Stihl or husky battery hedge trimmer?

[jose]

i love the HLA 86 WHEN they work (ie new) but they dont last!  We go through probably 2 a year.

Go all floppy on the heads, and then the electrics just give up the ghost. Will die off and randomly months later start working again!

Best if you can leave for the fine hedge cutting (ie thin material thats regrowth).

The battery side is fine, ive got really old original batteries from when they first came out still going strong!

Anything tough we grab the petrol 82rc. They take abuse! they can cut when really loppers or a small saw should be used. But i find they dont hold their tune for long and become a pain to start.

 

Also run a petrol long reach that tbf is pretty decent. but only a year and bit old so will see how that lasts i guess

 

Never tried Husky battery as in Honeybrothers a few months back and they said nobody was that impressed with them.

 

Currently trying out Kress. Got a pole saw and hedge cutter. 2 batteries.

Whole team seems really happy so far.

Best part is 2 screws and you can swap the head and you have a stupidly long hedge trimmer that gives you a free arms work out at the same time!

so far the only down side id say is the batteries dont tend to last quite as long as stihl but bring a charger thats no problem.

The do sell a fast charger that does it in like 8 minutes but i dont need that. Also it sounds great but it isnt cheap. Ive seen some of their set ups (small van racked out with power banks ) but it goes for like 10K!!!!

 

 

 

[Dan Maynard]

2 hours ago, Stubby said:

Would be ridiculously head heavy if that were the case . Unusable I would have thought . 

That's how my Makita long arm works, motor at top end. The motor itself is small, balances well with battery in the base - motor directly above the blade also saves a gearbox taking the drive round the corner joint which helps balance.

Edited February 26 by Dan Maynard
Motor at top

[Bombadil]

1 hour ago, jose said:

 

 

Never tried Husky battery as in Honeybrothers a few months back and they said nobody was that impressed with them.

 

 

 

 

We use the Husky long reach battery cutter, the 520, and really rate them. They have the really useful handle behind the battery, which means they are a very long reach, without the weight of any telescopic gubbins. Also, they seem to stay sharp for much longer than the Stihl cutters. 

[shillo]

I am leaning towards the husky option. not sure about the difference between the 520 and the 525 not sure if its worth the extra weight.

[Spoons]

Ive got both the 520 & 525 Husky trimmers. Both are great. The 520 is nice and light and great for small shrubs and hedges. The 525 is better for bigger hedges and thicker trims as its got more power and a regular trimmer head. I broke the 520 head casing when I found a screw and had to put a new one on and then heard from the shop that they've had others that have broken too. No problems so far with the 525. Used to use the Stihl ones but wasn't a fan as they always turn off after 3secs of not using it and became very vibratory. 

[Brushcutter]

I have the 522ihd75 hand held absolutely love it. I'd like the rough cut 60cm too. I've also got the 520 he3 and 4. Both have the motor at the top and battery at the bottom. They're good but easy to overload the blade. I'd like them to be a bit faster on the blade speed.

 

Not tried the. 525 yet but I fear I'd brake the trigger like the combi unit as it just sticks out the bottom and isn't enclosed like the 520. If it's like my 525 comi I guess the motor is at the bottom and the shaft runs up to a gear box like the STIHL ones.

 

Plus point husky bare units get a free battery at the moment on selected models  wouldn't be without them. Maybe the STIHL long reach is better but the blades are slower.