4.3.7.2 – Review of Husqvarna 524LK 25cc Loop Handle Brush Cutter

PLEASE NOTE, THIS REVIEW IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING WRITTEN AND ADDED TO, ONLY WHEN I HAVE A MOMENT TO DO SO. THIS REVIEW IS A LONG WAY FROM BEING COMPLETE AND I HAVE ONLY PUT IT UP IN THIS STATE SO THAT IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ONE OF THESE MACHINES YOU CAN HAVE A MUCH CLOSER LOOK AT IT WITH THE PHOTOS THAT ARE UP NOW.

YOU SHOULD COME BACK AT A LATER DATE TO SEE THE COMPLETE REVIEW WHEN THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED. I WILL GOING INTO MUCH GREATER DETAIL ON EVERY PART OF THIS MACHINE AND FINALLY GIVING FOR MY PERSONAL OPINION ON IT FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.

MY PERSONAL OPINION, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A MACHINE IN THE 25cc CLASS, THIS IS THE BEST MACHINE IN THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT.

Overview

The only 4 stroke brush cutter that Husqvarna offers is a split shaft multi tool machine, powered by a 25cc Honda 4 stroke engine under a different plastic cowling to match the colour and shape of the Husqvarna range. This machine comes standard with a line and metal blade head and guards.

What is great about this brush cutter

In the 25cc class, this brush cutter is the crème de la crème of brush cutters. It is the best designed, best build, lowest vibration brush cutter on the market. It may not be totally perfect in my eyes, but in my opinion, there is no other brush cutter that comes close to it at the moment, at any price. If this is the size of brush cutter you are looking for, than this is the brush cutter for you. Read on to find out why.

ENGINE

Type;

This brush cutter is powered by a Honda 25cc 4 stroke engine and to me it makes perfect sense to use a Honda engine. Why go the huge expense developing an engine, when an extremely good one is already available. If you have nor already read this page comparing the difference between a 2 stroke and 4 stroke engine, I recommend you read it. 

Power Output of 0.8 kw at 7000 rpm.

Cooling;

The Cooling air is produced by a centrifugal fan, that is also a flywheel and clutch drive and like all brush cutter engines the cooling air is  directed by a cowling around the cylinder cooling veins and out past the muffler to help cool that as well. This design is pretty much typical to all small air cooled engines.

Muffler;

I imagine that the muffler is the standard supplied with the Honda engine.

Noice level rating at the operators ear, is stated at 97 db(A)

Carburettor & Air Filter;

 

Petrol Tank;

The weighted fuel filter is on a long flexible hose and there is no restriction that prevents the pick-up from moving anywhere around the tank. This is essential for any loop handle brush cutter that can be frequently run on either side and even upside-down.

Shaft;

 

Hitch;

 

Handles & Vibration Isolation;

Husqvarna, is the first brand to my knowledge to really some effort and design into reducing handle vibration. The trigger control handle is rubber isolated from the shaft, reducing the worst of the vibration to the right hand.

The loop handle is also, by far the best designed handle on the market, bar none. 

Gear Head;

This Husqvarna gear head has a Drive Gear with 14 teeth and a Driven Gear with 19 teeth, giving a gear ratio of  1.36:1 and has a 25.4mm blade mounting arbor.

This means that the engine turns 1.36 revolutions for 1 revolution of the blade, which results in a turn ratio of 19, which is not so good for keeping shaft vibration down. Not as bad as the Echo High Torque Gear Head, which has a turn ratio of of 27 that results in horrendous shaft vibration.

The reason why Husqvarna chose this gear ratio is for longevity of the gears. This means that any one of the driven gear tooth will engage the next driven tooth over 19 turns of the engine and then it starts all over again allowing for very even wear of all the teeth.

This gear ratio is fine for a nylon head, or a multi tooth saw type metal blade. But when you get down to a three tooth or the standard metal star blade, this can result in more shaft vibration. It is too difficult to explain here, but I will do a detailed article in the future that will clearly explain how and why this happens.

Cutting Options & Guards;

Harness;

 

Tools;

 

Manuel;

 

Warranty;

 

Price;

Recommended retail price in Australia is, AU$729.00 and comes standard with the brush cutting head.

What is not so great about this brush cutter

Not a lot.

The only problem so fare, is the rubber grip on the trigger control handle, started to peal off. I was just going to let it peel off and carry on without it just like my battery drill which has done exactly the same thing. A few days after this photo was taken, I was in the Husqvarna dealers shop for another reason and the dealer asked how this brush cutter going and I said it was fine except for the rubber grips. 

He said bring it is and he will replace the handle, I said that it will probably only come off again because I am constantly flipping the brush cutter from side to side as this is how I use a brush cutter when clearing bush. But he insisted that it be replace, so I brought it in and he fitted a new one. To date, the rubber on the new grip has not come loose, but I also have not used it a lot either.

The other problem I have had, is with the hitch. No matter how tight I do it up, it slowly slides up the shaft, which slowly changes the balance of the machine. To be fair, this is a problem, common to most brush cutters, but it would have been nice to not have to worry about it. But as shown on Myth Busters, nothing that a pit of duct tape wont fix.

If you would like to leave a comment below, please limit it to this model Husqvarna brush cutter only and word your comments so that they are as constructive and helpful as possible to someone who is investigating the purchase of this machine.

You can agree, or disagree with what I have said here, so long as it is done so in a polite and constructive manor. Or if you own one of these machines then please give your feed back on how you found it worked for you. Good, or bad.

Any comments on this page, not related to this particular brush cutter will be promptly deleted.

2 thoughts on “4.3.7.2 – Review of Husqvarna 524LK 25cc Loop Handle Brush Cutter”

  1. I already owned a 25cc 2 stroke Husqvarna brush cutter fitted with a high torque gearbox when I purchased a Brush Destructor blade.
    The Husqvarna did a ripper job and worked very well when combined with the Brush Destructor blade and i was very happy with the result working on very step rocky country, clearing bushfire regrowth, mainly small gums 20 to 60mm in size.
    The weight of the Husqvarna made it very manageable and easy to use compared to the bigger Echo brush cutter.
    Bull or bicycle handles vs loop handle. With out question the loop handle is much safer on step country and less fatiguing than the bull horn handles and when combined this with a Husqvarna harness the job becomes easy.
    Summary: Husqvarna 25 cc 2-stroke fitting with a high torque gearbox is perfect for light duty work or on steep country. There is a better all round option and the best combination is the Honda 35cc four stroke (loop handle) and Husqvarna harness.

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