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 .....

 

 

The Eardly T. Petersen Co., Inc.
224 Elmer St., Westfield, NJ 07090 USA
toll-free 1-866-Peterco  fax 908-232-8761
www.etpetersen.com  e-mail: sales@etpetersen.com  
- since 1956 -