power prunner in a tree

[protreecare]

Echo does (or did) make an insulated power pruner. It had a yellow shaft instead of the commonly seen orange. And as far as working dead or rotten trees, they are great. With a little effort a pp can be held fully extended horizontaly or vertically to make cuts. I would vary rarely use on to trim when climbing, because proper cuts are hard to make.

 

[Ax-man]

Did Echo buy out Thecnic Tools who held the original patent on what we call the Power Pruner.

Because if they did the original PP had a handle similar to that of a chain saw. Which made controlling the tool much easier than the Sthil version and was also a lot lighter, which might explain why guys are using them in trees.

No one is really saying which brand they are using, just saying PP, that is about it, there is a big difference in the weight and triggers between the two.

We don't have an Echo dealer in our area, so I'm not sure what the Echo PP looks like, but I'm pretty sure they picked up where Thecnic left off.

The Technic ( Echo ) design is much better than Stihl's version. Stihl's engines are better and more powerful, their oiling system for the chain and bar are beter, but that is about it.

 

[Stumper]

Axman, I believe the progression was like this, Technic tool Power Pruner-Technic Tool Power Pruner powered by Echo-Blount (OREGON) bought Technic or Technic's rights to the Power Pruner design and label-still Powered by Echo-Echo began marketing the Power Pruner as an Echo product. There was a change in the cutterhead design and materials along the way but almost all the other parts interchange.(Dare I say it -the old cutterhead that was mostly plastic was more rugged, better designed for clean cuts by right handed users and less bulky than the new one) The Stihl HT75 is a slicker looking tool but I agree with you that the Echo is a better design for handling. Longevity of the Echo is excellent. (However they are not very resistant to being run over by a chip truck ) They also have the advantage of an optional five foot extension. With the add-on and fully extended it is a bear to operate but there are uses for something that lets you stand flatfooted on the ground and make a 10" cut 23 feet up.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I think the echo is a better tool. The shaft is much tougher, which is important with some of the crazy positions and situations you'll get yourself into using it(if you're anything like me).

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I bought the hedge trimmer head for my PP. It was paid for half way through the first job. Using the hedger keeps me on the ground and off ladders.

Ladders scare me...

It sure does get heavy though.

Tom

 

[Ax-man]

Stumper, Your description on the progression of the PP sounds right on.

The one I had from Thechnic had a Mac commercial engine, it came from a Mac dealer, that was a good little engine suprisingly enough from Mac, never gave me a lick of trouble, clutch shoes broke in it though and just couldn't find parts, searched high and low for it too.

Got a news flash update on this PP thing we got going here.

My HT-75 didn't finish the season liked I hoped it would.

The HT- 75 is now history, been replaced by the HT-101, with a 2 cycle, 4cycle engine with adjustable valves. Engine is a little bigger, though not much, suppose to have more torque. Oil system to chain and bar the same as 75, (needs improving IMO), chip discharge has been changed, still has that same crappy grip though, it's also gained a pound in weight.

This is going to be my first experience with a 2 cycle 4 cycle engine . They put the choke in a good spot, of course we have to have those limiter caps. It doesn't seem to be cold blooded, but it is still new. The engine has a different sound to it, not like a normal 2 stroke, but it is queiter though doesn't have that 2 cycle scream. The acceleration is mediocre, almost poor, but it is not a true 2 stroke. At idle you would swear it is going to load up and quit, but it hasn't so far.

As of this post it is still cherry and untried ( it's raining here today)so I really can't say how it performs doing trees. Everything works good when it is new, we'll see how it does in a couple of months.

Almost forgot to add this, the bigger engine and exra weight does seem to help in balancing the thing a little better, it is still a little tip heavy for my taste when it is fully extended.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by TreeCo
I used my Stihl PP to top some 15' tall leyland crypress to 6'. Stood on the truck tail gate and rolled down them.

Dan I hope you don't get any criticism about topping leylands. Done on young ones, it works to make them more useful. They come out looking better than ever, and the wounds seal pretty well.