Q: 40" Hedge Trimmers

[diyer999]

I need to get a 40" hedge trimmer. A dealer told me the issue is the gearbox. So, what brands make quality gears? Please state what you base your opinion on.

Btw, I am reading about many of the new models from all of the top names as having problems with the increased use of alcohol in the gasoline and the new emissions standards. What year did these changes take place and what previous years/model hedge trimmers should I consider? I think this is the key issue and what I should look for. For example, I keep reading about the Stihl FS80 Trimmer, the RedMax 8001 blower.

I would like to get something by one of the following mfrs: Echo, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, Maruyama, RedMax, Shindaiwa, Stihl. However, Makita, Mantis/Little Wonder, and Tanaka do not currently make the 40" size. I'm not brand loyal, but I do need something reliable and durable. Price doesnt matter, but those longer 5 year warranties sure are tempting, and in that sense Echo and Kawasaki are sucking in the profits. How can they offer that if they are making junk? (Seems silly for Shindaiwa and RedMax not to follow suit). Of course no mfr can guarantee 100% quality control, and no mfr has the classic model of everything, some models are just destined to be lemons. I also believe that the markup has a great deal to do with what brands a dealer will push. Reviews are worthless, cause for every good thing said about a brand, there is always someone knocking it, usually without any real hard data -- they got the lemon model. I also think that some brands are more common than others are in certain regions, but that proves little. In Pa most of the landscapers like RedMax Blowers; String Trimmers seems divided by RedMax and Echo. Stihl rules the Chainsaws. Husq and Maruyama have been around a long time, but I dont know what they do well. Husq seesm to have a very diverse product line. I cannot find any Maruyama dealers anywhere, but they will order it in ... kinda afraid to take a chance, even with a 5 year "commercial" warranty.

As for other brands like "Royal Red Emperor" from Harbor Freight, or K-Mart's buy one get one free deals, sorry, I'm not interested in having troubles. These are the brands that really give you a headache.

I would love to have them all lined up and try them all out but such things are never possible.

Thank you all in advance,
diyer

[GeeVee]

why do you need 40"? Its going to be heavy..... A short shaft with 28-32 is all you want to put your arms through.

I have owned Echo, TanaKA and Stihl.

Echo- gear box problems can be counted on. One way to combat this is to have the blade clearances checked twice yearly. The bolts wear from friction with/on the moving blades and have to be tightened to the right tolerances. I usually got PLENTY of hard commercial use from them, but replaced them once gear box issues started.

Tanakas worked well, wasn't unhappy with them either.

Then I got the Stihl. Stihl blades without question, stayed sharp much longer. I am particular about blades being sharp for the health of the cut hedge. I had/have many types and lots of- hedge and shrubbery, and shredding certain hedge material is NOT good for it as a result of dull cutting blades.

I even used the older ones (echo) with GB problems to trim these certain little Palms we have down here. Faster than hand tools, but would finish the trimmers GB off eventually.

None will handle ethanol any better or worse, so forget about that. Find a Marina that is selling ethanol free and get two gallons at a time.

Do not get an articulated head unless you absolutely have to. More gear, more weight. With scaffold, ladders, sawhorses, stand on top of the atv, what ever, find another way to improve reach. I use my Cat rubber track "bobcat" as a ladder. my son and I take turns driving parrallel to the hedge and trimming (top height). We are using a stihl with a five foot shaft, and articulated head, and if you cant trim with it at waist high (keeping arms extended) it wears you out, even trimming the height, if its over your head, it better be arms locked out high.

[diyer999]

why do you need 40"? ... and if you cant trim with it at waist high (keeping arms extended) it wears you out, even trimming the height, if its over your head, it better be arms locked out high.

I have an 18 or 20" Echo with a double sided blade. I haven't had any problems with it, but there is this big fat evergreen bush that needs to be cut, and using the Echo is wearing me out - taking way too much time, that I would rather spend on other things. Its like you said, if you cant trim at waist high it wears you out. But this bush thing is very wide and about 20 feet long, so I have found a way to cut it waist height but I need the 40" length to get the top cut, once from one side and a second cut form the other side; otherwise its all kinds of stretching - another thing I would prefer to avoid. My son in law is a landscaper and he likes the 30" max, but a 30" only gives me 12" more over what I got. Heck, Kawasaki makes a 44" and Husqvarna makes a 42.5" I fine with 40, don't need a 42.5 or 44, but a 30" is also gonna require some stretching.

Diyer

[buster57]

"We are using a stihl with a five foot shaft, and articulated head, and if you cant trim with it at waist high (keeping arms extended) it wears you out, even trimming the height, if its over your head, it better be arms locked out high."

I use the exact same set up and you are 100% CORRECT.