[Mariask]

Hi peeps

We're looking to buy a decent, mid-range brushcutter. We don't have a huge amount of land, but what we do have is largely undergrowth, brambles and tussocky grass. On a slope.

Everyone says that Stihls are excellent - but they're hugely expensive too  .

We've come across the Husqvarna 143R-II, and I wondered if anyone here had any opinions on whether that's likely to be a good buy, or any recommendations for other makes/models which are likely to be up to the job?

Thanks v much!

[Hassle]

Husqvarna get a  from me I use one of there chainsaws and no matter how hard I treat it it keeps cutting.  It's about 15 if not more years old. Parts are still available, I've had a couple of gaskets go on mine, that's all.

Husqvarna also make sewing machines, which has given me more stick when I first bought it but I've seen the repair bills for stihls so I got the last laugh.

Don't bother with the plastic string unless you're cutting grass. Stick with the rough metal cutter.

Don't forget solid face mask, anti vibration gloves and ear defenders as minimum PPE as the day you find a glass bottle you're body will thank you.

[MikeM]

you won't go wrong with either a husky or a stihl (I prefer stihl personally, I find them easier to maintain at home). I have a tanaka 'cutter, and while it feels quality (if that makes sense) within a week of using it I had to replace a split fuel line. That said, since then it's been fine (tho I generally use my scythe more).

[Julestools]

I like to use a scythe un level ground but among shrubs and trees a brushcutter is far better. I always had Stihl brushcutters and chainsaws and they lasted for years but when they got nicked a replaced them with Ryobi. Much cheaper but nowhere near as good. Stihl and Husky have always been among the best although there are a lot of Stihl copys coming from China so beware

[Womble]

I've got a Husky 143 R-11 and would definitely recommend. Yes it was expensive, but it just works, and feels as though it will continue to just work for a good time yet.  The fuel consumption is also much lower than you might expect, which is a wee bonus.

[Mariask]

Thanks to all for the recommendations and suggestions. It sounds like the Husky would be perfect for us. All I need to do now is find a stockist in the UK who's willing to ship to France for me, or a local French supplier who isn't charging the earth for it in the first place!

Ta again. Much appreciated!

[Le Recoignot]

Hi


We are in France also, I have found that 'motoculture' is much the same price as in the UK. Recently we bought a self propelled rotovator with Honda engine for 850 Euros from Espace Emeraud (depots all over) a bit like a huge country store. As for a brushcutter we use a Ryobi strimmer that has a removeable lower shaft and replace the latter with a Soneva brushcutter head. It works OK but doesent have cow horn handles which in hindsight are essential. If you are determined to buy in UK try on line at Mow Direct or similar on line shop, but bear in mind if it goes wrong it needs to be repaired locally in France!

[90driver]

Hi,

In addition to the above I would recommend the Echo range. I have had one for years and it has been excellent, in addition to work on the farm I do the local church yard too, so it gets plenty of use. Has their "elasti start" system that makes it a doddle to start..


Good luck

[southernskye]

Agreed 90driver.
I have Echo equipment and the brushcutter, despite several years of not-too-loving care still does the job every time. I use an aftermarket "string head" called jet that just allows fixed lengths of chord to be clamped into it. Got some v heavy duty chord and a steel bruesh cutter head. Would advise CowHorn handles if it would be used for prolonged periods.
 
Just bought a single-sided Echo hedge trimmer too. Excellent machine.
 
Rgds
Sskye

[Mariask]

I just thought I'd resurrect this thread to say that we now have our Husqvarna 143 R-11 and it's great. Just what we needed. So thanks for confirming that it would be a good buy - we think it was! I'll let you know in 10 years if it was a *brilliant* choice. 

[shygirl]

mine is a castel garden (or something like that) it has a cord and a blade. the blade will cut mature docks which breaks the cord.

[wonderwooly]

stilh or husky and also echo but make sure your local guy is a specialist in whatever you buy, mines a stihl guy and even though were pretty isolated he can get any thing in a matter on days and knows the system backwards, also chucks in loads of freebees and info to boot being local he wants to keep the business and to make a saw of any description work year after year it'll need a service. we have a lot to work on so I got
a fs410 to start and would not look back, it'll cut through anything including bamboo! although I have been using other stuff for some years first, you need to work out what your going to use it for and don't under power the job, otherwise you will put strain on the machine, and it wont last as long as it should. 
but that said I also have a goat, well several and i find putting them on a 2 mt high really brambly bit the best slotion of all, then cut after with a crescent shaped long handled slasher is really effective, and much cheaper!
good luck 

[Still playing with tractors]

All of our kit is Husky  very reliable

[Glencairn]

I wanted to bump this old thread back to the top as I have had one of these Husqvarna 143R-II brushcutters for three years from new. I think I got mine shortly before this model was superseded by a newer version.

My reasons for getting this model were that there was no directly equivalent stihl in this price bracket. Echo although they are very good are very expensive for a borderline professional grade brushcutter.

The reason I wanted a machine of this spec was that I wanted to use the spool on it to cut the garden and the blade attachment for beating back ferns in the woods.

There were just a couple of small teething problems, firstly that the trigger would snag and not depress, I've had this in bits about three times, each time taking a little more off the plastic catch with wet and dry paper. I think it's almost where it should be now.

The second observation was one entirely of my own making, I've been running the two stroke mix at 1:40 to protect the cylinder and I adjusted the tick over on the carb accordingly. It turns out I had let it out a bit too much and it just didn't run that well. A three quarter turn of the screw the opposite direction and the thing flies again!

A few minor niggles - the harness does appear to be a bit on the cheap side for a product in this part of the range. The other is that I don't believe these are made in Sweden like the pro husqvarna product line is. Therefore the plastics are shinier, but this is just a minor disappointment to be fair.

All in all not a bad piece of kit and I would struggle to find something producing the same power with a 43cc engine for a similar price. Hopefully this will last me years!

[arobwk]

I have Husky blower/vac + hedge trimmer, brush-cutters from Makita and Efco and a Stihl auger and then I have a cheap Tondu extendible multi-tool (which was the lightest I could find).  You know what, the cheapo Tondu is the one that always starts 1st time and idles good:  it went through a few starter recoils in quick time at first, but ever since I retarded the ignition a tad (wider spark-plug gap) it has performed good (3 years on) and it has had a lot of use with all attachments.
So:  I'm not about say "go buy a Tondu" (as vibration damping not so good as more expensive brands), but neither am I going to say that buying an expensive Husky/Stihl/Efco/Makita etc is a must.  Go with your budget, BUT check the specs/any reviews carefully.
Final thoughts:
Weight:  More HP generally means more weight.  I reckon that a good cutter head and good line can compensate for lower HP (to some degree) with less haulage. 
Spares:  Ready availability obviously important.  (I queried the Tondu distributor in UK - "We hold stocks" was the reply.)
Pays your money, takes your chance!  I'm no longer convinced the premium brands offer "best" value for money.  E.g. I could replace my Tondu kit tomorrow (although, 3 yrs on, I don't need to) and still be quids-in compared to comparable premium brand offerings.

[I'm expecting flak!]