Customer Reviews
My alterations 
2008-06-15
I own a Predator (Have had 2 old DR Field Mowers in the past)
The Predator is heavier, and not as well balanced.
I like the bigger HP motor, does much better in tall grass.
Here's some alterations I have done so far.
(I'm not worried about voiding my warrenty,
and I know the company is not responsible for my alterations)
1. Tied-off the blade engage lever on the right handle,
with a small bunge cord.
that still allows me to push up the lever to disengage the blade.
That way, I can keep it going when I'm mowing,
but still disengage it when I need to go home, or work on it.
2. Removed the front (black) "brush guard".
My Predator does not seem to be balanced very well.
The front is too heavy.
So I'm removing weight that is on the front side.
I may try experiementing with adding weight at the back side.
3. I'm thinking about adding 2" pipes to the front of the machine,
so that I can use them as "slot-in" inserts,
for a maybe an 18" piece of 1 1/2"pipe,
that would be bent to a 90ยบ, to act as skids.
Anyone else have alterations to share?
Cheaper than the DR 
2008-02-10
This brush cutter generally works pretty well, and is about half the price of comparable DR products. However, it is heavy as hell and I have opted in most instances to use my much more maneuverable Toro mower, which weighs only 90 pounds or so, and still has 6.5hp. The Toro cannot handle the kind of brush the Swisher can, but it is much easier to use. That said, I like owning both of them because the Swisher tackles the toughest jobs. I would echo the thoughts of other reviewers with regards to the cheap feel of the handles and some of the operating issues, but regard these as minor nuisances. I guess that's why it costs only 1200 bux.
Has issues 
2008-01-07
First, this beast of a machine does do the job, but it is VERY heavy and hard to maneuver. My husband and I agree on the following: It's also VERY hard to get started. The pull cord to start takes a very strong person. Also, the handles keep coming off which is annoying. OUR BIGGEST COMPLAINT is that the gear shift is in the most absurd of places. After about 8 hours of use, the gears no longer engage. I received immediate help/support via email but it means we have to take the thing apart. I can say that it does self-propel and has a strong engine. However, I wish that we would have rented one as needed instead of purchasing one because it is not worth the money.
Nice Product 2007-10-28
Worked like a champ. Although it is a man eater and will tire you out trying to keep it in line. I cut 1 inch scrub oak with no problem. Have extra air filters on hand as they will plug after 3 or 4 hours use.
Great product despite a few flaws 
2007-09-30
First Eagle shipping was great, order was placed 8/30 and was given delivery window of 9/10-9/12. Company called on 9/10 for convient delivery time two delivery guys arrived exactly when promised the next day and placed the massive crate where I wanted it. Machine itself is awsome, I've mowed overgrowth 16' high (no, I measured and took pictures!) mesquite trees up to almost 2" fall before it....but a few draw backs, like most reported screws tend to back out but Thread Loc takes care of that easily (also suggest you take the back access plate off and secure the screw that holds the shift lever), handle grips are a joke, and there is vertually no adjustment data, such simple things as recommended air pressure and belt defelection adjustment would have been nice. Another joke was the safety interlock wire...after about an hour it got tangeled, wore through the insulation and grounded out stalling the engine when I tried to go foward...after a few frustrating attempts the wire apparently broke and I again could mow either foward OR backward! Just be careful...if they were really serious about a safety kill switch they should put a normally closed switch in line, the normally open switch is worthless if the wire breaks and the circuit is then Always Open. But, for the price it's a great machine. Two main recommendations: first fill the tires with Slime and second is to let the unit do the work, especially when starting a new area, don't try to use it like a lawn mower and make all nice straight cuts, if the machine wants to turn, let it turn, cut in a circle if you must, its all got to be cut anyway, be neat later!
Brush cutter 2007-07-19
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
A Hard Working Machine 2007-06-04
Thanks to all the previous Reviewers...they're the reason I purchased this item. A week after I ordered the Predator it was delivered, undamaged and crated nicely. I had taken the precautions of getting cable wrap and tie wraps for the harnessing, but was too anxious to use the product and I haven't installed them yet, and haven't had a problem. I did loctite the mounting hardware as a precaution.
After 4 hours of trudging through 6 foot high, healthy, wet, Texas growth, the 1/2 acre in front of my barn is now clear. The Swisher did what it was supposed to do. Nothing slowed it down or caused it to labor. Since it's more powerful than a mower, and what you're asking it to do is a lot more than cutting a lawn, it takes a bit of time to get used to the operation, and some time to decide that you don't have to "work" the machine.
I do agree that the grips are a bit problematic, but better control happens if you glue them in place and if you use rubber palmed gloves. After a really dismal 9 hours with a new Toro mower, it was a pleasure to use a piece of equipment that worked as it is suppposed to.
I feel it was a smart purchase, and I would not hesitate to buy another product from Swisher.
Solid machine with minor flaws 2007-05-23
The machine was delivered in a healthy crate with no damage.
I did experience the issue with the safety switch wire coming loose and corrected that with some cable ties and tape. The handle bar grips are an issue as well. I used some spray on adhesive to hold them on but that isn't working too well. I will likely go to a lawnmower shop and get some heavier grips that will stay on the bar.
The skids tear up a lawn or field so I fabricated skid plates from flatbar and bolted them to the existing skids. This gave them a smooth surface and the ends are turned up so it works like a sled instead of the bent plate design shich tended to catch the grass and surface and do damage to the field. This improved skid works well and doesn't damage the surface.
I am 6 foot tall and found the handlebars were a little too low so I made flatbar extensions to extend the handlebars where they attach to the mower frame. This worked very well and was a simple fix. The height is now a much more comfortable working height for me.
All in all this is a good machine but be prepared to do some tweaking to get the quirks ironed out. The machine is strong and effective at what it was designed for. If you are trying to finish mow a yard, buy a mower. This machine is truly a trail and brush cutter. It is heavy and will give you a workout until you learn to let it do the work.
Brush Cutter as Advertised (or better) 2007-04-24
Everything I heard about this brush cutter worked as advertised. I bought it from amazon and ABF was ready to deliver it to me 3 days later! I quickly put it together, added gas, started and headed for some of the roughest brush in New England. This predator roared and blew dust, shredded brush, saplings, limbs, leaves and whatever was in the way with no problem. One tank of gas was enough for me in one session. So far I am very satisfied with the tool. Time will tell if it holds up.
Minor complaints same as other reviewers...the handle grips are too loose and the clutch cable can get snagged.
Good experience with Amazon.
Great field mower 2007-04-13
The Swisher Predator is a perfect field mower. [I don't have brush or saplings so I can't rate it for those uses.] The mower arrived in a crate on the pallet. It was well protected, but there is a half-dollar sized paint scrape on the engine that I intend to complain about. It must have been there before it was crated. No reason to send it back, but a price adjustment would be reasonable. The mower came fully assembled except for the handle and transmission lever. They were easy to install. The operating instructions were not very clear. Be advised, the engine has two sliders. The upper one is easy to see. It reads "run....choke", and it is only a choke control. The lower one is a little less obvious, but that is the more important one to feed gas to the engine. It is pull cord starting, but it starts very easily. The right hand squeeze lever has to be closed to keep the blade engaged. The blade engaging lever is to the left. You rotate it forward and it locks in place by itself as long as you are holding the right hand lever. The left hand squeeze lever is your go control. It's like a clutch. If you let go, the machine stops and you can shift to another gear.
This machine only has two wheels. In front, it has skid rails. That means it is not for fancy lawns, because it will chew them up. The balance is incredibly good. It takes the lightest hand pressure to raise the front of the machine to get over a bump. The drive is very powerful. Going up hill, it will tow you gently up the hill. Going down hill, the gears keep it from going fast.
The 11.5 hp Briggs & Stratton is incredibly powerful and it barely breated hard in use. An engine of this configuration should last anywhere from 1500 to 5000 hours provided you change the oil, oil filter, and air filter. The engine has full pressure lubrication, so it should run just fine up and down any hill that the Predator can climb.
I did not measure the width of cut that I was getting, but it was all of 24 inches if not more. The reason I mention this is that I have owned several mowers, and most of them did not cut as wide as advertised. This one does.
I do not think this machine can really cut 2/3 of an acre in 1 hour. The instructions recommend mowing in 1st or 2nd gear. Maybe if you use 4th gear you could cut that fast. Still, this is a fantastic machine that will undoubtedly last 15 or 20 years on my 1 acre property.
