Quick verdict
A small two-cycle brush cutter that ships with both a string trimmer head and a grass blade, a J-handle with barrier bar and an adjustable harness. It suits a homeowner with a ditch, a field edge or an overgrown corner where tall grass and soft weeds defeat a string trimmer. The caveat is that this is a 122-series engine built for occasional use, and the grass blade is for grass and weeds, not saplings.
Strengths
- String head and grass blade both in the box
- J-handle with barrier bar keeps the blade away from your legs
- Adjustable harness included
- Smart Start and air purge for easier starting
- Husqvarna dealer and parts support
Weaknesses
- Engine displacement is not stated in the listing
- Grass blade is not for woody brush or saplings
- Two-cycle mixed fuel and upkeep
- Weight not stated; a harness-mounted tool is tiring without it
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this brush cutter is for
A string trimmer stops being the right tool when the grass is waist high and the weeds have stems like pencils. The Husqvarna 122RJ is built for that next step: a small two-cycle engine on a straight shaft with a grass blade for the tall stuff, a string head for the edges, a J-handle with a barrier bar and a harness to carry the weight. It is a homeowner brush cutter for ditches, fence rows and the back lot, not a clearing saw for saplings.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
Part number 970732503 includes the brush cutter, a string trimmer head, a grass blade and an adjustable harness. Husqvarna states Smart Start and an air purge bulb, a J-handle with barrier bar and describes the tool as easy to control. Engine displacement, weight, blade diameter and line size are not given in this listing; the 122 series name places it among Husqvarna’s small homeowner engines, and the spec sheet on Husqvarna’s site has the numbers.
Cutting with the blade and the string head
The grass blade is a flat multi-tooth steel disc that slices tall grass, reeds, nettles and soft weeds in a sweeping motion from right to left. Where a string head wraps and stalls, the blade keeps cutting, and owners of light brush cutters describe it as the difference between fighting a ditch and clearing it. Its limit is wood: anything with a woody stem thicker than a finger wants a saw blade on a bigger engine. Swap to the string head for the fence line, around posts and anywhere the blade would hit stone, and you have the trimming side covered with one tool.
Starting and running
Smart Start and the air purge bulb make the first pulls easier, and the routine is the familiar one: prime, choke, pull, choke off. A small two-cycle engine driving a steel blade will bog if you take too wide a bite; owners report the best results from steady sweeps with the throttle open rather than forcing the blade into the thickest patch. Fresh mixed fuel is the single biggest factor in reliable starting.
Build, handling and ergonomics
The J-handle and barrier bar are the safety features that set a brush cutter apart from a trimmer: the bar keeps the shaft, and therefore the blade, from swinging back into your legs, and the J-handle gives the left hand a natural sweeping grip. The harness clips to the shaft and carries the weight at the hip, which matters more with a blade than with a string head because the cut needs a steady plane. Husqvarna’s build quality and parts availability are the reasons to pick it over an unbranded multi-tool of similar capability.
Living with it
Blade work calls for a face shield, chaps or heavy trousers and boots; the blade throws stones and the kickout on a hidden rock is real. Keep the blade sharp with a flat file, store it dry, and keep spare line for the string head. Two-cycle upkeep applies: mixed fuel, a seasonal plug, a clean air filter, stabilized fuel over winter. Husqvarna’s warranty terms are on the product page.
Alternatives to Consider
The Husqvarna 525RX is the step up, a professional-grade clearing saw with a bigger engine for brush and saplings. The Echo SRM-2620T with the optional brush blade kit is a strong homeowner rival with a high-torque gearbox. If you would rather skip fuel, the EGO Power+ BCX3800 is a battery brush cutter with a blade and a harness, at a higher cost of entry.
Verdict
Buy the Husqvarna 122RJ if your problem is tall grass and soft weeds on a ditch or field edge, you want the blade and the string head in one box with a harness, and you value a brand with dealer support. Skip it if you are clearing saplings or acres of brush, where a bigger clearing saw is the honest answer, or if your yard never gets past string-trimmer height.
Full specifications
Husqvarna 122RJ Multi-Purpose Gas Brush Cutter with String Trimmer Head, Grass Blade and Harness FAQs
Tall grass, reeds, nettles and soft-stemmed weeds that wrap around a string head. It is not a saw blade; saplings and woody brush need a larger clearing saw with a chisel or circular saw blade.
Husqvarna does not state displacement in this listing. The 122 series name places it among Husqvarna's small homeowner two-cycle engines; check the spec sheet on Husqvarna's site for the exact figure.
The barrier bar sits between you and the shaft so the blade cannot swing back into your legs, and the J-handle positions your left hand for a sweeping cut. Husqvarna says it encourages safer working positions.
Yes, especially with the blade. The harness carries the weight at the hip and keeps the cutting plane steady, which is safer and far less tiring than hanging the tool from your arms.
