Outdoor Power Equipment - Information

Definition of Outdoor Power Equipment:  Speaking broadly, Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) consists of any product used outdoors (for landscaping or building maintenance, etc.) that utilizes an engine to make it work.  Usually, the engine is a gasoline-powered engine; although, both electric motors and propane-powered engines may be used.

Types of Outdoor Power Equipment:  The most common gasoline-powered OPE products we represent are:
 

• Walk behind lawnmowers
  • Residential
    • Usually 21 inch
    • A variety of manufacturers
      • Honda
      • Toro
      • Lawnboy
    • Usually 4 hp to 6.5 hp
      • A variety of engine manufacturers
        • Honda
        • Suzuki
        • Briggs & Stratton
        • Tecumseh
        • Kohler
        • LawnBoy (originally Outboard Marine Corp. - OMC)
      • Two main engine types
        • 4-cycle
          • Separate gas & oil
          • The most common mower engine
          • Traditional side-valve design
          • Overhead valve (OHV) design
            • Uses less gas & oil than a side-valve engine
            • Frequently has a cast-iron cylinder sleeve for durability
        • 2-cycle
          • Gas & oil mixed
          • Lighter than a 4-cycle engine
          • Runs at a higher speed than a 4-cycle engine
          • Sometimes has a cast-iron cylinder sleeve for durability
    • Dedicated bagging mower
      • Usually will accept mulching accessory or side discharge kit
    • Dedicated mulching mower
      • Usually will accept bagging accessory or side discharge kit
    • 3-in-1 mower
      • Mulches
      • Bags
      • Discharges
    • Cast aluminum cutting deck
      • Deck material of choice
        • Lightweight
        • Durable - can last almost indefinitely
        • Won't rust
        • Costs more than steel decks
    • Steel cutting deck
      • Costs less than aluminum decks
      • Rusts
      • In cheaper mowers it splits because it is so thin
      • Does not last nearly as long as aluminum deck
    • Plastic cutting deck
      • No rust
      • No denting
      • Highly impact resistant
      • Color all the way through the plastic
      • Can be readily recycled
      • Not as rigid as aluminum deck
        • Lacks the stable feel of a cast aluminum deck
      • Probably all mower decks in the future will be plastic
  • Commercial
    • Usually 21 inch
    • Usually aluminum decks
    • Usually steel wheels with greasable ball bearings
    • Usually engines with cast iron cylinder sleeves for added engine durability
    • Usually 5 hp to 6.5 hp engines
• Snowblowers
  • Single-stage snowblower
    • Lighter and more compact than twin-stage snowblowers
    • Less "systems" - i.e., no transmission, etc.
    • Frequently "paddle propelled" with rubber paddles installed on the auger
    • 3 hp to 6 hp
    • 4-cycle & 2-cycle engines
    • Recoil & electric start
    • Excellent for small to average-size lots having flat, paved surfaces
    • Some models will throw the snow up to 33 feet
  • Twin stage snowblower
    • Larger than single-stage snowblowers
    • Utilizes a propelling system
      • Wheel drive
        • Gear driven
        • Hydrostatic (fluid) driven
          • More precisely adjustable to snow conditions
          • No shifting of gears - easier to go forward or in reverse
      • Track drive
        • Gear driven
        • Hydrostatic driven
        • More traction than a wheel-drive model
          • Suitable for steep inclines & hard-to-access areas
    • Uses a slow-speed front auger to feed the snow into a high-speed impeller which then discharges the snow through an adjustable chute
    • Usually 5 hp to 12 hp 4-cycle engines
      • Recoil & electric start
    • The better twin-stage snowblowers are always more powerful than the better single-stage snowblowers
      • The better units will throw the snow up to 50 feet
• Line trimmer
  • Bent shaft
  • Straight shaft
    • Usually more powerful than bent-shaft units
    • Unlike bent-shaft trimmers will accept cutting blades for tall weeds & brush
  • Usually  uses a 2-cycle engine
• Walk behind intermediate mowers
  • Usually 36 inch to 60 inch
  • Gear driven or hydrostatic driven
  • Usually used by lawn maintenance professionals
• Tractors
  • Selected for larger, more demanding work
  • Will normally accept accessories such as a tiller or snowblower
  • Defined as lawn tractor or garden tractor
    • Garden tractor is invariably a better unit than a lawn tractor
  • Cutting deck sizes usually range from 30 inches to about 50 inch
  • Cheap tractors are just that
  • Better tractors are a bit pricey but will last almost indefinitely
  • Usually offer the options of mulching, bagging or side discharging
• Riders
  • Residential
    • 25 inch to about 38 inch
    • 8 hp to 12 hp
    • Usually offer the options of mulching, bagging or side discharging
    • The good ones are good; the cheap ones are cheap
  • Commercial
    • Out-front cutting decks
    • Mid-mount cutting decks
    • Usually hydrostatic transmission
      • Dual hydrostatic design drives each wheel independently allowing for "zero-radius" turning
      • Extremely fast & manuverable
    • Can mulch, side discharge or bag depending on design
    • Usually used by lawn maintenance professionals
• Chainsaws
  • 12 inch long cutting bar to an average of 36 inch cutting bar
  • A better saw runs more smoothly - i.e., less vibration
  • The key to a good chainsaw is the power to weight ratio - i.e., as powerful as possible yet as lightweight as possible
  • A good chainsaw will last indefinitely in residential or light commercial use
• Tillers/Cultivators
  • Tillers are front tine & rear tine design
  • Tillers will break hard sod
  • Cultivators are not primarily designed to break sod
  • Cultivators are, rather, designed to cultivate existing gardens
  • Some units are classified as tiller/cultivator and will do a bit of each task
• Pressure washers
  • Cold water pressure washers
  • Hot water pressure washers
  • Steam pressure washers
  • Gas & electric models
  • Average 800 psi to 3000 psi
  • A variety of accessories for many different applications
  • All the better units have brass pumps & usually ceramic-coated pistons for durability
  • The German pressure washers are considered the best in the world
• Leaf blowers
  • Hand blowers
    • Electric
      • Limited power & life expectancy
      • Limited range - i.e., "married" to the cord
    • Gas
      • More powerful than electric blowers
      • Last much longer than electric blowers
      • Much more mobility & versatility than electric blowers
      • Usually utilize 2-cycle engines
  • Back pack blowers
    • More power than hand blowers
    • Easier to use than hand blowers
    • Always use gas (2-cycle) engines
  • Ground (walk-behind) blowers
    • Always gas powered
    • The most powerful type of common leaf blower
    • The better ones use dual air discharge for enhanced performance
    • The better ones are made of plate steel for durability
    • The better ones use air (pneumatic) tires for ease of use
      • With air tires the unit "floats" across the lawn
      • With solid tires the unit gets "trapped" in roots & hollows in the lawn
    • The better ones can blow air from the front or from the side
      • More versatility
• Outdoor vacuums
  • Can be used to vacuum parking lots, curbs, warehouses, lawns, etc.
  • The good ones will gobble everything including glass bottles and cans
  • The good ones can convert with an intake hose to clean garden beds or difficult-access areas
  • The good ones last indefinitely
• Gas generators
  • Honda makes the best gas generators in the world
    • A generator usually uses a 4-cycle engine
      • Honda makes the best small 4-cycle engines available
    • Long run times and quiet operation are important
      • You don't want to have to refill it with gas every two hours
      • You don't want to lie awake listening to your generator
    • Easy-start is important
      • Different family members may have to start it depending upon circumstances
    • Reliability is mandatory - i.e., if it doesn't work, it is useless
    • Generator sizes vary
      • Standard generators range from 350 watt units to 6500 watt units
        • "Click" wattage chart to  see the wattage requirements of different types of appliances - i.e., refrigerator, sump pump, furnace, etc.
        • A generator should be purchased to supply the necessary power for specific or important appliances - i.e., you can't start a 2200 watt (surge) furnace induction motor with a 1000 watt generator
    • Generators vary enormously in price as a result of quality differences
    • A generator is a type of insurance policy
      • If the furnace can't run & so can't heat the house in winter the water pipes may freeze
      • If the sump pump can't run a finished basement might get flooded with water
      • If the refrigerator can't keep the food cold, etc.
    • Generators can be used as "stand-alone" with extension cords from the generator supplying power to different appliances
    • The ideal way to use a residential or office generator is to have a certified electrician install a transfer switch which then enables the generator to supply electricity to various circuits in the house
      • In this situation, once the generator is operating the usage of various appliances in the house is to simply turn them on as usual, etc.
• Other Products
  • There are other, more specialized Outdoor Power Equipment products such as power sprayers, pole pruners, hedge trimmers, etc.  We carry them all; but for the sake of brevity (?) have listed above the main OPE equipment.  Simply contact us if you have questions on other OPE products.

NOTE:  It is vital to periodically run any OPE Product with a gasoline engine to ensure that the gas in the fuel system does not break down and go "bad".  A majority of all service-related problems are a direct result of bad fuel.  Frustration is defined as owning a nice snowblower that won't start when the snow finally comes .....