Brush cutter selection.

[Stroppymonkey]

Something I have wanted for 25 years and never justified to myself is a decent brush cutter. Just spent 2 hours smashing back thistles with a sharp hook and am knackered. Toying with treating myself to a decent tool. Don’t want cheap shite and don’t want cordless!
My little Sthil FS40? Trimmer has been amazingly reliable so possibly thinking of Sthil FS again. Won’t be huge use so probably 2 stroke makes more sense ?
Brambles docks and thistles and grass and some twiggy stuff…
Who’s got any pointers.
Thanks

 

[doobin]

Stihl FS460. Lovely anti vibe and enough power for anything. Doesn't make sense to buy an FS410 for fifty quid less.

I've two and they've never given any trouble.

4 way head with 2.7mm cord for brambles, docks and thistles. 2 way head with 2.4mm cord for grass. Mulching blade and guard for thick brambles etc.

 

[V8Druid]

Something I have wanted for 25 years and never justified to myself is a decent brush cutter. Just spent 2 hours smashing back thistles with a sharp hook and am knackered. Toying with treating myself to a decent tool. Don’t want cheap shite and don’t want cordless!
My little Sthil FS40? Trimmer has been amazingly reliable so possibly thinking of Sthil FS again. Won’t be huge use so probably 2 stroke makes more sense ?
Brambles docks and thistles and grass and some twiggy stuff…
Who’s got any pointers.
Thanks

got an FS80 which we 'inherited' from Pams dad - good little brush cutter
but
My Husqy 335R has been an awesome piece of kit ... had it s/h off the outgoing owners of Chez Druid in 2010 (they had it new in 2008) and it has done some work here since then and I mean SOME WORK !!
will stick the pace for hour after hour - regularly use it for 6 or 7 hrs continuously or more, on some pretty tough going

the other thing I would highly recommend is Stihl's 3.3mm square black cord -- have tried all sorts and this is the best by miles - it is awesome stuff

137m of Genuine STIHL 3.3mm Square Brushcutter Strimmer Trimmer Cord Line Wire | eBay UK

Being Genuine STIHL makes this line great quality and long lasting. Anything old or new we're happy to help fix up or find the parts you need. Square profile. Spare parts for older machines can be tricky to find, if you're struggling get in touch and we will search and search again to try and...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Smiffy]

Stihl FS460. Lovely anti vibe and enough power for anything. Doesn't make sense to buy an FS410 for fifty quid less.

I've two and they've never given any trouble.

4 way head with 2.7mm cord for brambles, docks and thistles. 2 way head with 2.4mm cord for grass. Mulching blade and guard for thick brambles etc.

The 410 makes more with grass. The 390 is to small for commercial cutting of thick grass. The 460 is great but uses a lot more petrol. This is measured on verge mowing contracts so probably more idle time than a lot of users but running 8 hours a day. Will use about a third more petrol in a 460. Obviously with verge mowing that means one third extra trips back to find the fuel can. Equates to quite a loss in production.

 

[doobin]

The 410 makes more with grass. The 390 is to small for commercial cutting of thick grass. The 460 is great but uses a lot more petrol. This is measured on verge mowing contracts so probably more idle time than a lot of users but running 8 hours a day. Will use about a third more petrol in a 460. Obviously with verge mowing that means one third extra trips back to find the fuel can. Equates to quite a loss in production.

If you run it on the throttle (not wide open all the time but according to the conditions) then there can't be much in it. Less revs needed for the same amount of string.

I can't believe 45cc vs 40cc means a third more fuel consumption.

When we did rights of way contracts we just carried fuel in an army belt. Had to be sure which can was which when going for your water bottle though!

 

[Smiffy]

If you run it on the throttle (not wide open all the time but according to the conditions) then there can't be much in it. Less revs needed for the same amount of string.

I can't believe 45cc vs 40cc means a third more fuel consumption.

When we did rights of way contracts we just carried fuel in an army belt. Had to be sure which can was which when going for your water bottle though!

It does make a surprisingly big difference. The 360 is better again but not powerful enough in the long grass so loose productivity. It depends how good the blokes on the mower/tractor are. A good bloke on the machine and they could make do with an fs90.

 

[aidank]

I am in need of a machine for cutting bloody heavy grass and briars along electric fence wire.

Have been doing it with a regular powerful hedge trimmer however brand new engine lasted 15hrs, it's getting overly hot and no breaks compared to cuttinga domestic hedge. Engine overheats and then piston scratching...........

Yes I am putting plenty oil in the fuel even down to 30 to 1 mix.

 

[doobin]

I am in need of a machine for cutting bloody heavy grass and briars along electric fence wire.

Have been doing it with a regular powerful hedge trimmer however brand new engine lasted 15hrs, it's getting overly hot and no breaks compared to cuttinga domestic hedge. Engine overheats and then piston scratching...........

Yes I am putting plenty oil in the fuel even down to 30 to 1 mix.

Buy a decent brand. Guessing your 'regular powerful hedgecutter' is Chinese.

A Stihl will do all you need for hundreds of hours.

 

[Smiffy]

Buy a decent brand. Guessing your 'regular powerful hedgecutter' is Chinese.

A Stihl will do all you need for hundreds of hours.

That's not in the true spirit of the forum doobin. He needs something diesel !! with hydraulics !! And a cup holder !!

 

[Gecko]

I am in need of a machine for cutting bloody heavy grass and briars along electric fence wire.

Cutting it is good, but glyfo will keep the wire clear for longer.

 

[aidank]

Buy a decent brand. Guessing your 'regular powerful hedgecutter' is Chinese.

A Stihl will do all you need for hundreds of hours.

its a japanese mainstream brand, rather than chinese

I guess im wondering is it possible to overheat a 2 stroke engine with hard work or have I an underlying issue that i havent discovered

 

[doobin]

its a japanese mainstream brand, rather than chinese

I guess im wondering is it possible to overheat a 2 stroke engine with hard work or have I an underlying issue that i havent discovered

Echo?

Should be next to impossible to overheat a two stroke as they are directly cooled by the flywheel fan. So long as thhose air vents are clear. Stihl and husky run oil at 50:1 so I’d expect a mainstream brand to require similar.

I think your hunch is right- I don’t think your piston has scored from overheating. I think youve had an underlying issue such as a crankcase seal gone which has led to the engine running lean and scoring.

 

[aidank]

Echo?

Should be next to impossible to overheat a two stroke as they are directly cooled by the flywheel fan. So long as thhose air vents are clear. Stihl and husky run oil at 50:1 so I’d expect a mainstream brand to require similar.

I think your hunch is right- I don’t think your piston has scored from overheating. I think youve had an underlying issue such as a crankcase seal gone which has led to the engine running lean and scoring.

with such a leak it would be over revving would it not

i wear ear defenders but i didnt' think it was doing that