About the Landscape Juice Network

Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.

LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry

LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.

For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

Hey all -

Due to one of my Etesias giving up the ghost (Engine frame rusted, drive belt snapped and generally a rattlebox at 8 years)  I need to replace it,

As I've got two other etesias Id like to replace it with a roller mower to give me a better finish on the higher spec lawns (not that etesias with a stripe matt gave a bad one,,, they gave  brilliant finish) - I also like the benefit rollers have with small bumps etc on a lawn and they dont rut on soft soils.

Anyway I need one with at least passable wet weather performance - I understand few come close to etesias in wet performance, but id at least like to not have to unblock the chute every 5 mins after a light rain storm.

I've only ever used a Hayter 56 roller and was sorely disappointed - it was quite frankly useless in the wet - I know older ones were good but they would be over 10 now so not an option for daily use.

Suggestions - fire away!

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • PRO

    Hi David,

    I have used hayters before and agree that they are as much use as a chocolate teapot in the wet. The only other roller mowers i have used are honda. All have been ok in the wet but not brilliant -they dont block quickly but will eventually and have a habit of dropping a deck full of stuck grass all over a path as you push it back to the van.

    I have no idea about other roller mowers on the market.

    Stu

  • You could try a toro 4 wheel with roller kit?

    As for dedicated, I run a hayter 56pro and in the wet it's alright. In the dry it's great.

    I have used a Honda in the wet and it was ok. Didn't like the Honda in general that's why I didn't get one.

    If you are cutting fortnightly then you shouldn't have that much to take off the top? Unless it's a really good grower. I just cut longer in the wet to help with this. You also have to careful on soft ground as it will spin the roller leaving horrible bits
  • A roller mower that picks up efficiently in the wet - the holy grail!  We have a Honda, Hayters and (the best of the lot) a 25 year old Atco cylinder!

  • PRO

    Basically agree, we have/use Danarm rollers and wet performance is neither good nor bad - you just have to accept the limitations.

    However, Etesia demo'd 46 Duocut with an add-on roller kit for the UK market at Salttex last year (See post on LJN). Similar in concept to the Toro mentioned above, but it was well engineered with a quick attach system. Do not know if it is yet available.

    • PRO

      The roller kit is close, what we showed at saltex was the 41cm prototype which has now been tweaked and is in process of modifications to the fitting brackets to use on the 46 duocuts now,

      i can't say at the moment a 100% date but we are not far off

  • PRO
    I've been using a viking 655vr and 650vr for the last 2 seasons and tbh they out class my pro 46 in every way..it will cut and pick up 3 inch wet grass with ease at the right speed and still leaves a nice finish, I've had honda pro and hayter roller mowers but the viking is the best by far for wet pick up, yes it's not a pro machine but dose a spot on job.
    • I've trialed the viking in the past - but was put off by my dealer saying that the ones he's sold for pro use after 1 year are in and out for repair all the time, Otherwise I found them about equal to the pro46.
      I may try and trial one of these roler domestics and see but for the price id rather go for something pro build - id like 3-4 seasons out of this next mower.

      • PRO
        David the one,s your dealer may have sold as pro are the 7 seris which I run to, and tbh if you run a honda pro for a season full time you will have probs too..you will not get 3 /4 seasons out of any pro mower unless you are very lucky...and nurse your machine in and out of your van!! At all times!! Which I do, so 100% this will help all mowers of all makes.. So many times I see people banging there mowers out of vans, trailers, down steps, no wonder they moan about the build quality....
    • I can echo Marks sentiments. I have progressed from the 650vr to the 655vr. The 655vr is almost the same machine, same roller width as the 650vr but longer blade, wider body and more power. The extra power makes it a far better machine than the 650vr in my opinion. Again in my opinion the 2 basic elements for performing so well in the wet is a lofted blade to sweep the grass into the box and the grass box being made of plastic so it doesn't block up and create a vacuum thereby preventing the grass from entering the box.
      I cut domestic lawns most all day every day, rain sun or shine nothing much stopes me and the Viking enables this to be archived. Tried all top brands of roller mower and would not swap the Viking for a gold pig (as my Dad used to say)
      Parts are as cheep as chips which is a odd as its a Stihl product. Keep expecting the prices to be hiked up but not as yet.
  • ah

    Im used to having my mowers run for 2-3 years non stop with not much more than a clogged fuel filter!

    Perhaps Im asking too much then!

    Will book a trial of the viking and see how it goes then!

This reply was deleted.

LJN Sponsor

Advertising

PRO

How Do You Qualify A Sales Lead?


I don't know about you, but our phones and emails are starting to get busy with enquiries. I've learned over the years that it's all too easy to answer the phone, arrange a consultation and then spend a couple of hours with a prospective client…

Read more…
Comments: 0