If you’re looking for a powerful budget low-priced knapsack leaf blower, then the Feider TD55 Backpack Leaf Blower could be your answer.
For me, a leaf blower is the most used piece of equipment that I use in the garden, I literally use a leaf blower every week. For my tree stump grinding business, I almost use my Stihl backpack blower on every job, it’s a really quick way of clearing up! Leaf blowers have to be one of the most time-saving devices for gardeners, arborists and landscapers.
The Feider TD55 Backpack Leaf Blower is a low-priced budget backpack leaf blower. This leaf blower presently has an £80 saving that brings it to the low price of £169. As I often mention in my blog posts, always try and buy the best equipment that you can afford. We all have to have a budget we can’t always buy the best and most expensive.
However, the Feider 2 stroke Backpack Leaf Blower offers powerful leaf blowing at a cheap price. With a manufacturer’s warranty of two years, you can buy this budget leaf blower with confidence. The Feider range of garden machinery offers a decent piece of equipment at an excellent price.
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With a 52 cc two-stroke engine, the Feider Backpack Leaf Blower quickly blows leaves and debris into the right places. With an engine of this capacity, you will be able to achieve an excellent work rate. The 52cc Feider two-stroke engine develops 3.2 hp, it comes with a transparent fuel tank making fuel checks easy.
With a padded harness and anti-damping, something that I would particularly expect on a budget machine. This makes the Feider TD55 Backpack Leaf Blower are very comfortable and easy leaf blowers to use. When you use a machine that is comfortable, the work rate goes up!
With a variable speed throttle and cruise control which enables you to lock the throttle in one position. With the variable speed, it makes the job easier meaning that you to the surface and type debris or leaves that you are moving.
Features
• A low-priced premium knapsack petrol leaf blower.
• Powerful 52cc two-stroke engine.
• Padded harness, vibration damping and cruise control.
• Transparent fuel tank, making it clear and easy to see fuel levels.
• Variable speed controls which offers great flexibility.
• Two-year warranty
Specification
Type Of Engine Petrol 2-stroke
Engine Capacity 52cc
Power 3.2hp / 2.4kW
Starting System Recoil
Air Flow Volume 1080m3/hr
Sound Level 96dB (A)
Weight 8kg
Warranty 2 Years
Here we have a video of the Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower. This is a compact tracked pedestrian machine is powered by a Honda 10 hp engine. It’s a great machine for clearing overgrown areas, coping with slopes and banks and long grass etc.
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The video shows the operator working on a steep bank, unfortunately, the weather was wet making the bank very slippery. However, the week before the flail mower had literally cut down all the overgrown brambles leaving it finely mulched. You can see a few brambles that have been left uncut where the machine couldn’t reach. Literally, the whole site was covered in these brambles.
The Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower made an excellent job of mulching the brambles and literally clearing the area. The long-term plan of this overgrown area is to keep flailing the area and to keep it under control. Then in early spring broadcast, some grass seed, then with the regular mowing or flailing the grass should be the dominant plant.
Advantages Of A Flail Mower
I have always liked the idea of a flail mower, several years ago I used to own a Turner hydrostatic pedestrian flail mower. Once again, the principal was great for overgrown areas, something that a flail mower does extremely well. It amazes me how you can have an overgrown area, covered in brambles and nettles. Very quickly this area can be transformed into something fairly decent with very little cost and minimum effort.
One of the many advantages of a flail mower is the fact that it can withstand many more knocks than a traditional rotary mower. Although rotary mowers can be great for cutting down long grass, the problem arises when you hit a hidden obstacle like a tree stump. With a flail mower the flails will kind of bounce off the tree stump and not do any damage apart from possibly blunting the flails slightly. Whereas a rotary mower could end up with a bent blade or damaged disc depending on what type of rotary mower it is.
Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower
If you’re looking for a machine to cut long grass and overgrown areas on banks and on flat areas. Then the Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower could be your answer!
This pedestrian Flail mower is powered by Honda 393cc GX340 engine, which develops over 10 hp. The machine has a gear drive with a three forward and one reverse speed. Having a low centre of gravity makes it very agile and easy to manoeuvre through tough terrain.
One of the great features of this machine is the ability to be able to control each track which gives excellent control when working on the flat. This feature is exceptionally useful when trying to keep the machine in a straight line on a steep bank.
To Conclude
If you have rough areas or overgrown areas and need a manoeuvrable rough-cut mower the Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower could be your answer. The flail mower comes with a 10-year crankcase warranty which shows the company trust the product. This is an ideal machine for contractors, estate owners, smallholders and local authorities.
Here is a video of a converted homemade petrol 2 stroke leaf sweeper. The original leaf sweeper was originally made by a German company called DKY, I’m not sure if they are still in existence.
The engine is from an old Mountfield hedge cutter which had been in my garage for probably around 30 years. I had never been able to start this particular hedge cutter so it was literally abandoned and hanging on my garage wall. The reason I had this hedge cutter was as the original new hedge cutter that I purchased was faulty and the dealer gave me a larger second-hand hedge trimmer. However, I was never able to start this hedge cutter or even get it to actually fire! If I remember rightly I cut my losses and purchased a brand-new hedge cutter. It’s too time-consuming to mess about with machines that don’t work!
Thankfully, a good friend of mine, John gone has managed to make good use of this small Mountfield two-stroke engine. John has a good knowledge of two-stroke engines. He always seems to be able to get these old two-stroke engines running smoothly.
I know very few people who seem to be able to get a two-stroke engine running well. In my experience of two engines it seems like once you have a problem with a two-stroke engine, it’s difficult to get the engine right again. In most cases, it’s time for a new one, rightly or wrongly!
I’m guessing that the engine is around the 25 cc size. I know that it came off of a Mountfield single-sided 24 or 30-inch hedge cutter. Apparently, due to the age of the engine, it is engineered in a much better quality way than the equivalent engine today on this type of hedge cutter.
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Fitting The Engine To The Leaf Sweeper
The two-stroke engine is attached to the front of the leaf sweeper. Being a bit tight for space on this leaf sweeper the fuel tank has been mounted behind the front wheel. Due to the fuel tank being in this position, the engine needs extra priming to lift the fuel to the carburettor.
The Mountfield engine has a centrifugal clutch that is attached to a couple of sprockets that then power the sweeper. The speed of the rotating brush is controlled by a throttle lever on the handlebars.
As the video shows, the leaves were quite wet. However, the sweeper seemed to cope very well, despite the wet conditions. The brush can be lowered for more aggressive sweeping, however, it also wears the rotary brush quicker!
Maybe a similar conversion could be made on a larger push leaf sweeper, maybe something for the future.
Will This Stihl Battery Chainsaw Cut A Load Of Wood On One Charge?
The title of my blog post today is; Will this Stihl Battery Chainsaw cut a load of wood on one charge?
Although I am not particularly enthusiastic about battery tools, however, I am hearing great things about the Stihl range of battery chainsaws. Some of us, including myself, probably prefer something with an internal combustion engine on, however, I can’t deny that these Stihl battery products have come a long way in the last few years.
I have just watched a video on the MSA 161 T Top handle chainsaw and the challenge was “Will this Stihl Battery Chainsaw cut a load of wood on one charge”? It was actually a fallen over maple tree that was being cut, I guess the pieces of wood were around 10 inches in diameter. I was amazed at how quickly the chainsaw cut through the Maplewood, especially with battery power!
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The fact is that this Stihl rechargeable battery chainsaw can cut a load of wood without the need to recharge the battery! I actually thought this result was quite impressive from a battery chainsaw and a good load of wood. Incidentally, the battery chainsaw still had some power left in the battery!
So, looking at the Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ Cordless Chainsaw this is a slightly different saw that was being used in the video. This particular saw is a two-handed chainsaw for general purpose use. The chainsaw used in the video was really a chainsaw for arborists being what we called a top handled chainsaw.
Top Handled Chainsaws
Top handled chainsaws are designed for arborists who are climbing trees regularly. If you use a top handled chainsaw when you are on the ground, which I don’t recommend. Extreme care needs to be taken as you have one hand free and there’s a temptation to use another hand which can be touched on the chainsaw blade if care is not taken. It might sound a bit extreme, but if I use a top handled saw on the ground, sometimes I even put my hand behind my back so there is no temptation to try and move wood, by reaching over the cutter bar. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry.
The batteries for this particular chainsaw that I am referring to are sold separately. However, the great thing is that if you have a number of Stihl garden and arborist products the batteries all fit in the same tools.
The Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ Cordless Chainsaw allegedly matches petrol power, I’m not quite sure about this though. I always think that petrol power has a bit more go than rechargeable machines! However, rechargeable products have come a huge way over the last few years.
A few weeks ago I was working with a gang of tree surgeons and they had several Stihl rechargeable products. These products included a top handled chainsaw, a hedge cutter, a pole hedge trimmer and telescopic chainsaw. They also had their traditional petrol Stihl chainsaws and hedge cutters on site!
I was really quite surprised to see professional tree surgeons using electric rechargeable tools. However, they were saying how good they were especially the top handled chainsaw for climbing, no engine to start and no noise.
MSA 161 T Top handle chainsaw
In the video, you can see the maple tree is quite large. However, the Stihl chainsaw appears to cope extremely well. Before I watched the video, I didn’t expect the battery to manage a full load of wood. However, they did manage to cut a load of wood and managed to have a small amount of power left in the battery.
According to the manufacturer, the battery should last 35 minutes. Now I’m guessing that this must vary depending on how much load you’re putting on the chainsaw.
With the colder weather coming I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about our range of log splitters. Over the past few years, log burners seem to have become very popular, almost a fashion accessory!
As you know I always like to make life easier in the garden and this is definitely something that our range of log splitters can do. It’s good to use an axe sometimes to keep fit, but it’s also nice to have the freedom of a powered log splitter.
We have a range of log splitters starting from £199, which is our cheapest log splitter and our most expensive is £1000. This is a petrol machine powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine.
Our cheapest machine is the Mitox LS40 4 Tonne Electric Log Splitter, this is an entry-level machine that is priced at just £199. It’s an electric machine powered by a 1500 W motor which develops approximately 2 hp.
This log splitter has a splitting force of four tons which is sufficient for the average domestic homeowner. They Mitox log splitter will split a 370 mm log in just a few seconds. The machine has a quick split feature which automatically adjusts depending on the size of the log. It has a robust metal frame that supports the wedges and power unit which enables logs to be split neatly into pieces.
Operation of this machine can be carried out with two hands, with a safety guard to protect the hands from being nipped in the splitter.
Manoeuvring the Mitox LS40 4 Tonne Electric Log Splitter is straightforward as it comes complete with transport wheels. It’s a compact machine which is great for storing when not in use.
Mitox makes a range of products for the garden, this is just one of the many products they produce. The Mitox LS40 4 Tonne Electric Log Splitter comes with a three-year peace of mind warranty.
MD Racing 5-Ton Electric Log-Splitter (Special Offer)
MD Racing 5-Ton Electric Log-Splitter
Moving up the scale, we have the MD Racing 5-Ton Electric Log-Splitter, this log splitter is on special offer and is priced at £299.95. It has very good reviews!
This log splitter is a little more powerful than our previous model, offering five tons of splitting pressure. This log split is ideal for most general domestic tasks and very straightforward to use. Simply place the log onto the cradle, pull the lever and watch the log split. With five tons of pressure, even seasoned hardwood should split easily.
Safety First
MD has taken your safety into account by making the machine a two-handed operation. In this respect, it keeps hands clear of any moving parts when the log splitter is in use.
1500 W Motor
The 1500 W electric motor gives the MD Racing 5-Ton Electric Log-Splitter produces approximately 2 hp. Which in turn gives five tons of splitting power. The electric motor provides a maintenance-free and long-lasting solution to powering this log splitter.
The maximum size log that the MD Racing 5-Ton Electric Log-Splitter can take is 25 cm in diameter and 52 cm in length.
Features
A straightforward electric log split that gets the job done!
Exerts a powerful five-ton pressure.
Two-handed operation for safety.
Excellent value for price.
Top reviews.
Transport wheels and handle for added manoeuvrability.
Now moving on to vertical log splitters the Handy 6 Tons, 2200w Log Splitter has a slightly different concept to splitting logs. This log split is priced at £479.99.
This Log splitter has a six-ton force and is powered by a 2700 W motor which develops approximately 3 hp. The electric motor powers a hydraulic pump which operates the hydraulic ram that enables the maximum six tons of pressure.
A 13 to 30 cm log diameter can be placed on The Handy 6 Tons, 2200w Log Splitter. The log settings vary from 107 cm to 81.5 cm to 56 cm.
Specification
230v 2700w Motor Rated Power
13-30cm Log Diameter Capacity
107cm / 81.5cm / 56cm Log Length Settings
6 Ton Maximum Force
4l Hydraulic Oil Capacity
90cm x 119cm x 149cm Overall Size
Now we have come to our largest log splitter which is a Feider FBT-10T100 10-Ton Petrol Log-Splitter. This is our largest petrol-engined log splitter, with 10 tons of force to split almost any log! This machine is priced at £999.
This is the type of log split that can cope with knotty type of woods that the smaller log splitters may struggle with. The machine is powered by a 200 cc four-stroke air-cooled overhead valve engine which gives excellent economy.
This high-capacity machine will cope with logs up to 106 cm in length and 40 cm in diameter.
It comes with a manufacturer’s two-year warranty.
Features
A top of the range petrol log splitter.
Ideal for the homeowner with light wood burner and hearth.
Today we are looking at the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower, this is our cheapest ride on at £999! In other words, you get a lot of mower for your money!
As you know, I always like to buy the best machinery that I can afford, however, I know full well that we all have budgets. The Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower is a budget machine, which offers value for money. The great thing is that the customer reviews average 4.4/5 which is very good indeed.
So let’s take a look at the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower. This is a very compact machine that has a 61 cm (approximately 25 inch) width cut, which makes it a highly compact machine in a smaller garden. Often with ride-on mowers, gateways and pathways can cause access problems, however, the Racing mower should be capable of going into most places.
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Engine
A 196 cc 6.5 hp four stroke overhead valve engine powers the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower. The electric start helps to make life easy and the fuel-efficient engine keeps fuel costs to a minimum. As with all engines make sure and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, keep the oil clean and change at the period stated in the manual. It’s far better to keep the oil clean and to wear an engine out.
Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower Height Adjuster
Variable Cutting Height
The Racing mower has a five-step height adjustment, the heights range from 30 – 70 mm, with this height range you have a cutting height for all seasons. One thing that I would recommend is to cut your lawn regularly. I see far too many people leaving the grass to grow far too long and then cutting the lawn too short.
In an ideal world, you only want to take a maximum of one-third of your grass at one time. So in other words, take no more than 33% of grass height of your lawn. This helps to keep your lawn looking healthy and helps keep your lawn looking good all year round. Within reason, the more regularly you can cut your lawn, the better.
Generous Grass Collector
Something that’s always an important factor is that the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower has a generous 150 L collection bag. This is always an important feature on any mower, the larger the bag, the less time we lose when emptying the bag. Emptying the bag can be carried out from the operator’s seat.
Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower Underside
Steel Deck
The 61 cm cutting deck is made from durable steel that should give long life. It’s always good to keep your deck clean for optimum cutting and collection efficiency. At the end of the season, it is not a bad practice to paint or spray your cutting deck with oil to preserve it.
Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower Gearbox
Transmission
The majority of ride-on mowers today come with hydrostatic transmission, this type of transmission gives instant forward and reverse speeds. The hydrostatic transmission also gives you variable speeds, there is no need for a clutch. Normally you just have one lever for forward or reverse, or 2-foot pedals that offer forward and reverse. It really is the most efficient way to power a ride-on lawnmower. The great thing is if you come to a thick patch of grass you can quickly slow the machine down, no gear changing or patchwork, just instant forward and reverse!
Unfortunately, the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower does not offer this hydrostatic drive feature. It has a gearbox with four forward and one reverse gear. Once again, we have two remember that this is a budget lawnmower, so we can’t have every single feature. However, the reviews really are excellent for a machine that costs under £1000!
Quick Delivery
Delivery can be the following working day, providing you order before 2 PM on a working day.
There’s also an assembly service available for £100. This is a service that I would probably seriously think about. The manufacturer claims it takes 30 minutes to an hour to assemble yourself.
Features
A very compact ride on mower, ideal for the smaller garden.
There are not many ride-on lawnmowers as cheap as the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower. For a ride on mower which is under £1000, the reviews are excellent.
This Ride On Mower Comes With A Two-Year Warranty
For me, the biggest downside is the fact that the machine does not have hydrostatic transmission. It would be good if Racing made a hydrostatic version, maybe this will happen in the future.
If you are looking for a budget hydrostatic ride-on lawnmower it may be worth taking a look at our ride on mower category here.
Today we are going to look at the Feider RTF4020 Pro Rear-Tine Tiller. This tiller has powered wheels and rear-driven tines, this principle is a much better principle than the tillers that have power-driven tines only.
As you know, I like to keep things simple and make life easy in the garden. If there is a machine that will do the job then I am all for it!
I had my first tiller when I was 17, this was a Merry Tiller which is unfortunately no longer made. However, you may be able to find a good second hand Merry Tiller on eBay. These were very well made tillers in their class, the only thing they lacked was being wheel driven.
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When I was around 20 I then moved on to a rear-wheel type of tiller or rotavator, the first machine was a BCS 745 diesel. I then moved on to a Dowdeswell 650 which was a diesel machine that originated from the old Howard Gems. Once again, a great machine, but sadly no longer made. I will write more on these machines in a later blog post.
See The Old Howard Gem In Action Below
Now getting back on track, a rear tined rotavator is far easier to control than traditional rotor powered tillers. In general, wheel-driven tillers and rotavators normally have between two and four forward speeds and one or two reverse gears. This gives you total control over the machine.
Traditional tillers that are driven by the rotors take a bit more getting used to due to the fact that they bounce around more. However, they can still be a time-saving investment for your garden.
Who Needs A Rotavator?
Rotavators and tillers are ideal if you have a vegetable plot, or you are a landscaper or professional gardener. They’re great for turning barren land into vegetable patches or flower beds and they take the hard work out of digging. Obviously, they can also be used for creating new lawns or recreating an old lawn.
Rotavators or tillers are perfect for using in the spring when you are getting your veg patch ready for sowing. Another great use for a rotavator is for turning compost into your garden. It really helps to break the compost down and mix it evenly into the soil.
Feider RTF4020 Pro Rear-Tine Tiller
The Feider RTF4020 Pro Rear-Tine Tiller is a great rear-wheel budget machine for the keen gardener, for £499, you have a lot for your money!
The tiller is powered by a high performance 208 cc overhead-valve Fieder engine. This engine is built to commercial specifications and benefits from fuel-efficient, noise saving and low emissions. The engine has a decent fuel capacity that gives you a decent operation time between fill-ups.
Chain Drive
The rotors or times are powered by a chain drive which is an efficient way to deliver maximum power. A chain will last for many years as they hardly stretch and are built to last. Whereas, traditionally a belt drive machine will need the belt tightened regularly especially in the first few hours of the machine’s life.
Gearbox
There is just one forward gear and one reverse gear on the Feider RTF4020 Pro Rear-Tine Tiller. This keeps things simple, however, the speed can be adjusted on the throttle lever.
Features And Tilling Width
With the tilling width of 40 cm, the Feider RTF4020 Pro Rear-Tine Tiller quickly gets you over the ground and yet small enough to fit through garden gates and narrow garden paths.
With the forward and reverse speed gearbox the tiller can be quickly and easily manoeuvred. Traditionally, rotor driven tillers just have one forward speed which makes them much harder to manoeuvre.
The tiller has a debris guard which is multipurpose. It protects the operator from flying debris and also as the earth smashes against the guard and helps to break the soil up.
There is a heavy-duty bumper which protects the machine and the engine from any accidental knocks and impact.
Features
A rear tiller rotavator capable of handling tough soil conditions over large areas.
Powerful four-stroke engine with overhead valve technology.
Large fuel tank.
Forward and reverse speed for easy manoeuvrability.
Chain drive for optimum performance.
Debris guard to protect the operator.
Excellent value machine
Conclusion
I always prefer the wheel-driven tillers and the Feider RTF4020 Pro Rear-Tine Tiller offers this feature. Although this rotavator isn’t a heavy-duty contractors machine, it does offer great features and great value for the keen gardener. If it makes your life easier I am up for it! The tiller comes with a two-year manufacturers warranty.
Specification
Engine Make Feider
Petrol 4-stroke overhead valve engine
208cc four-stroke engine
Fuel Tank Capacity 3.6 Litres
Oil Tank Capacity 0.6 Litres
Transmission 2 Speed
Drive Chain
Working Width 40cm
Working Depth -3.5cm (Max.)
R.P.M. of Rotors 3600rpm
Wheel Type with Pneumatic Tyres
Weight 73kg
Warranty 2 Years
The Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum is a French-made budget wheeled Garden vacuum. This garden vacuum is a new machine on the market and is cheaper than its main competitor, the Billy Goat.
At the moment the Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum is on special offer for just £399. This is a fantastic £200 saving on the original price.
Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum
A wheeled garden vacuum can be a huge help in the garden, especially in the autumn time when all the leaves are falling. The Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum offers a good option for saving time in the garden when it comes to clearing leaves and debris.
With a huge appetite for leaves and debris, the Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum quickly clears areas of leaves and debris, which quickly transforms your garden. As the leaves enter the vacuum direct by a five-bladed serrated impeller which smashes the leaves into small pieces. This helps to make full use of the collection bag by compacting the leaves which can then be composted and used on the garden the following year.
Composting is something that I do all the time in the garden, to be fair it seems that not many people compost in this day and age. The benefits are huge, especially if your soil is of a clay type composition. Composting can literally transform a garden especially if this process is carried out on a regular basis.
With a huge appetite for leaves and debris, the Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum quickly clears areas of leaves and debris, which quickly transforms your garden. As the leaves enter the vacuum direct by a five-bladed serrated impeller which smashes the leaves into small pieces. This helps to make full use of the collection bag by compacting the leaves which can then be composted and used on the garden the following year.
There are five different positions on the Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum which is perfect for every operating condition. For example, if you are clearing your lawn of leaves it will require a higher setting. Whereas, if you are clearing your tennis court you can lower the setting for maximum efficiency. The vacuum can also be used on gravel drives.
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Engine
The wheeled vacuum is powered by a Feider fuel-efficient overhead valve engine which develops 173cc. For starting the vacuum has a straightforward recoil start system. With the 58 cm suction width, your leaves and garden debris will quickly be cleared.
Weight
The Feider FAST175P lawn & leaf vacuum weighs just 43 kg. With the four large 250 mm wheels, it makes manoeuvrability and negotiating obstacles extremely simple.
Optional Hose Kit
There is an optional hose kit for the Feider FAST175P Push Wheeled Garden Vacuum. This is something that I would recommend as it enables you to get into places where your vacuum cannot go. For example, flower borders, shrub borders and around buildings is an ideal use for the optional hose kit. Your wheeled vacuum becomes like a giant vacuum cleaner!
Warranty
Feider gives their pushed wheeled vacuum a two-year warranty which gives you that extra confidence when buying.
Features
A high-performance 173cc overhead valve four-stroke engine with emission cutting technology.
A powerful wheeled vacuum suitable for multi-surface use.
Impeller blade that makes leaves and debris into mulch.
Lightweight and easy to push.
Large debris collector bag.
Large wheels that make pushing easy.
58 cm cutting width.
Optional hose kit.
Two-year warranty.
Specification
Starting System Recoil
Engine Make Feider
173cc Engine Capacity
Drive Hand Propelled
Working Width 58cm
Height Adjustment 15-60mm (5 Positions)
Air Flow Volume 1080m3/h (at Idle)
Impellor Hardened Steel with 5 Serrated Blades
Debris Bag 150 Litres
Hose Kit Optional
Chipper Chute No
Surface Types Multi-Surface – Lawns; Hard Surfaces; Gravel
Housing Steel
Wheels Front 180mm / Rear 250mm
Suitable for Areas Up To 4000 m2
Sound Level 105dB (A)
Vibration 5m/s2
Weight 43kg
Warranty 2 Years
OKO Preventaflat Tyre Puncture Repair Sealant 1 Litre
Today my article is entitled how to prevent a tyre puncture, this is just a short post.
I don’t know how many of you have suffered from punctures on your garden and horticultural machinery, I certainly have in the past. I’m also sure you know how time-consuming this can be. You set out to undertake a simple task like mowing your lawn, only to find that your ride-on lawnmower has a tyre puncture!
In the past I have literally lost hours of time due to a tyre puncture, I have been stuck in people’s gardens all day. It’s not much fun and it’s costly if you are trying to beat the weather and have more jobs to do!
How To Prevent A Tyre Puncture
Traditionally turf tyres are normally quite soft and generally only four-ply, this doesn’t give much protection against thorns and other sharp objects.
For the last 20 years plus I have been using a puncture repair sealant that almost eradicates punctures. I would say that it stops 98% of puncture repairs, in general punctures on a ride-on lawnmower or similar are caused through thorns.
I think probably the only puncture that the sealant didn’t repair was when I was cutting some long grass and the customer left a broken digging fork lying in the grass! This left a large hole in the tyre that had to be sealed professionally, however, leaving a garden fork long in long grass isn’t the best practice!
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How do you use this puncture sealant?
The puncture sealant is normally sold in 1 L plastic bottles. It comes with a pull-out flexible plastic spout or tube that can be inserted around the air valve. The actual leader of the bottle comes with a tool to remove the air valve from the tyre or the tube. The valve must be unscrewed before you can add the puncture sealant.
The puncture sealant is made of a thick slimy substance, I have no idea what the ingredients are, all I know is that it works and it’s a great time saver.
Applying the puncture sealant
First, place your tyre valve at the 10 to 2 position. Then remove the air valve with the tool provided on the lead of the sealant. Obviously, once you remove the valve from the tyre all the air will be released. Place the tube of the bottle over the valve neck and squeeze the bottle. The puncture sealant is very thick, so it takes a few minutes to force the liquid into the tyre.
You will need to check the manufacturers recommended quantities depending on the size of the tyre. In normal circumstances, a couple of bottles would be adequate for the average ride-on lawnmower.
Once you have inserted the right amount of puncture sealant into the tyre, replace the valve by using the tool supplied. When you remove the valve care must be taken to keep the valve clean. Failure to do this can result in problems later. Replace the dust cap and inflate to the correct pressure and you are ready to go.
What happens when a thorn goes through my tyre?
In my experience when a thorn or unwanted object punctures your tyre, you may notice that the tyre is going flat. This is perfectly normal. If you see any unwanted objects sticking out of the tyre, like a thorn, remove the object. Then reinflate the tyre and keep the tyre moving. By keeping the tyre moving the puncture repellent is splashing around inside the tyre and creating a seal at the same time.
I normally like to keep a bottle of puncture repellent on the shelf in case of emergency.
Occasionally with tubeless tyres, they can come off the rim and you can lose some of the liquid. So it’s a good idea to keep a spare bottle of puncture repellent on the shelf.
To conclude
Preventing a tyre puncture is much better than waiting until you have a flat tyre. Using machinery commercially, in the past, I have lost hours and hours of working time, due to a flat tyre. It’s a very easy way to lose time and efficiency and cost you money.
The tyre sealant almost completely prevents a tyre puncture, it’s a great invention! When I purchase a new machine I either have the puncture repellent but in the tyres before the machine is delivered. Or, have the puncture repellent ready to apply before I use a machine.
Please note that this tyre prevention method is only for slow-moving or off-road machinery. You cannot use puncture tyre repellent in cars or vehicles that use public roads.
Please feel free to ask any questions about how to prevent a tyre puncture, in the comment box below.
I have just been reading about the new Stihl MS 400 C-M chainsaw which has the first magnesium piston. Apparently, the magnesium piston gives more power and is lighter in weight. Allegedly it is the first chainsaw with a magnesium piston, however, I also heard that Husqvarna was working on a similar project
Stihl MS 400 C-M chainsaw
The Stihl MS 400 C-M magnesium piston chainsaw is a professional saw that has been designed for forestry and arb users. The list price of this chainsaw is around £1000, although I’m sure discounts are available. This is Stihl’s highest performance chainsaw in the 60cc category, giving 1400 rpm. It also delivers an increase in torque and displacement and power.
Power To Weight Ratio
It looks like the Stihl MS 400 C-M magnesium piston chainsaw has a good power to weight ratio, apparently, it’s 14 % lighter than the MS 362 chainsaw. I have to say I don’t know much about magnesium pistons, but I would like to learn more. I was reading a few articles about how magnesium pistons are used in the racing industry, which would suggest they are good.
Find Stihl Chainsaws On eBay
Mid-Range Chainsaw
To my mind, a 60 to 70cc is a good all-round chainsaw for general-purpose. Traditionally I’ve always had a chainsaw around this size with a 20-inch bar. I also have a smaller saw which is really handy for small pruning jobs in the garden and associated tasks. It’s very lightweight and easy to use.
The Stihl MS 400 C-M Chainsaw is available with a 16-inch, 18-inch and 20-inch cutting bar.
I would like to see reviews on this Stihl chainsaw and to see if it has any teething problems etc.
You can see more information on the Stihl MS 400 C-M chainsaw on Stihl’s website.
Stihl Chainsaws
I’ve owned many Stihl products over the years and I have encountered very few problems. I still use the products today and will carry on doing so. Most tree surgeons that I see working have Stihl products, to me, this says a lot.
Please feel free to comment below. It’s always good to hear other people’s experiences and opinions.
Specification
Displacement cm³
66.8
Power output kW/bhp
4/5.4
Weight kg 1)
5.8
System weight kg 2)
6.88 / 7.07 / 7.11
Power-to-weight ratio kg/kW
1.4
Sound pressure level dB(A) 3)
107
Sound power level dB(A) 3)
118
Vibration values left/right m/s² 4)
3.5/3.5
Oil pump
Adjustable oil filter
Tank volume l
0.60
Chain pitch
3/8″
Chain tensioning
Lateral chain tension
Sprocket – number of teeth
7 Z
Filter
Long-term filter system (pre-separation) / cartridge filter HD2
Bumper spike
Steel claw
Cylinder
Chrome
Oil tank volume cm3
325
Sprocket
Ring sprocket
Anti vibration system
Standard AV-System
Filler cap
Tool-free filler cap
Starting system
ElastoStart / Recoilless Ignition / single-lever control / decompression valve
