Are these true brush cutters in that they have bicycle style/wide-grip handlebars and are 'worn' w/ a wearable strap harness that fits over your arms/shoulders? When used properly, a heavier weight trimmer/brush cutter becomes a whole lot more bearable & comfortable...not to mention SAFER. If so, all these weights sound really light for a brush cutter.

 

None has bicycle handles, didn't have any idea that it mattered.

My inexperience shines through

Thank you

 

Husqvarna does not seem to make a bicycle handle model. But their blade conversion kit has J handle and harness

Will that be good/safe enough???

Thanks

 

Well I was wrong

The Husqvarna site did not show all the models at least I was not able to see it

But they do have a variation on the 525 which comes with bicycle handles and a blade

525RX

Though it seems that the lower geared higher torque 525RXT is not available in the US

Similarly Makita makes EM2750UH again with bicycle handles and blade, and again no lower gearing

So... now which one?

The Husqvarna is 2-stroke while Makita is 4-stroke lower nominal HP yet supposedly high torque

Thanks

 

avic, hopefully someone w/ more brush cutting experience chimes in for you. Given this hill you've got, my advice may not count for much. From what you've described you might even be needing more power than what you've outlined thus far.

Another option is to use a harness for a non-bicycle handled model. Again, I'll defer to others around here w/ more experience.

 

You need to get something with the handlebars and the strap. Without those you are going to be done forever in about 2 hours. Just standing on a steep hill is hard enough. Make life a lot easier for yourself. Get and use the strap & handlebars.

 

Thanks

I got a four point harness for the rental I tried

So handlebar wins over low gearing

Question

Can the gearbox be replaced? I.e. buy the handlebar version and if I find that it doesn’t have enough torque, get a replacement lower ratio gearbox from the high torque version of the respective model?

I might just be fretting over nothing. But just in case

 

I doubt you can change the gearbox. Keep on looking, you'll find the right machine.

 

2-stroke 525RX vs 4-stroke EM2650UH?

Which one would you pick for thick (but not woodsy) brush. Stalks about 1/2-3/4”

Not taking into consideration anything else such as weight or maintenance etc

 

I have no idea. My point is that whatever you get you need the strap and handlebars.