Product Description

Tired of handheld trimmers that just cant cut the tough stuff The Swisher Roughcut Mower is ideal for cutting trails through the woods and clearing fields and ditches year-round. The Predator self-propelled walk-behind can clear the densest undergrowth and saplings up to 1 1/2in. diameter with ease. It can clear 2/3 of an acre per hour. U.S.A. Engine: Briggs & Stratton, HP: 11.5, Cutting Speeds: 4 Plus Reverse, Cutting Width (in.): 24, Rear Tire Size (in.): 8 x 4

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56064 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Swisher
• Model: WB11524
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 31.00" h x 32.50" w x 60.50" l, 320.00 pounds

Features

• 24-inch, self-propelled gas-powered brush cutter with 4-speed transmission and reverse
• 11-1/2-horsepower Briggs & Stratton mower; cuts undergrowth to 1-1/2 inches diameter
• Single, fixed hardened 11-gauge steel and steel blade
• Includes mower, blade, handle, and safety deflectors
• This item is not for sale in California/Non CARB compliant

Amazon.com Review
Ideal for cutting trails through the woods and clearing fields and ditches year-round, the 24-inch Predator brush cutter clears the densest undergrowth and saplings up to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Clearing up to 2/3 of an acre per hour, this self-propelled walk-behind features a 11-1/2-horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine and a heavy-duty cutting deck. Its single, fixed hardened-steel blade zips through brush and saplings like butter. Handlebar mounted controls are easily accessed for total control and safety. Ergonomic handles ensure optimal comfort-even on extended jobs. Large pneumatic tires roll easily over the rowdiest terrain for smooth cutting in all conditions. A four-speed transmission is great for climbing or cruising, and a reverse mode is handy for backing out of trouble. Front and side safety deflectors protect against flying debris. And, the Predator's blade is enclosed for maximum safety. --Brian Olson

Amazon.com Buying Guide
Five Tips for Buying a Mower
Choosing a lawn mower is a matter of sifting through a bewildering array of types, power ratings, and fuel sources. Let’s break it down a little to make the process easier.

What types of walk-behind mowers are there?
There are four basic choices: push reel, electric, cordless, and gas. All have strengths and weaknesses.

• Push reel mowers are powered by you. They’re quiet, they don’t need cords or recharging, and they don’t pollute. But on large lawns, you might not want the workout you get when using a push reel mower. They also tend to be less effective on grass taller than two inches.
• Electric mowers need to be plugged into an outlet to power them, which means you’re constrained by the location of power outlets, the length of your power cord, and any obstacles that may snag the cord. If you have a small yard but don’t want the forced exercise of using a push reel mower, an electric mower may be for you.
• Cordless mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery. You don’t have to deal with the hassles of keeping a cord plugged in, but battery life becomes a constraint. Depending on the battery capacity, the size of your yard, and the height of your grass, you may not be able to complete your mowing job on one charge.
• Gas mowers offer the most power, which is best if you’ll be mowing tall, dense grass or if your yard is larger than 2,000 square feet. But you will have to keep gas and oil on hand as well as keep the engine serviced.

What do all the power measurements mean?
All that matters to you is whether the lawn mower’s blade will spin fast enough to cut your grass. Unfortunately, mowers are rated in far more technical terms.

For gas mowers, there are three power measurements you may see:

• horsepower (hp) refers to the amount of power the engine can produce;
• torque is the amount of horsepower that is transferred to the blade;
• cc (cubic centimeters) is another to measure an engine’s power based on the displacement volume of its cylinders.

There also are two types of engines: two-stroke (also referred to as two-cycle) and four-stroke (or four-cycle). Conventional wisdom is that two-stroke engines offer more power but also more pollution.
For electric and cordless mowers, power often is measured in volts, amps, or watts. To satisfy your inner techie, here’s how to calculate the horsepower:
31. Multiply the volts by the amps to get the wattage.
32. Divide the wattage by 746 to get the horsepower.

More horsepower doesn’t always mean more cutting power. That’s why, starting in 2007, most lawnmower manufacturers began rating walk-behind lawn mowers in torque power or cc’s--not horsepower. If torque isn’t available for a gas mower, higher cc figures usually mean higher torque (and more fuel used per stroke, incidentally).

However, you don’t want to buy a mower based on the power measurement alone. Make sure it has the features, warranty, and quality of reviews you’re seeking.

What features should I look for?

• Cutting Deck
  This refers to the blade housing. The wider the cutting deck, the fewer passes it will take to mow a given area. However, consider how many obstacles there are in your yard. The wider the deck, the tougher it may be to fit the mower into tight spaces.
  

• Mulching and Bagging
  Want to collect your clippings? Choose a mower with a rear- or side-bag option. Want to leave clippings on the lawn as fertilizer? Get a mower that mulches. A "3-in-1" mower will mulch, bag, or side-discharge.
  

• Wheels
  Larger wheels mean easier handling, especially over rough terrain. If you can, go with at least 7-inch-diameter wheels in the rear--larger if your yard is hilly or uneven. Some higher-end mowers have front wheels on casters, which gives you an extremely tight turning radius.
  

• Height Adjustment
  Most mowers allow you to adjust the distance between the blade and the ground. Think about how much range you really need.
  

• Safety
  Many newer rotary machines are available with a lever or bar that must be depressed to keep the mower running (some models include a handy blade-brake that lets you release the lever without killing the engine).
  Also, look for models with a rubber flap at the back to block objects thrown from the blades. You should always wear safety goggles when mowing and follow all the manufacturer’s safety instructions regardless of the mower you’re using.
  

• Batteries
  If you’re buying a cordless mower, think about how long it will run on a single charge. Most batteries take several hours to recharge, so you want to make sure it’s going to get the job done before it runs out of juice. As a rule of thumb, a typical 24-volt mower will run up to one-and-a-half hours and cut up to a third of an acre; a 36-volt mower will go for three hours and cut up to a half an acre.
  

• Cord holder
  A cord holder is useful for keeping the cord of your electric mower out of the way when you make turns.
  

• Starters
  Gas mowers are available either with recoil (pull-cord) or electric starters. Newer recoil motors start much quicker than those you remember from summers past. However, go with electric if you can afford it: your mower will start with the push of a button or the turn of a key.
  

• Self-propelled or push?
  A self-propelled mower moves forward without you having to push it. All you have to do is steer. If you have a relatively flat lawn, save a few bucks by skipping this feature. However, if your landscape has a slope or an irregular contour, a self-propelled model may be the best choice. Rear-wheel drive tends to offer better traction.
  

• Variable Speed
  If you want a self-propelled mower, look for models with variable speed. This feature allows you to make adjustments within a continuous range so you can find the exact speed that’s comfortable for you.

What servicing and maintenance is necessary?
Always buy a mower that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty and follow the manufacturer’s routine maintenance instructions for

• Cleaning the mower after usage;
• Keeping the blade sharp;
• Keeping the engine tuned up (gas mowers); and
• Keeping the battery charged (cordless mowers).

While Amazon.com does not accept returns on gas-powered mowers, the manufacturer’s Website or product manual will list the nearest service center.

What does CARB-compliant mean?
CARB is an acronym for California Air Resource Board, whose stringent air-quality standards have been adopted by many states. If your state requires compliance for gas mowers, confirm that your model is CARB-certified before you buy. While CARB-compliant mowers run cleaner than noncompliant models, they still emit pollutants. If you want to go green, an electric or push reel mower is the way to go.

From the Manufacturer
Tired of hand-held trimmers that just can't cut the tough stuff? The 24" Predator self-propelled walk-behind can clear the densest undergrowth and saplings up to an 1-1/2" diameter with ease. It can clear 2/3 of an acre per hour, making it ideal for cutting trails through the woods and clearing fields and ditches year-round.

Customer Reviews

Good value but some anoying minor flaws
Like others, I couldn't believe a DR Field and Brush mower could be worth the $1000 more (although the DR does accept additional overpriced attachments).

So, I ordered the Swisher through Amazon. At first I was given a delivery date in 2 months, but it ended up arriving after 1 month -- still rather long.

The mower was easy to assemble and initially worked great, chomping through the 4 feet grass and various blackberry brushes in my eratically sloped fields. Still a fair amount of work (on flat ground though it is very low effort), but after about 2 hours of use, the motor cut off every time I engaged the mower!

So, I opened up the top cover over the pully system, and noticed a wire going from the motor to the safety switch (detects when the mower is engaged and shuts it off when needed, such as when putting it into reverse). The wire on the left side of the mower (as viewed from the rear handlebars) had come out of a little plastic clip assembly, had been flipping around underneath, and the insulation was stripped off and it was shorting to the chasis as it flopped around, causing the mower to cut out when it would short. I repaired it temporarily with friction tape and re-seating the wiring. Yesterday, I put some standard high temperature flex tubing around the entire wire assembly and then re-hooked it into the plastic clip. Its been OK ever since. Just having a very thin wire hanging down beneath the mower seems like very poor design, and flex tubing costs so little. The wire on the right side of the mower to the safety switch does have flex tubing, is routed to the side, and looks fine. The wire on the left side is just a very poor design.

The rubber grips on the handlebar slip off easily -- one already fell off and subsequently got chewed up by the mower. But I'd never use the thing without gloves -- the handlebar levers pinch your hands constantly without gloves. In general, the handlebar assembly seems a bit cheap.

The B&S motor is great. Mine still runs a bit rough when idling, but does fine when its going.

Pros:

Free shipping, good price, great motor, does mow down the brush as advertised.

Cons:

Poor wiring to the safety switch, handlebar assembly is lightweight and rubber grips on handlebar slide off easily.

Great value! Brush Cutter Not DR Chipper
This thing is a great value at about half the DR chipper brand price. It was well packaged with only minor handle and shift knob assembly needed. The Briggs engine ran a little rough at first but this went away after 5 min. I wrapped the fuel lines that run right up along the engine block with heavy foil. I had just replaced these lines on a very similar 25 hp Briggs after only 3 yrs - totally rotted from the heat. The brush cutter went through 4' tall heavy Texas weeds (up to 1" dia.) with no problem. The unit is still tiring in 95+ heat but a lot better than running them over 5x with a regular mower!

Swisher WB11524 Predator 24-Inch
I have around six hours of total use, so this review is based upon that.

Delivery time was good, but initially taking delivery was a problem. The item shipped on a semi-trailer and could not be delivered to my home address due to the trailer not having a lift. My options were to pick it up at the delivery hub or have it shipped to my work, which I did. Set up was easy. All I had to do was attach the handle bars, check the oil and fill it with gas. A couple of tugs and it started and off I went. Spent an hour and a half mowing chest high thistles, burdock and nettles in our horse pasture. Went out the next day to continue mowing and the blade would not engage. Upon further inspection, I discovered the cable and spring that engages the blade was lose and some how became bent. I called the company and their response was great. Replacement parts arrived within 5 business days and after installing them (which was fairly easy) I mowed for another four hours with out problems.

Likes: Does what it is supposed to do starts easy and it is fairly easy to maneuver. It was the most reasonably priced mower I could find. The next closest in price was $800.00 more.

Dislikes: Shipping directly to my home was not possible unless there was help unloading it from the trailer. Replacement parts were necessary after limited use. Getting it into reverse is touchy. (There must be a safety switch that engages and kills the engine if the shift lever travels too far.)The handle grips are not very good. (They keep slipping off and one is already starting to tear.)