Hugh Tilley takes a look at siderably better than local author- brush cutters and hedge ities and contractors. trimmers. When it comes to air cushion mowers the JLO motor is almost here are always many areas exclusively used as experience Taround a golf course which suggests that it lasts longer and need trimming but cannot be provides greater power for its mown with conventional mow- weight. ers. The standard machines for The main differences between tidying up such areas is a strim- strimmer, brushcutter and clear- mer or brushcutter, however ing saw are the head, and of these are not ideal for bunker necessity, the size of the motor. edges and many greenkeepers mower, while for hedge trimming seems to be to hire a contractor. There is some interchangeability have tried alternatives to edging there are a range of machines Most clubs carry "spare" small between heads except on the shears such as motorised from tractor mounted units to engine machines, this usually smallest and cheapest models. and reciprocating cutters. electric hand power , but the reflects past experience of unreli- Most greenkeepers use the trim- The conventional power more usual option is a two stroke ability. Many people look on mer head mainly with motors of has the disadvantage of not being engined hedgetrimmer as this these machines as they look on a between 30-45cc capacity. Under sufficiently light or manoeuvrable gives versatility and flexibility. As Kleenex - use it and throw it powering is an expensive econ- for bunker work, especially as the these are used only once or twice away. One or two seasons is not omy, but large machines are tir- edge is seldom flat or level. Other a year and usually only for short unusual as the lifespan of either a ing to use and control. major problems are that sand lengths of hedge around the club- brushcutter or air cushion The strimmer or string trimmer destroys cutting edges rapidly house, where wear isn't a prob- mower, but there are differences uses monofiliment line to cut veg- and there is a requirement for a lem but neglect may be. For between models and the engine etation, however, there are other neat tidy finish. anyone with greater length, espe- fitted as well as the use and types of head which use nylon or For mowing banks the usual cially of boundary hedge, the sim- abuse they get. Greenkeepers similar dense plastic blades, these is the hover, or air cushion ple and cost effective answer generally look after their kit con- should have similar attributes of

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not being destroyed when they contact stone, concrete or steel. Neither should trimmers be as devastating should they come in contact with the trunks of trees, ittf ki ,. or tree guards, however, this "friendliness" is something of a 7 : myth and caution is needed when close to obstructions - in other words a loosening of the finger is still required. Most machines have alternative heads and blades available to allow them to cut heavier vegetation. A steel blade is more efficient for cutting grass, making the machine in effect a rotary mower, but to get height accuracy and safety it may need a special guard plus skid or dome fitted under the centre of the blade. Such skids may have height adjust- ment. For cutting small trees and dense undergrowth or grass the clearing saw comes with greater engine power and an ability to operate and saw type blades. Dixon & Holliday Hover Hood The dust hazard around bunkers and often elsewhere on a and this may be more cost effec- golf course is a very real one, and tive when there is relatively little this probably accounts for the hedge to trim. early demise of most of these Recently, long reach hed- small power tools - it does not do getrimmers have become avail- a lot of good for the operator able and these are a real saver either! There is often acceptance when it comes to trimming very that these and hover mowers do high hedges. Hedge trimming not last more than a season or does not require a great deal of two, thus there are many attrac- power, which is just as well as tions to using a different form of having to a manhandle machine cutter, one which does not rely with a heavy power unit would on a fast impact with the grass to soon tire the operator. cut it. This applies particularly to bunker edges as, of necessity, The Dixon & Holliday these require the trimmer to knapsack brushcutter and operate virtually in the vertical hover hood at Cranleigh position - try this with a brush- School in Surrey cutter and you get grass, debris Grounds manager Peter Wood- and dust thrown everywhere. head saw the D & H knapsack The manoeuvrability of the brushcutter/hedgetrimmer adver- hover or air cushion mower tised and considered that it makes them virtually the only looked right. The 700 pupil pub- tool for steep banks, however, lic school has a 9 hole course as TREE-FRIENDLY STRIMMER standing on the bank is often not well as considerable lengths of Useful as the ubiquitous strimmer is, it does have disadvantages. For easy or even possible - although high Leylandii hedge. Safety was instance, its flailing whips cut through the tender bark of young trees shoes with spikes or studs help. the prime consideration in pur- condemning them to contorted growth or even "death of a thousand cuts". Then, again, they do throw grit and mud at the operator forcing A common practice is to tie a chase, with the hoverhood attach- him or her to wear clumsy protective clothing. rope to the handle and dangle the ment enabling gardens supervisor machine down the bank while and greenkeeper John Pope to Ahresty avoids all these problems by having a scissor-action cutting system; the upper serrated plate is stationary, the lower 4-bladed plate is standing at the top - a somewhat cut his greens and tee banks with fractionally smaller in diameter so bark-damage is impossible. Also dubious practice in terms of greater control and less fatigue. since Ahresty runs at half the speed of ordinary brushcutters there are safety. Previously the school had cut less fumes, less noise, less wear and it uses less fuel. Try one, soon! Hedgetrimmers while normally these banks using the hover Demonstrations countrywide. seen as single purpose tools are mower on a length of rope Bob Andrews Ltd, 1 Bilton Industrial Estate, Lovelace Road, AD also available as attachments for method, a practice which Peter REF Bracknell, Berks RG12 8YT. Tel: 01344 862111 Fax: 01344 861345 the knapsack type of brushcutter, commented did not stand up to 381 THE NEW ECHO ARC MULTI-ANGLED HEDGE CUTTER HEAD TURNING

risk assessment under the health a relatively slowly rotating blade and safety audit now necessary. which cuts against a star shaped Cutting tall hedges in the past fixed blade so giving a better cut had required steps and trestles, while reducing the danger of NOTHING COMPARES OR COMPETES but the D & H long reach hed- debris, sand and bunker edge WITH THE NEW ECHO ARC™ getrimmer had removed the need being ejected. The design of the HCA-2400 LONG REACH MULTI- for these and more than halved blades is such that there is little ANGLED HEDGE CUTTER. the time taken to cut the hedges, danger of cutting into the actual and because the operator always edge. Course Manager Paul With its 51-inch shaft, even high or The result of a long keeps his feet firmly on the Bishop first saw the machine at wide neatly shaped bushes are ground the job has become signif- Windsor and then had it demon- pedigree of Echo expertise - always within your reach - without you icantly safer with less risk of acci- strated on several of his bunkers r having to wade into the bed. y?/ and field tested in the demanding dent - to man, machine or hedge. by Handy Garden Machinery of / 7 U.S.A. professional market - the Commenting on the machine Swindon last autumn. He was The real secret of the HCA-2400, // HCA-2400 offers unrivalled itself John said that he has found satisfied that it would do the job, however, lies in its 90-degree / / it easy on the back, although he just cutting grass without damag- articulating gearbox. Adjustable in 7 performance, reliability and all these as not used for longer than three ing the edges and thus the club 15-degree increments, this quality features: or four hours at a stretch - others bought it. He admitted that as yet unique feature makes shaping, • 20-inch double sided blades have used it for a full working it has not had a full season's use but to-date it has worked well, trimming and topping so easy. • 23.6cc dual piston ring engine day and say they are far less tired • Vibration reducing engine at the end than when working cutting only grass, and he sees no mounts and handles with conventional power tools. reason to regret the purchase. He commented that "it does a very • See-through fuel tank. He said that it is easy to use and reliable and changing heads is nice job". However the club is So why not talk to your dealer today only a few minutes work. retaining its Allen Reciprocator. about the unique new Echo ARC™ For bank mowing the club uses HCA-2400? Ahresty and other machines Flymo air cushion mowers and an at Manor House Golf Club at Allen, however, Paul specified all Castle Combe as "professional" with JLO A recent acquisition to the Manor engines which he considers the House machinery fleet is the only one suitable for intensive Ahresty from Bob Andrews, this is professional use and likely to last described in the brochure as a two or three seasons. Having "new type of brushcutter". It uses some commonality between all

CALL 01235 813936 for your FREE brochure or post the coupon today. To: ECHO GB. The Broadway, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8ES. ///ECHO A NAME WORTH REPEATING IN OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT A division of Allen Power Equipment Ltd.

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HCA-2400 Hedge Cutter. Please tick if you require a demonstration: •

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TELEPHONE . Gl.4.96 Paul Bishop, Course Manager at Manor House Golf Club, with Bob Andrews' Ahresty The Echo SRM343SL brushcutter

admitted that they do look after them and use the heavy duty machine for the heavy work. They have had very little trouble and apart from regular replace- ment of plugs little had been needed in terms of maintenance. Danny did comment that using good clean two stroke mix at the right strength was vital. He also tends to replace rather than repair as parts and labour can the machines, air cushion and also good arboricultural practice with no line exposed it cannot often exceed the cost of new. The trimmers is expected to allow him to have a vegetation free area pull, out by centrifugal force, thus club has very limited hedge to to stock, interchange and/or can- around each tree. Various types you have to dismantle the unit to trim, and what they have is soft nibalise parts so extending life of trimmer head have been tried, get more string out. privet, so the smaller machine is and reducing overall cost. unfortunately not all are inter- used regularly with either line or For trimming around trees and changeable between differing Allen Echo trimmers at blade to cut it. other areas where mowers cannot makes or models, but Paul said Marlborough Golf Club go the club has two E P Barrus that his preference is for manual Two machines do all the work of FS220 Brushcutters at Lawnflite SS2590s with Kawasaki line adjustment where each line bank and bunker trimming as Wanstead Golf Club motors and an Allen Pro 43 with can be adjusted independently well as hedge and sundry cutting -N London a 41.5cc Zenoah motor. However rather than the automatic or cen- at Marlborough. Danny Dobie, Course Manager, Peter Dawson's Paul does use the chemical tral release systems as in his Head Greenkeeper, manages to machinery fleet at Wanstead, Touchdown to reduce the work- experience if you snag the line it make these machines last for includes two Stihl brushcutters load, he commented that it was breaks off at the drum and then about three seasons, but he and a HS61 hedgecutter as well

If you want a safe and easy way to mow banks If you don't and slopes or to mow small confined walk ten foot 76e SA?g, areas - tall - and you zmexcuut donvt want to BASty «My use tressles, fo turn fati ladders or the back of a truck - you need a

ou/tene 1Dixon & Uiolliday J2td. tie knapsack brushcutters ofienato* will also trim, mow, frM Ctottwi - cultivate and much foti fat fautcU cut tie more. mocJujte - cuvct not o*t a lofie. Dixon & Uiollidau £td. (u&eie he (na*taeuvnaMit

Stihl brushcutter at work as a and two blowers Exeter is exceptionally well from the same maker and two organised in using its brushcut- Flymo GT2 air cushion mowers. ters, it has four machines of Life expectancy for the brushcut- which the oldest is about five ters is about four years, however years old, and the policy is to they are not expected to edge change one every other year - bunker banks or cut large thus giving a life expectancy of amounts of bank for which there up to eight years. are specific tools. In fact, not hav- Head Greenkeeper is John ing found a really satisfactory Parr and he said that the club is means of trimming edges, these very disciplined in its use of the STANDARD GOLF are still cut, about once a month, machines. For a start it has a full using traditional hand edging time mechanic and a spare shears. Peter also sprays around machine so that he is able to his trees with a long acting herbi- maintain the machines on a reg- SETTING THE cide so avoiding the need to trim ular basis and keep all in A1 con- these areas. Thus most of the trim- dition. John commented that mer work is tidying up path edges previously brushcutters at Exeter STANDARD IN and around posts and fences. had short lives and less reliabil- The trimmer heads are of the ity, however he is happy that two string type with a screw this is in the past, and that the GOLF COURSE release for manually extending current machines will have a the line. The Stihl machinery has long and virtually trouble free all proved extrememly reliable life. EQUIPMENT only requiring spark plug and fil- Possibly another reason for ter cleaning or replacement. Peter this change is the disciplined sys- expressed himself perfectly satis- tem of use, John sends two peo- fied with the performance of the ple out with two machines when Ask for our full colour catalogue Flymos - both are 21 inch profes- trimming round the course, they Standard Golf (UK) Ltd sional machines with the JLO work a two hour shift when they Maxwell Hart Business Centre engine, but he accepts that theirs are relieved by two other green- PO Box 297, Lightwater GUI8 5HJ is a short life span by virtue of keepers with the extra machine. their use. All four machines are fitted Telephone Lo-Call 0345 125398 with monofiliment two line Fax: 01276 452616 AD Husqvarna Brushcutters - heads with manual (screw lock) REF 421 Exeter Golf & Country Club string advance. Very little work