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With the development of mankind, an increasing number of equipment and devices are being created that greatly simplify life and save time. One of these devices is a self-propelled gasoline lawn mower with a seat, or just a rider. It is one of the most advanced and perfect lawn mowers that can be used both at home and on a small farm.
Description and working principle
The name of this device comes from the English word "ride", which means "to go". Simply put, it is a lawn mower that a person can ride. A garden rider is a lawn mower, which is a small tractor that is used for various agricultural purposes, in a private house or in the country. It functions easily in various conditions and has a relatively simple design. Such a tractor can be easily serviced by yourself.
Lawn mower lawn riders vary in body design, have different engine types, and more, but the overall design is the same. The grass mowing body can be located at the front or rear of the tractor. The petrol engine is located under the seat, shifted towards the rear.
Regardless, the main purpose of a self-propelled lawnmower with a seat is to cut the grass in the field. This is done using a special body that can be attached to the front or rear, depending on the type of rider. The body is called the deck. It consists of rotating knives that are located in a horizontal direction.
The tractor itself is no different from a conventional agricultural one in design. Only smaller and with a rear engine. In the international classification, a machine is called a tractor if the working equipment, in this case the deck, is located between the wheels. A rider is a device in which the working area is attached from the back or front.
A lawnmower with a seat has an engine that uses petrol as the main fuel. The mower is powered by engine energy.
Varieties and characteristics
Riders come in many varieties. Sitting lawnmowers differ in engine power and the number of attachments available for installation. According to engine power, there are such classes:
- Low-power tractors are small tractors, the motor power of which does not exceed 5 kW. The area of the lawn that can be mowed with such a device is no more than 2 hectares. Small dimensions and low weight allow for high maneuverability. Can be equipped for snow clearing, blowers and lawn mowers.
- Riders with an average power of up to 13 kW, which allows you to work on plots of 5 hectares and use a little more functions. Usually this type comes with a lot of all kinds of additional equipment. It is the most common class.
- Powerful mini riders. Suitable for large farms larger than 40 hectares. The motors have a power of more than 15 kW, which allows them to be widely used in a wide variety of needs.
There are rare rider configurations such as mini riders and zero turning radius riders. The first is a small and extremely lightweight machine designed for use in small areas. Equipped with a lawn mower with the option of additional equipment for harvesting leaves and sweeping the area.
Pros and cons of riders
Like any other equipment, such lawn mowers have both positive aspects and disadvantages. The following advantages can be distinguished:
- The use of a rider requires minimal expenditure of energy, effort and time. With this machine, you can mow an area much faster than using a standard mower.
- Allows to process large areas. With a rider, you can mow excess grass on large areas of several tens of hectares. This can take several days with a conventional lawnmower.
- Easy to use. No special skills are required to manage.
- The ability to install additional equipment in the form of a snowplow, leaf cleaner and others.
Among the cons are:
- High cost compared to conventional lawn mowers.
- Complexity of service and high prices for spare parts.
- Adverse health and environmental impacts due to emissions of used fuel.
- Large dimensions and heavy weight.
Maintenance and care
Riders are a relatively complex technique and therefore require quality care and maintenance. You need regular replacement of consumables such as oil, candles and others. After each lawn cleaning, you will need to clean the deck of accumulated pieces of grass, soil and dirt.
Popular models
The most popular models on the market are as follows:
- The Husquarna 422 Ts is a Swedish garden tractor with a wide range of convertibility options.
- Stiga Park 540PX is a popular model of the Swedish manufacturer. Allows you to mow large lawns and has a high aisle width and exit angles.
The rider lawnmower is a very convenient and reliable lawn care machine. It has wide transformation capabilities, but not everyone can afford it. Although this expensive purchase will justify the money spent in one season.