Are you looking for the best backpack brushcutter? Read my reviews, my opinions and discover the guide to choose it.
The brush cutter is an agricultural tool that no gardener can do without. It is a tool that made its first appearance on the consumer market around the 1980s and that established itself fairly quickly for its handling and practicality. With a good model, keeping your piece of land clean is very easy, provided of course you choose the one that best suits your needs. The backpack brushcutter, which has its pros and cons, undoubtedly deserves a closer look.
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What is a backpack brushcutter and how is it made
There are small, light and not very powerful ones, which are good for a backyard garden or a garden with hedges, flowers and trees. Others, however, equipped with a medium-displacement engine, are also able to deal with weeds and weeds. But it is not only the engine that makes the difference between the various brushcutter models on the market, but also the harness.
The brushcutters, in fact, especially the more powerful models, force you to do an onerous job, both for bearing the weight and for the effort involved in attacking weeds and straws. For this reason, both the handle and the harnesses change from model to model. And the structure can also undergo changes, as happens, for example, in the backpack brushcutter.
Those who turn their attention to this tool in most cases already know, and know how it works, a brushcutter with a motorized shaft. However, if you are at the first approach, at least you must know that a brushcutter is composed of three fundamental elements. The first is the motor, two-stroke or electric, which turns the cutting system. The second is the rod, which connects the motor and the cutting head, or bevel gear, and contains the transmission. The third is, in fact, the cutting system, with the rotor which takes the place of the spindle of normal blade machines, and which gives the rotation to the edge or blade of the brush cutter.
In the case of a backpack brushcutter, there is an extra piece between the engine and the transmission contained in the shaft. It is a flexible, which transfers the power of the engine to the transmission, and which allows the physical separation of the engine from the rod. The rod, in fact, remains in the hands of the operator, in order to allow him to carry on the mowing work. The engine, on the other hand, rests on its shoulders thanks to a backpack harness, which lightens its weight and gives more freedom to the hand that generally supports it.
Best backpack brushcutters
1. Fuxtec FX-MS152T Shoulder Brushcutter
The Fuxtec FX-MS152T Brushcutter is equipped with a 2-stroke engine with 3 HP and 52 cubic centimeters. An air-cooled engine running on petrol, to be mixed with a ratio of 40: 1, i.e. 2.5%, with synthetic oil for 2T. A percentage that is good for the entire life of the engine, except for a short run-in phase, when the new machine is first started. In this case you can use a little mix at 25: 1, i.e. 4%.
The motor is connected to the work rod with a steel braided hose and is loaded on the operator’s back with a sturdy and ergonomic backpack harness. It is a multifunctional machine, 2 in 1 Multitool, with Trimmer edge trimmer. It weighs about 8 kilos and eight and its blade reaches 3000 revolutions per minute, against the engine’s 9000 RPM when empty. Its pulling power is quite high and it has excellent torque.
This backpack brushcutter is equipped as standard with a three-tooth blade or a double-edged head with automatic extension. This does not mean that you can mount any blade or wire on the bevel gear, as long as they are compatible with the power of the motor. The backpack is part of a sophisticated support module, which includes a professional-grade comfort function.
Plus, the Easy Starter starting system is included in the scope of delivery. The Fuxtec FX-MS152T backpack brushcutter features a multiple, nine-tooth drive shaft, a maintenance-free CDI ignition type and is compatible with all Fuxtec accessories. So you can also use it as a hedge trimmer, pruner and other type of agricultural tool. The two innovative details of this car, which should be highlighted, are the design of the cylinder and piston of the engine, and the slow-pull ignition system.
The first has been designed to reduce the wear of the two most important components. The second, on the other hand, creates a considerable reduction in the traction effort on the cord, and serves to facilitate the start of the machine. The noise level of Fuxtec FX-MS152T Brushcutter stands at 113 dB, which puts this unit in category “A”.
2. Husqvarna 553RBX Professional Backpack
Husqvarna’s New 553RBX Professional Backed Brushcutter is a professional agricultural machine, which offers you the convenience of working without the weight of the engine weighing on your arms. In fact, this Husqvarna model has the engine harnessed in a comfortable, dynamic and comfortable backpack, to be supported on the back with two practical adjustable and well padded shoulder straps, and the help of an integrated harness group.
This backpack brushcutter weighs 18 kilos including the cutting unit, while the motor body alone is around 12 kilos. Husqvarna 553RBX is equipped with the two-stroke X-Torq engine, which maximizes power output by up to 20%, compared to normal fuel consumption, and also reduces CO2 emissions by up to 75%. Its displacement, in fact, is 50.6 cubic centimeters, while the output power reaches 2.3 kW.
Its speed, at idle speed, runs around 2800 rpm, while at maximum power, it reaches 9500 rpm. The consumption of petrol, in situations of average management, is 476 grams per kW / h, while the emissions are 867 grams per kW / h. The bevel gear ratio is 1.4, while the drive gear angle is 30 degrees. The mixture for this machine must be made with 2-stroke synthetic oil, of the highest quality, in a percentage of 2% (50: 1).
Husqvarna’s 553RBX Professional Backpack Brushcutter is 288.8 x 41.3 x 58 cm in size, has a 148.3 cm long tube, with a diameter of 2.8 cm. The disk supplied is the Multi 275-4 while the line head is the T45X M12. The perceived noise level is 97 dB at the ear of the agricultural operator and is perfectly bearable by wearing a pair of soundproofing headphones for normal field activities.
The vibration levels, from 2.7 m / s2 front and 3.8 m / s2 rear, are also sufficiently bearable. Its “J” handle makes the use of the machine very versatile while working, while the Primer makes starting the engine simple and immediate.
3. STIGA SBC 653 KF Kawasaki 53.2 CC
The STIGA SBC 653 KF backpack brushcutter is equipped with a two-stroke Kawasaki engine, with a displacement of 53.2 cc and 2 kW of power. SBC 653 KF, being a backpack brushcutter, mounts a flexible transmission rod between the engine and the working rod. This machine guarantees you a cutting width of 43 cm thanks to the TRI ARC disc, with 3T blade with three teeth, and a Batti & Vai head with an extendable 2.4 mm line.
The number of revolutions at the crankshaft is 9500 rpm and is fitted with an effective AVS system, which reduces most of the vibrations by absorbing them. Its maximum noise level is 113 dB. In practice, it is a machine that is as economical as it is reliable and capable of offering you high-level performance. Its engine is the result of the best Japanese technology and allows you to count on a significantly higher than average duration and reliability.
The tank also has an excellent capacity, since you can fill it with more than a liter of mixture. The carburettor air mixing system is not a gate valve, but a rotary valve. The engine has an idle speed of 2700/3000 rpm, there is the Primer and the coil is digital. The management of the closing of the air for the start, that is the knob of the Choke, is manual, while the start system is of the facilitated type. The carburetor air intake is fitted with a filter with a sponge cartridge.
The shaft has a diameter of 28 mm, while the traction belt is steel and has a diameter of 8 mm. The handle is of the “mono” type and is very soft. The machine weighs 12 kilos without the cutting unit, which adds an extra kilo. There is an efficient anti-vibration system (AVS) and the vibration level at the left and right handles is 2.92 / 2.02 m / s² respectively. Sound power level (LWA) is 113 dB (A) and is sufficiently low.
4. San Marco Attila 52 CC 2 Times
The Attila di San Marco Shoulder Brushcutter is a great tool that you can buy at a very competitive price. This car is equipped with a two-stroke engine with a displacement of 52 cubic centimeters. Like all backpack brushcutters, this one also has the engine group harnessed like a backpack on the shoulders, and a hose that connects the clutch of the crankshaft to the rod, hooking it to its steel transmission.
The engine is powered by a blend of unleaded petrol and 4% synthetic two-stroke oil, specific for very high rpm activities. This backpack brushcutter is equipped with an efficient safety kit, essential when working with chain cutting machines, and has an easy start system. It is a robust tool but very simple to use.
And his protection kit is practically complete. In fact, there are protective goggles, headphones to reduce noise, protective gloves and a pair of shin guards. The backpack structure is in gold-colored anodized metal alloy. A feature that makes the harness particularly light. And then there is the Easy Starting System that makes starting and stopping the motor unit extremely simple and fast.
Its tank can hold up to a liter of mixture and among the accessories supplied there is a blade for light shrubs, a line head of the Batti & Vai type and a spool of nylon line. Obviously there are the tools for blade assembly and routine maintenance and the use and maintenance booklet. Its handle is soft and ergonomic and there is also a small storage compartment.
5. BOS-200 TIMBERPRO Internal Combustion Engine
The TIMBERPRO BOS-200 Shoulder Brushcutter is equipped with a 52 cubic centimeter petrol engine, of the two-stroke type, fueled by petrol with the addition of synthetic oil for mixing high-rpm engines. It is a backpack brushcutter that can easily perform the task of cutting tall grass or keeping the lawn at the right level of mowing.
Its dimensions are 83 x 28 x 28 centimeters and it weighs 17.9 kilos. The engine is an air-cooled single cylinder and the mixture must be made at 4%, that is 25 parts of petrol and one of oil. Its starting system is of the simple type with clutch and light rope. The length of the harness straps is freely adjustable and a reinforced protective cup has been mounted on the blade to ensure maximum safety during work.
This machine has a Safety Net approval, the TUV and is regularly CE marked. Its power is 3 HP and the blade supplied, recommended for most uses, is a 3T type three-tooth mowing blade. The head, on the other hand, is of the 2.4 mm double-wire type. The tank holds up to 700 ml of mixture and the carburetor has a pump that facilitates the priming.
The safety system also has a button for quick stop in an emergency. The rod and the cutting device, including the hose, reach one meter and 85 centimeters in length and the machine, without the accessories, weighs only 5.9 kilos. Also included is a practical tool bag and the instruction manual is in French.
How to choose the backpack brushcutter
1. Backpack comfort
It is not enough that there is a backpack harness that supports the engine on the shoulders for the shoulder brushcutter to be comfortable. Its shoulder straps must be adjustable and well padded, and the center of gravity must be balanced so as not to burden only one area of the spine. The structure must be able to absorb the vibrations of the engine, and it is always better that the starting device be piloted even when the engine is already on the back. Even better if electric and served by a small scooter.
Anyone who has already worked with a brushcutter knows that we are not talking about whims of a consumer nature, but about essential characteristics if you want to work well, even in difficult situations, without adding unnecessary effort.
2. Engine power
Some of the engine power is absorbed by the transmissions. In the case of a backpack brushcutter, the hose is also used to absorb energy. For this reason, if you want to get the same performance as a normal brushcutter, you have to choose a machine with a more powerful engine. In fact, it is never convenient to go below 40 cc and there are often machines with 50 or 60 cc engines. This too is in effect a necessity.
So buying a more powerful machine is not a useless luxury, but a thoughtful choice that aims to bring home a backpack brushcutter that can do its job well.
3. Strength and materials
The backpack brushcutter does a great job that, done by hand, would cost you a lot of extra effort and time, without you getting the same results. This is a very stressful job of mowing, cutting and shredding, which mainly involves the joints and transmission of the machine. They are the most delicate points and if they are not robust they risk breaking and wearing out very easily.
A sturdy machine will cost you even more, but you will save a lot on repairs. This doesn’t relieve you of constant maintenance or the friction will break them anyway. So pay particular attention to the good quality of the bevel gear, the transmission, the rod and the flexible. An eye that must be particularly attentive also because, as already mentioned elsewhere, the relationship between the engine power and the quality of the transmission is unbalanced in favor of the former, precisely to lighten the weight on the arm.
4. Maintenance and repairs
Any brushcutter requires careful and continuous assistance. These are small technical jewels which, however, must be treated very carefully. If you don’t, they break, don’t work properly, start with difficulty and, even worse, can endanger your safety. Now this is certainly not the place to explain, step by step, how to keep your backpack brushcutter in good condition. But there is no doubt that, beyond your attentions, also due to a very demanding and stressful work on transmissions and joints, these machines occasionally break, from the starting cord to the rotating head.
The cord is likely that with a little patience I can replace it with a makeshift accessory, the bevel pair certainly not. You need the original piece. It does not matter if your trusted supplier has to order it from the house. What matters is that the manufacturer is able to supply it quickly. So, if you don’t want to wait weeks or, worse, risk having to scrap the tool, always choose backpack brushcutters that are made by a serious and reliable company. Even better if this company has a service center in the city where you reside.
Advantages and disadvantages of the backpack brushcutter
The presence of the backpack harness can be a great convenience, but in some cases it can be a disadvantage. For this reason, if you decide to buy a backpack brushcutter, it is good that you are very clear about the use you can make of it and its limits in the field. So let’s see the advantages and disadvantages of this agricultural machine.
1. Benefits
One of the advantages of using a backpack brushcutter is that the weight of the engine rests only on the hips and shoulders. The whole engine assembly, in fact, is harnessed inside a soft frame, similar to a backpack. It is a bag, with padded shoulder straps and a backrest, which accommodates the heaviest part of the equipment. A flexible sheath starts from this harness, inside which there is a very sturdy steel braid.
A braid that on one side is connected to the motor shaft through the clutch bell, while on the other it engages the end of the transmission shaft inside the rod. And here’s the second positive thing. Having the motor on your shoulders, in fact, allows you to work with just one hand, which is often more than enough to support the working rod. A decidedly lighter rod than that of the classic brushcutter, where the weight of the engine is added to the weight of the shaft.
Therefore, with a shoulder brushcutter, you can work using only the straight hand, while to hold the traditional brushcutter you must necessarily use both hands. Then, but in this you must be so foresighted as to choose the complete system, you have all the machine control buttons at hand, including the ignition. This is because, being able to manage the weight more easily, you can also choose a more equipped machine and, therefore, equipped with a goodwill.
Press a button and the engine starts. Press the other and the car freezes. However, if you prefer to travel lighter and save money, there are equipment that also has the recoil ignition, which works without taking the engine off your shoulders. A slightly more inconvenient, but equally effective solution. Meanwhile, on the arm you have a very minimal weight, also because in these backpack brushcutters both the shaft and the bevel gear are those of the less powerful models and, therefore, lighter.
This is a choice aimed at reducing fatigue because, if it is true that the motor is on the shoulders, the shaft is not supported by any belt or harness, but only by the strength of the arm. On the other hand, even if it is similar to the one that is mounted on the less powerful models, there is also its sectional version, which allows you to make your backpack brushcutter a multi-function machine, as well as an easier tool to transport in car.
And it is equally good that you, with this particular model, gain freedom of movement, because this certainly helps you in less comfortable situations. Situations such as having to work on the slopes, or having to clean the banks, ditches and streams, from plants that grow particularly luxuriant near waterways. The same goes, of course, if you have to work a terraced garden or green walls.
2. Disadvantages
Don’t think that working with a backpack brushcutter doesn’t have its drawbacks. First of all, do not forget that the weight of the rod, lacking the support of the harness, rests on the arm. A low weight, it is true, but in the long run it makes itself felt anyway. For this reason it is never advisable to choose a rod that does not have a support handle, which allows you to work while also helping you with the other arm. And then holding the shaft of a backpack brushcutter does not only involve supporting its weight, but also constantly countering its tendency to straighten up.
An inconvenience caused by the centrifugal force, which is generated by the whirling rotation of the steel cable placed inside it. This tendency, among other things, reaches the maximum force during acceleration and increases as a function of its speed. But steel rope does not only imply this. In fact, you will have to carry out constant and frequent maintenance, to prevent overheating and friction from reducing its life and efficiency.
This means that transmission grease must never be missing inside its sheath. So, if you have to work flat, medium to large extensions and light slopes, taking a backpack brushcutter is probably not the best choice. Much better to take a traditional, medium-power brushcutter, even 50 cubic centimeters, and hold it with a padded professional harness, with 4 or 5 support points. The shaft of the backpack brushcutter, in fact, due to its tendency to straighten, could be quite tiring.
Indeed, if the work you have to face is among brambles, shrubs and straws, the various bounces of the rod and the repercussions of the steel braid will certainly not help you. Not to mention the stresses of the bevel gear at speed and impact with shrubs. But if, after evaluating the positive and less positive sides, you have decided that buying a backpack brushcutter is what you need, then it is important that you can evaluate the choice of a model that fully meets your expectations, bearing in mind that some things cannot be missing.
