Page 14 - OPE Nov 21-Feb 22

MARKETPLACE
Walk-Behind Mowers
New STIHL “crossover” mower
THE NEW STIHL RMA 448 VC is a
powerful, self-propelled cordless
mower with an 18-inch/46cm cutting width
and variable-speed drive and partners the
RMA 765 and 443 models among
STIHL’s crossover (domestic or
commercial) options. Low
noise, low vibrations and user
comfort are all hallmarks. The
robust polymer housing
absorbs stress and won’t corrode, while the
folding 55 litre grass collection box has a useful fill level display. Drive is adjustable via a lever on the handlebar at between 2.0 and 4.5km/h, and central cut-height adjustment, automatic eco mode, and flow-optimised blades ensure longer battery life. The working area covered by STIHL’s recommended AP 300 battery is 400m2.
www.stihl.co.nz
HUSKY UPDATES WALK-BEHIND RANGE
HUSQVARNA HAS MADE some
minor updates to its walk-behind mower range, capped by the high- performance self-propelled LC 419 SP with rear-wheel drive and large 19-inch cutting deck for long life and more efficient cutting (photo above). The powerful OHV four- stroke Husqvarna engine and four cutting
blades promise a superior cut and finish while additional features include dual ball bearing wheels, comfort grip folding handles with quick action cam locks, safety-zone starting, a large plastic catcher and eight cutting heights. Comes complete with mulch plug.
www.husqvarna.co.nz
LawnMaster
expands lithium line-up
STEELFORT IS ADDING to its existing 40V and
58V LawnMaster battery mowers by introducing alloy-bodied Fusion models. The cast alloy chassis
features a reinforced wear strip and there’s a range of 10 cutting heights between 10 and 65mm for the
18-inch deck with mulch function and four swing-back blades. A push-button start
system and 45 litre catcher are standard features. Users can expect
up to 60 minutes’ runtime for the 58V brushless motor
on a full charge of the 4Ah battery. A
three-year
warranty is included.
www.steelfort.co.nz
times, and it offers power at the higher end of the engine range that battery electric can struggle to compete with. However, the two technologies are coming closer together.”
And this convergence of performance and pricing, notes STIHL’s Phil Needham, makes it important for the dealer network to understand the pros and cons of battery and petrol lawnmowers.
“If a user wants ease of operation, reduced maintenance, and low noise and other environmental benefits, battery power is the way to go.
“And if you’re willing to mow regularly during peak growth periods, you also get better economy from battery mowers.
“With petrol, you don’t have the same
consideration of trying to be conservative with energy and you’re regularly topping up a tank for an engine that typically has an excess of power for the mowing task.”
An interesting aside is that STIHL dealers have been offering a courtesy mower programme so mainly domestic petrol users who take their mower in for service or repair can trial a battery model at home.
“We’ve received really good feedback from the initiative and it’s proving helpful for customers to trial a battery system before committing to it,” says Phil, at the same time conceding that there are obvious challenges with full-commercial battery mowers for those planning to tackle lawn after lawn every day.
“Contractors need the ability to charge on the go or a good rotation of batteries. The most effective solution is to have additional batteries available.
“Inverters that can be used with charging systems are not always as useful as they sound. And some battery packs are equivalent in size to a vehicle’s battery and in order to charge them efficiently, you’d need the vehicle running, which can pose a variety of problems.”
In the end, says Phil Needham, “It becomes more practical and economical to run a generator unit, which then brings into question the suitability of using a battery versus petrol product.”
A contractor’s viewpoint
What do the professionals make of all this? Highly experienced Graham Watson, Express Lawn Mowing’s Head Franchisor, offers a contractor’s views on walk-behind mowers.
“Price point is not a major consideration for most contractors who primarily want a superior machine but getting a good walk- behind can be surprisingly difficult. You’ve also got to be able to have warranty claims sorted quickly and efficiently. But what’s noteworthy is that none of my franchisees has ever suffered a motor problem.
“Contractors want walk-behinds to be self-driven and usually with a cutting deck around 21 inches. The design and ergonomics of controls for the self-drive system are important, as are handle adjustments.
“The biggest problem is they’re often too heavy for New Zealand conditions, so you need a winter mower and another mower. And while some of the better mowers are mulch-only, we like to be able to mulch and catch.
“The biggest attraction with the electric equipment is reduced noise, and the difference here between two-stroke and electric is chalk and cheese.”
“Another key factor is multi-functionality. You want a walk-behind to have the ability to mulch well and catch well and this requires good airflow.
“To avoid problems, you need a really good, enclosed self-driving system in which all the seals are well secured and unlikely to be broken, leading to an oil leak. Cabbage tree leaves are a prime example of lawnmower killers.
“You also need a good connection for when the mower goes into gear. They can suffer a lot of wear on connections when they’re dry-weighted at 60kg-plus. In this case, a flower-blade system is preferable for its built-in protection should you hit something. You really don’t want to bend the driveshaft!
“Most heavy-duty walk-behinds are designed for an overseas market. But NZ has very wet winters and undulating sites. Some have couch and kikuyu grass.
“Heavy machines with a bushel of wet grass in a catcher become ridiculously heavy. So you’ve got to be careful with the handles on heavy commercial walk-behinds when lifting and turning. The weight can result in torquing of the metal in the handle.
“A positive thing we’ve observed recently is a bigger input from larger companies educating mechanics working on the machines. In a relatively short period of time, we’ve noticed a big improvement
on the servicing side. The standard and consistency of service and repairs has lifted noticeably.”
Having said this, Graham Watson concludes that although operators are unlikely to have problems with back-up and support, “When you’re a franchise company providing mowers to franchisees, you’re highly restricted in terms of what you can choose as you require a nationwide servicing network.”
Bottom line? “We’re continually looking for a better option.” n
014 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT NOVEMBER2021-FEBRUARY2022
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