i am debating which backpack brushcutter to get. vibe levels are biggest issue-
on paper the stihl fr 130 t is good. however i have an fs (?) 90r loop handle strimmer which seems to have worsened my carpal tunnel (numbness) syndrome.
i am therefore a bit wary about getting another 4 mix machine, even though it's vibe figures are lower than the the normal strimmer. i think engine noise might be bit crap, nearer to ears! regret buying the fs 90 r (loop handle?)- stihl have let themselves down here!
echo is strong possibility- have an echo brushcutter which is good. price is 600 plus, same as stihl but disadvantage of not being able to fit hedgecutter(?)
on paper lawnflite poss has the lowest vibe levels just above 2 m/s . plus it has a 45 cc kawasaki engine. only thing i not heard owt about them. not sure how good it's engine to frame mounts are- frame is plastic, but not sure if it has a metal plate underneath to strengthen it?
also the lawnflite is by far the cheapest at £400!!!
therefore it looks best option, my dealer cannot get them and says parts supply for lawnflite is bit iffy!??
i know some stihl parts dear, etc.
any knowledge welcome particularly regarding the lawnflite, thanks!
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hi Richard
witch dealer do you use (your not far from me) as above don't go for a loop handle go for the cow horns with a harness rather than a sling
I baught an FR130t because of my carpal tunnel. I highly recomend it, the CT is much better and I find the fr easy to use, and you can add all the Kombi tools too!
Richard
thanks for replies- looks like the lawnflite is bad option!
i have an echo srm 5000 cowhorn which is very good but it bothers my hip a bit with all that swinging. maybe i should retire but only 42...
i need one that's a bit handier for slopes that's why backpack.
will prob go for the stihl. i have the stihl long reach hedgecutter hl 100 which seems lot smoother than loop strimmer fr 90. gonna try fitting the hl cutter onto the fr 90 just to see if it is the strimmer head causing vibes. the fr90 does not seem to run as smooth. also it has the white vented casing just above the handle made of plastic- on the hl 100 the same casing is alloy!
i think poss the hedgecutters and strimmers are worse than saws for carpal tunnel...
my dealer is andrew's garden machinery at sherburn in elmet.
he does repairs but also dealer for stihl,echo,makita, hayter,/toro,etc. not much stock in as he no showroom but he knows the business.
i do a few dyke banks and stuff so really has to be a non wheeled machine- i have a ride on and a ferguson tractor with topper for long grass- beats a brushcutter!
gonna fit hedge cutter of hl 100 onto my fs90r loop handle strimmer to determine which end is causing the vibe problems.been using longreach hl100 today and its loads smoother than fs90r strimmer, even though vibe figures are only a few points different.before i bought fs90r i tried stihl combi with blade-it was loads smoother than my strimmer even though vibe figures are much higher?!!!
Hi richard, i have the echo back pack strimmer and even though i am a card carrying member of the echo fan club i would not recommend it. I don't think the ergonomics are quite right as it feels very awkward to use and it has quite a habit of snapping the flexible drive shafts which are not that cheap to replace.
briggsandscrapem said:
thanks for that briggsandscrapem- i will give the echo a miss, good advice.
i have a great echo strimmer, the pas 265(? sommat like), least it was til it started failing after about 3 years. put a new carb on and was ok for a bit then failed again. mechanic said piston damage. apparently their smaller engines are short life ones. bigger engines should be better, but with what you said i defo get the stihl!