I have worked with garden, forestry, horticultural and agricultural machinery all my working life which amounts to almost 40 years of experience. I have a passion for garden machinery and equipment and I would like to share my experience in the pages on this website. I’m here to help you come to a decision on what machine or piece of equipment will work for your particular situation. You can find out more about me here.
The Billy Goat Billy F1802SPV self-propelled force blower, I believe, is the most powerful wheeled blower on the market today. It is certainly Billy Goats most powerful walk behind blower. Billy Goat makes several models of wheeled leaf blowers, starting from the smallest model which is 5 hp and the largest model being 18 hp.
It is powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 18 hp petrol engine which can actually be the equivalent power of seven backpack blowers!
The model in the video has an engine hour meter fitted, which was actually fitted by the owner. I don’t know why more manufacturers do not fit hour meters to the machine, to me it’s very important to know how many hours work a machine has worked as to regard oil changes and servicing et cetera.
The machine in the video has around 150 hours on the clock, it is approximately four years old and it looks like it’s been looked after and kept undercover. To me, it’s always a good practice to keep your machinery clean, serviced and undercover.
What Can Your Billy Goat Wheeled Blower Be Used For?
The Billy Goat wheeled blower is ideal for clearing parking areas, as you can see in the video it quickly moves debris out the way. It’s also good for blowing leaves on lawns and in fields and driveways.
Patented Aim N Shoot
Using The Billy Goat Wheeled Blower
The Billy Goat wheeled blower is self-propelled, however, it does not have a reverse gear, so there may be times when you have to pull the machine backwards, depending what work is being carried out. Fortunately, the blower is quite light and pushes very easily backwards and forwards.
When using the blower on hard areas, for example, driveways and car parks is often easier just to push the blower as the forward speed is quite slow. It is very easy to push on hard surfaces, the forward speed can be used on hills or grassed areas where there is slightly more resistance when pushing.
The Aim N Chute technology enables you to move the chute from the handlebars of the wheeled blower. This is a great feature as it enables you to adjust the chute very simply depending on conditions or the material being blown.
Reliability
On this particular Billy Goat wheeled blower, the only issue the owner has had in four years is a new recoil start cord. Which to me is nothing, however, I would expect to recoil cord to last a bit longer than 150 hours. It’s a very straightforward job to replace the recoil cord, a local dealer can carry out this job in a matter of minutes.
The machine normally starts on the first or second pull which is great. I have actually owned machines with this particular Briggs & Stratton engine, it’s a good engine and easy to start. I believe on the particular engine that I owned had a recoil start and electric start. It’s always good to have the optional recoil start in case the electric start fails! I don’t think electric start is an option on this particular wheeled blower, to me this isn’t a problem as it starts pretty easily and keeps the cost of the machine down.
The front wheel on this particular machine has also been replaced as it is used on hard surfaces and takes quite a bit of the weight. The tyres are foam filled so there is no downtime through punctures, which is a great idea. I’ve spent far too long over the years getting punctures repaired!
Features
The Billy Goat wheeled blower has the air filter mounted on top of the engine, so this is very accessible. Always make sure and keep your air filter clean and take care when removing the air cleaner from the engine. You do not want any dust or debris entering the engine as this can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the engine parts. A few minutes of regular cleaning can save you huge amounts of money in the long run.
The fuel tank is constructed in plastic material, its large fuel tank (approximately 2 gallons) that can give you plenty of work time between refills.
Final Thoughts
The Billy Goat wheeled blower has been a reliable machine and is a great way to move leaves. However, if you are using this machine all day can become slightly tiring.
The good news is that there is a Billy Goat stander blower coming out soon, in fact, I think it’s probably out now in the US. I will try and find out more about this machine in the next few weeks.
Today we are going to talk about the special offer on the Mitox 26B-SP select petrol £99 leaf blower and the features that it offers.
Autumn Is Almost Here
Autumn is almost upon us, the official day of autumn is Michaelmas which is the 29th September. Already the leaves are falling and have been for several weeks, although I think some of this has been due to the dry weather, especially here in East Anglia.
I have several tools that I really value in the garden, which I will be talking about over the coming months. I think probably that one of the tools that I use most in the garden all year round is a leaf blower.
Although garden blowers are often referred to as leaf blowers they are a tool that I use all year round. The primary purpose of a garden blower is to blow leaves, however, they are great for tidying up in the garden. For example, if I have been weeding a border, I normally just blow the lawn area around the border. I know that traditionally this can be carried out with a rake, but I am someone who likes to take full advantage of mechanical power!
Another great purpose that a leaf lower house is blowing down machinery after use, it’s a great way to keep your machines clean and free from dust and grass etc.
A Budget Petrol Leaf Blower For £99
The Mitox 26B-SP select petrol leaf blower is a budget petrol leaf blower which sells for just £99. I appreciate that there are cheaper electric models available, however, I would much prefer to spend a few more pounds and something that offers the freedom of a petrol leaf blower. For me, there is nothing worse than having an electric cable trailing behind you and getting the lead caught up in various objects in the garden!
If you want to go slightly upmarket, Mitox offers large models with more power and the ability to collect. You can see more of the Mitox leaf blowers here.
Mitox Perfectly Balanced Leaf Blower
Value for money
The Mitox 26B-SP select petrol leaf blower really does offer value for money. It is powered by a 25.4cc 2 stroke petrol engine which generates a lot of blowing power reaching blowing speeds of 155 mph.
The throttle lever offers variable speed operation which is very important when you are blowing in corners or you just want a gentle blow. It also has a lock on feature for blowing larger areas of leaves. It’s important to remember that not all electric leaf blowers have a variable speed feature which can make blowing difficult when you are in tight spaces.
Well-Balanced
Something that I like about these compact handheld blowers is that they are very easy to pick up and use. I personally use a backpack blower which is great as it has more power as I do quite a bit of commercial work. Although sometimes it would be useful just to have a handheld blower which is compact and literally you pull the starter cord and you are blowing straight away. A backpack blower is a little bit more cumbersome, although they definitely have their uses.
The Mitox leaf blower is a nicely balanced machine that is easy and comfortable to hold. This machine has a very good performance at an incredibly low price of £99 for a petrol blower.
The leaf blower comes with a long tube which is flat at one end to increase blowing power.
This leaf blower is suitable for blowing leaves, dry grass and moss, sawdust and light hedge clippings.
Flat End Blowing Tube
Mitox offers a one-year domestic warranty and three months commercial warranty on this leaf blower.
Today we are going to feature the Henchman 12 foot adjustable ladder review. I think those of us who have had the experience of cutting hedges know the issues that come with cutting hedges, especially tall hedges.
Henchman makes products for the gardener and professional landscaper that help to make hedge cutting, pruning and those jobs that need extra cutting height easier. I have never actually owned a Henchman product, however, I have had experience of using their products. I would rate their products excellent, due to the fact that they are far safer than your average ladder or platform, due to be adjustable legs and more.
Let’s Take A Look At Jason’s Review
Jason is going to review the Henchman ladder and carry out a comparison on the other tripod -type ladders that he uses. It will be a totally honest review. He also mentions that Henchman has kindly donated this ladder for him to review and keep for future use, very useful indeed!
Jason’s three ladders are very similar apart from the other two makes of ladders are eight-foot and ten-foot respectively. The biggest difference is the large platform area at the top of the ladder.
Plus Points
• Very stable. • Lightweight. • Much more comfortable to use than a conventional ladder. • Easily adjustable feet. • Despite its size, it’s ideal for tight spaces. • Very useful top platform. • Well-engineered.
Features
Adjustable Legs
The ladder has three adjustable legs, this is obviously extremely useful for keeping the ladder upright on uneven ground. It seems to me that traditionally when you use a conventional ladder it’s exceptionally difficult to keep it level in the average garden.
The two front legs are adjustable via a spring pin on the side of the leg. The legs simply drop down and can be adjusted to the required height to keep the ladder stable.
The rear leg is adjustable by totally removing the pin, ideally, a spring pin would be better as it can be slightly fiddly to put the pin back.
Search eBay For Henchman Tripod Ladder
Jason has been using the Henchman 12 foot ladder for several weeks now and the is really finding the top step extremely useful. This ladder is far easier to use than a conventional ladder as you more or less stand upright.
I think we all know the problem of using a ladder when we are cutting a hedge and keeping it stable, the ground never seems to be level. With the Henchman, the legs can simply be adjusted to keep the ladder perfectly stable, such a useful feature. It definitely brings much more confidence when cutting tall hedges.
Lightweight Henchman
Lightweight Henchman Tripod Ladder
The henchman ladder is exceptionally lightweight and easy to move around. The henchman ladder can literally be picked up in one hand.
Tripod ladder
One of the biggest advantages of the tripod ladder is that you are not resting the ladder against the hedge like conventional ladders. This eliminates the risk of the ladder pushing into the hedge or the bottom of the ladder kicking out. It also stops the hedge potentially becoming out of shape due to the ladder resting against the hedge.
Another advantage of the tripod ladder is that you can use it sideways onto the hedge, which is exceptionally useful when you’re cutting high hedges.
As the video shows the tripod ladder can get in fairly tight spaces between trees and shrubs, which to me is a really great advantage.
A very stable ladder
This Henchman tripod ladder is totally different from the traditional ladder, I think we have all experienced being upper latter and feeling that unpleasant wobble! The Henchman eradicates these unpleasant wobbles, due to the tripod design and the adjustable feet.
Henchman 12 Foot Ladder
Is A Henchman Tripod Ladder For You?
As I mentioned earlier in this post, I have used Henchman products and although they are not cheap they are worth every penny, especially where safety is concerned.
The biggest advantage of this Henchman ladder over conventional ladders is the platform at the top. This platform proves to be a very useful feature that conventional tripod ladders do not have.
I would recommend the Henchman ladder for large gardens with tall hedges, gardeners, landscape contractors and tree surgeons.
More features!
• Three adjustable legs allow for level and stable steps on very uneven or sloping terrain.
• Uniquely, all Henchman Tripods include the 7″ deep “Platform” rung for safety and comfort
• Tuck your legs in, gain added support against your thighs, without hitting shins on rung above
• Top rail for one-handed support whilst working; or for leaning against whilst using both hands
• Wide, clawed feet are designed to “grab” soft ground and so prevent slipping or sudden sinking
• The 3-leg ‘milking stool’ principle makes it impossible to wobble and extremely difficult to topple
• Narrow top and third leg for access to tight awkward spaces.
• Incredibly light for ease of carriage and storage
• Rubber’shoes’ for added grip and no scratching inside or on hard slippery surfaces
• Uniquely broad range of height options. Available in 6′ to 16′ sizes
The elephant trunk harness, I believe is something rather unique to the landscaping industry. Having been in landscaping for over 30 years, I come across many different products, some excellent, some not so good and some just pointless. However, I think most of us who have carried out hedge cutting jobs appreciate that however many times you cut a hedge, your arms still ache!
I know that when I used to cut hedges and I still occasionally do, I normally do this in short bursts, doing as much as possible in one go and then giving your arms and shoulders a rest, due to the amazing amount of fatigue a hedge cutter puts on your arms and shoulders!
I normally like to use a Stihl 30 inch hedge cutter, I have always found Stihl products to be engineered well and long lasting. You can see our selection of hedge cutters here. It’s always good to go for the largest cutting head possible as it definitely speeds up the cutting process. This is where I believe the elephant trunk harness can help you!
GTM Is A German Company
GTM is a German company that produces products for the garden and professional landscaper. These products are imported into the UK by EP Barrus, more commonly known as MTD Lawnflite.
So How Does The Elephant Trunk Harness Work?
The elephant trunk harness is basically a harness that fits in your back just like a tree climbing harness or a harness that holds your backpack blower. The harness has a long trunk with a wire cable, that is weighted at the end of the cable there is a carabiner clip which can then support your hedge cutter.
The weighted wire cable can support a hedge cutter that weighs up to 8 kg (approximately 17 lbs.) The actual cable is weighted at 3 kg, so in other words, your hedge trimmer will be 3 kg lighter making a considerable difference to your arms and shoulders.
Carry Bag
The elephant trunk harness comes with its own bespoke carry bag, although the trunk does stick out the top of the bag!
Adjustment And Comfort
It comes with lots of straps for comfort, all the straps can be adjusted to the particular size of the operator. It will probably take you a couple of times to make the harness fit comfortably on your back. It is a bit of her trial and error job to start with, but practice makes perfect.
Is The Elephant’s Trunk Harness For You?
Although I haven’t personally used the elephant’s trunk harness myself, from reading the reviews and watching various videos on the subject, it seems like a great idea. I’m not someone who likes pointless gadgets. However, I do know that hedge cutting can take its toll on you especially as you get older.
Some people may think that it’s a lazy way to cut hedges. However, I believe that if you are cutting hedges continuously or even have a lot of hedges in your garden this could really speed up production and reduce fatigue in a massive way.
Many professionals who carry out hedge cutting and similar jobs daily suffer from long-term injuries that reduce their ability to work quite so efficiently. This is where the elephant’s trunk harness could really help many people.
According to the manufacturers, they say it can boost production by 100%, I believe that it can also save your body from aches and pains the next day.
The elephant trunk harness initially does take a little bit of time to get used to it. However, once you have got your harness fitted correctly and get used to the principle of this gadget, it really can save you a lot of time and effort.
Are There Any Negative Features?
The only real issue that can happen occasionally is if you are cutting a hedge which is under trees, the harness can become tangled in the overhanging branches. This isn’t really a negative issue, it’s just reality that often where there are hedges there can often be trees with overhanging branches. The best way to deal with this is to cut the part of the hedge where there are overhanging branches first. Then you can attach your harness and deal with the rest of the hedge.
Have you had experience with the elephant trunk harness?
Today we are going to take a look at the Stihl BG86C leaf blower. I believe that this Stihl BG86C leaf blower is probably one of the most popular petrol leaf blowers on the market. I see many professionals using this particular model and also many private houses. This is probably due to the blower’s compactness, power, reliability and power for its size.
I have personally owned a Stihl BG86C and I have used many of these particular models. If you are a professional or need a decent blower for your private garden, I would strongly recommend this model. If you look after this leaf blower, it will give you many years of service.
Stihl_BG86C What’s In The Box
What’s In The Box?
So in the box, we have the actual Stihl BG86C power unit and three pipes which connect to the power unit. One of the pipes connects to the actual power unit. Simply connect this pipe by pushing onto the power unit and turning until you see the padlock key where it will be locked into place.
You then have the option to choose between a round pipe or a tapered end pipe. I generally go for the pipe with a tapered end as this seems to direct the airflow slightly better than the round ended pipe. Once again just slide the pipe on and just turn until it locks on the tabs.
Optional Shredder/Vacuum Kit
Stihl does offer an optional shredder/vacuum kit that comes complete with a collection bag for vacuuming your patio or cleaning out gutters etc. Personally, I have used this vacuum kit, it does work but my preference is to use this particular model blower as a blower as I feel it works much more efficiently. I would normally blow leaves into a corner or a particular area and then collect by hand. As the video shows you can purchase large hands which make the collection process easier.
Once again, the collection bag does have its uses for cleaning gutters et cetera and it can be handy extra for small jobs. If I was carrying out a lot of vacuuming then I would go for a larger purpose-built garden vacuum, preferably something like a Billy Goat.
Fuel And Engine
This particular model is powered by a 27 cc engine two-stroke engine which develops approximately 1.5 hp, it certainly has plenty of blow for a model of this size.
It is very important to use the correct fuel mix in a two-stroke engine. Two-stroke engines use a mixture of petrol and oil, if no oil is used the engine will quickly seize up. So it is of utmost importance that the correct grade of oil is used and the correct amount of oil is mixed with petrol.
I actually use the Stihl oil, this is available in sachets, 1 L measuring bottles and 5 L plastic cans. I actually buy the 1 L measuring bottles as I can simply squeeze the bottle and add 100 mL to a litre of fuel.
The fuel mix for two-stroke Stihl engines is 50 to 1.
Keep Your Leaf Blower Clean
As with all machinery, it’s always good to keep it clean, especially around the engine area as you do not want dirt and dust entering the engine. It’s a good idea to check the air filter on your blower regularly. Fortunately, in my experience these blowers do not pick up too much dirt as in general they are not working in a particularly dusty environment.
However, it is a good practice just to clean your air filter every month or so as it only takes a few minutes. It is far cheaper and better to make sure that your petrol leaf blower is not taking in dirty air which will cause unnecessary wear to the engine components.
In the video, this particular blower has been used and there is a small amount of dirt in the fuel tank. I would clean this out with neat petrol making sure that the fuel tank is completely empty before refuelling with a 50 to 1 two-stroke fuel mix. The fuel tank does have a fuel filter within the tank, however, it’s a good practice to keep the fuel tank clean. I normally have a clean rag handy just to wipe away any dirt around the fuel cap area.
Starting The Engine
Fill the fuel tank with a 50 to 1 fuel mix. Prime the engine by pressing the primer on top of the carburettor. I normally press three or four times, you can normally feel when the fuel is coming through. The primer is actually clear so you can actually see when there is fuel coming through. If your leaf blower is new or hasn’t been used for several months it may take slightly more pumps to prime your engine.
On the side of the engine, there is a choke, there are three positions, I must admit I have never used the midway position. I just put the choke on full choke and then pull the starter cord. Please note that on this model if you press the throttle trigger, it will automatically release the choke. So from cold starts, be careful not to touch the throttle trigger as it may release the choke without you realising.
I often find that the blower will start the first time and on other occasions, 2 to 3 pulls of the pull cord. Two-stroke engines can be slightly temperamental, so be careful not to flood your engine with fuel.
Normally once you hear the engine fires, press the trigger and the engine will normally come to life. Two strokes are definitely much more reliable and easier to start than they were a few years ago!
As you can see in the video, this was the first start in eight months and on the fourth pull the blower is running!
Tips For Efficient Leaf Blowing
• Make sure that you are not trying to blow against the wind if possible.
• Don’t try and blow to many leaves at once.
• It’s far easier to make small heaps rather than trying to blow to many leaves all at once.
• Use a large barrow or sack to remove your leaves to the compost heap.
• Large hands as shown in the video are very useful for clearing leaves properly.
• Use a plastic flexible rake for gathering the odd leaves.
• A lightweight tarpaulin with handles at the corners is another useful way of transporting leaves.
• Clear your leaves regularly in the autumn as this is far quicker in the long run.
• Avoid trying to blow leaves that are saturated as this slows the process down considerably. (I appreciate that this is not always possible if we have a wet autumn.)
If you are thinking about purchasing a leaf blower then I hope I can help you select the right Stihl blower. I have used Stihl products for over 30 years with very few problems, in fact, virtually no problems whatsoever. I’m still using Stihl products right now and I will carry on doing so.
Which Blower Do I Choose?
In this video, Stihl will give you a few tips on finding the right blower for your garden or estate, just remember to buy the best blower that you can afford. The more powerful the blower, the quicker you are able to get your work completed.
First Ask Yourself These Questions;
How large is the property that I need to clean?
What type of material do I want to blow?
Are there any noise restrictions that I need to take into consideration in my area?
Are there any special features that I require my blower to have?
Now Let’s Take A Look At Each Of The Above Questions
If you live in an urban setting that has minimum areas that need to be cleaned, such as driveways, paths and patios. If you are blowing lite material, for example, dry leaves and dry grass then the Stihl BG55 leaf blower could be a good choice. If you would like to step up to a couple more features then the BG56C offers simplified starting and automatic choke release. Both of these leaf blowers are comparable in power and performance.
Stihl BG56CE Leaf Blower
The Stihl BG55 leaf blower has a standard starting procedure with a standard on-off switch which needs to be turned to on, before starting. The throttle lever then needs to be locked on by pulling the lever and pushing the button in. The choke lever then needs to be placed in the choke position.
Easy Start Feature
Easy Start Feature
The Stihl BG56C leaf blower has an on-off switch that is always on the on position, to turn the machine off you simply hold the switch down in the off position. So, in other words, you don’t need to turn the switch on before starting your blower as it is always in the on position. You then need to position the choke lever to the on position. As soon as the engine fires after pulling the starting cord and you touch the throttle trigger, the choke will automatically come off.
The easy to start feature enables the user to start the blower with an almost effortless pull cord, making starting exceptionally easy.
I personally use a slightly larger handheld Stihl blower and I have to say starting is exceptionally easy and on many occasions, the blower will actually start first pull.
Moving Up To A Slightly Larger Blower
Stihl BG86CE Blower
if you’re looking for a slightly larger handheld blower, then the Stihl BG86 or the BG86C, these offer slightly more power than the previous models. They are also considered professional models. I would definitely go for one of these models as for the slight extra cost it’s always worth having more power.
Simplified Starting Process
Both of these models feature a simplified starting process as well as an advanced anti-vibration system. On many occasions, I find with this starting process that the blower will start up first time.
STIHL BR600 Magnum Backpack Blower
Knapsack Or Backpack Blowers
If you have a considerable amount of blower work then it is well worth considering a backpack blower. Using a backpack blower considerably reduces the fatigue on your body as you are carrying the weight on your back. However, although I own a backpack blower, I do like the flexibility of just being able to grab a handheld blower quickly and instantly start blowing. Another plus point of the handheld blower is that it is easy to transport and easy to store. The blower pipe is removable making it exceptionally compact. However, if you’re looking for speed and productivity then you definitely need to be looking at a knapsack blower.
Stihl BR200 Leaf Blower
If you’re looking for ease of operation then the Stihl BR200 leaf blower could be your answer. This has the same engine as the Stihl BG86, which develops just over 27cc. Having the ability to carry this leaf blower on your back is ideal for long time run situations and takes the fatigue out of blowing leaves etc.
Larger Leaf Blowers
Stihl has a large range of leaf blowers, the next model up is a BR350 which offers a bit more blowing power. I personally use a BR 600 which is a great blower for blowing leaves and clearing up after carrying out various tasks in the garden. I will probably upgrade this soon to a BR 800 which will give me an extra 25% blowing power.
The downside of a backpack blower is that they are quite bulky to carry around and store, however, for me, it is definitely worth having the extra power to carry out jobs quickly and efficiently. The knapsack blowers are all similar in physical size so this is another reason for going for the largest model, although on the larger models the engine size and blow power increases. When I purchased my BR 600 this was the largest Stihl knapsack blower, literally a few days after I purchased this model the BR 700 came out and now we have the BR 800! Whether there will be a 900 model in the future, I have no idea! There comes a point when we have to move from a knapsack blower to a wheeled leaf blower or a garden vacuum.
Noise Levels
If noise levels are an issue in your area it may be worth looking at the range of electric blowers or rechargeable battery blowers. However, I personally don’t like the idea of dragging around power lead and being restricted to the length of the lead. I like the freedom to be able to walk around with the blower and not have the issue of an electric power cable.
The other option is to go for a rechargeable leaf blower, however, just remember that batteries do not last for very long before they need recharging. Spare batteries can be an option, but they can be expensive to purchase.
If you would like a petrol leaf blower but the price is too much may be worth looking at this budget petrol leaf blower. It is excellent value for money and reviews are good considering the price. However, just remember that if you are buying a Stihl product it could potentially give you many years of service. I know this for a fact as I have owned many Stihl products over the years and they have carried out huge amounts of work. I always say to people buy the best that you can afford.
Don’t forget to ask yourself the four questions that we started with.
Today we are looking at the DR power self-feeding chippers. If you’re looking for a chipper for your garden or business, it makes life far easier having a self-feeding chipper. If you are looking for something smaller the MTD 463 3-in-1 Petrol Chipper-Shredder may be an option.
DR Premier B&S 11.50 Rapid Feed Petrol Chipper / Shredder
DR offers three models of self-feeding chippers, these models are dedicated chippers. These particular chippers do not include shredders as they are dedicated to the continuous use of wood chipping four hours of use.
These chippers are for large gardens and estates or contractors. As the video shows, it’s much harder work to feed a traditional garden shredder. However, the smaller garden shredders and chippers definitely have a use in gardens. Moreover they can be very beneficial for those of us who don’t have the budget or need for a larger self-feeding chipper.
DR Self-Feeding Design
The DR self-feeding design make sure that you do not have to do the hard work, the chipper does this for you! The chipper has a large flywheel with a knife attached directly to the flywheel which will fly through the hardest of woods. A large flywheel can bring huge amounts of power to any machine making the most use of engine power.
The vertically designed hopper and perfectly angled chipping knife combined with airflow draw branches in and throw wood chippings out. Once you have pushed the branch into the machine the DR chipper will pull the branch through and make it instantly into chippings, in the meantime, you can be collecting your next branch for chipping.
The large hopper enables smaller side branches to be pushed through without pruning, saving time and effort. All models have side discharge chutes and the larger models have extending tubes which enables you to load your truck or trailer. This allows you to direct the chips to exactly where you want them for easy disposal.
Three Different Models
The three models differ in two primary ways; the first being the size of the engine, the second being the size of the flywheel. The rotating mass of a flywheel is the chippers power source, the greater the mass of the flywheel, the greater the mass of the chipper.
On early internal combustion engines, the power source came from the flywheel, carrying it over to the next stroke, which kept the engine moving. A 2 hp engine was massive in today’s standards compared with a 2 hp engine 100 years ago. It’s the same principle with the chipper flywheel, it keeps the power going.
DR Premier B&S 11.50 Rapid Feed Petrol Chipper / Shredder
DR 11.5 Wood Chipper Recoil Start
DR’s smallest self-feed chipper model is powered by an 11.5 hp Briggs & Stratton easy start engine with overhead valves. It turns a 25ibs, 14-inch flywheel which will chip up branches up to 3 and three-quarter inch diameter (9.5 cm), smoothly and easily. You can also add a towing point which makes it easy to transport around your garden.
Technical Data
Chipping Diameter Capacity
3.75″ (9cm) softwood 2.75″ (7cm) hardwood
Chipper Hopper Opening
14.5″ x 23.5″ (36 x 59cm)
Flywheel
14″ (35.5cm) 11.3kg
Engine Type
Briggs & Stratton OHV
Engine Start
Manual
Cylinder Displacement
250cc
Ft Lbs Torque
11.5
Cylinder
One
Air Filter
Dual Element
Lubrication
Splash
Fuel Capacity
2.8Litre
Dimensions (L x W x H)
43.75″ x 21″ x 45″ (111 x 53 x 114)
Weight
74.3kg
Warranty
2 Year Residential Warranty
DR Pro B&S 16.50 Rapid Feed Petrol Chipper / Shredder
DR 16.5 Wood Chipper
The mid-level wood chipper brings 40% more power with a 16.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine which brings plenty of torque. This engine is available with electric start or recoil start, the choice is yours.
The 16.5 hp model has a 50Ib flywheel, which makes short work of chipping hardwood branches up to 4 ¾ inches thick. It also has the optional adjustable chipping shoot which enables you to direct your chippings wherever you require them.
This particular model also comes supplied with a towing point which enables the chipper to be moved around your garden at ease with your ATV or ride-on lawnmower. There is also an optional road towing kit which enables you to safely transport your chipper to anywhere it is required. This enables you to tow at speeds of up to 45 mph.
Technical Data
Chipping Capacity
4.75″ (12cm) Diameter
Chipper Hopper Opening
17″ x 27″ (43 x 68cm)
Flywheel
17.75″ (45.5cm) 22.6kg
Engine Type
Briggs & Stratton OHV
Engine Start
Manual
Cylinder Displacement
420cc
Ft Lbs Torque
16.5
Cylinder
One
Air Filter
Dual Element
Lubrication
Splash
Fuel Capacity
2.8Litre
Dimensions (L x W x H)
79″ x 30.5″ x 50.5″ (200cm x 77cm x 128cm)
Weight
122.5 kg
Warranty
2 Year Residential Warranty
DR Pro XL ES 21.00 Rapid Feed Petrol Chipper / Shredder
DR 21.0 Electric Start Wood Chipper
The DR 21.0 electric start Wood Chipper is DR’s largest model which is powered by 21 hp Briggs & Stratton overhead valve engine, complete with electric start.
The 62.5 lbs of flywheel generates tremendous amounts of power which enables you to chip branches up to 5 ¾ inches thick which is more than enough for the average garden! This model will chip through branches with remarkable ease. With the optional adjustable discharge chute, you can chip to wherever you want and also angle the chips in the right direction to exactly where you want them.
The towing hitch is standard and you can also add an optional road towing hitch if required. The road towing kit enables you to tow your chipper at up to 45 mph.
You will struggle to find a larger chipper in this bracket before entering the heavy commercial much more expensive chippers.
Technical Data
Chipping Capacity
5.75″ (14.6cm) Diameter
Chipper Hopper Opening
19″ x 30.5″ (48 x 77cm)
Flywheel
20″ (50cm) 28.3kg
Engine Type
Briggs & Stratton OHV
Engine Start
Manual
Cylinder Displacement
420cc
Ft Lbs Torque
21.0
Cylinder
One
Air Filter
Dual Element
Lubrication
Splash
Fuel Capacity
6.4 Litre
Dimensions (L x W x H)
86″ x 32.5″ x 58.25″ (218cm x 82cm x 148cm)
Weight
147.4 kg
Warranty
2 Year Residential Warranty
Guarantee
DR is confident that will be satisfied with your chipper, they offer a two-year peace of mind warranty on your chipper.
Review Of The Predator 28 And 38 Radio Remote Stump Grinder
Review Of The Predator 28 And 38 Radio Remote Stump Grinder
Here is my review of the Predator 28 and 38 radio remote stump grinder. This is a review of the Predator stump grinder that I own and have personal experience with, having operated for many hours! I have created a video review of the two Predator stump grinders below.
I haven’t created this review to be negative, it’s just a genuine review of the Predator 28 and 38 radio remote stump grinder. I would be very interested in hearing about other people’s experience, good and bad.
First of all, I would like to give a positive review for the Predator 38 stump grinder, I have had the Predator 38 tree stump grinder on hire from Ben Burgess several times and have probably clocked up around a hundred hours of use with this machine. I believe that the Predator 38 and 28 stump grinders are the narrowest machines in their class on the market, both narrow down to 26 inches (66 cm) which is fantastic, if you have used the traditional pedestrian stump grinders you will understand why it is so useful to get through narrow gateways and not have to struggle with a pedestrian machine.
I would also like to mention that I have been looked after extremely well by Ben Burgess, who are Predator dealers if you’re looking to buy or hire a stump grinder I would definitely recommend Ben Burgess. Or if you’re looking for a second-hand stump grinder it may be well worth checking out eBay.
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You Can See My Video Review below
Predator 28 Radio Remote Stump Grinder
I purchased my Predator 28 radio remote machine in October 2016, I have to say I have had my fair share of problems which I will talk about more in this review post. In the three years of owning my Predator, I have probably called them 150 to 200 times in under three years. Over the past 30 months, I have had approximately 40 breakdowns that have stopped me working! It is good to point out that the Predator 38 has given me absolutely no problems at all and in my experience, it’s a good machine to purchase. The biggest plus point is that the Predator 38 has a fair amount of power for a machine of this size and can cope with any sized tree stump.
On the downside, it does use a lot of petrol, if you’re using the Predator 38 continually for a day it will use around £100 worth of fuel, on my Predator 28 diesel machine I will probably use about £30 worth of red diesel. However, probably on an average day, I will use around £35 worth of fuel with the petrol machine. You can see another post I wrote about the fuel consumption of the Predator 38 here.
I purchased my Predator 28 radio remote diesel stump grinder back in October 2016, prior to this I had been using a Carlton Lombardini diesel radio remote 4012 machine and also a petrol SP2000 pedestrian machine.
The biggest reason for me purchasing the Predator 28 was due to the compactness of the machine, which has proved to be a very useful feature time and time again.
I went for the radio remote machine with a Lombardini diesel engine, the machine that Predator demonstrated to me was a manual machine which I had no intention of buying, but it was the only one they had available for a demonstration. If you are buying a stump grinder and there is a radio remote option, I would definitely go for it, it is so much easier to use and saves a lot of time.
Exhaust Issues
I hadn’t carried out many hours work when probably at around 10 hours work the jubilee clip that assists holding the baffles on the exhaust broke, I did kind of expect this to happen as jubilee clips are certainly not strong enough for holding anything like an exhaust in place. Also, in my experience of Lombardini engines, it’s very rare to see them with the exhaust in the right place after they have been used on a stump grinder. I have experienced this with my Carlton machine and the Predator.
After the jubilee clips broke that was quickly followed by the baffle plate vibrating loose and literally tearing the metal on the exhaust. I understand that it is much better not to have anything attached to the exhaust whatsoever otherwise this only causes issues. I believe I am on my fourth exhaust and will be on my fifth exhaust in about a weeks time.
Have you experienced problems with your Lombardini exhaust lasting? I have certainly had issues over the years with keeping an exhaust in one-piece!
Multi-Tip Cutting Wheel
The Predator comes with Predators own multi-tip cutting wheel, the wheel consists of six teeth, two of which carry out the main grinding and the other four are clearance teeth. All the teeth are identical and changing the teeth is exceptionally simple, just one bolt to hold the teeth in place, the teeth can literally be changed in a few minutes.
In my experience, I’m really pleased with the performance and the ease of changing teeth. I’ve used the old-fashioned finger teeth which are very time consuming to change and break regularly in my experience and I have also tried green teeth, without much success.
Predator Multi-Tip Cutting Wheel
Unfortunately, after about 30 hours of work, I started to break lots of bolts that hold the teeth in place, on average I was breaking three per day. I purchased a new multi-tip cutting wheel which again solved the problem, however, after 30 hours the problems started again. Predator did tell me that they had had a few issues with some soft metal wheels that had not been hardened properly. In fairness to Predator, they gave me a new cutting wheel free of charge. The only problem being that because I was breaking so many bolts, it wasn’t always possible to find the teeth and the blocks that hold the teeth in, which obviously incurs more cost in replacing them.
Apart from this issue, the multi-tip cutting system has been the best cutting system that I have used.
What is your experience with stump grinder cutting wheels and which system do you prefer?
Incidentally, I have just had the main cutter head bearing replaced after approximately 800+ hours which I reckon is pretty good as the cutter head takes a beating in the best possible way. I always give one or two pumps of grease before carrying out a days work. Apparently, on this machine, you can over grease and push the seals out if you’re not careful, hence the one or two pumps of grease.
Belts To The Cutter Head
The belts to the cutter head are something that in my experience need quite a bit of attention, I fully understand and appreciate that these belts are under considerable load most of the time. Obviously, new belts stretch, so after around six or seven hours it is important to tighten up the belts.
This is a reasonably straightforward process, originally I used to take the five bolts that hold the rubber guard off but now I have cut through the rubber guard, so I simply have to take the metal belt guard off to access the cutter head belts.
Predator Belts To Cutter Head
To tighten the belts release the four bolts that hold the cutter head on and then undo the nut that releases the cam to tighten the belts. The process can be a little bit awkward when you first carry it out, but it does get easier once you have done the process a few times. The adjuster is a square-headed bolt, I actually have a socket that fits this on a large lever that makes the job much easier.
I’ve actually had the three cutter head belts last up to 300 hours on the other end of the scale I have had the belts last three hours, I have no idea why, but this has happened, unfortunately. I also find that I am tightening these belts a bit more often than I would actually like to, I’m not sure if this is due to vibration from the diesel engine as when I had the petrol machine on hire I didn’t have to make any adjustments at all.
One of the issues that I’ve had with the cutter head adjustment is a spacer/bolt that seems to break regularly, it is a known problem.
Cutter Head Bolt And Spacer
As the video shows, I have actually had my bolts changed around as the threads were getting a bit worn, to my mind the new way is much better.
The Electric Clutch
Both the predator 28 stump grinder and 38 have an electric clutch to engage the cutter head, I always engage the cutter head on tick over as I don’t like to see the cutter head snatching in as I feel this shortens the life of the electric clutch. However, unfortunately on the petrol machine, you have to have a few revs to engage the clutch, otherwise, the machine will simply stall. I am told that with the new petrol model with the Kohler EFI engine you can engage the electric clutch on tick over which is great news.
I have had no issues with the electric clutch so far.
Predator 28 Stump Grinder Engine Drive Belts
In general, the engine Drive belts have lasted quite well, there are three belts from the engine then go onto a pulley system and then three more belts that go to the cutter head.
Unfortunately, my first Predator 28 stump grinder engine Drive belts broke at 19 hours, however, the next set of three belts lasted well over 500 hours and the present set of belts have done about 300 hours of work.
To adjust these belts is very straightforward, simply loosen four large bolts on the base of the machine and to the rear of the machine, there is a thread where you simply turn the bolt to tighten the belts, very straightforward indeed.
Lombardini Diesel Engine Issues
I’m afraid my experience with Lombardini diesel engines hasn’t been brilliant! On my Carlton stump grinder, which was powered by the same Lombardini engine, the crankcase casting cracked. It was only a hairline crack but it was replaced under warranty as apparently, Lombardini had a batch of castings that were faulty.
I also owned a Lombardini diesel engine on a BCS rotavator, believe it or not, this engine was fine, however, the machine was stolen so I never found out if the engine was long-lasting or not or even trouble-free!
First Lombardini Engine
Anyway back to my present Predator 28 stump grinder, after just 30 hours the engine failed to start, apparently, this was due to the engine sucking in some soundproofing material that was on the flywheel cover. I did notice when the machine was delivered that this material was loose, however, I didn’t take much notice as I knew it had all been pre-checked.
When the engine was checked by the local Lombardini agent, they discovered that the machine had sucked in the soundproofing and the engine had overheated, this engine was replaced under warranty.
Second Lombardini Engine
My second Lombardini engine managed about 650 hours on the Predator 28 stump grinder, obviously, I checked the oil regularly and I suddenly noticed that the engine had used more oil than normal. In general, the engine burns very little oil, I probably add a small amount about every six weeks in normal conditions. The recommended time for changing the oil is 200 hours but I tried to change the oil at 100 hours as I feel it’s better to change the oil regularly rather than wear metal!
When my local Lombardini dealer stripped the engine down they discovered that dirt had entered into the engine, I don’t quite understand this as I’m always extremely careful with maintenance. The engine has a oil bowl filter which I am told is the best for dusty conditions. There’s also a clear Dyson type prefilter which removes most of the dirt and dust, which then goes through to the oil bowl and then through to a mesh filter and finally a spongelike filter before the air finally reaches the engine. I would expect with all these cleaning processes for the air to be clean.
I will clean the prefilter two or three times a day, depending on conditions and I will also change the oil in the oil bath filter halfway through the day if the conditions are poor.
However, despite this maintenance, I had to replace the engine at cost to myself! I see many tree surgeons who rarely clean their air filters out and yet they don’t seem to have had the problems that I have had!
Third Lombardini Engine
After being unbelievable careful with this new Lombardini engine after just 160 hours the exact problem had started again. I checked the oil and on one particular occasion, I noticed that the engine had used more oil than it should have done! So now we are back to square one and another new engine is coming!
Fourth Lombardini Engine Coming
The engineers removed the air filter in front of me and to me, the air manifold looked clean, however, they did say that small amount of dirt had got through the filter and into the engine!
To me, the air filter is not doing the job if dirt is getting through. I have genuinely been cleaning the filter daily and more as I mentioned previously.
Just the other day I was speaking to a tree surgeon about the issue and he mentioned that he had a problem with his Timberwolf chipper in the morning. Apparently, it was blowing out black smoke and not revving properly. He checked the air filter and he said is absolutely blocked solid and once he cleaned the air filter the engine ran perfectly. I asked him how often he checked the air filter and he said he only checks it when there is a problem!
It really doesn’t make sense why these engines are wearing out so rapidly, especially as I am an owner-operator and take care to keep the engine clean.
What has been your experience with Lombardini engines on your Predator or any other stump grinder come to that?
Hydraulic Cooling Fan On Predator 28 Stump Grinder
The Predator radio remote stump grinders have an electric cooling fan to cool the hydraulics, this is due to the oil getting warmer with the radio remote stump grinders.
Hydraulic Cooling Fan
I am now on my fourth fan and so far this latest fan has lasted me several hours, fortunately, Predator has replaced these cooling fans free of charge. I believe that the issue with the fan is probably more due to the vibration of the diesel engine.
What’s your experience with the hydraulic cooling fan on your Predator?
The Fuel Pipe Burst
After about 40 hours of use the rubber fuel pipe burst, spraying diesel everywhere. I had to call the local engineers out to replace the rubber fuel pipe. On inspection of the old fuel pipe, it didn’t look like it was up to standard, thankfully the issue hasn’t happened anymore!
Predator Fuel Pipes
Hydraulic Oil Leaks
Ever since I have had my Predator there has been a hydraulic oil leak from the main hydraulic oil tank. I appreciate on top of the oil tank there is a breather and the system has to discharge a small amount of oil, however, this is more like a river of oil!
There have been attempts to fix this issue, but so far with no success! Obviously with oil leaking and then running onto the tracks can be an issue with people’s driveways, so there is a constant mopping process going on!
Have you had hydraulic oil leaks on your Predator?
Five Batteries In Three Years
It seems that my Predator 28 seems to get through a terrific amount of batteries!
The first battery went after about 60 hours, I called Predator to see if they could help, they talked me through a few checks over the phone which seem to point to the battery being the problem.
Predator 28 Battery
The RAC Came Out
it appeared that Predator were unable to come out to my breakdown, in fact, they have never been able to come out to a breakdown, so I decided to call the RAC!
The RAC came out and were slightly surprised that they were going to look at a stump grinder rather than a motor vehicle! However, the engineer was extremely helpful and carried out all the necessary tests that proved that the battery had failed. He was able to fit me and you battery but he did mention that it would not last due to the fact that the Predator battery is of a special specification for this machine due to the vibration. He was right, the battery lasted 48 hours!
I then purchased a third battery, I guess this lasted about a year before finally exploding on the golf course where I was working, this had to be seen to be believed!
I have never seen a battery explode before, however, after stopping the machine for about five minutes and turning the key to start the machine, aside literally blew out the battery! Thankfully this battery was replaced under warranty by Bosch.
The second Bosch battery stopped working for no apparent reason, so I’m now on the fifth battery that I had to pay for.
How has your battery been on your Predator?
Spool Valve Leak
I recently had to have the whole spool valve assembly resealed as it was leaking quite badly, it had been weeping for some time and then became considerably worse. Thankfully this issue is all fixed now.
Have you had any hydraulic leaks on your Predator stump grinder?
Charging Issues
I have also had several charging issues which is down to the Lombardini engine, I literally used to put the battery on charge permanently when I wasn’t using it rather than risking a breakdown. I had the engine checked several times and although it did have a replacement alternator or charging system replaced, it would definitely let me down if I didn’t charge the battery daily.
Radio Remote
I would definitely recommend paying the extra for the radio remote controls, it is so much easier and so much quicker to use than the manual machine.
As I mentioned earlier I have used the predator 38 stump grinder for approximately 100 hours and the radio remote has not failed me once.
Unfortunately, with my Predator 28 sometimes the radio remote can work faultlessly and although I don’t understand much about radio signals, I can appreciate that occasionally some interference is acceptable. However, sometimes my machine can cut out 40 times per day, once the radio remote cuts out the machine will stop, then you have to go through the starting procedure again.
I normally find that when the remote signal goes it will happen several times in a row and then just write itself on its own.
Due to the fact that the radio remote is losing its signal so often, I have overridden the sensor on the rear door. So that if I lose the signal the engine still keeps running, this saves a lot of messing around. This stops the engine shutting off at full revs, which I don’t like happening.
Once again, the predator 38 stump grinder didn’t fail me once with the radio remote!
How has your experience been with your Predator radio remote?
Vibration Issues
I believe that many of the issues that I have had to deal with unfortunately come from having a diesel engine which brings vibration issues. After using the Predator 38 petrol machine I can see that the vibration is considerably less than the diesel machine.
Predator Vibration Issues
As you can see in the photograph some of the guards have suffered from metal fatigue. Once again I am sure this is from excessive vibration from the diesel engine.
I feel that I have been quite unfortunate with my Predator 28 machine. It seems like I may have had a Friday afternoon machine. I also believe that the diesel engine has created a lot of vibration issues.
If I was purchasing now I would definitely go for the petrol machine as it has extra power, much less vibration. The diesel model and is much quieter which is actually really nice if you’re doing a days work!
As I mentioned earlier, the predator 38 radio remote petrol machine is a great all-round machine. Especially for getting into those narrow gateways that we so often come up against in the UK. If you are looking for a stump grinder the petrol model could be a good option for you. I will definitely be looking at one.
It would be great to hear about your experience with your Predator machine. Or come to that, any other make of stump grinder that you are using. Maybe you could write a review of the Predator 28 and 38 radio remote stump grinder?
Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment below.
This compact and highly-manoeuvrable entry-level ride-on from esteemed British manufacturers Hayter Heritage M10/30 Ride-On Lawn Mower is the perfect choice for those with larger lawns who are looking to step-up from their old walk-behind mower.
At the heart of the machine is a very high-performance commercial-grade Briggs & Stratton engine with an impressive power-output of 10.5hp. The engine drives a hand-controlled infinitely-variable hydrostatic transmission for smooth, intuitive speed control; flexibility-of-use; and effortless manoeuvrability. Also, there is no need to stop to change gear with a hydro drive, so you’ll be able to get the job done far more quickly than you would with a manual ride-on.
The cutter-deck on the Hayter Heritage M10/30 Ride-On Lawn Mower is fully floating for a consistent cut on undulating ground and has been offset so you can cut right up to lawn edges and therefore consign your strimmer to the shed. The deck can be raised and lowered through six-stages (38 – 101mm) to suit the grass-type and the nature of the terrain you are working on.
The Hayter Heritage M10/30 has three cutting-modes (collect; mulch; rear-discharge), so you can choose the one that will be most effective for any given grass conditions, for example, mulching comes into its own on short, dry grass; while direct discharge is ideal if you’ve let the grass get a bit too long for bagging. Thanks to its super-tight turning-circle of just 60cm and reverse-gear, the Heritage M10/30 will cope easily with tight-spots and awkward corners. The hugely capacious grass-collector can be emptied from the driverâs seat; and the engine is fully enclosed for greatly reduced noise.
All DR wheeled strimmer models are designed to take the hard work out of strimming, in other words, a trimmer for every job! As the video shows below you can see how you can quickly trim around edges and overgrown areas. They make precise trimming in rough areas and around the garden edges in a one and all-powerful machine.
There are push models available and powered models, if you have a larger area of grass to cut, I would definitely go fo a wheel driven machine, it makes life much easier!
The DR wheeled trimmers are typically overpowered for the average edging job, however, you will appreciate the extra power when it comes to cutting longer and thicker grass. You can actually cut waist high field grass without any clogging or loss of power, the DR wheeled trimmer just keeps going!
The metal frames of the DR wheeled strimmer are made from 14 gauge steel. The large wheels are designed for years of hard work and to cope with challenging terrain.
All models carry the unique DR instant cutting height adjuster which enables you to quickly change the height of cut. The cutting adjustment feature enables you to change the cutting height instantly from 1.5 inches to 5.5 inches. No tools are required to adjust the height, just simply feed the nylon cord through the cutting head to the required cutting height on the cutting head.
Search eBay For Wheeled Strimmers
Adjustable Offset Cutting Head
One of the great features of the DR wheeled strimmer is the fact that the cutting head can be offset at an angle to make it very simple to cut around buildings and fences et cetera and yet carry on in a normal forward walking direction. An excellent feature which makes trimming your edges so much easier and quicker. This feature is also very useful for cutting around borders before you mow, simply offset the cutting head and walk around your borders with the DR wheeled strimmer.
Cutting Cord
All DR wheeled strimmers are supplied with two types of quality nylon cutting cord, this is a much heavier cutting cord than the traditional handheld strimmer cutting cord. It’s also a quality grade of cutting cord. The cutting cord can be extended to cut a 20 inch cutting width which allows you to cover the ground very quickly.
Safety Clutch
Every DR wheeled strimmer is fitted with a safety blade clutch, so as soon as you release the handlebar clutch the cutter head will immediately stop spinning, making it very safe to use.
Now You’re Ready To Go!
Every DR wheeled strimmer comes ready to go, simply slide on the wheels and add oil and petrol and you’re ready to go. Happy trimming!
You Can See Our Of DR Wheeled Strimmer’s Below.
The DR 675 Premier wheeled trimmer is DR’s smallest wheeled strimmer, for more information click on the link or the photograph.
DR 675 Premier Wheeled Trimmer
The next model up is the DR TR4 Premier ES wheeled trimmer which sells for £649 and comes with electric start. For more details click on the link or the photograph below.
Here is the DR TR 4 pro recoil wheeled trimmer which sells for £799 and is powered by an 8.75 hp engine. See more details on this trimmer by clicking on the photograph below.
