I am putting together a new lawnmower buying guide 2021. With so many different machines available from push mowers to diesel machines, for some people, it’s difficult to know, understandably, what lawnmower to buy. Over the years I’ve seen far too many people struggling in the garden due to the fact of purchasing the wrong machine. I’ve also seen, so-called professionals using the wrong machines too!

We all know that when we put the search term lawnmower into Google there’s a huge variety of different machines. In this guide, I want to briefly explain the various types of lawnmower available. The various types of lawnmower are not in any particular order, I will just work down the list and go through the various types of mower.

As I often mention in my articles, always go for the best machine you can afford, do the research. If you can, try and have a demonstration on the machine before you purchase. The great thing is with the Internet we can often do a great deal of research before we purchase.

So, let’s look at the types of lawnmower that are available.

Rear Roller Rotary Lawnmowers

For most people, the rear roller rotary lawnmower offers a very versatile type of machine. There are push versions, which are powered by petrol or electric and there are roller driven models that are normally petrol driven.

These rear roller rotary mowers will collect the grass clippings and stripe your lawn at the same time. So, if you are someone who cuts your lawn regularly and wants a nice finish, the rear roller rotary could be your answer. Personally, I prefer the petrol models as most of the petrol models are roller driven which makes life much easier. However, there are a few smaller petrol models that still have to be pushed.

The roller rotaries are designed to be used to cut your lawn on a regular basis and to give a good finish. You will not be able to leave your lawn for three months and cut it properly with a roller rotary, this is not what they are designed for.

The petrol roller rotary has a rear roller that drives the machine forward. This is either powered through a gearbox or single or variable speed belt drive. Ideally, I would go for the gearbox models as they are generally more trouble-free and better engineered.

The grass clippings are thrown back over the roller into the rear collection bag. It is of utmost importance that these collection bags are kept clean to keep the airflow flowing. Failure to do this will slow down the efficiency of the collection system and potentially block the grass chute. The collection bag capacity varies from 40 to 70 L depending on which model you choose.

Electric Or Petrol?

There is a huge choice of roller rotary mowers, smaller models tend to be electric or battery machines and the larger model’s petrol. Over the last few years, battery models have become more popular; however, these can work out quite expensive. The great thing is with electric or battery electric is that you do have almost silent running. However, I do prefer to have a petrol model as they are generally more powerful, there is no lead to drag around and they can go anywhere, within reason!

Electric Start Or Recoil Start?

Petrol roller rotaries are generally recoil start; however, the larger models have an electric start option. I have never purchased an electric start roller rotary mower as modern engines are very easy to pull start. I appreciate that some people prefer electric start as it makes everything effortless!

Popular manufacturers are Weibang, Honda, Mountfield, Hayter, Cobra, Masport and more.

You Can Find More Roller Rotary Mowers Here

Hover Mowers

I remember in the 80s hover mowers being particularly popular. A hover mower floats on a cushion of air and in general mulches the grass clippings, although there are a few models that collect the clippings. Another great feature of the hover mower is its ability to mow a bank, something that can’t be achieved with the traditional wheeled or roller mower.

There are electric and petrol models available, the smallest being around a 10-inch cut and the largest approximately 20 inches. The small electric models are ideal for small patches of lawn whereas. The petrol models can cope with larger areas, including large banks. I have seen people attach ropes to their Flymo so that they can cut a bank leading down to a moat or pond and standing on the level ground. Not a bad principle, but obviously care needs to be taken.

I believe the reason that Flymo is not so popular now is due to the fact that there are alternatives and large brush cutters or strimmers can perform an excellent work rate when mowing banks.

Once again, I favour the petrol models although obviously for a small garden and electric model is perfectly adequate. Battery models are becoming available as the battery technology improves, just be aware that replacement batteries can be expensive.

Popular models include Flymo, Toro and Cobra.

You Can Find More Hover Mowers Here

Four-Wheeled Rotary Mowers

Four-wheeled rotary mowers offer a very practical mower for your lawn, however, they don’t stripe your lawn like the roller rotary mowers.

Prices for the smallest electric four-wheeled mower start at approximately £75 and the largest petrol models go up to approximately £1600 for the professional models. There is a wide choice of four-wheeled mowers to choose from, ranging from domestic machines to commercial models.

As the name suggests these mowers have four wheels, some of the machines are single lever adjustment. Other models have two-wheel adjustment and some have independent wheel adjustment. In general, I would say that independent wheel adjustment is not necessary. However, it’s important that your machine has a good range of cutting heights so that machines will cope with long grass, should the need arise.

Four-wheeled mowers are available in push models or wheel driven models, most driven models drive on the rear wheels. Avoid machines that drive on the front wheels as this is a very poor way to drive the machine. The problem arises when you are turning, and you lift the front of the mower and you immediately lose traction. This defeats the object of having a power-driven mower!

Collection System

The collection system on a four-wheeled machine is generally better than a roller rotary since there is no roller to obstruct the grass flow. These machines can cope better with long grass than a roller rotary mower. There are a few models that offer a mulching facility which is a good idea, although your lawn will need cutting regularly to maximise efficiency.

Electric Or Petrol?

Electric models are fine for the small garden, providing you don’t mind the trailing cable. However, battery models are also available but can be expensive. I actually prefer the petrol models as they are basically go anywhere machines and more powerful than electric models.

Popular models are Weibang, Honda, Hayter, John Deere, Mountfield, Lawnflite, Cobra, Efco and more.

You Can Find More Fourwheeled Mowers Here

Cylinder Mowers

Cylinder mowers are the type of machines that most of us first think about when we think of a lawnmower. Many Cylinder mowers can often be seen on golf courses, bowling greens and cricket pitches. If you’re looking for the perfect lawn, then a cylinder mower is the answer.

However, having said this, lawns need to be cut regularly if you are using a cylinder mower, they will not cut long grass. For most gardens, I would not recommend a cylinder mower, although, if you’re keen and want a great finish then I would definitely say to go for a cylinder mower. Often a decent roller rotary mower can be a good option, it offers more flexibility than a cylinder mower and gives a good finish.

A cylinder mower has a very precise cutting action, it is almost like a scissor action. There is a straight flat blade below the cutting cylinder, as the cylinder turns against the bottom blade the grass is cut. It is of utmost importance to keep your cylinder blades sharp and to have the blades adjusted correctly. Failure to do this will result in a very poor cut, with blades of grass bent over rather than cleanly cut.

Keep Your Lawn Clear Of Objects

It’s also very important to make sure that you don’t have hidden obstacles on your lawn, like stones, dogs’ toys et cetera. A cylinder mower can easily be damaged by hitting obstacles and the performance will be quickly affected.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a cylinder mower, make sure you choose wisely. Many cylinder mowers are very well engineered and can almost last you a lifetime if they are looked after. I still have my late father’s Ransomes Ajax which works perfectly and is over 60 years old!

Push, Electric Or Petrol?

Cylinder mowers are available in push models, electric, battery and petrol.

If you have a small garden a decent push cylinder mower can be a good option, as there is no electric cable or engine to maintain.

Electric models are available, although you do have the issue of the cable dragging behind you. Battery models are now becoming much more popular and much more readily available. Just be aware that batteries can be expensive, the good thing is that you have an almost silent machine.

My preferred type of cylinder mower are the petrol models, Allett and Masport make some well-engineered machines.

You Can Find More Cylinder Mowers Here

Ride On Mowers

Ride-on mowers and tractor mowers come in all shapes and sizes. These range from the small compact ride on to the larger type lawn tractors. Our cheapest machines start at around £1000 and go up to £10,000.

Depending on how large your lawn is or how many obstacles you have to go around, you can sometimes be better off with a quality walk-behind mower. The reason I say this is because some ride-on machines can be slightly cumbersome in smaller areas. However, there are also some very compact ride on rotary mowers available.

Hydrostatic Drive

I would always recommend purchasing a ride-on mower with a hydrostatic drive. A hydrostatic drive is a drive that is oil-driven and offers instant forward and reverse and variable speed on one lever or foot pedal. There is simply an oil pump attached to the engine which then drives the hydrostatic motor. It’s a bit like driving an automatic car! The hydrostatic drive makes your ride on mower extremely manoeuvrable and there’s no need for time-consuming gear changes.

You Can Find More Ride-On Lawnmowers Here

There are still a few gearbox ride on mowers available, which does help to keep the cost down slightly. However, if finances allow, I would definitely go for a hydrostatic drive machine as they are so much more efficient and much easier to use. The performance against a traditional gearbox machine is incredible. For example, if you are in an area of grass that is lush, you simply slow the machine down on the foot pedal. If the weather is dry and the grass is not very long you can go considerably faster, all at the touch of a foot pedal, no gear changing, no clutch!

Grass Collection

The majority of ride-on mowers have a collection system fitted, make sure that you can empty the collector from the operator seat. Some manufacturers fit a number of bags that have to be manually emptied, so, in other words, you have to leave the operators seat. To me, this defeats the object of having a ride on lawnmower and it is much more time-consuming than being able to empty the collector from the operator’s seat.

Some machines have a rotary brush collector, these type of collectors, in my opinion, are good because they are excellent for collecting wet grass. Whereas, the type of machines with a tube that comes out the side of the machine can easily become blocked with wet material or small twigs. I would avoid the type of machines with tube type collection, they can also be rather bulky. The third type of collector is the type that blows the grass into the collector at the rear of the machine. If the grass is very long or wet these machines can become blocked, however, many of the machines are much more efficient than they were a few years ago.

Popular manufacturers include Lawnflite, Honda, Mountfield, John Deere, Feider, Stiga, Westwood and more.

You can find more lawn tractors here

Mulching Mowers

If you don’t like the idea of having to collect your grass or compost your grass clippings then a mulching mower is an option.

Mulching mowers have come a long way in the last few years, if used regularly, a mulching mower can do an excellent job. Mulching also helps to keep your lawn looking greener and healthier, especially in dry weather. The green mulch acts as a green fertiliser, so every time you cut your grass you are actually putting something back into your lawn.

Mulching mowers are available in petrol walk-behind machines, tractor type ride-on mowers and out-front mowers which will cover later in this article. I wouldn’t recommend an electric mulching mower as mulching takes quite a bit of power as the mower is chopping the grass.

Popular mulching mowers include Weibang, John Deere, Stiga, Cobra and more.

You Can Find More Walk behind Mulching Mowers Here

Zero-turn mowers

I believe that zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable type of mower on the market today. Having owned several zero turn mowers over the years, I have come to realise their excellent manoeuvrability and their cutting efficiency.

Zero-turn mowers are extremely compact machines that consist of two large driving wheels at the rear and two caster wheels at the front of the machine. The rear wheels are powered by two independent oil-driven hydrostatic motors that give instant forward and reverse and variable speed to the rear wheels. This enables the machine to literally be turned around on a sixpence, they are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market today.

Zero-turn prices start at full around £2300-£18,000 for a commercial machine.

Various Cutting Decks Available

There are various types of cutting deck’s available for zero turn machines. The side discharge machines are popular in the US, whereas in the UK the mulching and rear discharge models are more popular. Collection models are available although this can make the machine slightly more cumbersome than they were originally designed to be.

Many of the zero-turn machines are built for contractors, however, they can be an excellent option for the large garden. Due to the zero turns mowers manoeuvrability the work rate is excellent, even when negotiating around trees and obstacles.

My first zero-turn mower was a Ferris 48 inch cut walk-behind machine. I could cut well over 1 acre an hour with this machine even when manoeuvring around obstacles. My second machine was a Ferris IS5000 61 inch zero turn machine which could cut 2 to 3 acres per hour.

If you are a contractor or have a large garden a zero turn machine is definitely a very good option. Some of the machines have suspension which enables you to cut even quicker and have a much smoother ride.

Popular models are manufactured by Ferris, Ransomes, Toro, Simplicity, Stiga and more.

You Can Find More Zero Turn Mowers Here

Out-Front Ride On Mowers

Out-front ride-on mowers offer a very practical solution to cutting grass efficiently. My personal preference for a ride on machines is the zero turn models, however, out-front ride on mowers can be a very efficient option.

Prices of the articulated out-front ride on mowers start at £1960 and go up to £9050.

My preferred type of out-front mower is the articulated steer ride-on machines. Stiga and Husqvarna make some excellent out-front mulching machines that I can strongly recommend. These machines generally come with a mulching deck that mulches the grass very efficiently. That is providing that your lawn is cut regularly. As I mentioned earlier in this article, mulching is a great option as there are no grass clippings to collect or dispose of. Also, due to the fact that there are no grass clippings to dispose of; the grass cutting time is reduced as there is no stopping time!

You Can Find More Out Front Ride on Mowers Here

Robotic Mowers

Robotic mowers have been around for several years now and offer a great solution to keeping your lawn tidy if you’re not keen on mowing! I have personally used the range of Robomow robotic mowers which I believe are the original manufactures in robotic mowing.

Obviously, the technology on robotic mowers is almost growing daily as technology increases. The robotic mower can literally mow the grass for you. The most important part of owning a robotic mower is to make sure and do the installation correctly and properly.

When you purchase your robotic mower first and you will need to do is to fix the perimeter wire to your lawn. The perimeter wire is simply laid down and pinned down with plastic pegs, at an equal distance around the edge. The mower literally mows over the perimeter wire which is fixed securely to the ground. After a few weeks, the perimeter wire will not show at all as the grass will grow over the top of the cable.

The reason the robotic mower runs over the perimeter cable is to enable the machine to get close to the edge of flower borders and obstacles. In this way, it means that your mower can make a neat job and minimise any strimming work.

Any flower borders or areas where you don’t wish the robotic mower to go will need a perimeter cable. It’s worth taking your time to do the initial set up for your robotic mower as it will save you huge amounts of time in the long run.

Base Station

Robotic mowers come with a base station which is where the robotic mower will be parked up when not in use. The base station also acts as a charging station. If your lawn is not completely cut the robotic mower will return to the base station and recharge itself to complete the job. Most machines have a rain sensor that sends the machine back to base if the weather is wet.

Some of the companies do offer an installation service for your robotic mower. This is often an excellent service to use as it ensures that your robotic mower is set up in a very practical and efficient way.

Robotic mower prices start at £499 for the smallest Robomow, the largest Robomow costs £2799.

A robotic mower can be a real time saver for people who do not enjoy cutting the grass or if you just want to automate the process. However, if you have a lawn with lots of obstacles and small paths etc, it may not work particularly effectively. Although it is still possible, you just need to ideally have a professional install your robotic mower.

Robotic mowers are ideally suited to areas of grass that are reasonably straightforward. The great thing is that the technology is improving all the time. If you purchase a machine and find it’s not suitable for your needs, then it can be returned.

Flail mowers

Flail mowers are generally used for rough cutting and overgrown areas. The Flail mower is great for cutting down long grass and brambles and nettles et cetera. However, they are not really a lawnmower they are more of a rough-cut mower designed for long grass and overgrown areas.

We Have A Range Of Flail And Rough-Cut Mowers Here

A flail mower has a series of flails (which are metal blades) these blades are attached to a horizontal spindle. The blades are held in by a bolt which allows the blade to swing freely. It also enables the blade to move should it come into contact with something solid like a tree stump.

There are various models of flail mower available from pedestrian models, three-point linkage models and ride-on machines. If you are a contractor or have an area of rough grass that you want to cut a couple of times a year then a flail mower is ideal. The flail machine also chops the grass as it cuts, so there is minimal grass left to clear up. Normally a second pass one week later will chop the remainder of the dry grass.

You Can See The Range Of Pedestrian Orec Flail Mowers Here

Scythe Mowers, Finger Bar Mowers Or Sickle Bar Mowers

Scythe mowers, finger bar mowers or sickle bar mowers as they are often referred to are quite an old-fashioned design. The original Allen scythe was first manufactured in 1935 and carried on production until 1973.

I have heard many people tell me a story about how the Allen scythe ran off with them! and they ended up in the hedge or the machine ended up in the hedge. Apparently, the Allen scythe had rather an unusual clutch control that caught many people out!

These finger bar mowers have reciprocating blades that are similar to a combine harvesters cutter blade. They are ideal for cutting long grass and overgrown areas. A scythe mower will not chop your grass, it will just leave the grass lying on the ground. However, due to the nature of the cutter bar, a scythe mower can cut brambles and small saplings in overgrown areas.

These finger bar mowers can be used for making small amounts of hay. The machines come in various sizes of cuts varying from 60 cm to 110 cm.

You Can Find Various Sickle Bar Mowers Here

Gang Mowers

Gang mowers are normally a series of cylinder mowers linked together. They can be towed behind a lawn or agricultural tractor or they can be self-propelled.

Originally gang mowers were towed by a tractor and then power is transmitted to the cutting cylinder through drive wheels. Modern gang mowers are generally powered by hydrostatic motors which power each cylinder individually. Some of the older machines have a series of belts to drive the cylinder. Hydrostatic drives are by far the most reliable and efficient way to power a cylinder blade on a gang mower.

Gang mowers can be seen operating on golf courses, parks, playing fields and large gardens. Sizes vary between 6 foot and 20 feet cutting widths.

You Can Find More Gang Mowers Here

To Conclude

We have looked at all the common types of lawnmower in this article. If you need any help, please comment or ask a question in the comment box below.

We are pleased to announce that we are now agents for the Belrobotics robotic mowers and the Belrobotics ball collector.

I first started selling robotic mowers for domestic gardens 12 years ago as I could see the benefits were massive. Many of us are very busy. The last thing we want to do is to spend time sitting on a lawnmower cutting grass. Although I know there are some people who actually find grass cutting very therapeutic! The fact is that a robotic lawnmower is totally automatic. A robotic mower can be controlled from your PC, tablet or smartphone. No more spending the whole weekend cutting the grass or trying to get it under control due to wet weather or being away. Your Belrobotics mower simply mows well you can relax or get on with other chores or hobbies around the home and garden.

For more information contact Roy on (07971) 648879.

We have a wide range of various mowers on our website including smaller robotic mowers for domestic gardens. However, it is a great pleasure to be able to supply the Belrobotics range of robotic mowers that cover large areas that would be traditionally cut with a ride-on tractor.

Take A Look At The Belrobotics BigMow Here

On this page, we have created a range of videos that explain the different uses that a Belrobotics mower can be used for.

The Advantages of Using A Belrobotics Robotic Mower In A Private Garden

The Advantage Of Using a Belrobotics Robotic Mower On Sports Pitches

The Advantage Of Using A Belrobotics Robotic Mower Around Offices And Yards

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

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

Find More Four-Wheeled Petrol Mowers Here

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.

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.

Find More Petrol Roller Rotary Mowers Here

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.

Find More Petrol Petrol Self-Propelled Mowers Here

Petrol Hover Mowers

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.

Find More Petrol Petrol Hover Mowers Here

Mulching Mowers

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.

Our cheapest mulching mower is the Stiga Multiclip 47 Push Mulching Lawn Mower which is currently selling for just £239.

Find More Petrol Petrol Mulching Mowers Here

To Conclude

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Motor Specification

Horse Power: 16HP
Fuel: Unleaded fuel 95/98
Fuel Tank Capacity: 12 litres

Wheel Transmission Specification

Transmission Type: Hydrostatic
Number of Wheel Drive: 2
Forward Speed (km/h): 9
Reverse Speed (km/h): 9
Working Angle (%): 18
PTO: No

Mower Specification

Output (theoretical): 7200 m²/h
Number of Blades: 1
Rotation Direction: Hourly
Blade Protection: Shear Bolt
Cutting Width: 80cm
Cutting Height: from 44 – 122mm
Bade Clutch: Electromagnetic with built-in brake

Emptying System

Ground assisted emptying

Tubular structure – anti UV
Grass Box Capacity: 240 litres

Measurement and Weight Specification

Height: 117cm
Width: 82cm
Length: 197cm
Weight: 240kgs

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.

Recently we looked at the Cub Cadet XZ2-127 Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower, our largest professional zero turn mower. You can find more of our zero-turn mowers here.

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.

So, let’s take a closer look at the Ferris FW35 Zero Turn Mower

Features

• 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.

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.

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Cutting Deck

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.

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 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.

You can find more on the Ferris FW35 zero turn mower here.

Specification

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.

Let’s take a look at the Cub Cadet Z7-183 Pro Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower

Features

• A heavy-duty zero turn mower built for commercial use and the keen gardener.
• Triple 7 gauge steel cutter deck.
• Heavy-duty steel frame.
• Corrosion e-coating to protect the paintwork.
• Zero terms are the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market.
• Unique steering wheel control.
• Twin hydrostatic control.
• Powerful Kawasaki engine.
• Mulch and side discharge capable.
• Multiple cutting heights.
• Safety rollbar.
• Anti-scalping deck wheels.
• Adjustable seat
• 80,000 m² plus capacity.
• Smart jet cutting deck wash system.
• Cupholder.
• Tow hitch.
• Three-year domestic warranty (one-year commercial)

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