Multi-Tip or green teeth stump grinder cutting wheel? What is your experience, I would like to find out more?
I have owned and used several different Predator stump grinders, my current Predator being a petrol radio remote Predator 38 RX, which I’m more than happy with.
My Predator is fitted with a Multi-Tip cutting wheel which in general I really like. Over the years I have used traditional finger teeth and also green teeth, the cutting efficiency is very good on the Multi-Tip wheel. Another great advantage of the Multi-Tip cutting wheel is the fact that the teeth are extremely quick to change. I guess it takes about 3 to 4 minutes to change the two lead cutting teeth.
Predator Stump Grinders
There are six identical teeth on the cutting wheel, but only two teeth actually cut, the other four teeth are just for clearance. The teeth work in opposite pairs so there are actually three different positions on the cutting well, obviously, the forward-positioned teeth are the cutting teeth.
However, one problem that I have continually encountered is bolts shearing off, which is annoying and time-consuming. On average, I would say I lose 30 minutes each time a bolt shears off. Now I know I said a couple of paragraphs back that it takes 3 to 4 minutes to change to teeth. However, when a bolt shears off, you need to find the keeper block, the tooth and remove the broken bolt from the threaded insert, this takes time. Plus you need to go and find your tools to replace the bolt.
You Can See My Video On The Multi-Tip Cutting Wheel Below
With my present stump grinder, it had carried out about 15 hours work when the first bolt sheared. Once the first bolt shears, many more broken bolts will follow! I can actually have days where I shear 3 to 4 bolts or none at all!
My question is; would I be better off with a green tooth cutting wheel. In the past I tried using the green teeth cutting system on a Carlton machine, however, the pockets almost wore faster and the teeth! This became an expensive process due to the fact I was and regularly replace the pockets. I believe that this could be rectified by using larger green teeth.
I believe that one of the biggest problems is with the Multi-Tip cutting wheel is that the wheel is not hard enough. Predator gave me a new Multi-Tip wheel a few years back due to the fact they had some wheels that were not hardened correctly.
I would be interested to hear what your experience is on the Multi-Tip cutting wheel and your experience of using green teeth?
Cobra RM40SPCE 40cm Self Propelled ES Rear Roller Lawn mower
One of the most popular questions I get asked is; “how much does a rear roller petrol rotary mower cost?” When it comes to petrol rear roller rotary mowers there is a huge range to choose from. In this video and blog post, I want to explain to you some of the machines that are available and the prices.
I believe that petrol rear roller rotary mowers are probably one of the most practical mowers that you can buy. These mowers can give your lawn a great striped finish and at the same time, they will cope with grass that has been left uncut for a few weeks. The finish may not be quite as good as a traditional cylinder mower, however, the costs, maintenance and practicalities are much better.
Push Or Power Driven?
The majority of petrol rear roller is are roller driven, in other words, the roller drives the mower forward. On some of the smaller machines, push models are available. However, for just a few pounds more, there is normally a power-driven version that I would definitely go for. The extra money is well worth the cost, who wants to push a mower when it can drive itself!?
Rear Roller Petrol Rotary Mowers
You Can See More Mowers below Or Watch Our Video Or Both
Now we come onto the Cobra RM40SPC 40cm Self Propelled Rear Roller Lawn mower, which sells for £299.99. This is slightly different to a previous machine due to the fact that this lawnmower is self-propelled and has a slightly larger engine. For just an extra £30 you can have a petrol power-driven roller rotary lawnmower, I would definitely recommend a self-propelled mower.
The mower is powered by a 135cc four-stroke Cobra petrol engine. There are six different cutting heights and single-speed drive system. The mower comes with a two-year domestic use warranty. You can find out more about the Cobra RM40SPC 40cm Self Propelled Rear Roller Lawn mower here.
Mountfield S421 PD Self Propelled Petrol Four Wheel Lawn mower
The Mountfield S421 R PD 41cm self-propelled rear roller mower is ideal for the smaller garden where you require a striped finish. With the 41 cm cutting which and 123cc engine the mower quickly gets the job done. The Mountfield S421 is currently selling for £349.
To me one of the most important things is to make life easy in the garden, the Mountfield S421 R PD 41cm rotary mower has a powered roller that drives the machine forward. It makes life so much easier rather than having to push the machine, it’s easy just to push the lever and engage the roller, no effort required.
Mountfield has been making mowers for over 50 years, so they have a lot of experience in rotary machines. I still regularly see Mountfield’s from the 70s in constant use, that can’t be a bad advert for a Mountfield mower!
The mower comes with five years warranty, which is great as it gives so much peace of mind and keeps your expenses down. I guess that the only catch is that the mower has to be serviced at a dealer once a year. However, it’s always good to look after machinery if you want it to last.
The Masport Rotarola RRSP18 rear roller lawnmower offers a lot of mower for the price. I would say that it comes between the home user models and commercial models, in other words, a semiprofessional machine. The Masport Rotarola RRSP18 is currently selling for £729.
One of the great things is that the Masport rear roller lawnmower has a Honda engine. Honda engines are renowned for their reliability, I have had plenty of experience with Honda engines. It’s actually possible to leave a Honda engine untouched for a couple of years and for it to start up first time! I have a friend who would normally only buy a machine if it has a Honda engine fitted!
The engine is powered by a 160 cc Honda GVC4 stroke petrol engine. It has a 46 cm (18 inches) cutting width with cutting heights between 10 and 70 mm. The powered roller makes the mower very easy to use, no pushing, just simply engage the lever and you’re off.
The Masport petrol mower comes with a two-year warranty for domestic users or 90 days for commercial users.
The Masport RRSP-22H self-propelled rear roller petrol lawnmower is Masport’s largest machine in this category. Once again it offers excellent value for money and I would put it in the semiprofessional range. The machine sells for just £849 which is a great price for a mark of this capacity.
Powered by a Honda GCV Honda overhead valve four-stroke engine which has a capacity of 160cc.
The 54 cm (21 inch) width quickly covers the ground makes large lawns become smaller. The cutting deck is moulded from a single sheet of aluminium, which brings lightweight strength and no rusting. The cutter deck actually comes with a 15-year domestic use guarantee, so Masport obviously has confidence in their products.
The blades have a swinging action, the idea of this feature is if they hit a foreign object, it helps to cause minimal damage.
The Weibang Legacy 48VE Self-Propelled Rear Roller Lawn mower is a professional machine although many people purchase for domestic use. The machine currently sells at £1029 and comes with a three-year commercial warranty and a five-year domestic warranty. Weibang obviously have faith in their machines!
I have used the Weibang mowers and encountered very few issues. Something important for me is that the strong build system and heavy-duty drive systems will actually last. The only thing that some people may be against is the Weibangs are slightly heavier than other roller rotary’s due to their excellent build quality. Personally, I would sooner purchase a machine that is built well and is slightly heavier rather than something that’s delicate and not going to last so long.
The mower has a 48 cm (19 inch) cut, the cutting height varies from 13 to 67 mm, which is carried out with a lever in 11 different settings. The weight of the machine is 57 kg.
The Weibang Legacy 56 Pro 3 speed self-propelled rear roller petrol lawnmower is Weibang’s largest rear roller mower. With a 56 cm (22 inch) cut, the Weibang quickly covers the ground. At the time of writing this machine is selling for £1399. It comes with a five-year domestic warranty and three-year commercial warranty. To me, I always like the idea of a good warranty as it gives me confidence in the manufacturer and the fact that I have no costs in the first few years of operation, apart from wearing parts.
I have personally used the Weibang Legacy 56 Pro 3 speed self-propelled petrol rear roller mower many times. It has many great features; I like the fact that it is well built and made to last. I have used many other machines that do not have the strength of the Weibang, especially when they are being used commercially.
Powered by a Kawasaki engine, which is an excellent engine in my experience. I don’t like to admit it, but the Japanese engines do seem to be very reliable and economical and quiet.
Three Speed Gearbox
With the three-speed gearbox, the Weibang can cope with longish grass, to be fair, I normally always use a machine in top gear as it seems to be able to cope well. We have to remember that roller rotaries are designed to be used regularly to cut your lawn.
There are 11 different cutting heights that range from 13 to 67 mm.
The only downside of this machine is that it is slightly heavier than its competitors. However, I would much sooner purchase a machine that has a strong build quality and have a bit more weight rather than something that’s going to break.
I have personal experience with this particular machine and I firmly recommend it to homeowners and commercial landscapers.
Today we are looking at the question, how much does a petrol rotary mower cost? This is a question that many people ask me. Obviously, lawnmowers come in all different shapes and sizes, ranging from basic home user machines to semiprofessional machines and then large professional machines.
You can see the video below for the various different types of petrol mowers available.
Four-Wheeled Rotary Mowers
Einhell GC-PM 46 Petrol Push Lawnmower
Four-wheeled rotary mowers are the cheapest range or starter range of petrol lawnmowers. Our very cheapest petrol lawnmower is the Einhell GC-PM 46 Petrol Push Lawnmower which is currently selling for £154.95
At the other end of the scale, we have the Weibang Virtue 53 Pro BBC Self-Propelled 4 Wheel Lawn mower that is selling for £1199. This is a professional machine that comes with five years warranty for domestic use and three years warranty for commercial use.
Cobra RM433SPBI 17″ Petrol Powered Lawnmower
Petrol Roller Rotary Mowers
Petrol Roller Rotary mowers are probably one of the most versatile mowers on the market. These machines are normally driven by the roller and create a beautiful striped finish to your lawn. There are push models and powered models, I would definitely recommend paying a little extra for a power-driven model as it makes life much easier.
Our cheapest petrol Roller Rotary mower is the Cobra RM40C 40cm Push Petrol Rear Roller Lawnmower which is selling at £269.99. For an extra £30 a self-propelled model is available, to me, this is £30 well spent.
Mountfield SP41 – Self-Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower
Self-Propelled Lawnmowers
If you’re looking for a self-propelled lawnmower which is something I would definitely recommend. Our cheapest model starts at £188, which is the Mountfield SP41 – Self-Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower. Mountfield has been producing rotary mowers for over 50 years, this particular machine comes with two years warranty.
Hover mowers are not quite so popular as they were a few years ago, however, they still have their uses. I like the idea that they are great for cutting banks and useful for getting under low hanging branches and shrubs.
Our cheapest machine is the Cobra AirMow 51B Petrol Hover Mower, this is currently selling for £349.98. It comes with a powerful Briggs & Stratton overhead valve engine, complete with automatic choke. The hover mower comes with two years warranty.
Mulching lawnmowers are becoming more and more popular as customers can see the benefits of mulching. One of the great features about a mulching mower is the fact that there is no grass to collect and the mulch actually helps to keep your grass greener for longer, especially in dry weather.
Having no grass collector to empty it can be a real time saver. Some of the mulching mowers have the option to also collect, which isn’t a bad principle. I have used mulching mowers in the autumn when the leaves are falling and they still seem to be able to do a great job.
One of the most important things to remember with a mulching mower is the fact that you need to cut your grass regularly to receive the best results.
I always advise people to buy the best machine that they can afford. I know we all have a budget to go by, however, if you purchase a quality machine and look after it, it should give you many years of trouble-free service.
Six ventilation holes for breathability and comfort.
Value for money chainsaw helmet.
Chainsaw Helmet
The helmet comes in cardboard packaging that needs assembling, there are only four or five pieces to assemble. I never quite understand why the manufacturers do not just assemble the chainsaw helmet so that the product is ready to go. It takes about five or 10 minutes to assemble the helmet. Thankfully, it is not too technical and most of the parts are self-explanatory when assembling.
I just purchased my second Oregon chainsaw safety helmet as my original safety helmet had served me well having been used for well over 1000 hours. I use the safety helmet, mainly for tree stump grinding, but also for the odd bit of chainsaw work and strimming. The reason I know that the helmet has been used for over a thousand is the fact that my stump grinder has an hour metre on, which records the number of hours used.
I would not recommend this chainsaw helmet for climbers, but for strimming, chainsaw use on the ground, it is absolutely fine. I have just purchased my second helmet after one year’s use (1000 use) due to the earmuffs becoming worn.
You Can See My Video Review Here
Oregon Chainsaw Helmet Worn Fitting
Worn Earmuff Fitting
The actual earmuff is fine, it is just where the earmuff pivots the plastic fixing has worn and became loose due to fair wear and tear (1000 hours use). There may be a solution to fixing this, however, for £18 it is probably not worth the time and effort it would take to fix.
To Conclude
This chainsaw helmet has been used for six days a week and around 50 weeks a year, in other words, it has a lot of use! I am recommending this product as I have just purchased my second helmet as the earmuff fixing was getting slightly worn.
I have looked at other chainsaw helmets which are considerably more money and some are either identical or very similar, but two or three times the price.
This chainsaw helmet is definitely recommended, 1000 hours use cannot be bad for this product.
If you are looking for a highly manoeuvrable mower, in fact, the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market. Then a zero tur…
Below is a tweet from when I carried out the daily grind.
If you are looking for a highly manoeuvrable mower, in fact, the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market. Then a zero turn machine could be your answer! We have a range of zero turn mowers to suit every need. https://t.co/bEt2iawehj
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If you are looking for a highly manoeuvrable mower, in fact, the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market. Then a zero tur…
The Mountfield Princess 38 Electric 4-Wheel Roller Lawnmower is currently on special offer and selling for £159. At the time of writing, this is a £20 saving on the normal price. There is free delivery on this Mountfield mower, delivery times are normally around 2 to 4 working days.
In case you are new to the mower world, Mountfield has been making lawnmowers since 1962. I can remember some of the early roller rotary mowers from Mountfield in the 70s. Some of these machines are still being used today. I have a friend who is still using his Mountfield petrol rotary mower, which is around 45 years old. It still has the original Briggs & Stratton 3.5 hp engine, so this a good advert for Mountfield!
As some of you know, I prefer a machine with a petrol or diesel engine on. However, looking at the reviews and knowing about Mountfield mowers. The Mountfield Princess 38 Electric Lawnmower looks like a good buy for anyone looking for a quality electric roller mower.
Three in one cutting, cut and collect, rear discharge, mulch.
Foldable handles.
Rear roller for a perfect striped finish.
Large rear wheels for easy turning.
Solid topped grass collector to keep the dust to a minimum.
Lightweight collection box.
15 m of electric cable included.
Two-year manufacturer’s warranty
Find Mountfield Mowers On eBay
The Mountfield 38 Electric 4-Wheel Roller Lawnmower is a quality electric mower with great reviews. With its modern brushless induction electric motor, this mower offers minimal maintenance and great features.
Electric Motor
The electric motor produces 1600 W of power, which equals just over 2.1 hp. To be precise 746 W equals 1 hp. As I mentioned earlier, I’m not a great fan of electric mowers, however, there is literally no maintenance on the engine. And the running costs are extremely low. Plus, you have quiet power!
With a 38 cm (15 inch) cut width the Mountfield mower is perfect for lawns around 15 m², although I believe are of this size could tackle much more than 15 m² if required.
The cutting height is adjusted by a single lever with six different heights ranging from 25 mm to 75 mm.
Rear Roller
Although the Mountfield Princess 38 Electric 4-Wheel Roller Lawnmower looks like a wheeled mower from the outside, it actually has a rear roller attached. The rear roller will give you that perfect striped finish that makes an English country garden.
Compact
Due to the compactness of this mower, it can get into most places. Folding handles and quick release clips allow for easy storage and transporting the mower.
Generous Grass Collector
With a 40 L grass collector, emptying times are kept to a minimum. There is also a grass box full indicator that takes the guesswork out of knowing when your collector is full.
The Mountfield Princess 38 Electric 4-Wheel Roller Lawnmower comes with 15 m of cable and includes a full two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Mountfield offers quality mowers at good prices, the Mountfield Princess 38 Electric 4-Wheel Roller Lawnmower is no exception. The only downside for me would be the trailing cable. However, with a modern brushless motor you can expect many years of service from your Mountfield mower.
The Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 is a small professional 32-inch cut ride on mower that has great wet grass collection capabilities and is highly manoeuvrable. Etesia is renowned for producing mowers that will cope with wet grass which will work efficiently in UK conditions. The Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 is available for £5450 plus VAT.
Etesia was founded in 1989 in France, so it’s a relatively new company, as far as mower manufacturers go. However, Etesia has grown very quickly and now has operations in more than 30 countries and five continents.
The reason I first purchased an Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 was the fact that we were cutting a lot of grass with roller rotary mowers. In fact, I was using three Hayter Harrier 56 roller rotary mowers. It wasn’t particularly the fact that I wanted a ride-on mower, it was more the fact that I needed a mower that would collect wet grass. This is something that Etesia machines do extremely well and the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 is no exception.
I was also looking for a compact and manoeuvrable machine that would be capable of working in tight spaces and go where a traditional roller rotary mower would go. The Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 does this extremely well.
Let’s take a closer look at the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3
Features
A highly compact machine that can replace your roller rotary mower.
Excellent wet grass collection.
Built-in grass box for quick emptying.
Compact.
Low maintenance.
Built for long life.
Hydrostatic transmission.
Optional roller.
Electronic blade engagement.
Kawasaki twin 4 stroke16 hp engine.
The two main reasons that I purchased the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 was the fact that; I needed a machine that was very compact and could go where a traditional walk-behind mower could go. And secondly, I needed a machine that would collect wet grass. Unfortunately, in the UK, the grass is more often wet than dry! I’m surprised that the majority of mower manufacturers have been so slow to overcome the wet grass problem. Thankfully Etesia has used common sense and is producing mowers that make a great job of grass collecting.
Search eBay For Etesia Mowers
Manoeuvrability
The Hydro 80 measures just 1.98 m x 0.82 m wide, which is very compact indeed. This enables the machine to pass through most gateways and get into the tightest of spaces. The turning circle is excellent for a machine of this type and with the hydrostatic transmission, the mower can quickly be turned around for efficient mowing.
Hydrostatic Drive
Most ride-on mowers are fitted with hydrostatic drive today, in fact, I would not recommend purchasing a machine with a gearbox, even though they are slightly cheaper. Hydrostatic drive enables you to have variable speed and instant forward and reverse in either direction. It is much easier and more user-friendly to use than a traditional gearbox machine.
A hydrostatic drive consists of an oil-driven motor that powers the rear wheels of the mower, the motor is powered by a small hydraulic pump. On this particular machine, there is a belt that drives the hydraulic pump from the Kawasaki engine. Hydrostatic drive really is the best and most efficient way to power your mower.
Engine
Etesia has powered the Hydro 80 with the excellent Kawasaki 16 hp four stroke twin engine. This engine gives plenty of power, for all types of conditions, there are many similar machines that have much smaller engines. I have had Kawasaki engines on several machines and I have found them to be very efficient fuel wise, reliable and easy to start.
Excellent Grass Collection
To me, grass collection is one of the most important features on any mower. So many machines have issues when it comes to wet grass, however, the Etesia copes exceptionally well with all types of conditions.
With its compact design, the grass is blown up a short tube directly into the compact grass collector. The 32-inch blade that has large lifters creates a massive flow of air which forces the grass into the collector. The only time that I normally had a blockage was if a small twig became lodged in the tube. However, Etesia made the cutting deck with a hinged door to make it extremely easy to clear any blockages. Simply unlatch the door on the cutting deck and any twigs or wet grass can quickly be removed.
Etesia Hydro 80 With Roller Attachment
Grass Collector
The compact grass collector that has a large capacity of 240 L which can be emptied from the operators seat by simply pulling a lever. There is no need to dismount from the machine. I see far too many ride-on mowers with collection bags that need to be emptied manually and require the operator to leave the seat. I would avoid this type of machine as to me the idea of having a ride on machines as you stay on the machine until you have finished the job!
Once the grass collector is full the alarm will sound that stops you overfilling the grass box and creating a blockage.
Cutting Deck
The cutting deck is fitted in a central position underneath the machine that allows the machine to pass through tight spaces. The 32-inch cutting deck has one single blade with bolt-on lifters that can be replaced, a very useful feature indeed. There are also a couple of shear bolts to protect the machine should the blade hit a hard object. If I used to regularly change these lifters when I was contracting as I wanted maximum collection performance. The lifters enable the grass to be blown efficiently into the collector.
There is an optional mulching kit for the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3, however, I much preferred to collect the grass as I didn’t feel the mulching kit was the best.
If you do not want to collect the grass, simply remove the panel at the base of the collector and the grass will fall onto the lawn.
The blade is engaged electronically by simply pressing a switch from the operator’s seat. Take care when engaging the electronic clutch, make sure that the machine is running on tick over. In this way, the clutch won’t snatch in and it will prolong the life of the clutch.
The cutting height varies from 44 to 122 mm, the adjustment is simply made by a lever next to the operator’s seat. I actually had a metal plate made up by an engineer that enabled me to have more adjustment. This was something that I found very useful, I’m not quite sure why Etesia didn’t do this themselves.
The cutting deck can easily be cleaned, simply attach a standard garden hose to the cleaning port, engage the cutting deck and within a few moments you will have a very clean cutting deck.
Etesia Hydro 80 With Roller Attachment
Optional Roller Attachment
I had an optional roller attachment fitted to my Etesia, this was made by an engineering company; not actually Etesia. I know that so many people like to see their lawn striped, the roller attachment made a good job of striping the lawn.
To Conclude
If you’re looking for a compact professional mower that will collect wet grass and work in tight spaces, in the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP 3 is a great choice. This machine literally saved me hours of time when I was contracting, due to its efficient collection system and compactness. Etesia’s are not cheap, however, you have a quality machine that will last providing you take care of it.
Specification
Cutting Width: 80cm
Dimensions (L x W x H): 197 x 82 x 117 cm
Weight: 240kgs
Engine HP: 16HP
Transmission: Hydrostatic
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Four hardly used tyres for sale, originally fitted on Ferris zero turn ride on mower. …
Today we are looking at the Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower, a heavy-duty walk behind mower. Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at our range of zero-turn ride-on mowers. Zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market today, they can literally turn in their own width.
Over the years, I have owned several Ferris mowers from walk-behind machines to ride-on machines. The two most significant factors that made me buy a Ferris mower was the excellent build quality and the zero-turn capabilities. I purchased my first Ferris walk behind mower back in 1992. I carried on using Ferris mowers up until recently when I stopped taking on grass cutting contracts.
The Zero Turn Advantage
As I mentioned earlier, zero-turn mowers really are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market today. They make grass cutting pleasurable and straightforward, obstacles can quickly be manoeuvred with ease. All zero turn mowers have two rear driving wheels that each have an individual hydrostatic motor attached. A hydrostatic motor gives you instant forward and reverse at variable speed through either a lever or foot pedal. There are a few machines like the Cub Cadet that have a steering wheel rather than levers or a foot pedal.
At the front of the machine, there are two heavy-duty caster wheels that turn 360°. On the Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower there are easy to operate the levers that give you instant forward and reverse and variable speed. There are no gears to change or a clutch to depress, the drive is fully hydrostatic.
Zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market.
Effortless to walk behind.
Powerful twin cylinder Briggs & Stratton engine.
Built to last.
Easy-to-use controls.
Rear discharge or mulching capabilities.
Three-year domestic warranty or a two-year commercial warranty.
Search eBay For Ferris Zero Turn Mowers
The Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower has been upgraded from the original Ferris Zero Turn Hydro Walk. Ferris has added more features and made it even more user-friendly.
Many people do not like the idea of a walk behind mower; however, Ferris zero turn pedestrian mowers really do make mowing straightforward and effortless. The zero turn capabilities enables you not to have to use any physical effort whatsoever to manoeuvre the mower, simply walk and mow!
Engine
The Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower is powered by an 810 Briggs & Stratton Vanguard petrol engine. The V twin two cylinder petrol engine develops 26 hp and is electric start. I have had the same engine fitted on machines that I have used and owned, and I have no complaints about this particular engine.
The great thing is with Briggs & Stratton engines is that parts are readily available and there is an excellent dealer network. Over the many years that I have used Briggs & Stratton engines the issues that I have had have been absolutely minimal.
There are two cutting decks available, one being a 48 inch in the second a 52-inch deck. Personally, I would go for the larger size deck as it is slightly easier to cut around flower borders and obstacles with the large deck, due to the increased overhang.
The cutting deck offers rear discharge or mulching capabilities. I would definitely try and use the mulching feature as this really helps to keep your grass looking greener and healthier, especially in dry weather.
The cutting deck is made from heavy duty steel and has scuff guards and overlapped welded corners. All the cutting decks on the Ferris machines are extremely solid, you will struggle to find a stronger cutting deck on a rotary mower.
The cutting heights vary from 3.8 cm to 12 cm, height adjustment is adjustable from the rear of the machine. There are no levers to engage the blades just simply engage the clutch electronically.
There are three blades underneath the cutting deck that are offset to give plenty of overlap. The double-sided belts that drive the cutting deck have a spring pulley that keeps the belt tensioned at all times. Due to the tension feature there’s no need to adjust any of the belts, which helps keep maintenance to a minimum.
Cruise Control
Easy-To-Use Controls
The easy controls make the Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower a pleasure to use. There are levers on the handlebars that control the instant variable speed forward and reverse. There are 2 foot pedals that will put the machine into neutral.
The PTO switch allows the operator to stop the mower blades by simply putting the machine into neutral, while the engine continues to run.
Transmission Guards
Transmission Belt
There is one transmission belt that drives the oil pump, in turn, drives the hydrostatic motors underneath the Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower. I used to make a habit of changing the transmission belt annually. If the transmission belt breaks when you are using the machine, the machine becomes very difficult to move. There are dump valves that enable you to push the machine. However, at 383 kg, you will find this machine challenging to load onto a trailer with no transmission belt!
I would like to see a twin pulley with twin transmission belts as a backup, just in case of belt failure.
To Conclude
I have always liked the range of Ferris mowers, due to their strength and their zero-turn capabilities. Grass cutting becomes effortless walking behind a zero-turn machine. I view the Ferris range of mowers for almost 30 years, and they have no complaints, I can only recommend them.
Ferris offers a peace of mind, two-year commercial warranty and three-year domestic warranty.
Today we are going upmarket and looking at and most expensive zero turn mower, the Cub Cadet Z7-183 Pro Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower. This professional zero turn mower is currently selling for £18,359.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at some of our wide range of zero-turn mowers. A zero-turn mower offers more manoeuvrability than any other mower on the market today.
Recently we looked at the smaller and cheaper Cub Cadet XZ2-127 Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower. Today we are looking at a machine for the professional or for the very keen gardener.
The Zero Turn Advantage
Over the years I have owned several zero turn mowers, from walk-behind to ride-on machines. Zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market, due to their unique drive system.
A zero-turn machine consists of two rear driving wheels that have an individual hydrostatic motor on each rear wheel. A hydrostatic motor offers instant variable speed in forward and reverse. On the majority of zero-turn machines, each rear wheel is controlled by a lever each side of the operator seat. However, Cub Cadet offers something quite unique, rather than controlling the machine with two hydraulic levers, the machine has a steering wheel.
I have never used a zero turn machine with a steering wheel, but I do like the principal. I’m guessing that this eradicates any turf damage due to the steering mechanism keeping the rear driving wheels in perfect time. With the traditional zero turn mower, care needs to be taken when turning to protect the turf. It’s very easy to swing around quickly and damage the turf if proper care is not taken. However, after an hour or so on a zero turn mower, you will quickly adjust to the zero turn principle and advantage.
In some cases, I have seen a zero turn mower speed up the cutting process by 300%, against a traditional lawn tractor. This obviously depends on what type of lawn you are cutting and the number of obstacles that each garden has.
Let me give you an example, I had a contract where I was cutting 2 ½ acres of grass approximately and it took me 50 minutes with a zero turn machine. To do the same garden with a traditional ride-on tractor and collector took me three hours. Admittedly the ride on tractor was collecting the grass and the zero turn was mulching, which is a huge time saver. However, the big-time saver is the zero turn principle and the ability to weave in and out of trees, around low hanging branches and around obstacles.
The Cub Cadet Z7-183 Pro Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower has been given the thumbs up from over 100 professional landscapers. Trials took place over 16 weeks, the Cub Cadet wwas tested thoroughly by professional gardeners and landscapers, they were impressed!
Heavy-Duty Cutting Deck
One of the first things I look at on a mower is the strength of the cutting deck. The Cub Cadet has a triple 7 gauge steel cutting deck. In other words, the cutting deck is constructed of three layers of steel, giving the deck ultimate strength.
There are three blades underneath the cutting deck which are offset and overlap each other, making for a perfect cut.
The cutting deck has electronic blade engagement of a pushbutton control, no levers or clutch to depress. Take care when engaging an electric clutch, make sure the engine is running on tick over. There is no need to let the clutch snap-in as this will shorten the life of the clutch.
There are 17 different cutting positions ranging from 26 to 127 mm, a height to suit every situation. It’s always useful to have a cutting deck that offers a high cut as long grass and overgrown areas can be brought back into control, with ease.
The cutting deck offers mulching and side discharge, I would definitely take advantage of the mulching feature. Mulching keeps your grass looking green and healthy all year round, especially in dry weather. There are no grass clippings to collect which speeds up the cutting process considerably.
The width of the cutting deck is 183 cm, which is a massive 72 inch or 6-foot cut. With a cutting deck of this size, the cub cadet is capable of cutting in excess of 80,000 m².
Engine
The Cub Cadet Z7-183 Pro Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower is powered by a 999cc Kawasaki engine which develops 31 hp. The FX1000V V-Twin overhead valve engine is a well-proven engine. I’ve personally owned machines that are powered by Kawasaki, I have actually had no problems at all with Kawasaki engines. They are quiet, economical, easy to start and efficient.
There are two fuel tanks on the Cub Cadet Z7-183 Pro Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower, which each have a capacity of 23 L.
To Conclude
If you are a professional or someone with a large garden, then the Cub Cadet Z7-183 Pro Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower could be for you. The majority of machines that I have owned have been professional as I believe it is cheaper in the long run to have a decent machine that will give many years of service.
The cub cadet comes with a three-year domestic warranty and one-year commercial warranty.
Specification
Engine Make
Kawasaki
Engine Model
FX1000V V-Twin OHV
Engine Type
Petrol 4-stroke
Engine Capacity
999cc
Engine Power
31hp
Engine Cylinders
Twin
Engine Starting System
Electric Key Start
Engine Fuel Tank Capacity
46 Litres (2 x 23 Litres)
Transmission
Dual Hydrostatic Drive – Foot-Pedal Operated
Drive
Rear Wheel
Speed
12mph (Max.) – 7500m2/h
Cutting Width
183cm
Cutting Heights
26-127mm (17 Positions)
Height Adjustment
Lever
Blade Engagement (PTO)
Electronic – Push Button
Turning Circle
Zero Turn
Blades
Triple
Grass Collector
N/A
Mulching
Yes
Side-Discharge
Yes
Headlights
No
Cup Holder
Yes
Seat
High-Back / Adjustable with Arm-Rests & Suspension
