So what do you know about backpack brush cutters?

[tomplum]

More specifically is there a big difference in handling when rousting blackberries and light brush from slopes, ravines and such? The current beast is a FS Stihl w/ handlebars. We're actually using the Rhino blade set up from the Home Depot instead of the various blackberry type blades.

 

[JamesHW]

Never heard of these prior to your post so can’t say how much of a difference the backpack would make. I use the full harness with our Sthil and the motor and cutting blade are well balanced making the work fairly effortless (aside from taking it off and on for replacing/sharpening blades or trimmer line) compared to when I had a brush cutter with just a sling style harness.

 

[atsah]

Never heard or of them either. I have a full harness Honda 4 stroke Versa attach with all the heads, works like a dream,

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[atsah]

That looks okay for weed whacking but for brush cutting? A harness with the two handles is the way to go for a brush cutter head.

 

[tomplum]

I use the harness too. I'm thinking that the wand would be easier to work on the hill side. Heavy brush cutting wouldn't be good, no. More really for blackberries and scrub brush . I did talk to a guy that had the Stihl who felt that it was an improvement on his blackberries. I have to say that when I bought the FS Stihl, that I might have liked the 2 stroke better. That was 15 years ago. They have the 2 strokes yet overseas.

 

[Wagtail]

That backpack would, indeed, work better on slopes.

I run a 2-stroke Stihl FS-85 around my property, which is relatively flat... any slope or having to lift the cutter at a different angle tends to defeat the purpose of the bike-handle & harness for balance.

I would wonder at the vibration that your hands would absorb which, for me, at least, would equal days of pain. The bike-handle & harness set-up eliminates that. I'd have to give it quite a 'test drive' to see for myself.

 

[radios1]

this is better on the back. Brushcutters | Billy Goat a backpack brush cutter is only good for small areas because of the pain you get..

 

[tomplum]

I had a bIlly Goat a while back and they really have a purpose, but not in the terrain I'm on. Horsing them around in ravines etc isn't fun. I kind of wish I kept it though for the flats. I have some narrows that would be better than the tractor. I always thought the FS in a Stihl model meant it was a four stroke. I don't even know if you can buy a 2 stroke anymore, but that isn't my field. I think my brush cutter is maybe an FS110? and it is a four stroke. You mix the oil w/ gas. I guess that I should swing into the Stihl dealer and see what they're all about. I see on the EBay there were a bunch of Chinese models and a couple of Italian models. Made in Italy or the Chinese homeland, I dunno. I bought a handheld Chinese posthole digger that runs up real well.

 

[Wagtail]

... I think my brush cutter is maybe an FS110? and it is a four stroke. You mix the oil w/ gas...

A two-stroke engine is the one where you mix the oil with the petrol.

Four-stroke is straight petrol.