I have worked with garden, forestry, horticultural and agricultural machinery all my working life which amounts to almost 40 years of experience. I have a passion for garden machinery and equipment and I would like to share my experience in the pages on this website. I’m here to help you come to a decision on what machine or piece of equipment will work for your particular situation. You can find out more about me here.
In this video and blog post, I want to talk to you about the John Deere X127, which replaces the X155R ride-on mower. I am getting a terrific amount of people searching for the John Deere X155R ride-on mower, which is no longer available brand-new. Although the John Deere X127, which replaces the X155R ride-on mower, is more expensive, I believe it’s considerably improved.
You may be able to find the John Deere mower on eBay, but as far as I know, it will not be brand-new. The distributor that we used to use no longer sells John Deere ride-on mowers. So, the John Deere X127 is the replacement machine that is now available new.
I have found this particular model available brand-new on eBay; the cost is around £5000. However, you may be able to make an offer. You can find the eBay link to the John Deere X127 here. You may be able to find something cheaper. However, this is what my research came up with.
Mulching Mower
I will run through a few of the features of the John Deere X127. I will create a post later on with more detail. I’ve always found John Deere equipment to be extremely good, especially the more commercial equipment. I would personally purchase this machine as a mulching mower rather than a mower for collecting. The collector is an optional extra.
I have seen several John Deere mulching mowers in action; I have to say that I was very impressed with the performance. With mulching, it’s very important to cut your lawn regularly, as you cannot expect a good mulch if you trying to mulch grass that is too long.
A Few Features
The John Deere ride-on mower comes with a 42 inch mulching cutting deck. It’s powered by a Briggs and Stratton two-cylinder 656cc petrol engine which develops 20 hp. I have owned machines with the same type and series of engines, the engine performed well. The model I had was a carburettor-type engine; however, more modern EFI engines perform much better. Not only are they more responsive and powerful, but they are considerably more economical than the old carburettor models.
The engine is fitted with a cast-iron cylinder liner for longer life. A useful feature is the fact that the choke lever is sprung-loaded, which stops the throttle lever from accidentally being left in the choke position.
The engine features full-pressure lubrication, which is always better, especially if you are cutting on slopes. It just means that the engine is continually being lubricated.
Oil Drain Feature
Something that I had not come across before is the oil drain feature. It enables the oil to be drained without the need for any tools, which sounds like a good idea. I’m not quite sure how this is achieved, as I always like to know that my oil drain plug is secure.
Optional Grass Collector
There is an optional collector available for the John Deere X127. However, I personally would not purchase the mower for collecting, I would use the mulching feature rather than the collection feature.
I don’t know why manufacturers do this; however, the collector has two bags that need to be removed when they are full. The worst part about this is that you have to keep dismounting from the mower. If you want to collect the grass is much better to have a mower where you can empty the collector from the operator seat.
I’m also not a great fan of the large pipe that takes the grass clippings into the collection bags. Not only is the tube quite bulky on the side of the mower, but these tubes can become blocked if the grass is wet.
Recently I carried out a review of the Etesia Hydro 80; this is much smaller than the John Deere. However, I’m just showing you this machine as there is no need to dismount from the mower to empty the grass collector. The grass chute is also very direct, meaning it’s much less likely to become blocked with wet grass. The grass chute does not obstruct any manoeuvrability or make the mower more cumbersome.
To Conclude
John Deere X127 comes with the normal two-year warranty; however, you can purchase an extra warranty if required. I believe that the mower is great for mulching, based on what I have seen on other John Deere mowers. However, the collector is slightly cumbersome, and the idea of having to dismount from the mower is not good.
In this video and blog post, I want to carry out a review of the Etesia Hydro 80 compact ride-on lawnmower. I used to own an Etesia Hydro 80, which I used for my contracting business. It’s a great machine, very compact and ideal for going where other ride on mowers won’t go.
Prior to owning the Etesia Hydro 80, I was using a very similar machine known as the Etesia Bahia. When I purchased the Etesia Bahia, the Hydro 80 was not available. However, the Hydro 80 is just a slightly heavier-duty compact ride-on mower than the Etesia Bahia.
If you’re using your mower for contracting, I would definitely recommend the Hydro 80 over the Etesia Bahia, as it has a slightly stronger build quality. We will go through everything and I will show some slides that will help to explain everything more clearly.
Watch A Video Review Of The Etesia Hydro 80 Below
The Cost
The price of the Hydro 80 is £5850 plus VAT, and the price of the Etesia Bahia is £5150 plus VAT. These are list prices, so I am sure that there is room for negotiation if you purchase from an Etesia dealer. I believe that the extra cost of the Hydro 80 is approximately £700 and well worth it.
There are various different models available. If you are contracting, I would go for the Kawasaki 16-hp twin-cylinder 4-stroke engine. This is the largest engine option; it’s always better to have more power than not enough!
The Reason For Purchasing The Etesia Hydro 80
The reason I purchased the Etesia Hydro 80 was that originally I was using two roller rotary mowers with a 22-inch cut. I didn’t particularly want a ride on mower, due to the manoeuvrability issue. However, I did need a machine that could cope with wet and damp grass. The problem I had was that the rotary mowers that I was using were hopeless at collecting wet and damp grass.
As many of you will know, when you are contracting, you can’t choose when to cut grass. Very often, I was cutting in less than ideal conditions. Sometimes it could be from the rain from the previous night or just a very heavy dew.
Highly Manoeuvrable
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t particularly want a ride-on mower, due to the manoeuvrability issues. However, the Etesia is about as manoeuvrable as you get for the size of the machine. Etesia’s are famous for their ability to collect wet grass.
The Etesia Hydro 80 has a 32-inch (80 cm) cutting deck with a grass chute that goes straight into the collector at the rear. The collector has a capacity of 240 L, which is very good considering the size of the mower. The Etesia could achieve a better work rate with one man in a day than two walk-behind machines using two men! So, the Hydro 80 was certainly a very good investment for me.
Paddock Mower
In this photograph, you can see the Hydro 80 cutting slightly rougher grass, more the type of grass that you would find in an orchard or paddock. Although the Hydro 80 will cope with this type of grass, I purchased my machine for lawn cutting. If you are regularly cutting more paddock and orchard-type areas, it’s probably worth looking at some of the other Etesia models which are available.
Anti-Scalp Rollers
The Hydro 80 has anti-scalp rollers fitted to the deck, which help to prevent scalping damage to the lawn. I also had some adjustable caster wheels, which were fitted to the side of my deck. It looks like Etesia has probably done away with the caster wheels. I’m guessing that the anti-scalp rollers do the job adequately.
Electric Clutch
The Hydro 80 is fitted with an electric blade clutch which is operated from the dashboard. The blade clutch has a blade brake fitted for safety purposes. I always engaged and disengaged my cutter deck on tick-over as this helps to prolong the life of the electric clutch. For example, if the clutch were on a car, you wouldn’t engage the clutch at full revs!
Optional Roller
Many people, including myself, like a traditional striped lawn finish. Many of the walk-behind roller rotaries leave a really good striped finish to your lawn. I had an optional roller fitted to my Hydro 80 mower, which was fitted underneath the rear of the mower. It was simply lowered by moving a lever behind the operator’s seat. For me, it was a great option as people appreciate that striped finish on their lawns.
Built-In Grass Collector
The Etesia Hydro 80 is fitted with a 240 L grass collector, which can be operated from the driver’s seat. I believe on my walk behind rotary mowers, they had a collector capacity of around 70 L. So the Etesia collector is roughly 3 ½ times larger.
One of the many things I like about the Hydro 80 is the fact that I can empty the grass collector from the operator’s seat. The collector is emptied by moving a lever on the right-hand side of the machine. This is fairly effortless as it has a small manual sprung ram to make emptying the collector easier. I believe that there are some models that are electrically emptied, there certainly are on the Etesia Bahia.
There are some manufacturers that have two or three bags for collectors that have to be manually emptied. To me, this defeats the object of having a ride-on mower, as once you are seated, you do not want to keep getting on and off the mower. I certainly wouldn’t recommend purchasing a ride-on mower with that type of collector. Thankfully, with the Etesia Hydro 80, everything can be carried out from the operator’s seat.
Efficient Go Anywhere Mower
In this photograph with can see the compactness of the mower. It measures 1.98 m x 0.82 m wide, so it really is very compact. At this size, it makes the mower very easy to transport. I had a small trailer to transport my Hydro 80; it worked absolutely fine for me. Obviously, the Etesia can be transported in a van or truck.
The Hydro 80 has an excellent turning circle which makes it highly manoeuvrable; it’s almost as manoeuvrable as a walk-behind machine. The mower also leaves a great finish on any lawn.
The cutting deck overhangs the mower body fractionally; however, with a great seating position, which gives a good view which enables you to mow up to walls and obstacles.
Comfortable Seating Position
Despite the compactness of the Etesia ride-on, you can see in the photograph or video that the operator has plenty of legroom. I’m 6 feet tall, and I certainly never felt cramped up on the machine. There is a small amount of adjustment in the seat to maximise operator comfort.
Cutter Deck Hatch (Easy Access)
On the cutter deck, there is a large hinged door or hatch that gives easy access to the blade and the grass chute. The 32-inch blade is attached by one main bolt and then has two shear bolts to protect the blade. This is a great idea, so in theory, if you hit a foreign object, it shares the bolts rather than causing damage to the machine. The shear bolts can easily be replaced and access is gained through the hatch door.
Blade Lifters
There is one 32-inch blade on the Etesia Hydro 80. On each end of the blade, there are some large lifters that create a fan action within the deck. After a period of time, the lifters will wear. However, these are easily replaced by simply bolting a new set of lifters onto the blade.
It’s important to keep the lifters in good condition as it makes for efficient grass collection. The collection system relies on blade lifters to blow the grass into the collector. It’s also important to keep the collector clean; a power washer, airline or stiff brush can be used to keep the collector clear and keep the air flowing through efficiently.
Conveniently Laid Out Controls
All the controls on the Hydro 80 are within comfortable reach of the operator. On the left-hand side, we have the height adjustment lever; behind that is the handbrake. And then, to the rear of the mower is the fuel tank with the fuel gauge on top of the fuel cap.
On the right-hand side of the machine, there is the lever for emptying the collection box. The throttle is also placed on the right-hand side of the machine. On my machine, the cutter deck engagements which was also placed there. I believe that it may now be on the dashboard.
There’s also a built-in shock absorber to give the operator more comfort. The built-in headlights come as standard if you feel like cutting in the dark!
Cutting Deck Cleaner
On the top of the cutting deck, there is an attachment that allows a garden hose to be connected. Although a very simple feature, it’s great for keeping your mower deck clean along with the grass chute.
Simply attach a hose to the deck, turn on the tap, engaged the cutter deck, and after a few minutes, your cutting deck will be clean.
Inside The Etesia Hydro 80
In the above photograph, you can see that the covers have been removed from the mower. This enables the user to be able to reach the necessary components for maintenance etc. Being a compact machine, there’s not a huge amount of space to work on the machine. However, I always managed to be able to replace belts etc. and carry out regular maintenance. Incidentally, the drive belts are spring tensioned, so there is no maintenance required. I didn’t need to replace the belts very often.
It’s very easy to get to the oil dipstick and oil filler cap, and the battery has easy access. The covers are very easily removed by a few various screw-type fittings.
Hydrostatic Drive (Automatic Transmission)
The Etesia Hydro 80 is powered by a hydrostatic drive system. One of the advantages of the Hydro 80 is the fact that it has a higher specification hydrostatic drive than the Etesia Bahia.
The majority of ride-on mowers today have a hydrostatic drive system. I would not recommend purchasing a mower with a traditional gearbox and clutch, as hydrostatic mowers are so much easier and more efficient to use.
The principle of a hydrostatic mower is very simple. There is an oil pump that powers a hydraulic motor on the rear wheels. The great thing is that it gives you instant forward and reverse at variable speeds; there is no need to use a clutch or change gears!
Driving the Hydro 80 is very easy; there are two large foot pedals; one pedal is for driving forward, the other for going in reverse. It really makes mowing easy! There is no need for a foot brake as the forward and reverse pedals also act as brakes.
One of the many advantages of a hydrostatic drive is the fact that you can just vary the speed so easily. Especially if you are cutting longer grass, you can adjust the speed of the machine depending on the thickness of the grass.
Strong Tubular Frame
The Etesia has a strong tubular framework, which is a common sight on Etesia ride-on mowers. There are obviously more structures beneath the mainframe to carry the engine and transmission etc.
Another one of the benefits of the Hydro 80 over the Etesia Bahia, is the fact that it has an upgraded front axle. On the Hydro 80, the front axle is more of a casting. Whereas the Bahia, it’s built from tubular steel.
I didn’t see any wear and tear on the front axle of my Hydro 80. However, I did see somewhere on the Etesia Bahia after a considerable amount of hours of work. Another plus point for purchasing the Hydro 80 is if you are using the mower for contracting.
Mulching
I purchased my Etesia Hydro 80 for lawns and collecting the grass, so I wasn’t really interested in mulching the clippings. However, my machine did come with a mulching plug, I did test it out, just for curiosity purposes. I wasn’t overly impressed, however, I knew that I would not be mulching the grass.
Things may have changed now, as mulching has come a long way over the last few years. I believe Etesia has a slightly different mulching system from the system that I tried.
Cutting Long Grass
The Hydro 80 is a very capable machine, and it is capable of cutting longer grass. Personally, I think it’s much more at home cutting lawns; however, if the grass is dry, it will cut grass several inches high without too much difficulty. If you are looking to regularly cut long grass, then I would think more about purchasing a different machine. Etesia has a range of brush cutter machines for various grass-cutting tasks.
If you are cutting long grass and you do not want to collect the grass. The collector has a removable floor which allows the grass to be blown up the grass chute and then fall out behind the mower. The other option is to attach the deflector, which bypasses the grass chute.
Although I wouldn’t recommend the Hydro 80 for continually cutting long grass. It does leave quite a good finish, even in one pass and with long grass!
Various Accessories And Attachments
I didn’t purchase any attachments for my Etesia. However, there are some useful attachments available to get the most out of your mower. I will explain more below.
Snow Blade
An optional snow is available, it’s probably not something that I would use in this part of the UK. I am not quite sure how much pushing power the Etesia would have. In the photograph, it looks like it’s managing okay.
Scarifier
Once again, the scarifier is not a product that I have used. However, I am all for utilising the power of the Etesia! The scarifier looks like it could be a very useful accessory. It certainly looks much easier than hand raking. There are adjustments on the front wheels of the scarifier, so it can be adjusted according to the conditions of your lawn.
Scarifying lawns is something that is often neglected, so potentially a scarifier could be a great investment for the Hydro 80 or Etesia Bahia.
Spreader
The spreader looks like a very useful attachment, especially for various fertilisers for your lawn. It can also be used for grass seed or salt in the wintertime. This would require the optional towbar option.
Sweeper Attachment
Another useful attachment is the sweeper attachment; not quite sure where it gets power from. But it is certainly another way of utilising the Etesia.
Trailer Attachment
A trailer is always a great option for a ride-on mower, as there are so many uses for a trailer in the garden. The trailer has a 500 kg (half a ton) capacity, which is plenty for most gardens. Once again, you will need the towbar attachment to be able to utilise the trailer.
To Conclude
The Etesia Hydro 80 is a great compact ride-on mower to replace your existing roller rotary mowers. I would definitely recommend the roller accessory that I had fitted to give that perfect striped finish. If you are contracting or even if you have a large garden, for the extra £700 approximately. The Hydro 80 offers excellent value for money and strength over the Etesia Bahia. I don’t want to undermine the Bahia, as it is a great machine. However, I do feel that the Hydro 80 is definitely worth the extra cost.
I would also recommend purchasing the Kawasaki 16-hp twin four-stroke petrol engine. I have had Kawasaki engines on several machines and never had a problem with their engines.
It’s always better to have a machine that is overpowered rather than underpowered. The 16 hp Kawasaki engines certainly gave me power to spare.
In this video, I am going to carry out a review of the Etesia Bahia. It is probably the most compact ride-on mower with a collector on the market today, it’s certainly highly manoeuvrable.
I had my first Etesia Bahia in the late 90s, as I was looking for something that would collect damp grass. A few years later, I purchased something that we looked at recently called the Etesia Hydro 80. This is really a more heavy-duty version of the Etesia Bahia and bore suitable for contracting.
The Cost
The list price for the Etesia Bahia is £4699 plus VAT, and the price for the Hydro 80 is £5850 plus VAT. Once again, the prices are list prices, so there may well be a discounted price available. You can find the Etesia price list here. I found the Hydro 80 to be well worth the extra money over the Etesia Bahia, especially if you are contracting.
The Reason I Purchased The Etesia Bahia
The reason I purchased my Etesia Bahia, back in the late 90’s, was due to the fact that I required a machine that would cut wet and damp grass. I didn’t particularly want a ride on mower. I was using Hayter Harrier 56 roller rotary mower to cut lawns. Roller rotaries leave a great striped finish, but the problem was that they were hopeless on wet or damp grass.
One of the things that Etesia is well-known for, is the fact that their machines are well-known for their wet grass collection capabilities. The Etesia Bahia is great for collecting damp and wet grass. Obviously, it’s important to keep the collector clean; this can be brushed down with a stiff brush or blown out with an airline, or power washed.
Features
The Etesia Bahia is almost a go-anywhere mower, it’s compact and it’s great for negotiating around obstacles like flower borders and shrubs etc. Bearing in mind that I had been using a walk-behind machine, which is always more manoeuvrable than a ride-on. However, the Bahia carried out a great job of manoeuvring around obstacles.
I had been used to using a 22-inch cut roller rotary, whereas the Etesia has a 32-inch cut. The main thing is that the Bahia speeded up the grass cutting process and enabled me to cut wet grass.
Optional Roller
I purchased the Bahia for cutting lawns although it can cope with longer grass. One of the accessories that I purchased was a roller that fitted to the rear of the ride-on mower. It’s not an Etesia product, but is a very useful add-on if you’re looking for that striped finish, like I was. It’s also something that many customers really appreciate.
Automatic Gearbox (Hydrostatic Drive)
The Etesia Bahia is fitted with the equivalent of an automatic gearbox. This is more commonly known as a hydrostatic drive. A hydrostatic drive consists of a motor to drive the rear wheels and an oil pump to drive the motor. The advantages of hydrostatic drive machines are huge. Hydrostatic drive offers variable speeds in forward and reverse; it’s far quicker and more efficient than using a clutch and gearbox. Once you have driven a mower with a hydrostatic drive, you will not want to go back to a clutch and gearbox.
The Bahia has two-foot pedals side-by-side, which enable the operator to control the mower really easily. There is no brake as the hydrostatic drive also acts as a brake. There is a handbrake for when the mower is stationary.
Great Stability
Despite the Bahia being very small and compact, it does have very good stability. I don’t mean that it can cut banks, but it can handle gentle slopes on an average law with no problem whatsoever. Obviously, there are limitations and care always needs to be taken when working on steep slopes.
240 L Grass Collector
The 240 L grass collector can be operated from the operator’s seat. The model that I was using had a manual collector, so a large lever enabled me to empty the collector without dismounting from the mower. Etesia has now made the Bahia collector electrically operated for ease of use. I believe there are models available with a hand-operated collector rather than an electric one.
The grass clippings are blown into the rear collector up a large straight chute to minimise blockages. When the collector is almost full, a buzzer sounds which alerts the operator that the collector requires emptying. This is useful as it means that you can fill the collector to capacity rather than having to keep checking.
There are some ride-on mowers that have two or three collection bags on the rear of the machine. I have never understood the principle of this idea. Once you are sitting on a ride-on mower, you do not want to have to keep dismounting. Thankfully, on the Etesia Bahia, everything is controlled from the operator’s seat!
Ideal Working Conditions
Despite the compact size of the Bahia, it was a comfortable mower to sit on. I didn’t feel cramped up, despite being six-foot. The controls are all comfortably placed and within arm’s reach, so there’s no need to dismount from the mower to operate anything.
The height adjuster is to the left of the operator, along with the handbrake and the fuel tank. The fuel tank has a gauge, you can quickly glance to see if the mower requires fuel. On the Bahia that I owned the lever to empty the collector was on the right-hand side of the mower. However, on this model is fitted with an electrical switch on the dashboard. The cutter deck and the lights are also controlled by a switch on the dashboard. There is an optional road kit with lights and indicated available, but that is not something that I had fitted.
Safety
My Bahia was powered by a Kawasaki engine, which is a great engine. I have owned several machines powered by Kawasaki, I have never had a problem with any of their engines. The model we are looking at is powered by Briggs & Stratton Intek engine, developing 12.5 hp.
Etesia has implemented several safety features, including a blade brake on the electric clutch. The blade automatically disengages when you engage the handbrake or empty the collector. You cannot drive away with the handbrake engaged; the engine will stop.
There is an electric model available, that was not available when I first had my Bahia. Personally, I think the electric models are extremely expensive and not worth the extra cost. The cost of the battery Bahia is £12,535, which including VAT is £15,042. Obviously, you must purchase what is right for your needs. The running costs would be cheaper than a petrol machine.
Deck Cleaning
The cutter deck enables the user to clean the cutter deck by attaching a standard hose fitting to the deck. Simply turn on the hose, engage the cutter deck for a few minutes and your deck and grass chute will become clean!
Etesia has a unique door on the side of the cutting deck. This is a very useful feature as it enables access to the grass chute. Occasionally, small twigs could become lodged in the grass chute, which could then create a blockage. Having access to the cutter deck enables obstacles and blockages to be removed very quickly and easily.
Blade Protection
There is a single 32-inch blade within the cutter housing. The blade is protected by two small shear bolts that protect the mower, should the blade hit something hard. The shear bolts are easily replaceable by gaining access through the cutting deck door.
Easy Access
Despite the compactness of the Etesia Bahia, the company has given good access to most of the mower. The picture shows the hatch or door on the side of the cutting deck, which is very easy to access. There is a side panel that can easily be removed on each side of the mower.
Now you can see on the other side of the mower that there is reasonable access to the engine and battery. The side cover is removable, and the front cover at the back of the footwell is. The drive belts can also be accessed from this area.
You can see the hydrostatic drive, which is basically maintenance free. On the Hydro 80, there is a slightly heavier-duty hydrostatic drive which is more suitable for contracting.
Engines
As I mentioned earlier, my Etesia was powered by a Kawasaki engine. This particular model we are looking at is powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine. I also believe that there are some Honda-powered models and the battery model. I would always aim for the largest engine possible, it’s always better to have a machine overpowered rather than underpowered. Both the Etesia Bahia and Hydro 80 mowers that I owned had plenty of power, with power to spare.
Mulching Option
The Bahia has the option to mulch the grass, I had this option, but it’s not something that I really used. Personally, and the mower may be different now, I did not find the mulching plug particularly effective. However, I didn’t purchase the mower to mulch I purchased it to collect grass!
Long Grass Capabilities
I wouldn’t recommend the Bahia for cutting long grass as I don’t feel it’s particularly designed for that. In my opinion, it’s more designed for regular lawn cutting. However, there were occasions when due to the weather, the grass could become several inches tall. The mower coped well, considering the length of the grass. This is where hydrostatic transmission is brilliant as you can vary the speed of the mower.
I have cut longer grass on occasions, however, I do feel that the Bahia is much better on regular lawn cutting. If you are there lots of long grass, Etesia has other mowers that are better equipped for the job.
Etesia also gives the option to place a deflector on the side of the cutting deck, so the grass is instantly discharged. Or the other option is to remove the floor of the collector, so that the grass is discharged onto the ground and spread evenly.
Various Accessories And Attachments
Etesia offers several attachments and accessories for the Bahia. The first one is a snowblade attachment, I don’t know how effective that would be in heavy snow!
Scarifier attachment
The scarifier attachment is not something that I owned, however, it looks like a useful attachment to utilise the Bahia.
Spreader
Once again, the spreader attachment looks like a useful attachment. This can be used for fertiliser, grass seed and silt spreading in winter.
Towbar
The towbar is another optional extra which enables you to tow a trailer. A trailer is a great asset in any garden and helps to make life easier.
Road Kit
Finally, we have the optional road kit; it is not something that I had fitted, however, it is available.
To Conclude
The Etesia Bahia is a great compact mower, it certainly saved me a lot of time when I was contracting. In my opinion, the Bahia is better suited for domestic use and the Hydro 80 is more for commercial use. However, they are very similar machines, the Hydro 80 just gives you a bit more and is my preferred model. If you are contracting, the extra money spent is well worth it for the Hydro 80.
The front axle on the Bahia is made from machined steel, whereas on the Hydro 80, it’s a cast axle which brings more strength. After constant use with my Etesia Bahia, I did experience some wear on the front axle. However, this was after a considerable amount of work.
If you are looking for a compact mower to cut your lawn, the Etesia Bahia and the Hydro 80 are definitely great options. The finish that the Etesia leaves is also very good for this type of mower.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the YouTube comments section.
Today we are looking at a couple of Stihl leaf blowers. Stihl BG 86C leaf blower and the larger Stihl BR600 backpack leaf blower. I use both the Stihl leaf blower’s on a regular basis; both blowers are around the six and 1/2 year mark. I have to say that neither of the Stihl leaf blowers have given me any problems.
I must admit that I like the compactness of the Stihl BG 86C leaf blower. It’s lightweight; it’s easy to pick up and use, and it’s easy to store and to put in a truck. However, the Stihl BR600 backpack leaf blower is considerably more powerful, but not quite so compact. And, of course, there is a price difference!
The leaves that I was blowing were very thick and wet; it was actually raining when I took the video! If the leaves had been dry, the performance would have been considerably better with both leaf blowers.
Stihl Leaf Blower Comparison
Let’s take a look at the comparisons between the two-leaf blowers. I am looking at the BR200 blower; this is a knapsack model, but has the same engine as the smaller handheld 86 model. So, it’s a very accurate guide to the difference between the two models.
I will leave the comparison chart below the video, so you can see the difference in performance.
I always recommend customers purchase the best machine that they can afford. Having used Stihl machines all my working life, I know that they will give good value for money overall. The two blower’s in the video are both around 6 ½ years old, and both still running perfectly.
The reason I say this is that there are cheaper models available, but I know if you look after your Stihl blower, it will give you many years of service. Buying cheap doesn’t always work out the cheapest. Often buying a more expensive product that will give your machine a much longer lifespan, which in turn works out cheaper.
The very first leaf blower that I owned was a Stihl BG86; as I mentioned earlier, I do like the compactness of the smaller blower.
However, on the other end of the scale, the Stihl BR600 backpack leaf blower has almost three times the amount of blowing power. It’s also great for those heavier cleaning jobs, for example, mud on driveways and lawns. It has enough power to lift the dirt and mud, much easier than raking or clearing up by hand.
If you’re a contractor and using your leaf blower regularly to clear up, I would go for the Stihl BR 600 blower. It’s a great sting blower for clearing up quickly. You may also want to look at the larger Stihl BR700 and BR800 models.
The smaller Stihl BG86 blower is a great and reliable tool for the keen gardener or landscaper. It will give many years of good service, if it’s looked after well.
Today we are going to take a quick look at the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP4. The Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP4 is a very compact professional ride-on mower which I have owned and spent many hours on. I’m not a great fan of ride-on mowers due to the fact that some of them are not particularly manoeuvrable and you don’t get such a good finish as with the walk-behind lawnmower.
However, I have to say that the Etesia Hydro 80 is extremely manoeuvrable and exceptionally compact. It actually replaced to rear roller walk behind mowers that are used on a regular basis.
As I mentioned, the finish is not always as good with a ride-on mower. However, the Etesia Hydro 80 gives a very good finish. I added the rear roller, which is an extra feature that enables the lawn to have a striped finish.
You can see more about the Etesia Hydro 80 here, it’s a post that I wrote a couple of years ago.
Take A Look At The Video Below For More Information
Solid Framework
The Etesia Hydro 80 has a solid framework and yet is lightweight. One of the best advantages of the Etesia range of mowers is that they are designed to collect wet grass. Many of the competitor’s machines cannot compete with the Etesia range. Due to the fact that they don’t have the ability to collect grass as the Etesia’s do.
As you can see, we are looking at the cutter deck on the Etesia Hydro 80. It has a large flap at the side that is easy to open, the opening gives access to the blade and to the large grass chute. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, Etesia is famous for its ability to cut wet grass. As you can see, the grass clippings take a very direct route into the 240 L collector.
If a blockage does occur, it’s very easy to unblock the machine as the door on the side can quickly and easily be opened. More often than not, I have found blockages are normally due to small twigs getting lodged in the chute. Which can often then cause a blockage as the grass wraps around the twig!
The large 32-inch single blade has bolt on lifters that create the air or a fan effect to push the grass up into the grass collector. The actual lifters are replaceable, as they obviously have quite a bit of wear and tear. The lifters are simply held on by a couple of bolts; they are very quick to replace.
Today we are looking at the Hyundai 52 cc two-stroke backpack petrol leaf blower. The Hyundai blower certainly offers value for money at just £169.99, including VAT. Hyundai offers a three-year warranty for domestic use and a one-year warranty for commercial use. They also offer a four-month payment plan to spread the payments.
Recently we looked at the larger Hyundai 76 cc four stroke petrol leaf blower. Which also offers excellent value for money at just £269, including VAT. Today we are looking at the next leaf blower down, slightly smaller but still with plenty of blowing power.
The 52 cc two-stroke backpack petrol leaf blower creates air speeds of up to 170 mph. It’s a machine that can be used all year round in the garden.
The Hyundai HYB5200 backpack leaf blower is a robust, high-performance machine. It’s ideal for medium to large gardens, sports clubs, amenity areas, driveways, patios and much more. Over the years, I have used various blowers; at the moment, I am currently using a Stihl BR600 backpack blower which I would recommend for commercial use or the keen gardener. For me, the leaf blower is the most used piece of equipment that I use in the garden. It literally saves me hours of time, especially when it comes to clearing up after jobs. Something that could take an hour with a broom can literally take five minutes with a decent leaf blower. They really are time-saving pieces of equipment.
Another useful task for a leaf blower is blowing down machinery after use. Lawnmowers can quickly become covered in grass; a quick once over with the leaf blower cleans a mower down quickly!
Two-Stroke Engine
The Hyundai backpack petrol leaf blower is powered by a two-stroke 52 cc engine that develops almost 2 hp (1.45 kW). The engine starting method is the traditional recoil. The rated speed or rpm is 7500 revolutions. The engine has a throttle lever which is conveniently situated on the lance. The throttle lever allows the engine to be used at various speeds. This is useful when the operator may be blowing into a corner or somewhere where care needs to be taken.
Being a two-stroke engine, the engine requires a petrol and oil mix, there is no oil in the sump. The engine relies totally on the petrol oil mix to lubricate the engine. The Hyundai backpack leaf blower will run for almost 1 hour on 1 L of fuel which is fairly economical.
Backpack Leaf Blower
The great thing with backpack leaf blowers is that they are very lightweight due to being able to carry the machine on your back. The Hyundai 52 cc two-stroke backpack petrol leaf blower weighs just 9.85 kg.
The Hyundai petrol blower is fitted with anti-vibration technology. The comfortable harness also helps to keep the vibration level down. Some of the cheaper leaf blowers do not have adequate anti-vibration technology fitted, which is not good. I would not recommend purchasing a leaf blower without antivibration technology.
To Conclude
I can definitely say that the 52 cc two-stroke backpack petrol leaf blower offers great value for money for the domestic user. It comes with a three-year peace of mind guarantee, so Hyundai obviously has faith in its leaf blower. I would not particularly recommend this machine for commercial use; however, Hyundai still offers a one-year warranty for commercial use.
I always tell people to buy the best machine that they can afford, as I believe it’s cheaper in the long run. However, I do appreciate that we all have a budget to work to. If you would like to see more leaf blowers, you can find various other types of leaf blowers here.
Specification
Model
HYB5200
Start Method
Recoil
Variable Speed Control
Yes
Air Speed (RPM)
7000
Max Air Speed (m/s)
78
Max Air Flow (m³/h)
890
Volume (CFM)
524
Backpack?
Yes
Safety Features
Trigger Control
Clutch Type
Centrifugal Clutch
Ignition Type
CDI
Engine Model
1E44F-5
Engine Type
2-Stroke
Engine Size (cc)
52
Rated Power (kW/kVA)
1.45
Rated Speed (RPM)
7500
Fuel
Petrol/Oil Mix
Fuel Capacity (L)
1.5
Engine Oil
2-Stroke
Fuel / Oil Ratio
40:1
Gross Weight (kg)
10.8
Net Weight (kg)
9.85
Fully Assembled Dimensions (H x W x L) (mm)
500 x 430 x 1230
Package Dimensions (H x W x L) (mm)
520x 350x 460
Fuel Type
Petrol
Product Type
Leaf Blower
Warranty (years)
3
Commercial Warranty (years)
1
Model EAN
5056275754877
In The Box
HYB5200 Leaf Blower, Double Shoulder Support Harness, Suction Nozzle, Debris Tube With Trigger Control, Tool Kit, User Manual
Today we are looking at the Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower. The Belrobotics BigMow is designed for larger lawns and playing fields. The robotic mower can be a massive time-saving device for those who do not want to spend time cutting the lawn. It’s certainly not a cheap mower at £19,140 including VAT, however, it can certainly be a great time-saving mower that leaves your lawn looking freshly manicured.
I appreciate that not everyone needs a mower of this capacity. The Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower is designed to replace large tractor driven mowers. A robotic mower is considerably cheaper to run than a traditional tractor mower. I appreciate that there is an initial outlay to pay for, however, the equivalent tractor mower can cost many thousands of pounds.
Belrobotic’s BigMow can cut up to 24,000 m². Almost 6 acres of lawn!
8 x lower energy costs.
Exceptionally quiet, low noise pollution.
Warning in case of theft or malfunction.
GPS guidance system.
Never physically cut your lawn again.
The Belrobotics BigMow Robotic Lawn Mower
I have sold and used various robotic mowers now for several years now. The first robotic mower that I sold was back in 2008. I have seen the technology considerably improve over the years, making a robotic mower is a wise choice to mow your lawn. Especially if you are looking to free up time which many people are.
The Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower is designed to cut between 10,000 and 24,000 m². 24,000 m² is equal to 2.4 hectares or 5.93 acres which is a considerable amount of grass. Many customers are finding that a large robotic mower can literally free up at least one day per week in the growing season.
I find cutting grass quite therapeutic, however, there are times when a robotic mower can really be a great time saver. I know many people who dread cutting their lawn due to the time it takes, this is where the Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower proves its worth. In case you’re not looking for quite such a large robotic mower we have a range of smaller robotic mowers available here.
The Benefits Of A Robotic Mower
A robotic mower can give many benefits, probably the largest benefit is the fact that the mower frees up time. And of course, it’s effortless. As I mentioned earlier, in many cases people can spend the whole day cutting their lawns.
All robotic mower’s mulch, so there is no grass to collect which is another time-saving benefit. Mulching also helps to keep your lawn green in dry weather. The mulch acts as a green manure which in turn acts as a fertiliser keeping your lawn greener for longer.
The Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower can be operated from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. It can locate the mower, see how much power is left in the battery and much more!
How Does Belrobotics BigMow Robotic Lawn Mower Work?
Robotic lawnmowers work in various zones, each zone will have its own perimeter wire. The perimeter wire literally goes all the way around the outside of the lawn and around flower borders etc. The perimeter wire is literally lightly tacked down on top of the lawn, there is no need to bury the cable. The grass will quickly grow over the cable, and it will not be visible.
The robotic mower works within the perimeter wire. It doesn’t cut in an up-and-down way, as you may expect. It takes more of a random way of ensuring that the whole area is completely cut.
The docking station means that the robotic mower will never run out of power. When the battery runs low, the mower will return to the docking station and recharge itself. It takes approximately 80 minutes for a full recharge.
You can literally pre-set the mower to cut the grass at your convenience. The machine also has rain sensors, so it can be sent back to the docking station if required.
It’s important to take time to do the installation correctly as the perimeter wire needs to be in the correct place. In this way, it can keep strimming and edging down to a minimum as it’s important to make the most of your investment.
With five floating cutting heads equipped with three blades on each cutting edge. The Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower can adapt to different ground conditions. We all know that not every lawn is a bowling green. The 15 stainless steel blades ensure that the grass is constantly mulched.
The width of the robotic mower is 103 cm.
To Conclude
Although I like to use a lawn mower with a petrol or diesel engine, I can definitely see the advantages of a large robotic mower. They are great for freeing up time and you’re not limited to cutting the grass once a week. The mower can be set up to come out at your convenience. You should never have long grass again!
According to the manufacturers, a robotic mower uses eight times less energy than a traditional mower of that capacity. Another benefit is the fact that a robotic mower can free up time and save on labour bills when used commercially.
I’m a great fan of mulching as it’s a great time saver and it also helps to keep your lawn greener in dry weather.
Over the years I have sold quite a few robotic mowers, every year they become more popular as customers see the benefits. If you’d like more information on the Belrobotics BigMow robotic lawn mower please give me a call on (07971) 648879.
Specification
Battery Type
LIFePo4
Battery Power
Standard battery capacity: 19,2 Ah More powerful battery options: (Ah) 24
Battery Charge Time
Charging time: 80 min
Blade Motors
Number of heads: 5
Cutting Width
Mowing width: 1033 mm
Cutting Heights
Low cut – minimum: 20 mm High cut – maximum: 100 mm
Today we are looking at the popular Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower. The Feider FRT-7550M is currently on special offer at £1899 including VAT. It offers a saving of £500 and is available for delivery now.
Fieder is a French brand that manufactures domestic machines for the garden. They appear to have the ability to manufacture domestic garden machinery at excellent prices. The Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower is no exception to the rule. With 16 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars, the ride-on lawnmower is definitely worth looking at.
The 4-stroke engine gives plenty of power to the 76 cm cutting deck.
Powerful 15 hp overhead valve four-stroke petrol engine.
Three in one cutting deck-mulch, collect and rear discharge.
Five-speed gearbox.
170 L grass collector.
Great reviews.
Two-year warranty.
Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower
If you’re looking for a domestic ride-on lawnmower the Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower could be your answer. It is a very compact ride on mower that offers manoeuvrability, a large collection box and the ability to mulch the grass. It certainly offers value for money and plenty of power for the size of the mower.
Engine
With a 432cc overhead valve four-stroke petrol engine developing 15 hp, the mower has plenty of power to cope with the 76 cm cutting deck. The single-cylinder engine comes with an electric key start.
Cutting Deck
The 76 cm cutting deck which is approximately 30 inches gives the mower the ability to cut lawns up to 4000 m². The compact design of the mower helps to keep machine the highly manoeuvrable.
With a cutting range between 20 and 90 mm, the mower can cope with most varying lawn conditions. The height adjustment is controlled by a single lever adjustment.
Something that I am seeing more and more on lawnmowers is the ability to be able to collect grass and also have the option to mulch. I’m a great fan of mulching as it’s a time-saving way of mowing. It also helps to keep your grass greener for longer in dry periods, adding a very natural green manure to your lawn.
The 170 L generous grass collector is great for when you have autumn leaves, or the lawn has become too long to mulch efficiently. Mulching works best when the grass is cut regularly, so cutting at least once a week is advised during the growing season. To my mind, I believe that it is much quicker to cut the grass regularly and mulch the grass, rather than having to collect grass clippings.
Drive System
The one thing that lets the Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower down is the drive system. The majority of ride-on mowers today have what we call a hydrostatic drive system. This enables instant forward and reverse at a variable speed normally through a foot pedal.
In this case, Fieder has a traditional six-speed gearbox. Five forward gears and one reverse gear. A gearbox works fine, however, a hydrostatic drive is much more user-friendly and efficient than the traditional gearbox. If you have used a machine with a hydrostatic drive, you will never go back to using a gearbox driven machine.
I’m sure that Fieder has used a gearbox to keep the cost down, which I fully understand. It would be great if they offered a hydrostatic drive option, however, at the moment they do not.
To Conclude
The Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower certainly offers value for money and great manoeuvrability. I had a similar commercial machine several years ago that was considerably more expensive.
The only thing that really lets this ride on mower down is the fact that it doesn’t have hydrostatic transmission. As I mentioned earlier, it’s cheaper to put a gearbox in than hydrostatic transmission. Maybe later Fieder will offer a similar machine with hydrostatic transmission.
Personally, I would go for a machine with hydrostatic transmission. However, we all have a budget to work to and the Feider FRT-7550M ride-on lawnmower brings value for money with good reviews.
Today we are looking at something slightly different, the Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower. The Fieder self-propelled lawnmower is currently on special offer at £289.95 including VAT. This is a saving of £210 at the time of writing.
The Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower takes a slightly different concept from normal rotary mowers. The front caster wheel enables the mower to be turned effortlessly, due to the caster wheel situated at the front of the lawnmower. There is no need to lift the front of the mower up when you are turning.
The 4-in-1 lawnmower offers a diverse range of grass cutting for various conditions. The lawnmower has an excellent price tag and a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Efficient overhead-valve four-stroke petrol engine.
Six cutting heights.
Self-propelled.
4-in-1 cutting system, mulch, side and rear discharge and collect.
Fold-down handlebars for easy storage and transport.
Two-year warranty for peace of mind.
Feider 4-In-1 Zero-Turn Petrol Lawnmower
The Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower is referred to as a zero-turn mower. I wouldn’t quite call it a zero turn mower, but the concept certainly gives it plenty of manoeuvrability due to the caster wheel situated on the front of the mower. The caster wheel can be locked if you require the mower to go in a straight line.
The front caster wheel is great for manoeuvring around ornaments, flower borders and other obstacles in the garden. With the self-propelled drive and the front caster wheel, mowing around obstacles becomes much easier!
Traditional zero turn mowers have two hydraulic motors that power the two rear wheels. At the front of a zero-turn mower, there are two caster wheels. The hydraulic motors give the traditional zero-turn mower instant forward and reverse on each rear wheel. In turn, this gives excellent manoeuvrability, in fact, zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market.
Feider’s mowing concept on their Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower certainly helps to give excellent manoeuvrability. However, to refer to it as a zero turn mower is not 100% correct, although, I very much like the concept of this lawnmower.
A 4-In-1 Mower
I always like to have the ability to have a lawnmower that will mulch and can collect the grass clippings if necessary. The Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower offers mulching, side discharge, rear discharge, and an option to collect the grass clippings.
I’m a great fan of mulching grass as it saves a huge amount of time not having to empty the collector. It also helps to give the lawn a better colour throughout the summer and especially in dry weather. The mulching acts like a green manure, feeding the lawn as you are cutting it.
At the same time, it’s great to have an option to collect the grass clippings. Especially if your lawn has become long or there are a lot of autumn leaves to collect. The grass collector has a 50 L capacity. Mulching is most effective when the lawn is cut regularly, so ideally, at least once a week in the growing season.
Side discharge is also a useful option if you want the grass spread evenly across the lawn. And then there’s also the option to discharge the grass from the rear of the mower.
The cutting deck is 46 cm which is approximately 16 inches. There are six cutting heights that vary from 25 to 75 mm. It’s always good to have a high cut on a lawnmower in case your lawn becomes long. Putting the mower on the highest cut can quickly bring your lawn back into shape.
Four Stroke Petrol Engine
The four-stroke 141cc overhead valve engine offers economy and quiet running. The engine has a straightforward recoil starting system. And a fuel tank capacity of 0.8 L.
To Conclude
The Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower offers a totally different concept from the average lawnmower. I really like the idea of the front caster wheel as I believe that mowing around obstacles has just become much easier with this concept. The locking caster wheel is a good idea for mowing in a straight line.
I believe that the Feider 4-in-1 Zero-Turn petrol lawnmower offers value for money and very good manoeuvrability. With a two-year warranty and the special price of £280.95, it’s definitely worth looking at.
Specification
Engine Make
Feider
Engine Capacity
141cc
Engine Starting System
Recoil
Engine Fuel Tank Capacity
0.8 Litres
Drive
Self Propelled – Disengageable
Cutting Width
46cm
Cutting Heights
25-75mm (6 Positions)
Height Adjustment
Rear Axle – Central / Front Wheel – Single Point
Grass Collector
50 Litres
Grassbag Full Indicator
Yes
Mulching
Yes
Side-Discharge
Yes
Cutting Deck
Sheet-Steel with Powder-Coated Paint Finish
Deck Washout Port
Yes
Handles
Foldable / 3-Stage Height Adjustable with Soft Grip
Today we are looking at the Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller which is currently on special offer. The Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller is currently available for £319.95 which offers a saving of £130.
The Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller is a smallish cultivator that is narrow enough to be used for hoeing between vegetables and shrubs etc.
The tiller is fitted with a clean-running overhead valve engine for maximum efficiency.
A tilling depth of up to 25 cm can be achieved depending on soil conditions. The Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller comes with a peace of mind two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
A great garden tiller with great reviews and value for money.
Efficient overhead valve engine.
36 cm working width.
25 cm working depth.
Transport wheel for manoeuvrability.
Great reviews.
Two-year warranty for peace of mind.
Racing 139PTIL63-C Petrol Tiller
The Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller is an ideal workhorse if you have a vegetable plot or allotment. It’s small enough to get between plants for hoeing and large enough to dig a vegetable plot. Petrol tillers take the hard work out of digging and soil preparation for planting.
There are two types of tiller or rotavator, the Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller is a classic type. This type of tiller is generally used by keen gardeners and allotment holders. The tines drive the tiller forward’s. A skid at the rear of the machine determines the depth. The higher the skid is set, the deeper the machine will dig. Obviously, with hard ground, you will have to make several passes to make the required depth.
The other type of machine is the wheel-driven type rotavator. These types of machines are normally used by professionals and contractors, although there are some smaller budgets machines available for keen gardeners. These types of rotavators are generally easier to use since the wheels drive the machine forward and reverse. In many cases, the rotavator can have several forward gears to give the operator more control depending on the conditions and the job at hand.
Petrol Engine
I always prefer petrol or diesel power over electricity, there are no restrictions with cables and generally, they are more powerful than electric machines. The four-stroke 139cc air-cooled overhead valve engine gives the tiller plenty of power for the average gardener. The engine has a traditional recoil start for simplicity and ease of starting.
Digging Rotors
With a digging width of 36 cm, the Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller will soon cover the ground. In most cases, it doesn’t take very long to till the ground with a powered tiller. There are multiple blades that rotate in the soil that help to break and dig the soil. There is a rotor guard that helps to break up the soil and at the same time protect the operator from flying debris.
Many manufacturers now fit a reverse gear to the rotors which helps to manoeuvre the tiller in tight spaces. Unfortunately, the Racing 139PTIL63-C petrol tiller does not have this feature. Fortunately, at just under 33 kg the tiller is not too heavy, you can see more tillers that come with a reverse gear here.
More Features
The handlebars can be adjusted for operator comfort. The machine comes with a transport wheel and depth skid. For ease of operation, the transport wheel is used to move the machine from plot to plot. The weight of the machine is 32.7 kg.
To Conclude
I am always looking for ways in the garden to make life simple. A tiller, garden cultivator or rotavator is a machine that does exactly this. They are great for spring seedbeds and great for digging and mixing compost in the soil.
The Racing petrol tiller has some very good reviews, so customers are obviously happy with their purchase. The two-year warranty is also great for peace of mind and means the manufacturers believe in their machine.
The only downside is that the tiller does not have a reverse gear which helps to make manoeuvring easier. As I mentioned earlier, under 33 kg is not too heavy to drag around. However, we do have more tillers with reverse gears here.