Content
To work in the country, it is not necessary to buy a walk-behind tractor. A motor cultivator can handle a small area. Such equipment is cheaper, compact and maneuverable. The cultivator is convenient for cultivating hard-to-reach areas. If necessary, you can remove the handle and wheels from the unit and transport it in the trunk of a car. A modern manufacturer offers consumers gasoline and electric motor cultivators. We will now try to figure out which one to choose.
Features of the design of gasoline cultivators
The popularity of gasoline motor cultivators is due to the mobility of the equipment. The unit is not connected by a cable to an outlet, as is typical for electrical analogues. Gasoline models are more powerful. They are worth buying for processing large areas remote from the house.
Models of gasoline motor cultivators differ in power and weight. Because of this, they were conditionally divided into four categories.
Ultralight models
This category includes cultivators weighing up to 15 kg. Their power is usually limited to 3 horsepower. The weakest gasoline engine can have 1.5 horses. The equipment is designed for caring for flower beds, beds in greenhouses and other small areas. The cultivator uses cutters to loosen the soil to a maximum depth of 8 cm. The working width ranges from 20 to 30 cm.
The equipment is so compact that you can easily put it in a large bag and take it with you to the dacha. For ease of transportation, the manufacturer took care of collapsible handles.
Lightweight models
The weight of petrol motor cultivators of the light category does not exceed 40 kg. The equipment is equipped with a motor with a power of 2.5 to 4.5 horsepower. The grip of the cutters has been increased - from 40 to 50 cm, as well as the loosening depth - from 15 to 18 cm. A lightweight motor cultivator is already capable of cutting grooves for planting garden crops, which is why the manufacturer usually equips it with a hiller.
The gasoline cultivator in this category is also compact and highly maneuverable. The productivity of the unit is 2 times greater compared to its ultra-light counterpart, but it still cannot be used on hard soils and virgin soil. The area of purpose of the equipment remains the same: processing flower beds, beds, flower beds.
Another disadvantage of a worm gearbox is the inability to manually roll the cultivator back from an obstacle encountered along the way.When choosing such a technique, it is better to give preference to a model with reverse.
Medium models
Gasoline motor cultivators of the middle category weigh from 45 to 60 kg. The equipment is equipped with motors with a power of 4–6 horsepower. The greater weight ensures better adhesion of the unit to the ground. The cultivator is stable even when cultivating hard soil. The cutting width of the cutters has been increased - from 40 to 85 cm, and the loosening depth is from 25 to 28 cm.
With the increase in engine power, the scope of application of the technology has significantly expanded. With a middle-class motorized cultivator you can go out into the garden and loosen clay soil, but it is still weak for virgin soil. Of course, there are enough horses in the engine. The problem lies in the weak mechanical part of the unit, where torque is transmitted from the motor to the cutters.
More expensive models work with a chain gearbox. It has a long service life and allows you to use attachments on the cultivator: mower, harrow, plow.
Heavy models
The category of heavy gasoline motor cultivators includes models weighing more than 60 kg. The equipment can compete with walk-behind tractors, as it is equipped with motors with a power of up to 10 horsepower. The heavy unit is capable of processing an area of more than 10 acres with soil of any complexity, even if it is virgin soil.
During operation, you need to learn how to control the motor cultivator so that you get a pressure in the ratio of 1 kg of unit per 1 cm2 soil. Otherwise, the equipment will be tossed or it will be buried in the ground with cutters.Adjustment of the depth of loosening with cutters is done using the handles: press down - the unit buries, raise the handles - the cultivator climbs out of the ground to the surface.
The unit is capable of working with many attachments. In addition to the traditional plow, harrow and mower, a potato planter, digger, cart and other mechanisms can be connected to a trailed one. Heavy motor cultivators are designed for long-term work, but they are not convenient to operate in a greenhouse, flower bed and other small areas.
Features of the design and use of an electric cultivator
In terms of performance, an electric cultivator can be compared with an ultra-light class gasoline motor cultivator. The equipment is designed for processing areas with soft soil up to 5 acres. The unit does not require refueling with gasoline, operates with low noise and is easy to maintain. Such equipment weighs from 6 to 20 kg. The bulk falls on the electric motor. The more powerful it is, the heavier it is. An electric cultivator cannot be used on virgin soil, but it can cope with hard soil.
The main disadvantage of electrical equipment is that it is tied to an outlet. The owner will have to buy a long cable so that it is enough for the entire area. Of course, pulling the cord along with you is also inconvenient. We must constantly watch so that it does not fall under the cutters.
The video talks about choosing a cultivator:
Which cultivator model should you choose?
The dispute between summer residents about which cultivator to choose is eternal.Some recognize only gasoline models, while others find it easier to handle electric units. The positive and negative aspects of different motor cultivators are compensated, so let's try to draw a conclusion:
- Electric cultivators are easier to use and maintain.. Any inexperienced person can handle the technique. You just need to plug the cord into the outlet and you can start working. The main unit of the unit is the electric motor. It is not noisy, has a long service life, and is economical. If a person is afraid of being tied to an outlet, then you can consider the option of a cultivator with a battery. The charge will not be enough to work for the whole day, but there is an opportunity for remote work.
- Gasoline motor cultivator benefits from mobility and power. The downside is the constant costs of purchasing oil and gasoline. Consumables include candles and filters. This technique requires intelligence. The engines are simple, but they may not start. A person must be able to independently find the cause and correct it.
Now let's deal with the virgin soil. Dacha plots are usually located on difficult soil. There may be uneven terrain, areas heavily overgrown with grass, or virgin lands. Here, electric cultivators are no longer needed. There can be no question of even buying them.
Even any gasoline motor cultivators will not work. To plow virgin soil you will need a flat cutter and a plow. Here it is better to give preference only to heavy category equipment. If the soil is moderately dense, then you can get by with a mid-class gasoline unit.
Any tillage equipment must be taken with a small power reserve. After all, it is unknown where in the future her help may be needed.
