I've had the older 86 version for a few years. Very good. Doesn't have the turning handle. I use the AP200 batteries as they're light and get over 2hrs run time. I save the AP500 for my strimmer!
I use a Stihl RMA 443 VC and it works well for me, with a smaller van and a more all round Horticultural based business. If you do a lot of grass cutting stick to petrol mowers and brushcutters.
@Basjoo no I haven't tried a battery mower yet. I think they would struggle on long wet grass. Maybe they would be fine mid season. I'm looking at petrol zero turns at the moment! Plus a bigger van to put it in!
I have the stihl RMA 443vc use with ap300s battery bought this year nice mower to use. Collection rubbish due to blade design, after being disappointed with it, I re cut the blade with a angle grinder with the cutting bevel upwards to keep pushing grass uphill & it's a different mower. Contacted stihl UK. Told them about my experience they where shit customer service they told me to take to a dealer, what to be told you can't do that. I have never seen a mower blade cut the way, that machine come from the factory that way. As for the machine, box great to get on & off, due to mono handle, vary speed a must if contractor, due to thick grass, it has power. quiet machine. I run my hsa86 on ap100 no bother on light stuff. The less weight the better. Good look.@@Basjoo
Excellent description / video Jon. And great job in that lovely garden. It is a “semi-pro” quality machine, but probably best suited for lighter hedge cutting work, as opposed to the “gnarly” tougher stuff. The new ECHO dhc-2800r is generally better I think, being less “plasticky” in construction and with a far better twisty handle set-up. But it’s pricey!
It looks just as plasticky to me, it's possible that it is a stronger material though. I feel like the plastic on Stihl appears pretty flimsy and cheap.
@@MHumanoid Agreed. It’s really just an upgrade of the previous HSA86…but with a twisty handle & better gearbox greasing access. And it is quiter too. But I found the handle arrangement fiddly. The new Echo is better all round. Just can’t afford it yet!
My 100 did a couple of days box, a mornings beech and the gearbox broke , fixed under guarantee but still don't sound right my opinions on Stihl battery powered tools is getting very low as my HLA 86 is even worse being repaired many times in the last year 😡😡
@@grahamwatson6570 Yes, they’re definitely not built for tougher hedge jobs. Stihl will lose out to other manufacturers in the pro battery equipment category if they’re not careful. They seem to be pushing their profitable domestic products more and more, with TV ads etc. They shouldn’t forget or neglect their roots!
I have been using mine to clear a field, I have been cutting quite a few 1-2 inch thick trees down with a near 3 inch one when I couldn't be bothered to go get a saw. It worked fine. Rain is fine but not used it in torrential rain as I don't need to. Price I got a second hand one but I would even pay the new price. The only annoying thing is that damn tip protector. I haven't even touched my petrol tools since going over to battery powered.
The machine is easy to handle and the blade reversal feature saves time unblocking blades when cutting thicker materials. Pitfalls of this machine include: Annoying safety grip on handle near blades; Annoying safety switch near trigger; and annoying tip of the blade that catches when cutting (I've removed the tip protector as it made the catching while cutting even worse than it is without). STIHL SAY this is a professional unit, but it's design indicates that in reality this designation is a lie. As a professional, I DO NOT need safety switches and I DO NOT need the end of my blade giving un-nessecary tension during a delicate cut. I'd also like to see a cover over the battery compartment to further waterproof the machine.
I've had the older 86 version for a few years. Very good. Doesn't have the turning handle. I use the AP200 batteries as they're light and get over 2hrs run time. I save the AP500 for my strimmer!
Thanks for commenting Joe. Too right, I'm dancing with the idea of getting another mower, this time battery. Have you had any experience with them?
I use a Stihl RMA 443 VC and it works well for me, with a smaller van and a more all round Horticultural based business. If you do a lot of grass cutting stick to petrol mowers and brushcutters.
@Basjoo no I haven't tried a battery mower yet. I think they would struggle on long wet grass. Maybe they would be fine mid season. I'm looking at petrol zero turns at the moment! Plus a bigger van to put it in!
I have the stihl RMA 443vc use with ap300s battery bought this year nice mower to use. Collection rubbish due to blade design, after being disappointed with it, I re cut the blade with a angle grinder with the cutting bevel upwards to keep pushing grass uphill & it's a different mower. Contacted stihl UK. Told them about my experience they where shit customer service they told me to take to a dealer, what to be told you can't do that. I have never seen a mower blade cut the way, that machine come from the factory that way. As for the machine, box great to get on & off, due to mono handle, vary speed a must if contractor, due to thick grass, it has power. quiet machine. I run my hsa86 on ap100 no bother on light stuff. The less weight the better. Good look.@@Basjoo
Thanks@@adrian_dickinson for the comment. Nice to hear about your experience with the RMA443vc. Improvise and overcome, great work.
Excellent description / video Jon. And great job in that lovely garden. It is a “semi-pro” quality machine, but probably best suited for lighter hedge cutting work, as opposed to the “gnarly” tougher stuff. The new ECHO dhc-2800r is generally better I think, being less “plasticky” in construction and with a far better twisty handle set-up. But it’s pricey!
It looks just as plasticky to me, it's possible that it is a stronger material though. I feel like the plastic on Stihl appears pretty flimsy and cheap.
@@MHumanoid Agreed. It’s really just an upgrade of the previous HSA86…but with a twisty handle & better gearbox greasing access. And it is quiter too. But I found the handle arrangement fiddly. The new Echo is better all round. Just can’t afford it yet!
My 100 did a couple of days box, a mornings beech and the gearbox broke , fixed under guarantee but still don't sound right my opinions on Stihl battery powered tools is getting very low as my HLA 86 is even worse being repaired many times in the last year 😡😡
@@grahamwatson6570 Yes, they’re definitely not built for tougher hedge jobs. Stihl will lose out to other manufacturers in the pro battery equipment category if they’re not careful. They seem to be pushing their profitable domestic products more and more, with TV ads etc. They shouldn’t forget or neglect their roots!
@@stevelanghorn1407 I wouldn't mind but have invested about a grand in batteries 😡
How does it handle cutting anything up to an inch+ , does it work in the rain, and what's the price of this setup?
I have been using mine to clear a field, I have been cutting quite a few 1-2 inch thick trees down with a near 3 inch one when I couldn't be bothered to go get a saw. It worked fine. Rain is fine but not used it in torrential rain as I don't need to. Price I got a second hand one but I would even pay the new price. The only annoying thing is that damn tip protector. I haven't even touched my petrol tools since going over to battery powered.
The tip guard is more than annoying and mines back in the shop for repair after a couple of months 😡
The machine is easy to handle and the blade reversal feature saves time unblocking blades when cutting thicker materials.
Pitfalls of this machine include: Annoying safety grip on handle near blades; Annoying safety switch near trigger; and annoying tip of the blade that catches when cutting (I've removed the tip protector as it made the catching while cutting even worse than it is without).
STIHL SAY this is a professional unit, but it's design indicates that in reality this designation is a lie. As a professional, I DO NOT need safety switches and I DO NOT need the end of my blade giving un-nessecary tension during a delicate cut.
I'd also like to see a cover over the battery compartment to further waterproof the machine.
Thanks for your comment @doomedbook1020.