I have also had good experience with DR customer service. The only thing I have ordered from them is the optional heavy brush blade. It's a MUST HAVE for this machine. It's about twice as heavy as the blade that comes on it. Other than that, I have talked to their tech department about issues I was working on, due to it being 18 years old at the time and needing some refurb, which I did.

I never buy extended warranties unless it's Harbor Freight (sketchy) stuff (return to store warranty). In my younger years, I did, and only used one once, and it didn't quite pay back the cost of the warranty.

I have no trouble steering around trees, and am not that big and strong. The electric start would be nice though. That 10.5 HP used to wear me out until I found the trick of starting it with one pull. Turn the gas valve off when you are done, and let it run a half minute before you shut it down.

Last edited by John Fitzgerald; 07/17/18 11:03 AM.