Honda Weedwackers

[LandyAndy]

Hi Guys
Anybody got any experience with the new Honda 4 Stroke whipper snippers???? The UMK 435 or 425 with handlebars.There is around $80 difference between the 2,the bigger one is 35.8cc,1.2kw the other 25cc,.8kw.How do these go compared to a 2 stroke??? more power on paper but heavier being a 4 stroke.
The Mrs is after a bigger toy,she has a Sthil with the bent shaft which she has trouble using.At work(school gardener) she uses a Sthil FS85 with no issues(has the bull horn handlebars and harness.
Its for use at home and her gardening clients.
Thanks
Andrew

[Jock The Rock]

I borrowed a mate of mines a while back

I couldn't tell you the model, but it did have the harness and bullhorn handles

Was pretty smooth :cool: as one would expect from a Honda. As far as weight went, I didn't notice the difference. My old man has a Huskie and they seemed to be on par weight wise

You will need to make sure she keeps the oil up to it though

[LandyAndy]

Thanks Jock
How did you find it in heavy cutting compared to a 2 stroke???
With the oil,do they use it??? I see from the spec sheet they use "oil mist lubrication",guessing correct running in is important if a fine mist of oil is used to lubricate the piston.
Thanks
Andrew

[953]

If weights not an issue,Pope has a 33cc jobie that u can pick up at Big W for $148. Its extremely reliable . we,ve used the commercially, no mechanical probs at all. Only prob is if u use them all day everyday, the weight issue kicks in:(, but I dont think you,ll beat it value 4 money:).
Cheers Dean.

[Fluids]

Hey Andrew ... We are a Honda dealer and I sell them at work ... so my opinion is biased! <VBG> ... anything specific you need to know ??

The torque curve on the 25 & 35cc mini 4's is almost flat ... which means at low revs the machine still has guts ... unlike a 2 stroke which basically needs its tits revved off to tackle heavy work. At full tilt they are as good/better than an equivalent cc'd 2 stroke... for average work, you don't need to rev them as hard as they don't bog down as fast as a 2stroke.

They are marginally heavier. No mixing fuel & oil. They are quiter. They use MUCH less fuel (what a full time contractor will save in fuel & oil costs by switching to a Honda B/C versus his old 2 stroke, will basically save him enough money to buy a new Honda every 2 years!)

They start quicker, and easier than any 2 stroke. Period. The oil system is a pressure feed throughout the engine complete ... not just splash ... and the engine will run happily through a full 360deg' rotation ... you can run it upside down all day long without doing damage!

Like I said ... I'm biased ... been selling Honda Power Equipment for the last 23 years ... the stuff's as good as everyone claims (actually better imho). I'd never go back to a 2 stroke ... yucky, noisy, smelly, oily :wasntme: ... but I drive a TD5 :)

Kev..

... oh, the oil ... 10w/30. They take 80cc & 100cc of oil (25/35cc). They use a minimal amount ... but then, we are only talking 100cc of oil ... 10x oil changes to the litre ... it's not an issue!

[LandyAndy]

Thanks Kev.
Exactly what I needed to hear:cool::cool::cool::cool:
We have a Honda mower and EU20i gennie,great gear!!!
Thanks
Andrew

[Fluids]

If weights not an issue,Pope has a 33cc jobie that u can pick up at Big W for $148. Its extremely reliable . we,ve used the commercially, no mechanical probs at all. Only prob is if u use them all day everyday, the weight issue kicks in:(, but I dont think you,ll beat it value 4 money:).
Cheers Dean.


We sell the Pope stuff (actually it's Toro Australia). It's actually not too bad ... but ... in around 12 months time the Pope division of Toro is intending to get out of the outdoor power equipment market as we've been told ... parts WILL become an issue

... and it's not really commercial quality stuff anyway.

fwiw
Kev..

[Jock The Rock]

Thanks Jock
How did you find it in heavy cutting compared to a 2 stroke???
With the oil,do they use it??? I see from the spec sheet they use "oil mist lubrication",guessing correct running in is important if a fine mist of oil is used to lubricate the piston.
Thanks
Andrew

I wasn't really into the rough stuff, just doing some garden trimming. My mate did say they lop the odd small tree down with the blade on though

I guess it's like using a chainsaw, everytime you check fuel, check oil. It didn't use huge amounts maybe a tablespoon or two over a couple of hours :p

[953]

Hi Kev,
we,ve been using Honda mowers nearly as long as you,ve been selling them. Without doubt the best motor we have ever used, everything else on the mower falls to bits & the motor just will not die, amazing:D.
Must try a brush cutter one day. Do you know if Honda r contemplatring a muli tool? Sorry 4 hijack Andy.
Cheers Dean.

[Fluids]

Thanks Kev.
Exactly what I needed to hear:cool::cool::cool::cool:
We have a Honda mower and EU20i gennie,great gear!!!
Thanks
Andrew

You're welcome!

If you already have a Honda Mower and an EU20i ... why you asking ?? ;)

It's a HONDA mate ! :)

I've had my Honda mower for 23years ... still goes 1st pull ... and it's comfortably got another 10-15years left in it.

The big difference with the Honda gear is it costs more up front to purchase ... but over the working life it costs far LESS to own, run & maintain ... which means a smaller TCO ... total cost of ownership ... and none of the greif & *&^%$#!! agro becuase it won't start when you need it to ... :angel:

Kev..

[Fluids]

... <snip> ... My mate did say they lop the odd small tree down with the blade on though .... It didn't use huge amounts maybe a tablespoon or two over a couple of hours :p

G'day Jock ... yeah, with a steel blade fitted, it's a handy mini chainsaw ... small saplings, overhead branches, no worries ... just watch out for the kickback!! :eek:

... and , if memory serves me correct, the factory spec' is 1cc of oil consumption per run hour ... but real life shows the average machine uses far less ... in my experience.

Cheers
Kev..

[LandyAndy]

Hi Kev
Thanks
I was mainly after the 2/4 stroke comparrison,no doubt the quality of honda gear after farming and shire work.
I will tell you those "cheap" hondas on some pumps are rubbish(Made in Thialand version).They use lots more oil than the Jap version from new and our biggest bugbear,the rope pulls are not interchangeable with the Jap type.We have spare rope pulls in our water trucks and swap them over onsite when the rope snaps.
Andrew

[Fluids]

Hi Kev,
we,ve been using Honda mowers nearly as long as you,ve been selling them. Without doubt the best motor we have ever used, everything else on the mower falls to bits & the motor just will not die, amazing:D.
Must try a brush cutter one day. Do you know if Honda r contemplatring a muli tool? Sorry 4 hijack Andy.
Cheers Dean.

Yeah, tell me about it! When the contractors machines get that way, they buy a new deck, and swap the whole machine over to the new deck, and go around again for another 2-3-5years!! ... and by that time the machine is FLOGGED ... except for the engine ... bloody amazing !

We have calculated, that for a small time contractor, doing 5 lawns/day, 5 days per week, that that is equal to 1 years worth of residential lawn mowing for the average Aussie home .... 25 mows/year ... but they do it in a week .... 40 weeks/year, for a minimum of 3 years ... that's 120years of domestic mowing .... then add a 2nd deck and go around again .... :eek:

No, no plans that I'm aware of for a Honda "combi" style machine ... but there are maybe 1 or 2 OEM's who do a combi machine and use the Honda Mini4 as the powerhead ... sorry, don't remeber which manufacturer/brand.

Kev..

[Ace]

my grandfather has one, i have used it a few times, very good unit. Plenty of power, starts easily, and uses stuff all fuel, unlike the ryobi cheapies that seem use more fuel than cutting line.

Have to say, im still a Sthil man :D

[vnx205]

A few years ago, I had some thistles to deal with. The area was big enough that it was 1 to 2 hours work with a brushcutter to do the job.

I did it a couple of years with a Stihl and a couple of years with a Honda. I don't remember the exact size, but both were similar size straight shaft models with the big wide handlebars.

My impression was exactly as Fluids described them. The Honda seemed to be loafing while the Stihl had to be revved to get it to do the job. The Honda used a lot less fuel and made a less annoying noise.

For that sort of reasonably heavy cutting, the Honda was a much easier machine to use.

[stage1slave]

Hi Andy, I was warned off the Honda for the reason of weight alone! I do a lot of acreage gardening and find heavy equipment way to tiring, considering that the whipper snipping is only a portion of the work to be done. I ended up with a Husky 323L. Nice and light, has a couple of nice features I like, and I can swing on it all day. Also has plenty of grunt for heavier going. Two years down the track I am still plenty happy with it.

cheers
Evelyn

[Piddler]

My brother has a Honda and I have a Husky, I would take the 2 stroke hands down any day heaps better in the heavy stuff.
cheers

[austastar]

Hi,
I have a cheapie Ryobi that was given to me as a present. I was some what dismayed, as I was going to buy a 'real' one.
It has given me 10 years+ of service with no dramas.
The head wore out, and I replaced it with a more modern one.
The muffler clogged up, I cut it open with a grinder, cleaned it, chucked out the baffles and kept using it (with ear muffs).
It is light, reliable, and easy to use.

I have a Stihl multitool, but I ordered it with the 4 cycle 2 stroke motor. It is brilliant, 25:1 fuel mix, no oil in the sump, cam operated valves, power and economy of a 4 stroke - weight of a 2 stroke.
I use this mainly as a hedge cutter, it is heavier to use, but loafs along compared with the Ryobi.

cheers

[CraigE]

Andy,
I bought Mel the Honda 35cc last year. Great bit of gear. Very easy to use and not bad on weight. Comparable with a similar Stihl but a fair bit cheaper and according to the local dealer who is Honda and Stihl, better value and more durable than the Stihl.
Mel was used to Stihls, but reckons the Honda is great.
I even use it now and again.

[numpty]

I've had a Honda for nearly 10 years. It's one of the early ones, 22cc. Is very easy to start and has heaps of grunt. If revved hard, I reckon it uses a lot of fuel, but usually there is no need to do this, as at lower revs it will still cut well. Have a Honda mower as well and am also impressed with that.

[d@rk51d3]

I've got the 35cc, but without the handlebars. Spoke to people who have them, and reckon they get in the way more often than not.

I love it. Very smooth, very quiet, starts first pull - every time, very economical, no mixing of fuel and oiling up of the plugs, no choking on 2-stroke fumes. Straight shaft is a plus, comes with a blade as well as the nylon cord.

Just make sure to keep on top of the oil changes.

Very exxy up front, but shouldn't be a throwaway item either.

[BMKal]

Good timing for this thread Andrew.

I bought an MTD Yard Machine brushcutter a few weeks back - engine siezed after one tank of fuel. Had a big battle with that big green hardware store on Boulder Rd and ended up getting nowhere with them on the weekend and I'm back in Perth during the week. So SWMBO went in and saw their manager yesterday, and has got my money back (I'm not game to ask what she threatened him with). They offered a replacement, and were told where they could place it.

So now I have to look around this coming weekend for another one. Thinking of either Husqvarna or Stihl - don't know if there's anyone selling the Hondas in Kal. My mower is a Kubota and I've had an excellent run out of that since '91, but I don't think they make brushcutters.

Good to read everyone's comments on here - will try to sus out if there's a Honda agent in Kal first. Sounds like they might be the better choice if I can get one.

[abaddonxi]

Bloke at the local mower place said the Husky 4 stroke motor is sourced from Honda - same same.

Dunno if you folks are a bad influence or I'm easily led, but it's time to buy a weed whacker.:D

[d@rk51d3]

Dunno if you folks are a bad influence or I'm easily led, but it's time to buy a weed whacker.:D

Don't fret about it. It (the Honda at least) actually makes doing the yardwork half enjoyable.

[abaddonxi]

Go for the 35. Spent the afternoon on the 25, and goes like a demon, but I reckon if I was doing it for a living I'd want for the extra power.

Still, take this with a grain of salt, my weed whacker experience is limited to one Honda and huge Husky on a mate's farm.

[953]

So Andy, you,ve heard it all, whats it to be??????????:).
Cheers Dean.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Dean
Ordered the 35cc Honda this arvo,Debs picking it up this week.
Fluids gave me an excellent price,unfortunately freight would have gobbled it up.
BM,The Honda Shop Midland are the go.Will send you a PM with contact name and prices I got.There SHOULD be a Honda dealer in Kal,we even have one in Narrogin!!!
Thanks everyone for their input,especially from Fluids.
Thanks
Andrew

[Sprint]

bit late i know, but when i bought a new one about 19 months back, i went for a FS90R, had a honda when i was doing yardwork on a commercial basis, and everyone hated it, just as well there were enough Stihl's for everyone.....

[d2dave]

Give me two stroke any day.

I own a caravan park and have a mix of both.

For my hand mower I have a Honda Buffalo, Ride on Huskvana and for generator Honda. All great machines but require Tappet adjustments and oil changes.

Whipper snipper, chainsaw and leaf blower two stoke by a country mile.
Mix the fuel and use it. Apart from air filters and spark plug almost maintenance free.

Footnote.
When I purchased my Honda Buffalo I believed I was buying the "BMW" of lawn mowers.
After only about two hours of use it started having problems. Took it back to the dealer and was told air filter was blocked. The filter was cleaned and off I went.
Next mow the same thing happened.
The dealer said " A bit dusty out your way" and I replied "At the moment with the drought yes."
He suggested that I should purchase a snorkal for about $80 as the air intake is very low.
I told him that I live on a dirt road and if I bought a BMW car I expect it to be able to handle dirt better than this Honda.
I suggested that a snorkal should be standard, after all my two stroke Victa has one standard.
After a big bunfight with the dealer and Honda Australia, threats to go to small claims etc. They finally supplied a snorkal free.

Next problem;
Whilst still in warranty but near the end it developed a loud Knocking noise. It turned out to be carbon build up on the top of the piston which was hitting the top of the head.
They said this was not covered by warranty and I had to pay.
Not happy Jan, but could not be bothered with a fight and needed mower back so I paid.
The mower as now done two and a half times the work since this and still going great.
I have no doubt the carbon build up was caused by the blocked air filter.
Just to show how good a snorkal is; When I lived in Melbourne I purchased a SH one year old Victa. After about ten years it started to play up.
The symptoms were an air restriction to the engine.
After investigating I found there was a filter in the top of the snorkal which I never knew existed.

Dave.