Farming and Agriculture - garden shredders info needed

HI all, I am new to the forum and was wondering if anyone can tell me about garden shredders, I am looking at several different models and some have CC engines and some are listed in HP.
Is there a difference in the engine? How do I know which has more power, as 6.5 HP vs 250 CC. both units are similar in size but I am sooo confused about the engine size and the sales person knows less than I do. thanks

Dianna, I am assuming by "shredder" you really mean "tiller" since you mention 6.5 hp. Usually, not always, 4 cycle engines are rated by horsepower while 2 cycle engines are denoted by the cubic centimeters of their cylinder. Your better, heavier duty tillers are going to be 4 cycle, while the Mantis and other dirt choppers will be 2 cycle (you have to mix oil with the gas)
You may want to look at counter rotating tines. They dig deeper and the wheels pull forward while the tines turn backwards.

Chandler, thank you for replying, no I need a shredder, I have a tiller, the shredder is a grinder/chipper for leaves, stick, twigs etc. what I need to know is which will have more power, the cc engine or the hp engine I stated in the original post. the machines are almost identical except for the difference in the engine

Dianna If you post the models you are looking at, there are a couple of real Pro's about garden equipment and small engines, they could give you real world advice. You just can't say a 250cc engine is more/less powerful or better/worse than a 6.5hp. It just doesn't work that way.

All chandler said is accurate. 4cycle engines normally run at slower speeds and have more "grunt"...something you want for grinding wet leaves and chipping branches. 2cycle engines depend more on speed for things like chainsaws, weedwackers, blowers..etc. They just don't have any "grunt" until they get revved way up.

Kinda like the difference between an old truck engine and just keeps chugging away and never bogs down..and a dirt bike type motorcycle that really screams even when going slow.

Here is a description of a Briggs and Stratton 250 cc engine. It is 4 cycle:

Briggs & Stratton Horizontal OHV Engine — 250cc, 1150 Series, 11.5 Gross Torque, 1in. x 2 7/8in. Shaft, Model# 150212-256-B8 | 250cc (8 HP) | Northern Tool + Equipment (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200355693_200355693)

OK, I see what you are looking for. Definitely look to a 4 cycle engine for the shredder. Mine has a B&S and bogs down very little. Many brands out there. I have been very satisfied with my (wife's) DR trimmer. They make a shredder, too. NOT cheap, but a lifetime of use if it is anything like their trimmers.

Depending on how much and what size of material you need to shred, and the availability of an electrical receptacle close by where you will do the shredding you may want to consider an electric model.

I have an electric shredder I bought from Harbor Freight (often not the place to go for quality) that I am just as happy as I could be with. I paid about $130. on sale. It is rated for sticks up to 1-1/4 inch diameter although I have chopped up even bigger ones by going slowly and carefully. It doesn't have the stink and noise of a gasoline engine nor do I have to store gasoline. It starts instantly with the flip of a switch and is almost silent when not shredding. Of course I don't have a large amount of material to shred at any one time so what works for me may not work for you.