as a string trimmer for 'round the house chores pretty easily, I also want to easily convert in the field. I have no truck access to the line as I also need to build two bridges. The bridges will only be large enough for a mower to get in for future maintenance. So, everything I am using need to get carried in. The swath is between 4' and 6' wide.

My local Husqvarna dealer, who is primarily pro arborist oriented, sells all three brands I'm considering (Stihl, Echo, Husky). I will pay him a visit this week to check out the various models. I suppose one thing that could sway me between Echo and Stihl is the robustness of the attachment. I don't want anything mickey mouse. I EXPECT this machine to last a very long time while suffering from my abuse. Husqvarna has served me well so far as my chainsaw has lasted over 10 years with no issues and lots of abuse.

So, my questions...
Anyone know if Husqvarna sells combination units?
Any other brands to consider in addition to Echo & Stihl of Husky doesn't sell combi units? (Don't tell me Royobi)
Among the models listed which one to go with and why?
Should I always lean toward more power? (price is a consideration too U know)

Thanks!

 

[tree_beard]

husqvarna certainly sell a range of combi-trimmers on the european market (and i assume jonsered have a similar range), as do makita, efco, and there is also a wealth of re-branded efco equipment out there.

but in my experience of strimmers, brushcutters and long reach hedge trimmers, stihl is your most reliable, robust option..


id go for the KM130 R (36.3cc) if its available on your side of the pond

or the FR130 T -backpack version (might be handier for close quarter hedge action)

but the more power the better for your needs (get through the tough stuff faster and more efficiently)

 

[Frank Boyer]

Have you thought about a tractor or a brush mower? That is a long way to go with a brush cutter.

 

[MAG58]

Jonsered, and Husqvarna have many units that easily convert from brush-cutting to string trimming. And now Husqvarna have two FR units thats convert from string trimming to brush-cutting and to clearing-saw

Here are some of mine units

http://www.husqvarna.com/

 

[Brik]

Have you thought about a tractor or a brush mower? That is a long way to go with a brush cutter.

Yes, unfortunately I have. I would LOVE to just bring in a track loader or track dozer and flatten everything out. This is wetlands. The ultimate use will be for identification of property lines (Took 2 months of field work to just survey) and for walking trails. My biggest problem is I need to cross two streams to get to the area I am working in at the moment. I ultimately plan to build some bridges. The bridges will only be large enough for walking and to get a rider mower in, maybe.

The red line in this image shows the section I am working on now. I am about half way, starting at the left of the red line, working toward the right. I am across the two streams. The Yellow line is a raised abandoned rail bed. To the right of the yellow line is planted with corn. To come in from the left I would need bridges to accommodate my equipment, to come in from the right I would need permission to come through the corn field and then would need to figure how to get over the raised rail bed (5' above grade).

The creek is not too deep, maybe 2' at most in the crossing areas. It could also be possible to bull doze the grade at the banks and drive some equipment through the creek. Not really what I want to do. This is a natural area. The section drawn with the red line was a "carriage way" in the late 1800s. There are concrete pilings that supported a raised wooden footpath along that route. Those will stay. The pilings are about 1' thick, 4' wide and stick out of the ground between 6 inches and two feet! No way to get equipment over them. Most areas my path will be about 4' wide. I am going between 6 and 8 feet wide around the old piers to allow for a mower in the future.

Anyway, Thanks for the suggestion! I hope to get to my dealer this week and maybe work on this project this weekend some more.

 

[Brik]

Jonsered, and Husqvarna have many units that easily convert from brush-cutting to string trimming. And now Husqvarna have two FR units thats convert from string trimming to brush-cutting and to clearing-saw

http://www.husqvarna.com/

I have been to the husqvarna site. They have a 345Fx "Forrestry clearing" saw for about $800-$900. Its not a "quick change" but it does seem it can be converted to a string trimmer. Its probably a real nice machine but out of my price range.

I couldn't find the "FR" models you referenced unless you are talking about
http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/?url=/node1541.asp?frames=false

Someone just responded to my similar query on garden web's forum. They said the Husqvarna 324LDx and 326LDx have quick change heads.
Husqvarna 326LDx 1.2 hp $339 2 stroke
Husqvarna 324LDx 1.1 hp $359 4 stroke
Thats what I was looking for!

OK, brand loyalty goes a long way for me. My Husy chainsaw just keeps going and going. I think I would like to stay 2 stroke so I can share gas with the chain saw.

OK, so now I guess the best thing to do is see what my shop has in stock and what they recommend. They steered me to my Husky saw in 1997 and I have been loyal to them ever since and I trust their recommendations. I know they stock the Echo and Stihl I am looking at. I'm unsure if they stock the Husky LDx line.

Thanks everyone for your input so far. I hope I'm not being too chatty!

 

[MOE]

Have you considered a walk behind self-propelled cutter like a DR?

 

[Brik]

Have you considered a walk behind self-propelled cutter like a DR?

Yes - I cant get one across the creek. Its not deep, less than 2', but has banks that are another 2' high. Also, my understanding is the DR is a heavy string trimmer. No way that will cut through some of the stuff I am cutting. The worst stuff is the sticker bushes. 10 foot high with 1" trunks in MANY areas. Sometimes the Echo with brush blade will not cut em and I need to use the chain saw! I cant imagine the DR doing any better.

 

[stckciv]

How thick of stock are you cutting through? You may want to consider the Husky 335 brushcutter.

 

[peter399]

Thick, THICK, underbrush, stickers, thorns, scrub trees, etc. I figure 70% will get cleared with the brushcutter, 20% with the chainsaw and the rest with the string trimmer or my machete.
Thanks!

In my opinion, these combo machines are gardening tools. I would opt for a real forest machine. Check Ebay for a used one if the price is high.

 

[Brik]

Well, I fall back to my husky chain saw when required. When using my fathers Echo I am hitting stock up to about 1", depending on what it is. When my fathers echo wont cut it I grab the chainsaw. I want at least that good of performance and maybe better. I want the combi machine because once this project is done I want to use it for regular maintenance around the property and my house. A $900 forestry product would be cool but way overkill for my long term use.

 

[Fish]

Why don't you shop around for a good used gear head to fit the Echo you
have and put the brushcutter setup on it, then just swap gear heads?

 

[Brik]

Why don't you shop around for a good used gear head to fit the Echo you
have and put the brushcutter setup on it, then just swap gear heads?

Well, first off, the Echo belongs to my father. Its an hour or two out of my way to get it when I need it. Second, the swap over is not just the blade with this model. Its a few parts under the blade and the guard as well. The guard attaches to the shaft so swapping gear heads will require also removing the bracket from the guard to the shaft. I'm not sure a new gear head would gain me much.

I DO have a homelite string trimmer for home use that refuses to die I suppose if I bought a non-combi unit with a decent brush blade set-up I can keep the homelite in service for a while longer and not swap attachments frequently.

My other thought is to buy the combi for my father who has much less use for a brush cutter but has difficulty in swapping from brush to string with his current set-up. I then leave the brush blade on his echo, which I now claim as my own.

Nah, i suppose part of this quest is to get myself a new toy, to upgrade my homelite and for it to be serviceable for my clearing project.

 

[blis]

In my opinion, these combo machines are gardening tools. I would opt for a real forest machine. Check Ebay for a used one if the price is high.

agreed, id suggest buying a decent clearing saw and string head for it...

 

[Log Splitter]

I had a similar project when I started 'civilizing' some old family land in Louisiana. Like you, I started out using a brushcutter and chainsaw to make the trails and cut the right-of-ways. I found it to be very slow going, just the property line cutting around the 150 acres took forever. I finally upgraded to a tractor with a front loader and a Bush Hog on the back. The difference in time was unbelievable, I finished the project on a 3 day weekend. Of course, I knew I would have a use for the tractor later, which may not be the case for you.

The corn field next to you should be harvested in a few weeks. Have you considered renting a tractor and asking permission to cross the corn field after its harvested? Once you got your trails cleaned off, keeping them open should be easy work with a riding lawnmower or even a stringtrimmer if you have the time.

BTW, DR makes brush hog style cutters. The blades are pinned on the ends just like a brush hog that you would pull behind a tractor. The largest models can handle some big stuff, your 1 inch trees would not be a problem.

 

[Brik]

Decision

Thanks for all the replies. I have no immediate need for a tractor nor do I have a budget for one. The campground I am doing this work at used to own their own small tractors and mowers but found the maintenence costs a burden. We now get a very good price for cutting from a friend of the campground family and n longer maintain our own equipment. For me, personally, this is sort of my pet project at the moment.

Anyway - I went to my dealer over lunch today. he stocked the KM90 and the KM130 Stihls and the two Echo models. He did not stock, nor recommend, the husky trimmers. He is a huge fan of the husky chain saws though.

So, I looked at both Echo and Stihl. The attachment point on the echo is plastic, its metal on the Stihl. The KM90 was a little cheaper than the PAS260 Echo and also had a little bit more powerful motor. Attachments for the Stihl are about 20% less money in general that the Echo.

I bought the Brush head and blade and the .105 line string head and the KM90 head. I can return, or exchange, no questions asked, within 7 days. If this model doesn't cut it, pun intended, then I will upgrade to the KM130 for $100 more and see how that does.

I may also look into renting a DR. If its not too heavy I might be able to muscle the thing over the creek if it looks like it will speed up the job.

Thanks for all your input!!!

 

[MAG58]

I have been to the husqvarna site. They have a 345Fx "Forrestry clearing" saw for about $800-$900. Its not a "quick change" but it does seem it can be converted to a string trimmer. Its probably a real nice machine but out of my price range.

I couldn't find the "FR" models you referenced unless you are talking about
http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/?url=/node1541.asp?frames=false

This is the new units, and over here they sell good. But maybe they are not for sale in US.

 

[geofore]

trails

Have you tried to find an old troybuilt or solo sicklebar mowwer? They get about 2,000' before they need refueled and do a good job on the smaller stuff up to 2-3" woody plants and small trees. They are not cheap but they will last a long time and climb rough terrain. Mine is nearly 20 yrs old but with new cutter bars does well in the woods for cutting trails and edging farmland.

 

[Brik]

Have you tried to find an old troybuilt or solo sicklebar mowwer? They get about 2,000' before they need refueled and do a good job on the smaller stuff up to 2-3" woody plants and small trees. They are not cheap but they will last a long time and climb rough terrain. Mine is nearly 20 yrs old but with new cutter bars does well in the woods for cutting trails and edging farmland.

Like this?

http://rochester.craigslist.org/grd/369436323.html

No, i have not thought of this type of machine. I may rent something like a DR and give that a whirl if I feel my progress is too slow with my new Stihl.

 

[Log Splitter]

Sounds like the project was an excuse for buying the most badass brush cutter you could afford!

We can relate to that. Good going! Stick around here and we'll help you buy some more saws as well.