Echo hedge cutters

[waterbuoy]

Evening all

 

I'm looking to invest in a decent long-reach hedge cutter to try and tame some of our larger hedges - our trusty old HS45 is simply not up to the job as some of them have been left for 12 years or more and are over 6m high in places.  Thus far it has taken me the best part of a week to clear about 20m of ponticum using the 45, loppers and various tripod ladders and scaffolding.

 

I was initially looking at the larger long-reach cutters such as the Stihl Kombi 131 but have had the Echo HCA-2620ES-HD recommended to me by a local contractor.  Not only is it cheaper but (a) it can come as a similar combi-unit and (b) the 5-year domestic warranty suggests they have confidence in their build quality - the engines are still made in Japan for example.

 

Does anyone have experience of the Echo cutters - good or bad please? 

 

Thanks

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by waterbuoy
missed out words!

[rapalaman]

I’ve had a HCA2620ES long reach for a couple of years and it’s been faultless. Only mod I made was to take the plastic guard/guide off the cutter bar as it seemed more of a hindrance than a help. I also have a short trimmer, forget the model, with 30” bar and that hasn’t missed a beat either. Fairly consistent use 2-3 days a week. 
will be buying a short long reach later this year 👍

[waterbuoy]

Thanks Rapalaman - good to hear

 

How do you find it handles the thicker/more woody stuff?  Whilst I see that it has a relatively wide tooth pitch of 35mm the stroke rate is pretty high at 5000/minute.  I understand that a lower rate is preferable for thicker stems, and a faster rate is better suited to fine finishing etc.