Content:
Today, many people like to work outside the city in their summer cottages, but not as it was before, but using various techniques that make work less tiring and more productive. One of these helpers for gardeners is the cultivator. It allows you to quickly and efficiently cultivate the soil in your garden. As the demand for cultivators grows, the market offers a fairly wide range of products from different manufacturers.
Characteristics of Japanese cultivators
Japanese motor cultivators are the choice of many summer residents. This fact is explained by their characteristics and advantages over competitors:
- ease of management;
- quality that manifests itself even in small things;
- motors with great power and durability.
Such a technique is acquired to loosen the soil, huddle plantings and to perform other similar tasks.
Due to the fact that the models are different in weight and are easy to operate, adolescents and retirees can cope with the equipment. In this case, of course, it is very important to observe safety measures.
The most popular models of motor cultivators
There is a wide selection of cultivators on the market. The most common from manufacturers Honda and Echo. These brands are time-tested and collect a lot of positive feedback from summer residents.
Honda
The Honda cultivator is very popular. A wide range of models allows you to choose equipment that matches the size of the site and the volume of work. Motor-cultivators Honda have high quality and great wear resistance. They have many advantages due to which these units bypass competitors:
- ease of management and use;
- maneuverability, any model surprises with this quality during operation;
- ease of maintenance, which boils down to changing the oil and cleaning the filter;
- combination of several functions.
In the model range of Honda motor-cultivators, the most popular units are distinguished - Honda FG201 DE and Honda FF300 DE. They differ in power and, accordingly, in price. Designed to perform different tasks.
Honda FG201 DE
A light enough model that allows you to work on small to medium-sized areas. This unit is equipped with a Honda four-stroke gasoline engine. The cultivator starts working with one movement, which is facilitated by the presence of an automatic decompressor.
The Japanese cultivator Honda FG201 DE is controlled by handles with levers that are easy to fold. The machine does a good job of removing weeds and mixing fertilizer with the topsoil.
Main characteristics of Honda FG201 DE:
- 4-stroke engine, 3.2 HP from. and a volume of 48 cmz;
- centrifugal clutch included;
- rope launch system;
- worm gear;
- only one forward speed can be used.
This cultivator plows to a depth of no more than 15 cm with a strip width of within 30 cm. With this model, you can also process row spacing and milling the soil.
Of the minuses, a small fuel tank is noted, the volume of which is 0.9 liters. This is usually not enough, so you will have to take frequent breaks to refuel.
Honda FF300 DE
This model is designed to handle large areas. Such a cultivator is much larger and heavier, and costs several times more than the previous model.Build quality and ease of handling are inherent in all Honda models. Includes sharp stainless steel cutters. Among the competitors, this cultivator distinguishes an improved transmission, thanks to which it is possible to use one reverse and three forward speeds in operation. Suitable for plowing virgin lands.
Echo
The Echo cultivator is another market leader. This brand is known for its high wear resistance and build quality. A motor-cultivator of this type is capable of working on various types of soils: from heavy to light sandy.
The Echo cultivator has the following characteristics:
- equipped with a powerful and high-quality Kioritz engine;
- has a small weight, thanks to which anyone can handle it without any preparation;
- equipped with a high-tech Power Boost Vortex system, the purpose of which is to minimize engine valve friction and, accordingly, increase its service life;
- improved quality transmission;
- multitasking;
- all parts of the unit are resistant to water and dirt.
If you follow all the operating conditions specified in the instructions, then the Echo cultivator will show its maximum performance, and the probability of breakdowns will be minimal.
The reliability of the Echo units is nicely combined with the low cost. They are used to plow the land in small areas, as well as to weed row spacings. Many gardeners recommend these cultivators for work in greenhouses.
Echo TC-210
The most popular model in the line of this manufacturer is the Echo TC-210. Summer residents speak very well of her. The cultivator allows you to cultivate a vegetable garden with an area of up to 5 acres. Recommended for light to medium soils.
The Echo TC-210 model is equipped with a gasoline engine with a power of 1 hp. from. The weight of the cultivator is 10 kg, while it can be used in dense planting areas. The model is very maneuverable, which is why they love to use it in greenhouses and clubs. With its small dimensions, the cultivator is quite stable, which makes it possible not to load it additionally on loose soil, and therefore it is convenient to work with it for women and elderly people.
The switch is located on the handle, which is convenient for use. There is also a gas trigger stopper, which ensures safety in operation. The handle folds down for easy transport of the cultivator. The model has a Pro-Fire easy inclusion system.
The unit has a very low fuel consumption. With a small tank of 0.9 liters, it consumes about 250 ml per hour. This is a significant advantage over competitors. The cultivator operates at a depth of 15 cm with a strip width of 30 cm. This is enough for a standard garden plot.
Among the shortcomings, they distinguish the small power of the cultivator, as well as the fact that it cannot be completed with hinged implements.
Construction of the Echo TC-210:
- Kioritz gasoline engine;
- Power Boost Vortex system, which protects the engine from overheating problems;
- to improve the work of the cutter on solid ground, a worm gear is used;
- reliable gearbox with a long service life;
- the presence of sharpened cutters in total 10 pcs.
The unit is often spud potatoes, it removes tough and thorny weeds, but the manufacturer does not recommend using it on firm ground, as the load on the engine will increase, which will lead to poor performance.
When working with garden equipment, you must observe safety measures:
- operate with only two hands;
- you need to work with the cultivator in comfortable closed shoes;
- at the time of using the technique, move only with a step;
- it is worth removing solid objects from the area where the processing is carried out;
- use safety glasses;
- work during the day in good visibility conditions;
- if possible, avoid areas with a steep slope;
- store the cultivator in a dry place;
- refuel the equipment with gasoline recommended by the manufacturer;
- installation of a spark arrester in the engine is recommended;
- do not leave the equipment turned on unattended;
- before sending the cultivator for storage, allow it to cool;
- do not work with flammable substances in rooms;
- clean the fins of the engine and muffler;
- if there are doubts about the serviceability of the equipment, you do not need to turn it on, you should contact the specialists.
Which cultivator to choose Honda or Echo: selection criteria
Since the Honda FG201 DE and Echo TC-210 cultivators are in the same price range, and both manufacturers have proven themselves in the market, the choice between them must be made based on personal needs. The contact depth and the width of the strip are similar for both units. But the weight of the Echo cultivator is much less - 10 kg versus 17 kg Honda.
Thus, if a woman or an elderly person works with the technique, then preference is given to a small weight. And if you need a more productive machine, then it is better to take a Honda cultivator, since it is heavy enough to break up large clods of earth and work on relatively dense soil, cutting powerful roots of weeds. At the same time, the man is quite capable of moving this unit manually.
When working in greenhouses and small flowerbeds, the lighter and more maneuverable Echo is also worth choosing.
With the help of garden equipment correctly selected for your needs, you can turn labor in your summer cottage from hard work into pleasure. A huge selection of products allows you to find the right model that suits both needs and budget. In addition, there are manufacturers who have already proven themselves, the equipment from which is distinguished by good quality and affordable prices.