Rider garden: description, technical characteristics, manufacturers and reviews

The use of garden riders justifies themselves in large areas where different processing tasks are required. Usually such machines are confused with lawn mowers, making a correction for the presence of a running gear with a place for the operator, but this is not quite so. That is, the function of the brush head is present, but, in addition to it, the unit also implements the tasks of soil cultivation, mulching, gathering of leaves, etc. The set of tools that the garden rider is equipped with depends on the specific modification.

Rider species

In the market of garden machinery such machines are presented in three versions - domestic, semi-professional and professional. Models for home use are suitable for plots of up to 4000 m2. According to the functional, the garden rider in this version is markedly limited and, as a rule, except for the slant of the grass cover, can only perform garbage collection. More productive options represent a segment of semi-professional models. Such a rider can be equipped with a large range of attachments, including tools for cultivation, harrowing, sowing, etc.

Features of professional models

Professional units and do provide for the possibility of transforming the structure. Attachments convert a seemingly ordinary lawnmower into a full-function snowplow or aeration machine. It all depends on how much power and design features a specific garden rider has. Tractor, of course, against the background of this technique wins in performance. However, some professional modifications have the capacity, which is enough for cultivating large land areas with an area of more than 10 000 m ² .

Main characteristics

In choosing a technique of this kind, one should be guided by two categories of characteristics. The first expresses the power of the rider. In particular, the range of models for domestic use is equipped with engines with a potential of 4 to 7 liters. from. average. Professional modifications in power often exceed 10 liters. With., And some premium versions have a return to 20 "horses".

The second category of characteristics is the working parameters in terms of grass mowing. As for the height of the bevel, the standard garden rider can smooth out the green cover at a level of 80-100 mm. From the point of view of productivity, the width of the bevel, which varies from 70 to 120 cm, is also important. Characteristics of operations of another type are already determined by the type of concrete attachments. The possibility of using different settings in its parameters is one of the strengths of riders in principle.

Manufacturers of machinery

The development and release of riders are mainly handled by companies specializing in garden technology. Among the leading manufacturers are STIGA, Viking, Husqvarna and Mega. In particular, under the Viking brand in the domestic market, a modification MT 5097 is sold, equipped with a hydrostatic gearbox, which facilitates the control process. An interesting option is a garden rider "Husqvarna" in the performance of PF 21 AWD. This model is suitable for those who plan to work professionally and regularly with large areas.

In terms of prices, it should be noted that there are no strict boundaries in the segment. The lowest link represents models costing about 40-60 thousand rubles. Professional equipment can be available for 100 thousand, and for 300. The difference is due to the power potential and technical and structural functionality

Positive feedback about the riders

Among the owners of riders there are not so many private dacha owners and owners of personal plots, therefore the main group of users are people who in one way or another have to do with professional garden work. They also note that there is no alternative to such models. And tractors with attachments, and traditional lawn mowers in different parameters are inferior to riders. The advantages of such cars include a combination of high maneuverability, multifunctionality, performance and ergonomics. For example, garden riders-lawn mowers are able in a short period of time to serve even a large area, spending a minimum of resources. At the same time, users also point out the possibility of fine-tuning the operation parameters, which in the end provides a qualitative result.

Negative feedback

There are also critical responses about the operation of riders. For the most part, they are related to the structural complexity of machines. The user requires knowledge of the technical features of the units, which also cuts off a significant portion of amateur gardeners from the segment. And this is not to mention the need for repair work, which also occurs regularly, especially in the intensive mode of operation. In addition, compared to conventional lawnmowers, such machines operate only on liquid fuel. Gasoline - a standard resource, which runs the garden rider. Reviews in this context indicate that due to exhausts, air is inevitably polluted, and this can negatively affect the state of vegetation. Such negative factors, for example, are absent in conventional electric lawnmowers. However, they have a power reserve of an order of magnitude less, and consequently, the productivity is not so high.

Nuances of maintenance

After each operating session, it is necessary to check the attachments for structural integrity. Without fail, the working surfaces are cleaned and, if necessary, are treated with protective greases. Also check the condition of the gearbox and engine cooling system. Approximately once a month, it is necessary to monitor the fasteners, assess the level of wear of the knives and perform their sharpening, if there is a need.

As the manufacturers note, after 100 hours of direct operation it is necessary to completely replace the cutting elements. It is important to note that wheels for garden riders are also subject to wear. The replacement of these components should be carried out when holes, cracks, incisions and other defects are detected. Updating of wheels it is desirable to carry out with application of a firm complete set from "native" manufacturer.

The same applies to the use of attachments, although manufacturers are seeking to unify its characteristics, and some types of equipment are universal in terms of compatibility with riders.

Conclusion

The practice of operating any equipment confirms that the aggregates, which are oriented to specific tasks, are the best with working operations. Multifunctionality of riders contradicts the idea of narrow specialization of technical means, but this has its pluses. Still, the rider garden saves the owners of large areas from the need to purchase several types of equipment. Of course, in the first place, it performs the function of conventional lawn mowers, ahead of them in terms of productivity. But with it the rider, depending on the modification, can also become a replacement for the cultivator, snow blower and blower for the leaves. Another thing is that to implement these and other work activities will require appropriate attachments.