Long reach Hedge trimmer. Help

[Pig Champion]

Its reached the point where I need to invest in a long reach. Have heard good things about the Echo HCA 265ES and its within my budget ( less than £500.00 ). I'm happy to order it online, but worried about getting parts for should it malfunction. Nearest dealer to me ( Northumberland ) is in Cumbria. I've had bad experiences with Husqvarna in the past. So that leaves Stihl HK95. Will I have to carry a separate fuel mix for 4 mix? What about Shindiawa, are they hardy and reliable. I do a fair bit of hedge work. My brain hurts.

 

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[Random Rob]

Tanaka worth a look, we.ve had em years. Japanese throughout and normal 2 stroke engines.

[Richard 1234]

I would avoid the 4 mix if I were you!

Heard good things about Honda stuff but a bit over budget (about £350 for the engine 35cc one and another £225 I think for long reach trimmer) I've borrowed one of these and it's brilliant if a little heavy and the engines are bullet proof. I will be getting one in time for my hedge cutting in the autumn, I don't do many in the rest of the year and no tall ones anyway. If I get asked to do one before I will buy it sooner though!

[GardenKit]

Tanaka seldom get a mention on here, but its the only one I have ever sold. I have found them to be the most reliable of any, and believe me I see many different makes on my bench.

 

I have sold many hundreds of them over the years since around 1990 and had very few problems.

 

The only drawback is that the head only has 135 degrees of movement, which is perfectly adequate for hedgecutting but as it does not fold down against the shaft its not as good for transportation.

[Fredward]

I just bought a Husky 525 something combi, dealer mentioned the motor was Japanese made and so far it is a very nice unit. Has a very ergonomic trigger handle which reduces vibrations and is a dream to start and run. Echo and Shinny made good stuff, especially engines, but have found with their saws they are not the most ergonomic and the parts surrounding the engine fail more easily than the Stihl/Husky machines.

[Fredward]

I was put off of the 4-mix by the user reviews on here, and the thought of carrying different fuel mix. The Stihl was marginally cheaper than my Husky, but the Husky came with strimmer head.

[IVECOKID]

I swear by the 4mix engines and no you don't a separate can just the same has normal for your 2stroke machines .

 

I have said this before but had no issues in 7years of daily use and STIHL has original spark plug and needs no choke to start most of the time .

 

Its been battered on large estates cutting hawthorn hedges daily and gearbox has been faultless and I have tapped a grease nipple too keep greased regular .

 

Have replaced blades once has I worn original set out .

 

Ste

[treesrus]

i've been using echo long reach, both the multi-tool and the single arm, since they came out. As with all heavily used machinery, you get wear and tear and breakages. BUT the echo has a good balance, is lightweight, reliable and a pleasure to use. a few little niggles are the older model, imo, have a better cutter angle adjustment, and the ability to fold the cutters all the way back for transport required some minor alteration. as regard spares, no problem, get the part number right, and countax will get you next day delivery or shortly thereafter.

[Shane]

i've been using echo long reach, both the multi-tool and the single arm, since they came out. As with all heavily used machinery, you get wear and tear and breakages. BUT the echo has a good balance, is lightweight, reliable and a pleasure to use. a few little niggles are the older model, imo, have a better cutter angle adjustment, and the ability to fold the cutters all the way back for transport required some minor alteration. as regard spares, no problem, get the part number right, and countax will get you next day delivery or shortly thereafter.

 

!!!!!???? Are you related to Marius Pudzanowski?

I really like my Echo telescopic but it must be twice the weight of the Stihl.

 

It is more robust, without a doubt, and designed to do the job but it is bleedin heavy to use and the trigger mech makes it hard to use in anything but the 'perfect' position.

 

It is good, but after all the rave revues on here I was disappointed that it's not as friendly to use as people say. We NEVER use it for hedge cutting for more than 5 minutes. After that your arms and back are ficked. We use it for cutting windblown stuff at a safe distance and 'tip-cutting' over phone lines but I cannot recommend it for trimming tall/long hedges - sorry.

[treesrus]

Long reach and telescopic ain't the same machine.