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(More customer reviews)I flashed the plastic and my Swisher DXQ was delivered less than a week later. Having used it for several days now, I'll post my review here.
Some assembly is required. You'll put on the wheels, and the handle. I noted what another reviewer said here previously about the handle coming loose, so I used lock-tite on the handle nuts, and they have not come loose yet. Yes, the wheels are plastic, but remember this unit is under $400. Besides, you'll appreciate the lighter weight (no self-propel on this model).
The unit comes with a small can of Briggs oil, just enough to fill the crankcase, nice touch. Put in some gas and the engine cranked right up for me and ran well.
What I use it for: I have some open areas (septic fields, horse barn areas, etc) which tend to get overgrown with high thick weeds. I use the Swisher to 'pre-cut' those areas, going in and knocking down chest-high overgrowth to about 4 inches. After this, I follow up with the rider mower and put on the finish cut.
I have found the DXQ is adequate for this task. The 6.5HP Briggs flat-head (not OHV) engine is just about the smallest motor acceptable for this work. In very thick or high overgrowth you'll find this motor challenged with the the load, and you can even stall it if you push too fast. But if you slow down your pace a little it will pull through it fine. For most knee-high weeds and overgrowth, this motor is sufficient to take you through it at a steady slow walking pace (yeah, just like the TV commericals for the DR mowers :).
You won't make a smooth pretty cut with this machine. When you're done with an area that had substantial heavy overgrowth, it will look rough and overlaid with 'hay', like a tractor had gone over it with a bush-hog cutter. If this is what you want, you're good to go. For me, I wait a couple of hours for the hay and clippings to dry out, then I go over it with the rider mower. It's a lot easier on the mower than plowing through the high stuff straight off, and the results look beautiful.
The trimmer head spins clockwise, as viewed from operator's position. I have found it helps to 'outline' an area, then go around it in shrinking counter-clockwise loops. This lets you throw the cut debris to your right, away from the uncut area that you will cut on the next pass.
The machine is LOUD. There's the engine noise, plus a nearly ultrasonic noise from the trimmer line. You will definately want earplugs, or some form of hearing protection.
The size of the trimmer line is .130 or .150. I've found this size line blazes away through vegetation overgrowth, but it doesn't like trimming up against hard solid objects such as concrete foundations or wooden fence posts. Doing that makes flex too much and it breaks off quickly, back at the spindle. You'll want to carry some spare pieces of line in your pocket, for those instances. Or just keep the Swisher in the open overgrowth areas, and it'll be fine.
I removed the guard around the trimmer head, in order to let the machine 'breathe' better and more easily eject the cut vegetation. I'm not recommending this for everyone, but just saying it works better for me. The Swisher comes with a free set of eye protection goggles. You'll need them. Stuff flies everywhere.
Another reviewer mentioned the cooling air intake on top of the engine getting clogged, and this does happen. This Briggs engine cover has a fixed stationary grille over the air intake. With all the debris blowing around, a lot of it will get stuck on that grille and it will reduce airflow into the cooling fins. Other Briggs engine models have the grille attached to the flywheel, so it's spinning around at engine speed, and tends to be more self-cleaning. That would have been helpful here. So every so often you'll want to reach down with your (gloved) hand and brush debris away from the intake grille. It comes off with two small phillips screws, so remove it and clean it out good every few hours.
This is a hard-working engine when you're cutting substantial overgrowth, so it goes through a tank of gas pretty quickly. In addition, I'd suggest doing about a 5 hour oil change interval for the same reason. The machine gets dirty. Keep a brush handy for removing debris from the air cleaner, carb, gas cap, etc.
When you're buying equipment like this, it's important to analyze your needs honestly, and choose the appropriate machine for the task. With that said, the DXQ is basically a decent ENTRY LEVEL machine. It has the smallest size engine acceptable, no electric start, and no self propel. It's not going to have the power or features of it's big brothers. (That is, if you're planning to knock down multiple acres of heavy overgrowth, or have challenging terrain to deal with, you maybe should be looking at a bigger machine.) But you're not going to be paying $1500 to $2000 for this machine either. Just 400 bucks lands the DXQ on your doorstep in about week. My particular needs are to control of seasonal and occasional overgrowth of smaller (sub-acre) areas. And the DXQ does that job quite well.
I found the other reviews here helpful in letting me know just what I was getting into. Based on that and the attractive price tag compared to all the other models, I felt confident in ordering this unit.
After using the Swisher DXQ for a few days, learning its strengths and limitations, I actually found myself having too much fun using it. Those bad boy gangsta weeds had tormented me long enough, and now they were goin' down before me. I was feeling a little like Al Pachino in 'Scarface': "You want a piece of this?? Well say Hello to MY LITTLE FRIEND!"
Enjoy and be safe.
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Swisher ST65022DXQ Trim Max 6.5 HP Trimmer MowerThe Swish 6.5 HP Trim Max trimmer mower is designed to reduce back stress associated with hand-held mowers, yet it provides three to four times the power for effectively trimming overgrown edges and mowing high weeds and lawns. Equipped with a 6 HP Briggs & Stratton engine, the Trim Max maneuvers rugged landscapes and manicured lawns with ease. While many other standing trimmer mowers feature sharp steel blades, the Trim Max uses a .155-inch diameter cutting line for greater safety. Users can adjust the line's tension belt for better performance and extended belt life. The trimmer mower cuts a wide 22-inch swath and automatically turns off when idle, saving fuel and adding further safety. Powdercoat paint covers all metal parts for greater durability. The trimmer head is located on the left side of the mower while 14-inch wheels allow the trimmer mower to turn corners deftly while providing clearance in rougher terrain. To prevent debris from clustering around the machine, Swisher built a debris guard onto the rear of the trimmer mower. The Trim Max also benefits from easy care as all bearings are sealed, so there's no need for lubrication. The simple task of replacing the cutting line requires no tools, and the trimmer mower runs on regular unleaded gasoline. What's in the Box Mower, one container of engine oil, replacement trimmer line, and protective goggles.
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