STIHL battery long hedge cutter life?

[Old Mill Tree Care]

So has anyone been using the long reach trimmers for a while and what is the verdict?

Inparticular the HLA 86, 66 and 56.

 

Build quality?

Design /good/flaws?

Reliability?

 

Any relevant observations are appreciated.

Thanks

Al.

[peds]

I have the 86, and I love it for what it is, but I just don't do all-day big long hedges. 

 

There are moments when I wish it had just a little bit more oomph, but it's not often. It depends what kind of hedge you'd ask it to tackle, really.

 

I really don't want to talk it down because, again, I love mine, but I can imagine an employee or a subbie being handed one on a job site and feeling... underwhelmed. 

 

As for build quality, mine is holding up fine after... 2 years now I think, good as new, but I don't exactly use it as a daily driver.

 

But it's light, it's long, you can throw it around all day (if you have another battery on charge), and as long as the hedge hasn't actually escaped and needs burning down altogether, it does just grand.

[Stere]

I had a go with a customers the  HLA86 one, I thought it was abit rubbish for a supposedly "pro" machine   versus my makita cordless short reach.

 

Lots slower and weaker didn't cut the  chunky-ish diameter hornbeam well. (1yrs growth)

 

Id avoid it but I only used it for less than 10mins then went back to using the makita from a ladder. maybe is ok for hedges cut more  often not just once a year....

 

Maybe the HLA135 is better as looks like the top "pro" one?

 

 

 

Not sure how they differ apart from bigger the number =  better  but whats are the actually build differences ?

 

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by Stere

[Mark Bolam]

I got the cheapo HLA56 and rate it.

 

It’s very much a hedge TRIMMER, pointless trying to rag it through tough stuff, that’s what the HS82R is for.

 

Battery life is excellent, the 2 it came with will do a day’s cutting.

Vibes are excellent, my kombi was killing my hands.

0.5m extension poles are only £30.

 

There’s a bit of an annoying ‘extra safety grip’ as well as the triggers, but nothing a cable tie won’t fettle.

 

I killed my first head in a year by abusing it.

You can’t buy a replacement head on it’s own, you have to buy the whole bare unit, which seems daft.

 

You can’t run it as your only hedgecutter, but it’s a pretty capable tool.

[adw]

The gearboxes are the weakest link with all the pole trimmers, I appreciate they need to reduce weight however, the bearings, rods and gears are of what I would term as heavy duty domestic, the power is not up to much, over filling with grease can also reduce power.

[Grassyass]

We have been using the 85/86 for the last four years ,the first set of 85 went trough a motor 4 times in the first year , have the 66 as well , I think we have done 10 motors in total on 6 sets no other issues apart from that had them wet all day , the problem that dose the motor is the shaft is to thin and once the motor gets hot it bends easy, so if you treat them gently when hot they are ok ,I think they are better than petrol  as they are easy on the arms and shoulders no noise or fumes in your face when using them at head height, 

[peds]

10 minutes ago, Grassyass said:

I think they are better than petrol  as they are easy on the arms and shoulders no noise or fumes in your face when using them at head height, 

 

That's exactly it, I'm more than happy for a slight drop in power for the lack of fumes. 

[Old Mill Tree Care]

On 18/08/2024 at 11:49, Stere said:

I had a go with a customers the  HLA86 one, I thought it was abit rubbish for a supposedly "pro" machine   versus my makita cordless short reach.

 

Lots slower and weaker didn't cut the  chunky-ish diameter hornbeam well. (1yrs growth)

 

Id avoid it but I only used it for less than 10mins then went back to using the makita from a ladder. maybe is ok for hedges cut more  often not just once a year....

 

Maybe the HLA135 is better as looks like the top "pro" one?

 

 

 

Not sure how they differ apart from bigger the number =  better  but whats are the actually build differences ?

 

 

 

 

So I would be tempted by the HLA135 but it's more expensive and the dealer says its sucks the battery faster. Choices, choices!

[Mark_Skyland]

On 18/08/2024 at 16:13, adw said:

The gearboxes are the weakest link with all the pole trimmers, I appreciate they need to reduce weight however, the bearings, rods and gears are of what I would term as heavy duty domestic, the power is not up to much, over filling with grease can also reduce power.

That's the truth. It doesn't matter what the brand or whether its petrol or battery all the long reach hedge trimmers have gearbox issues. The bearings just aren't up to the job. Once the bearings start to go the gears get destroyed in no time. Grease the gearbox more than you think you need to and store the machine so if its wet the water won't run down the pole or blades and into the gearbox. 

 

[gand]

If your looking at battery HL range get the HLA 135.Yes it's not telescopic but has a solid drive shaft and the motor is at the back away from the abuse of cutting. Unlike the HLA 66/86