ride on brushcutter recomendations

[doobin]

5 hours ago, AHPP said:

The Etesia has a Kawasaki V twin. Not sure if it's the exact same one as on my dad's mower but if it is, I recommend it. Very easy to work on.

 

When is a ride on brushcutter a ride on brushcutter and not a mower btw? It's a thing with four wheels and a steel rotary cutting thing. I'd call that a mower but I am braced for education.

Larger, heavier blades. However most importantly an opening back and front to let taller thicker vegetation go under the deck without being flattened so much, and then be ejected easily behind once cut. 

[AHPP]

More cutty, less mulchy with the ejection being easier?

Edited July 11 by AHPP

[Muddy42]

10 hours ago, AHPP said:

The Etesia has a Kawasaki V twin. Not sure if it's the exact same one as on my dad's mower but if it is, I recommend it. Very easy to work on.

 

When is a ride on brushcutter a ride on brushcutter and not a mower btw? It's a thing with four wheels and a steel rotary cutting thing. I'd call that a mower but I am braced for education.

 

Thanks.  Yes the others have newer B&S engines which I understand are not perfect.  

 

Brushcutters or rough cut mowers have thicker blades, off road tyres, do not collect and are generally built to take more abuse.  

 

[Eric42]

I have the Grillo 9.22, bought as ex-demo 10 years ago for about £4k.

Generally it has been a good machine and always easy to get hold of reasonably priced spares when needed.

 

The Briggs and Stratton V twin gives it plenty of power to cut long grass but is very thirsty. It is on it’s second carburettor.

 

That low centre of gravity makes the machine very stable for cutting slopes and a lot of fun to drive, it feels more like a go-kart than a ride on mower. Hydraulics have been perfect. Heavy duty deck does a good job of preventing whatever has been inadvertently cut from flying out.

 

The electrical safety interlocks have caused most problems. Many times have turned the ignition key and heard only silence, particularly if it hasn’t been used for a few weeks. Moving the deck up and down a few times and/or moving the speed/direction lever usually get it going again. At first thought it was perhaps a mechanical problem with the micro switches being slightly out of position. Also as a precaution I changed all the relays. Now I am inclined to think it is the electrical contacts within the micro switches that when not used, possibly oxidise preventing enough current from flowing to energise the relays. Anyway, actuating the micoswitches several times seems to do the trick.

[Muddy42]

On 11/07/2025 at 18:26, Eric42 said:

I have the Grillo 9.22, bought as ex-demo 10 years ago for about £4k.

Generally it has been a good machine and always easy to get hold of reasonably priced spares when needed.

 

The Briggs and Stratton V twin gives it plenty of power to cut long grass but is very thirsty. It is on it’s second carburettor.

 

That low centre of gravity makes the machine very stable for cutting slopes and a lot of fun to drive, it feels more like a go-kart than a ride on mower. Hydraulics have been perfect. Heavy duty deck does a good job of preventing whatever has been inadvertently cut from flying out.

 

The electrical safety interlocks have caused most problems. Many times have turned the ignition key and heard only silence, particularly if it hasn’t been used for a few weeks. Moving the deck up and down a few times and/or moving the speed/direction lever usually get it going again. At first thought it was perhaps a mechanical problem with the micro switches being slightly out of position. Also as a precaution I changed all the relays. Now I am inclined to think it is the electrical contacts within the micro switches that when not used, possibly oxidise preventing enough current from flowing to energise the relays. Anyway, actuating the micoswitches several times seems to do the trick.

 

Thanks Eric.  Ive also bought a second hand Grillo Climber 9.22.  My thinking was this had the largest engine without being 4WD.  4WD would have been nice, but these are more expensive and there are more parts to go wrong.  I havn't felt I have needed the extra traction in the past, but maybe I will regret this.  For some reason the tyres have been shifted from tractor tyres to turf tyres, so I will probably return it to aggressive tractor tyres that will help with the traction.

 

Regarding your electrical issues, you might try a 'contact spray' to control the oxidization - the kind that you use to protect trailer electrics?  Alternatively I have bypassed all the safety systems in various mowers.  I haven't looked at the Grillo's electrics yet, but normally you have one circuit running to the ignition key that needs to be closed by the various safety switches to work.  Normally the safety circuit is a different colour from the black/red of the earth/positive - yellow or blue. A bit of continuity testing with an electrical tester will normally work this out. Let me know if you want me to figure out how the safety switches work on mine?