April 2016 – Page 2 – Brush Cutter Central

Husqvarna 128 LD Review

Introduction

Husqvarna is a big name in power tools. Husky chainsaws are legendary. Does that prowess in bringing down spruces carry over to brush cutting and weed whacking? This is how we figure out if it’s good or not.

The research suggests that once you get the carburetor dialed in, the unit runs very well.

Specs and Assembly

This is a two-stroke engine 28 cm³ of displacement. It puts out 1 horsepower. Like every two-stroke engine, the string trimmer requires 100% gasoline with no ethanol. You can mix this yourself, or buy some of the premixed fuel gas. This is particularly important for Huskies as we will discuss below.

It has straight shaft. So far this has the makings of a decent brush cutter, but a better string trimmer.

The shaft is detachable. But one of the issues is that it’s not easy to attach genuine Husky parts to this particular model. For that you need the 128LDX. Users have found that they could attach parts from other manufacturers. This goes into the overall design as well. The unit is easy to put together. Overtime, the plastic coupler of the split shaft wears out, making it hard for other attachments to stay attached.

On Amazon, we only found 1 user that had a dead on arrival unit. Over at Home Depot, there were many users that ran into these issues.

Start, Idle, Ergonomics, and Usage

Most users found it was very easy to start, and easy to restart. And once it was started it kept going very easily.

However a lot of users found the idle to be very rough, and the trimmer would just stop running. If the unit is not idling properly, the unit might be running lean or rich Adjusting the carburetor is accomplished by a special carburetor tool which is not available at your local tool store. It’s interesting that this is the case given that Husky leaf blowers and chainsaws do not run into these issues.

After adjusting, the unit should run correctly.

When it does run, most users found that it was relatively quiet and not a lot of awful vibration.

In terms of using it to trim the grass, most found that the bump head was not very good. It could be that the internal parts are made from plastic. And for the prepared, buying some additional trim line

With respect to ergonomics many found this unit was heavy and it does not ship with a strap or harness. This is a unit that benefits from having a shoulder strap or harness. In terms of balance those over 6 feet said that they had to bend over in order to use it.

Operators were able to handle 3/4 of an acre and 1 acre of jungle. But not on one tank.

Long Term

The warranty is limited

Some users reported the overall longevity of this unit at 2 years. Others have not been so lucky

Conclusion

It seems that users that did not do well with the 128LD mainly had issues with it working properly every time. Our analysis of the complaints point to what are probably carburetor adjustment issues. When those can be surmounted with proper adjustment, the 128LD lives up to the Husky reputation.

Tanaka TBC 255PF Review

Introduction

The TBC 255PF is a commercial grade unit straight from the good folks at Tanaka, a division of Hitachi. We’ve had concerns about other Tanaka models, so going into this review, we want to pay close attention to issues out there. Also, this unit has been discontinued, though you can still find vendors carrying it.

Specs, Assembly, Start

This unit was made in Japan. It has the things we like inn a gas trimmer, but not necessarily a brush cutter. There’s a two-stroke engine displacing 25 cm³ and pushing 1.3 horsepower. There is a straight shaft going from the motor to the head. So far so good.

As with all 2-stroke engines, pure gasoline must be used. No ethanol can be used. The gasoline has to be mixed with motor oil. On top of the mixture, it’s also a good idea to add fuel stabilizer to the refill tank so that there are no problems during the season. And finally, the unit needs to be drained at the end of the season.

In our review of the user data, most found this unit easy to assemble. Which is what you would expect since the unit was practically fully assembled when it comes out the box.

Most found that the unit was easy to start.

So far so good.

Idle, Ergonomics, Usage

With that good start, we could not find any complaints about the idle, or needing carb adjustments.

When it came to usage, many found the unit was not ergonomic and was very difficult to use for long periods of time. The handle is not padded, so the vibration can get to be a bit much. It does not come with a harness, so adding a strap is a good idea.

And as a trend with this manufacturer the trimmer head was not very good. The line is supposed to feed when the head is bumped. Further, adding more line to unit should not be difficult. Many users complained that either or neither of these things happenened. And it’s not very clear whether you can replace the stock head with the Tanaka “No Brainer”

With respect to fuel, some found the unit to be fuel efficient. But others found the tank to be inadequate, the fuel lines to be poor, and common sense features like a gas cap keeper were not present.

Concerns

As with all power tools, they’re great when they’re running. But wear and tear leads to maintenance and repairs. For this particular unit, there were a few frustrated users who could not get through to customer service, nor could they find service centers to take the unit. It is important to locate factory approved qualified service personnel in your area anytime you make a purchase like this.

We’re still waiting for more information about the long term viability of these units, but since they have been discontinued, that information is hard to come by.

Conclusion

Overall, we feel that the TBC 255 PF is a decent trimmer, but the vibration is an issue. We would definitely add an aftermarket harness if there is going to be a lot of use.

Blue Max Brush Cutter 52623 Review

Introduction

Now we’re talking. Big 2 stroke motor, bike bar handles, hefty debris shield, straight shaft…lemme at that fence line with this baby. But who is Blue Max? Are they reliable? This is our general criteria for all brush cutters.

Just on the features, this is a good option, but what did the users have to say?

Specs, Assembly, Starting

This is a monster brush cutter. It is a two-stroke engine with 42.6 cm³ of displacement putting out 1.6 HP. This is definitely not made for puttering around the petunias.

Since there is a two stroke engine you need to mix the gas and the oil. That means true gasoline no ethanol. Ethanol will degrade carburetor and also eat up the fuel lines.

Most found this unit was easy to assemble and easy to start.

Idle, Ergonomics, and Usage

True to form, with any 2-stroke engine, chances are good that you will have to adjust the carburetor for it to run and idle properly.

In terms of ergonomics incident with that handlebars but many found it was not very balanced. It does come with a harness just not a very good harness. And that’s a problem because the unit is considered heavy by most users. The design flaw is that it’s only a one strap harness, instead of two or multi-strap harness. With only one strap holding up the weight, the machine ends up digging in to your shoulder. That’s not anything that an aftermarket harness wouldn’t fix, but it’s those small user friendly details that a lot of manufacturers drop the ball on.

And many users found that the vibration from such a big motor was a little more than they bargained for. One user even commented that the vibe shook a bolt loose. With the bolts and screws, a little Loctite never hurt anyone. But the vibration also affects the user. That’s something to keep in mind when you’re thinking about using this for a full day.

It will run for a good long time. In terms of how long it can keep going, surprisingly for such a large unit many found it was very fuel efficient. I would not expect a 50 cc engine to be so parsimonious. Now if you have a lot of dense or heavy foliage, opening up the throttle to full will not be as fuel efficient.

If you’re going to do a big job or work for a long time most found it was a good idea to sharpen the blade comes with or swap out for better blade. The big motor and fuel tank plus a sharp blade will make short work of any thing that needs clearing.

And with all of that brush being cut, the debris guard is larger than most. Some users found that size notwithstanding, the guard was actually flimsy.

Long Term Concerns, Maintenance, and Serviced

With all power tools, especially those running on gasoline and bought via the internet, there are bound to be issues. Maybe there was some jostling of the parts during the shipping process. As always, before you make a purchase, investigate whether you there is an authorized service center near you. Blue Max products are manufactured and distributed by North American Tool Industries.

Conclusion

In general, we think this brush cutter is a buy because

The Motor
The Power
The Shaft
The fuel tank capacity and efficiency

Our main concerns are

Lack of harness
Vibration

TCG22EASSLP Brush Cutter Review

Introduction

We like this as a string trimmer more than as a brush cutter. Shame it’s been discontinued.

Specs, Assembly, Start

This unit with 9.7 pounds. It is a two-stroke engine with 21.1 cm³ of displacement making 1.2 hp of displacement. You cannot use ethanol in his engine since it is a two-stroke engine. Ethanol will gum up the carburetor and corrode the fuel lines. And two strokes require the same maintenance, pre-mixing the fuel and motor oil, adding stabilizer to the fuel, and making sure to drain the tank at the end of the season. Speaking of fuel, you might not be in love with placement of the gas tank. One user found that the design did not make it dead simple to fill.

For gas trimming needs it has a loop handle and a straight shaft. We’ve discussed earlier the benefits of a a straight shaft versus a curved shaft for brush cutting. When it comes to trimming weeds, what you lose in the power and reliability of a straight shaft, you make up for in maneuverability.

Out of this box this does not include a brush blade or a harness. It’s definitely a string trimmer, but a swap out of the bump head with a blade could get you in business.

It was very easy to assemble and the manual was actually useful for a change

Starting, Idle, and Ergonomics

Most found it was easy to start some even said it was good for women.

If the idle is not to your liking, given your environment and climate, to adjust the carburetor yourself you need a new special tool.

Once it’s up and running users found that

Good for tall and short people. (Undoubtedly helped by the straight shaft)
Using the unit it vibrates heavily when it’s actually cutting the brush.
There was a mixed discussion over whether it was heavy, light weight, or had a good balance. That may be something that is dependent on a user’s overall strength and tolerance
Oddly, many found the unit to be quiet. (Well as quiet as a gasoline motor strapped to your back can be)

Usage

Overall, most uses found the unit to be quite powerful. Users cleared 1 acre, 1.5 acres, 2 acres, 2.5 acres, 6 acres, 8 acres and 10 even acres.With good power comes a decent amount of debris headed back their way. The unit has a small shield in comparison to other units, so as usual always wear protection when using.

The main issue with Tanaka string trimmers is the bump head. This unit is no exception. Many people had issues with the bump head and resolved to buy the quick load head instead. Seems to me Tanaka could have just shipped it with the quick load in stead.

Running the unit for a while, one has to be aware of the exhaust gas. All two strokes are noisier than 4 strokes and put off noxious exhaust, but on this model the user has to be careful so that they do not leave a body part in the exhaust stream. They could get burned if they do not follow the manufacturer’s guidance.

Indeed, the issues were so serious with this model that the factory issued a recall.

Longevity, Repairs, Service and Warranty

With respect to longevity, the warranty is good for two years of commercial use and five years for residential use.

This unit has a seven year warranty overall.

Conclusion

You can still find these in stores. When it works, it works well. The bump head limitations and overheating issues are something you should take note of before purchasing.

Tanaka Brush Cutter TCG31EBSP Review

Now this is a brush cutter!

At the motor, it puts out a nice 1.4 horse power. Weighs in at 20 pounds. That power works the cutting head through a single straight shaft. And you control the monster with bike bar handles. This is generally the sort of numbers we look for when it comes to a consumer/pro-sumer grade brush cutter.

And turns out that we liked it as much as the other users out there. Recommend.

With stats like that, what did the regular users think?

Assembly and Start Up

This unit is considered easy to assemble. The shaft and the gear set come assembled. All you need to do is put on the handles and bump head/brushcutter. Though it is always a good idea to give it a once over before you start operating. You never know if a piece got bumped on the delivery. Once put together, it’s time to start it.

Many users found it was easy to start. Easy start is a general industry advancement. When we were kids, you had to be John Bunyan to get some of these machines to start.

Once it got going, most found that this motor did not idle well. As is the case with many modern 2-stroke engines, for emission reasons, the carburetors are not always tuned to local conditions. Maybe you’re not at sea level. Maybe you operate in an environment that is hotter than most or colder than most.

You need to be able to adjust the carburetor. For that, you’ll need a carburetor tool, many of which you can find on ebay.

Most found that this motor did not idle well, so that means to me that you need to adjust it. That’s rather annoying if I may editorialize. I wonder if there is that much emissions savings in comparison to what can happen if you do not manage the brush and foilage?

Ergonomics and Use

With a unit this heavy and this powerful, after you manage to get the thing running, can you operate it?

So to deal with the weight, you have to use a harness. Luckily the unit does come with a harness. Many users found that the harness was not an obvious thing to put on. One user found that if you were hooked into the harness, it actually made it difficult to start the unit. Damned if you do…

Brush Cutting

When everything has been assembled, fueled, harness put on correctly, started promptly, idles perfect – how does it cut?

Most found that it worked quite well. Goes through 2-3″ saplings, high grass, and bushes. Though it still weighs 20lbs, it makes the work easy.

Weed Eating

This is primarily a brush cutter site, but many of you will just want to change out the heads and turn this monster loose on your backyard. Many of the Tanaka weed eaters that we cover have the same issues. The string feeder tends not feed well, hard to refill, and hard to disassemble and reassemble. We would suggest getting an aftermarket string feeder to go with this wonderful engine.

Longevity, Warranty and Repairs

Like most brushcutters and 2 stroke gas trimmers, making sure that you use 100% gasoline and absolutely no ethanol is crucial. Ethanol does quite a number on the internals of a typical two stroke. It will gum up the carburetor as well as corrode the fuel lines.

So when it comes to fuel, just some reminders

Always use 100% gasoline
Add a gasoline stabilizer in the container that you store your fuel in
When the season is over drain the tank.
Remove the spark plug
Clean the air filter
keep out of reach of children.

When it comes to warranties and after-purchase service, there are countless tales of the staff at Tanaka coming through. A good stop gap is also to check to see if there’s a Tanaka service center near you. In terms of after purchase service many were okay with.

Conclusion

Overall, we do recommend the TCG31EBSLP. For brushcutting, the main downside is the weight. But that’s the story with every brush cutter. As a weed eater, we think there are better choices.