'nother question!

 I have the opportunity to buy a Talon brushcutter at a good price. Does
anyone know whether they're good, bad or ugly? Is there a 'best' brand
of brushcutter/whippersnipper?

--
Trish Newcastle, NSW, Australia

 On Wed, 28 May 2008 23:44:16 +1000, Trish Brown wrote:


No idea about Talon.
The best I've used was a Stihl. The other was a Makita(?). What I liked
about the Stihl was the tap the ground head feed or was it a rev up red
down feed. Certainly beats manual reloading and adjusting when you are
working rubbish grounds. Also took a wide variety of heads (saws, etc).

The other thing I really liked about the Stihl was the shaft length. I
could stand up straight and have a horizontral cutting head, but I have to
stoop with the Makita. It just isn't long enough and I'm only 5'7" in
boots.

Best face mask was the mesh type as they breath well. All the solid face
masks tend to mist upfor me.

 On Wed, 28 May 2008 23:44:16 +1000, Trish Brown


I recently bought a McCullock after buying an Eager Beaver made by
them decades ago and which has given me excellent service.

The new one seems fine EXCEPT that the line feeder is the biggest heap
of crap I have ever used. Initially I thought it was a good idea as
the two lengths of cutter string were separated unlike the old feeder.
My only reservation was that the metal inserts where the string
emerges from the holder were not fixed to the case.

It is useless - the string constantly breaks and fitting it all
together with the loose inserts is a real fiddle. I hate it and am
about to remove the old feeder from my old cutter to replace it.

I had a choice of buying a Talon or the McCullock for about the same
price (mybe $30 difference) I wish I had bought the cheaper Talon it
couldn't be worse than this machine.


Regards
Dinsy

Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum - Lucretius

 

My preference is for a 4 stroke, electric are underpowered and limited in
scope and 2 stroke make too much smoke and fumes which aggrevates my asthma
and is not good for the environment.

David

 Trish Brown wrote:

Thanks for the comments! Yes, I bought one of the first Eager Beavers
(about thirty years ago! Gads!) It's only *just* gone out of service -
and then only because it became too hard to find parts. What a beauty it
was! I hear what you say about the rubbish line feeder: there can be
nothing more frustrating than chewing up time, trying to advance or
replace the line on a recalcitrant (love that word!) brushcutter when
all you want to do is cut brush!

Looks like we'll give the little Talon a go. I only want one light
enough for me to use - my husband has a massive Husqvarna that I
struggle even to lift! ;->

Big news! The beginning of the first bed is down and I've already got a
few seedlings toddling on in styrofoam tubs. There's just some late
silverbeet and leeks and half-a-dozen brussels sprouts, but it's a
start. They might turn up their toes, but I guess I'm practicing for the
real push in spring. I've also lashed out on pansies, stocks and a
weird-looking strawberry with *pink* flowers.

On another note, if anyone (David?) is aware of Red or Strawberry clover
growing anywhere near N'cle, please give me a hoy. I love growing clover
in hanging baskets and have had lots of success with White Dutch. I'd
like to try a Red or Strawberry, but they're not common this far south.
I used to see lots of them up in Armidale when I was there, but it's a
bit far to travel just for one plant...

--
Trish Newcastle, NSW, Australia