Forum

Replies

• 

  briggsandscrapem October 4, 2013 at 10:09pm

  One word..............Sisis.
• PRO

  Robbie October 5, 2013 at 1:08am

  I think you need to upgrade your scarifier
• PRO

  mark thomas October 5, 2013 at 9:06am

  Yes I agree about the wheels sticking out 6-7 inches from the edge of the lawn, thought about trying to buy some thinner ones, I go around the edges with a eliet 401 first as the wheels are so narrow and the reel is closer to the side of the machine, yes they are heavy but to honest mine doesn't vibrate at all, maybe because it was new this spring and had no wear, if i was doing small lawns ie upto say 50-200 sqm I would always use the eliet as so light, you can operate traveling forward and turning around with 1 hand very easy,and even hang it over the edge of the lawn, they come with a double cut reel good for heavy thatch, and deep scarifying for prepping a seed bed, separately I brought a single cut reel very smooth finish.
• 

  Bespoke Lawncare October 5, 2013 at 9:21am

  Whilst I get the job done with my (camera) scarifier I am looking to upgrade to a larger more robust machine what model of Sisis suits large domestic lawns best or other manufactures machine
• PRO

  mark thomas October 5, 2013 at 9:57am

  Have a look at the eliet e750, don't think sisis would be much good on domestic lawns for 1 the box wouldn't be used as it would get filled in 1 pass probably, 2 if you did use without box you would be spraying all grass/thatch all over paths and boarders, think you best off with a drop machine rather than a out front.
• PRO

  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance October 5, 2013 at 1:50pm

  I only do scarifying for two weeks of the year so i have been hiring. The scarifier is in good condition and was built in 2012 so not a wreck by any means. I am looking to do more lawn care so am considering different machines well ahead of a purchase as i don't make quick decisions usually.

  The ones i have looked into are camon, eliet and sisis. The main things that bug me about the camon are weight, wheels sticking out and the vibrations.

  Eliet 401 or 450

  The 401 is slightly cheaper (£900) than the LS42, weighs less (40 kg) and the wheels don't stick out as much. It has a clever belt tensioning clutch that does away with the need for a centrifugal clutch and idler pulley - i like that. The blades are obviously different to the camon and are spaced at larger intervals. Engine is a GC135 rather than GX160 but the machine is slightly narrower in working width. Is the GC engine up to the job? 

  The 450 is obviously wider (45cm working width) than the 401 (or camon) and has a larger engine (choice of GC160 or GX160). Price is about £1400. It is also 51kg which is about the same as the camon. I like the wheel mud scrapers as mud does collect on them when overlapping passes and comes off in a long roll at random intervals. It must also affect the depth of scarifying as the wheels become effectively taller.

  Camon LS42

  I like the way the camon can take different reels with fixed slitter blades, spring tines for light scarifying and  the free swinging blades (the only one i have used). I also like the engine (GX160) and the free floating axle at the front. Why do they supply a collection bag for it though - pointless. The cons seem to outweigh the pros with this machine. Price £1194.

  Sisis rotorake 450

  New price for this (£3000) is well out of my grasp so would be looking at second hand only. I like the way it scarifies against the direction of travel and obviously it needs to be self propelled as it would be too hard to push. I also like the front roller which would enable hanging over the edge of a lawn much the same as a roller mower. The back wheels look to be tucked in behind the machine to minimise width - another good design feature. The depth control looks good - it is adjusted from the handlebars so no need to go round the front of the machine.

  I don't know how much it weighs but being self propelled this isn't as much of an issue. Also not sure about having to have a collection box on the front. We all know how quickly they get filled up on neglected lawns. Would need a spare box and an employee to keep changing them over and emptying. Using it without the collector would as previously said throw thatch etc all over paths and borders. Also, surely with having a front roller it would require the lawn to be free of debris on the surface? Maybe a bit big with the box on especially on small lawns and where shrubs and other obstacles are right up to the edge of the lawn.

   

  There is much to think about and compare. My ideal scarifier would ;

  • be light
  • have a Honda engine
  • have a roller to enable hanging over the edge of lawns
  • have low vibrations
  • have different reels available for different jobs
  • deflect debris into the middle of the operating width so you don't have to run on the debris from the previous pass
  • have long lasting blades which are easily changed

  Not asking for much am I ? I think i need to build a machine with concepts from all 3 brands. Roller and height adjustment from sisis, reels from camon and the body, belt tensioning arrangement and engine of an eliet.
• PRO

  Robbie October 5, 2013 at 4:07pm

  I own the Eliet 501 (GC 160 honda engine)

  When it comes to the end of it's life I will buy another one. I haven't changed the blades on it yet, when it gets to that point I might just buy a new machine and trade it in.

  There is no drive in it, but most of the time you have to hold it back (not push it)

  Vibrations are low, it's small enough for nearly all garden gates and push into the van, starts first pull and does a brilliant job. I have never had to do any more than 2 passes with it.

  I fear you will have problems with the Sisis rotorake 450 if your planning on using it on lawns, it's designed for fine turf - i.e. Golf and bowling greens ect

  I wouldn't worry about a machine that cuts and collects as you would always spend your time emptying the box/bag.

  Better to have a good blower or vacuum to clear and lift the debris at the end.
• PRO

  Rich AGS October 5, 2013 at 8:15pm

  My SISIS machine is great used on. Bowling greens and lawns , the blades fitted are tungsten tipped they last much longer not wearing out very quick ,