Customer Reviews

Makita EH760 Commercial Grade 1.1 HP Gas Powered Hedge Trimmer, 30-Inch 21.7cc 2-Stroke

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a good machine. Easy to start, and powerful. Good size on the cutting blade, and it can cut some good size limbs. I like it.

I use a hedge trimmer to cut down tall, ornamental grasses. I recently killed my B&D Hedge Hog using it for this purpose. So I needed a replacement trimmer. I considered buying another Hedge Hog. Purchased this instead.

Likes
+ Gas powered, no cord.
+ Lots of metal parts in this device. Appears to be very durable.
+ Blade is longer than a most electric trimmers.
+ Handle on the right side of the blade makes it easy control the trimmer when cutting grasses.
+ Quiet. I was able to converse with my hearing-aid-equipped father while this thing was running.
+ Powerful. Cuts down a large clump of ornamental grass in less than 5 seconds.
+ Easy starting. About 3 pulls to start it the first time.

Dislikes
- Gas powered, requires 2 cycle fuel mixture.
- Heavier than an electric trimmer.

The hedge trimmer has worked very well so far. I have only used it on my property so I can not testify to its long term reliability. However, I debated whether to buy a smaller two sided trimmer for home use or this more rugged,longer and more expensive trimmer. After trimming my hedges and a jungle of forsythia I believe this model was the right choice.

This is my second hedge trimmer. My first AC powered model felt under-powered when dealing with tall decorative grasses and bushes with twigs thicker than 3/8 of an inch. On top of that, I accidentally cut the AC cord some months ago (thank God for GFI breakers), so I began to look for something with a 4 cycle engine. I was not lucky: it seems all manufacturers use 2 stroke engines for all hedge trimmers. Perhaps for weight reasons???

The unit arrived in a long box, well protected from the "coach cabin" treatment FedEx Ground gives to all their shipments. It comes fully assembled, ready to run. All you need is a gas plus oil mixture (50:1) and you are ready to go. It took three pulls for the little engine to get going and once warmed up, only one pull with no choke application. Oil is not included with the unit.

This machine goes through thick branches (up to 3/4 of an inch) like a hot knife over butter! You don't even have to rev it up to maximum to accomplish this. For branches 1/2 inch of less, very little throttle is required. When the engine idles, the trimming action stops.

For hedge cuts parallel to the ground, it is very comfortable to use. For perpendicular cuts below waist level, the curved handle on which your left hand rests, makes it a little awkward to use. I guess you have to get used to it. I wish you didn't have to grab it with your left hand facing up.

For hedges 6 to 7 feet high, you have to use a sweeping motion high above your head, with your right arm fully extended and on the red handle midway down the trimmer; your left hand on the curved handle controlling the throttle. That means that when you sweep it to cut hedges, the motor will sweep by in close proximity to your face. Surprisingly, the gas engine is not too loud, but you may get a sniff of the engine exhaust.

This unit cuts when swept from right to left only. You cannot convert for use by left handed users.