OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters Two Stroke Trimmers & Brushcutters alternative to Kawasaki KBH45B

Hi All,
Somebody stole my Kawasaki brushcutter. It was the one bit of kit I was really happy with. They don't sell them anymore. I'm after around 2kw in 8kg as I use a grass blade or similar half the time. It would need a full harness too. I guess the one feature missing from the kwaka was a quick adjust wingnut for the handlebars. Being able to make them parallel to the shaft would be handy for transport. Any suggestions on a replacement? I've seen a Stihl model that meets the specs but RRP is twice what I paid for the Kawasaki.

Greg

Hi grl.

I found this Kawasaki HA045D-AT25 Demo (Specific model reference) for Sale, and if it's still available, may be a direct replacement the one stolen....

http://www.machines4u.com.au/view/advert/Demo-Kawasaki-Brushcutter-Christmas-Bargain-/268329/

Judging by my search results, it seems this machine is actually a KBH45B.

Also found a .pdf on the link below showing your KBH45B specifications to allow comparisons to other machines:-

http://www.cuttingedgeequipment.com.au/kawasaki.html

Hope this helps.

Thanks Bushy260. It looks very similar to mine. One obvious difference is the loop to attach the harness, probably an improvement - mine had cracked. I'll have a closer look at it.

I had the top of the line Stihl, fantastic machine that served me well for years. Then I lent it to a woman.

Good morning Greg,
I have seen a rise in Baumr-Ag products on the market and this 65cc 2-stroke Brushcutter has been reduced from $659 to $179 on eBay with lots of extra Bells and Whistles included along with 12 months warranty and Free P&H. Also shows 1,687 of these machines have already been sold.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Baumr-AG-65cc-Brush-Cutter-Whipper-Snipper-Trimmer-Multi-Edger-Brushcutter-/380690959687?hash=item58a2f30d47:g:c20AAOSwr7ZW60Ke

Just read an online article from 2012 Financial Review about the Australian who imports these, which advises, they have a German sounding name, but are made in China.

http://www.afr.com/leadership/cutting-a-niche-with-cheap-tools-20120926-jyzuw?hl

Maybe a little bit of research on the Quality of these machines could help, but for $179, why not consider one....
Have a great Easter
Daryl. :-)

I purchase a Baumer Ag Pro 72cc chainsaw from them, a Stihl copy with 25" bar. I paid $175 for it delivered. When I got it, it would starve for fuel when on its side, as in when felling a tree, but would run perfectly otherwise. Upon inspection I found the fuel line they had used was way too stiff and wouldn't let the pickup swing around. I contacted them and asked them to send me a bit of fuel line and I would fix it but I kept striking a brick wall with them until one day they said they wouldn't send me ($2 worth of) fuel line but would I accept an $80 refund. Of course I did so ended up getting the saw for $95 and have been using it for nearly 3 years come this Winter. I have cut through Ironbark trees that I had pushed out by dozer with 30" butts and it breezed through them like butter.

Sounds like an $80 refund for a $2 fuel line was a good offer, and you have had a great machine for the past 3 years. The questions I now ask aussietrev are: -
1) Did you replace the fuel line as you had indicated?
2) Would you recommend their product.
I have a Baumer-Ag Pro SX72 chainsaw here, given to me by a neighbour, but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, so I am gathering it is a similar model, being a 24" bar with power rated at 50cc-90cc.
Power output shows it to be around 4.8hp running a 25:1 mix, but only has a 700ml tank.
I gave a Baumer-AG Polesaw a bit of a tune-up and it seemed to work quite well, just leaked oil from the chain-bar lubrication mechanism.
For a Chinese made piece of kit, it seemed to go okay and sliced through a 2" branch without any drama.
Would be good to get some more opinions on these cheaper items in comparisons to the high priced competitors.
As a side note, I have the Stihl 4-mix Combi-Tool as my personal piece of gear, along with a Stihl Blower. Both cost an arm and a leg, so value versus longevity versus replacement parts is always a consideration.
Cheers
Daryl

Hi Bushy.
Yes, same model as the one I have. The supplied bar I found is a bit on the delicate side so I replaced it with a 25" Stihl roller tip. Regarding the fuel line, as it ended up, no. Since I only use the saw in two positions, normal upright for cutting firewood or cleaning up the head after felling a tree, and fuel filler upwards for felling, I simply turned the pick up so it sits at the bottom right side of the tank. The 700ml tank will run the saw for a long time, enough to cut a big load of firewood or to top and tail that dirty great big Ironbark I mentioned, clean up the head and still not be empty.
From my experience with the product for the price I would definitely recommend it. The handle vibration isolation is not as good as a Stihl but unless you are using it for hours on end it isn't that bad. The equivalent model in genuine is about $1000. A local tree feller for a small saw mill near here said he knows people in the industry that have bought them and apart from some leaks they have had no real problems with them. Mine doesn't leak so that is good. The saw always starts easily, two pulls on choke and then fires first pull off choke. Hope that helps.

Thank you for your quick reply. Gives me confidence for when I take a decent look over this Baumer-Ag machine and, from what you have said, they appear to be great value for the money. Like any machine, there'll always be that one lemon to be found, but a dash of lemon juice goes well in a cold water drink to cure a thirst.
Appreciate your feedback.
Have a great weekend.

Hi again Bushy260,
I don't really want to go to anything other than 50:1 fuel mix. The suzuki 2 stroke uses that. The chainsaw used to use that (an MS180 also stolen.) The blower was a Masters 909 40:1 mix and while decent enough was pain to manage different fuel mixes. I was making up 5 litres at a time and everything could use it. Only stihl oil used. I probably could have gotten away with 50:1 and that oil in the blower, admittedly.

Good morning Greg,
No worries. Was just throwing around some alternatives for you to consider and I understand the various machine fuel mix issues and the need to have multiple mixes available. It's a bit of a pain.
Hopefully, the Kawasaki HA045D-AT25 Demo that I had linked above from machines4u is still available after this Easter weekend is over and they are open for you to contact.
Use of high quality oil is recommended. I mainly use Stihl oil myself.
Enjoy your weekend.

the brushcutter you guys are discussing is the same machine i have had too for i think 3 1/2 years now . never missed a beat and powerful cuts anything its pointed at . never had a fuelling worry either even i made the rookie mistake of storing it for summer here with half a tank !!

just put fuel in it . swished it around to clean out the tank and away it went again running sweet . only problem i had was when it arrived amazingly well packed ...........

it had 2 left gloves supplied

dave