Outdoor Power Equipment - Suggestions

Since Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) involves a lot of different types of equipment, we will break the following suggestions down into their main, respective categories (if you wish to instantly move down this webpage to a particular category as shown below, just click on the link and you will move down to that category):
 

• Chainsaw - gas
• Chipper/shredder - gas
• Cultivator/tiller
• Dethatcher
  • Flail
  • Tine
• Hedge trimmer
  • Electric hedge trimmer
  • Gas hedge trimmer
• Lawnmower - electric
• Lawnmower - gas
  • Commercial intermediate walk-behind lawnmower
  • Commercial rider
  • Residential walk-behind lawnmower

• Leaf blower - gas
  • Back pack blower
  • Ground blower
  • Hand-held blower
• Line trimmer/weedwacker
• Outdoor Gas Vacuum
• Pole Pruner
• Pressure washer
• Snowblower
  • Single-stage snowblower
  • Twin-stage snowblower
• Sprayer

We should mention that we are also both an Authorized Service Center as well as an Authorized Warranty Center for the following engine manufacturers:  Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kawasakai, Kohler, Kioritz (Echo), Suzuki and Tecumseh.  In particular, we are a Master Technical Center for Briggs & Stratton (the 1st in New Jersey to be so appointed )- a highly coveted designation awarded only upon completion of the most stringent testing procedures.  As contrasted with Briggs & Stratton Servicing Centers, there are only a handful of such Master Technical Centers in the USA.  We are your engine troubleshooting and repair center!
If you wish to purchase engines from us; or, need engine parts or service for the brands listed above, please contact us for such information.

Chainsaw - gas

We stock Echo & Stihl gas chainsaws.  Echo, a division of Kioritz in Japan, is the industry leader for small, high-quality, two-cycle engines such as are used on their line trimmers, back pack and hand-held blowers, chainsaws, etc.  Echo amply meets the three criteria for a good-quality chainsaw:

1. High power & low vibration
2. A balanced, low-weight unit
3. Excellent durability

All Echo chainsaws - from a small unit with a 12-inch bar up to a large, top-of-the-line chainsaw with a 36-inch bar or bigger - provide ease of starting, coupled with a tough, long-lasting construction.  Echo's motto is "Choice of the Pros".

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on Echo chainsaws.

Stihl is the industry leader in gas chain saws.  One of the primary differences between Stihl and Echo is that a Stihl chainsaw will typically cut much faster than a comparable Echo chainsaw.  Since speed is a major requirement of an arborist or commercial user, Stihl is the chainsaw of choice for the professional user.  There are other differences, of course; but, suffice it to say that the homeowner or moderate commercial user

Chipper/shredder - gas

We provide two lines of chipper/shredder:

1. Bearcat
2. MacKissac/Mighty Mac

A good chipper/shredder must satisfy two criteria:

1. It must work as fast as possible
2. It must be designed and constructed in such a way so as to last a long time under demanding usage

A poor quality chipper/shredder will satisfy neither of the above criteria.  It simply is not a good tool and will not stand up to any degree of usage.  If you are going to buy a chipper/shredder - get a good one and it will last indefinitely.  Both Bearcat and MacKissac make excellent chipper/shredders.

We offer chipper/shredders from 5hp-size average homeowner usage models that will chip up to 3 inches all the way up to PTO models designed to operate off of a medium-size tractor.  Chipper/shredders are largely a seasonal item for us - anything we do not stock we can get within about a week.

One other word on chipper-shredders:  the average unit does not effectively handle leaves.  If you are a homeowner wishing to use a chipper/shredder for leaves as well as regular chipping and shredding, we highly recommend the MacKissac SC705.  This unit not only very nicely lies over sideways to allow leaves to be raked into the intake chute; but, it also incorporates a fan in the shredding chamber which serves to vacuum the leaves into the chamber.  Without such a vacuum design, leaves simply sit in the chute of a (regular) chippper/shredder and you will experience major frustration trying to get them into the chamber to be pulverized.

One last word:  do not try to shred vines, corn husks or other long, fibrous material with a chipper/shredder - the vines will simply wrap around the hammers in the shredding chamber and you will steam away as you try to remove them.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on Bearcat chipper/shredders.  "Click" here to connect to our webpage on MacKissac chipper/shredders.

Cultivator/Tiller

Honda makes one of the best lines of cultivators and tillers in the industry.  Period.  We like to tell our customers that, when it comes to Honda Outdoor Power Equipment products, one of the finest automobile manufacturers in the world also makes Outdoor Power Equipment.  Same company, same philosophies, same excellence, same engine know-how, etc.  Thus, we explain our dogmatic statement above.

 "Click" here to go to our webpage on Honda cultivators and tillers.

We also carry the popular (Little Wonder) Mantis Cultivator.  This excellent unit has been a standby product for the home gardener for a very long time.  Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on the Little Wonder Mantis Cultivator.

Dethatcher

We carry Bluebird Dethatchers - they make an excellent, heavy-duty product.  Bluebird  specializes in turf products such as Sod Cutters, Aerators and Dethatchers.  These are more specialized products used almost entirely by the commercial landscape contractor, golf course, cemetary, etc.

"Click" here to go to our webpage on Bluebird products.

Hedgetrimmers - electric & gas

We carry two types of hedgetrimmers as noted above - both made by commercial OPE manufacturers and used either by the landscape professional or by the residential user demanding better quality than the "highway store" brands.

In the electric hedgetrimmer line we carry Little Wonder.  Little Wonder makes commercial products - gasoline edgers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers (electric and gas) and the Mantis cultivator.  They are an established manfacturer in the commercial ope industry with a reputation for quality products that perform well and last a long time.  A commercial user hardly needs an introduction to a Little Wonder electric hedge trimmer - it has been the mainstay product of this type for over twenty years.  For the residential, first-time user, it enables for extremely fast, smooth, trouble-free trimming of hedges and shrubs.  It so is far a better piece of equipment than the traditional "highway store" (B&D-brand) type of unit that it is hard to actually explain how great is the difference.  The using proves it, and, suffice it to say that for normal residential use the product will last indefinitely.  Popular sizes are 19-inch double blade and 24-inch single and double blade.  Occasionally we sell a 30-inch single blade electric for the user with a lot of hedges, etc.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on Little Wonder.

In the gas hedge trimmer we carry Little Wonder, Echo and Stihl.  The Little Wonder unit uses an Echo (Kioritz) engine (of course, so does the Echo product!).

In the Little Wonder we typically stock a 24" double-sided and a 30" single-sided gas hedge trimmer.  These are very powerful, durable pieces of equipment - a bit heavy and normally sold only to commercial users, etc.

In the Echo our most popular unit is an HC-1500 with a 20-inch blade.  Of course, Echo makes a number of other models; but, we recommend and sell mostly the HC-1500.  We also sell Echo extended reach and articulating hedge trimmers.
In the Stihl line we carry an 18" unit, two 24" trimmers and, also, extended reach hedge trimmers.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on Little Wonder, and "click" here to connect to our webpage on Echo.  "Click" here to connect to our webpage on Stihl.

Electric lawnmowers - DISCONTINUED

In the electric lawnmower category we carried only one brand - Toro.  Toro is the largest manufacturer in the industry of OPE, and they made an excellent line of machines.  They use the same design features on their electric lawnmowers that they use on their large commercial riding tractors; so, the product is designed right.  In addition, there is no difficulty in obtaining parts and/or service on the Toro electrics - in distinction to the "highway" store brands such as Black and Decker or Sunbeam where parts and/or service, historically, is difficult if not impossible to obtain.  Unfortunately, while we are happy to describe the units below, Toro has discontinued production on this equipment due to the modest demand for cordless mowers.  They do make a CareFree mower which is a cordless robotic mower - please contact us for information on this product.

Toro made two cordless electric mowers - a 24-volt unit and a 36-volt unit; and, a 110V corded machine. The 110V corded machine was a great electric lawnmower, and, using an electric motor made by Briggs and Stratton (the largest OPE small-engine manufacturer in the world), could have engine work performed by any of thousands of B&S servicing dealers nationwide.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on Toro.

Lawnmower - gas - commercial intermediate walk-behind

We sell Ferris  & Toro intermediate walk-behind commercial mowers.  Ferris produces an extremely rugged machine which will unflinchingly take the pounding that it is given by most commercial users.  Such mowers are designed one of two ways - (1) either using a belt system to drive the wheels or, preferably (2) using a hydrostatic drive(s) to drive the wheels.  We predominately sell the hydro units as there are no belts to stretch or break (therefore, no belt replacement!) or to slip in wet grass.  As well, a hydro-walk Ferris operates with finger-tip control - eliminating most of the repetitive, wrist and finger effort of a regular, belt-driven, walk-behind.

We will not take up additional space here describing the all the features of the Ferris line.  We suggest you "click" here to connect to our webpage on Ferris equipment.

Toro is the industry leader in commercial Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE).  Toro's engineering is leading edge and their products are universally used by the large commercial users including State and Municipal.  Speaking generally, you cannot buy better products.  Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on Toro mowers.

Lawnmower - gas - commercial rider

While we carry the Toro ZMaster commercial riders, our largest selling commercial rider by far is the Walker zero-turn, rider mower.  Through unparalleled excellence of design, Walker is the most successful manufacturer of compact, commercial riding mowers for the lawn maintenance professional.  Walker riding mowers embody the following:
 

• Dual hydrostatic wheel motors bolted directly to each of the two, large drive wheels
  • Dual hydrostatic drives enable for zero-radius turning - the rider literally turns on a dime instantly in any direction
  • By directly attaching the hydro drive to each wheel the manufacturer totally eliminates the usual hoses that are necessary in designs where the hydro is separate from the wheel

    

    • No hose cracking, breaking, leaking and/or replacements!
• An outfront cutting deck
  • The grass is cut before the rider wheels drive over it and mat it down
  • The operator can clearly see exactly where he or she is cutting
  • It is easy to cut under overhanging bushes, etc.
• The cutting deck is slung independently from the rider itself
  • Such a deck "floats" and, since it moves independently from the main rider chassis, is not affected  by a circumstance which might result in the rider being at a different angle on the terrain than  is the cutting deck
    • Thus, a perfect cut with no scalping
• The cutting deck easily lifts up 90 degrees on end and locks onto the main rider chassis
  • This allows for quick, easy sharpening of or changing blades, etc.
• The blades are precisely timed to each other and overlap to prevent the common "mohawking" (leaving a ridge of uncut grass) of many riders and walk-behinds
  • The most popular model Walker riders employ a built-in Grass Handling System (GHS) whereby a heavy-duty fan underneath the chassis pulls grass clippings, leaves, etc. through a tunnel from the cutting deck and then disperses the debris via an oscillating discharge tube into a large, rear hopper
    • When the hopper is full an alarm is actuated - alerting the operator that the hopper is full
    • The hopper empties smoothly and easily by swinging open a spring loaded door and then tilting the entire hopper
  • Due to the careful design of the entire GHS - from the timed, overlapping blades to the fan and discharge components - the Walker rider mower delivers a highly professional, smooth, consistent cut and cleanly vacuums the lawn at the same time
• The entire top chassis lifts effortlessly with spring-assisted pistons to instantly enable access to every mechanical component on the rider - from the hydros to the engine, tank, belts, etc.
• The motion of the Walker is entirely controlled by two levers that are controlled by slight hand movements while the operator's hands rest comfortably in his/her lap.  Their is no need to push or to hold the levers forward to make the machine "go" - the forward speed is set by the operator by another lever placed close by the right thigh and does not have to be held once set
• The Walker moves forward, backward, spins and turns in any direction instantly
  • It cuts so fast that one man can easily mow what it would take several men with 36-inch or 48-inch walk-behinds to accomplish in the same time frame
  • In addition, most if not all of the trimming normally done by another operator with a line trimmer can usually be done by the Walker as it enables flush cutting right up to and along side of garden beds, fences and other obstructions

The Walker rider is a fantastic machine.  In many instances, a landscape maintenance business owner can reduce weekly cut times by 30% to 40% by using one Walker.  While we do not like to see people losing jobs, a Walker rider can frequently replace one man on a three-man crew.  We often see a single owner/operator businessman maintaining all his accounts entirely by himself with his/her Walker rider.

Another major advantage to using a Walker rider is that the fatigue level normally associated with trudging after an intermediate walk-behind can be reduced to almost nothing.  Just sit on the Walker rider and "wiggle your fingers" to make it go.  Sound to good to be true?  Come in and try a demo!

One last note:  the Walker Manufacturing Company is an extremely stable, mid-Western, Christian-owned firm that stands firmly behind its product.  They are innovative, zealous, and a great firm with which to do business!  Walker customers are happy, satisfied customers.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on the Walker rider mower.

The Toro ZMaster is also a great zero-radius commercial rider.  With a 7-gauge fabricated steel cutting deck, ground speeds of over 11 mph (!) and a muscular, 23 hp motor on the popular 48" unit, it's a hot favorite.  While the Walker rider is our most popular unit for standard residential use, the Toro ZMaster is typically used for larger areas.  Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on the Toro ZMaster and other Toro products.

Residential walk-behind lawnmowers

We carry Honda, Toro and LawnBoy residential (and, commercial) walk-behind lawnmowers.  Toro is the largest manufacturer of lawnmowers in the OPE industry (they, today, also own LawnBoy - "click" here to connect to our Toro webpage and "click" here to connect to our LawnBoy webpage).  The top-rated lawnmowers, typically, are made by Honda - please "click" here to connect to our Honda webpage.

Honda offers distinct advantages that are simply not found with any other manufacturer's equipment:

1. Honda makes the best 4-cycle engines in the OPE industry
   • Honda uses either their OHV (OverHeadValve) series engine which is built with a cast-iron cylinder sleeve, or an OHC engine
     • An OHV engine will use about 30% less gas and about 50% less oil than a standard side-valve engine
     • The cast-iron cylinder sleeve greatly increases the engine's life expectancy over a  regular engine - as much as two to three times!
2. Honda uses different materials for their cutting decks
   • A Honda Master series mower uses a commercial-grade, cast-aluminum chassis that will pretty much last indefinitely
     • Aluminum is the deck material of choice for residential mowers as it is rigid and won't rust or rot like a steel deck
     • Honda's deck is so strongly built that it is almost overbuilt
3. Honda makes the best drive system in the OPE industry on a Master series machine
   • The Master series Honda lawnmower uses an automotive-type, shaft-drive system to propel each of the gear-driven rear wheels
     • There are no belts, no rubber discs, no drive pulleys, etc. - nothing to slip or to stretch and then need replacement.  The drive works like an automobile drive and, as a sealed drive system, is, largely, maintenance-free
     • When the Honda Master series lawnmower is used as a push mower (i.e., drive system disengaged) the drive mechanism is completely disengaged and there is none of the "drag" on the wheels as is associated with a standard belt-drive system
4. Honda invented the blade safety brake system that is now by law on all residential walk-behind lawnmowers
   • Honda invented a Blade-Brake-Clutch system whereby the engine always runs - i.e., the engine declutches from the blade when the blade stops - the engine does not stop
     • The annoying need to constantly restart a lawnmower when emptying the bag, walking away from the machine momentarily to move something, etc. is eliminated
     • The blade brake is so powerful that the blade stops instantly when the handle control is released - in under a second!  Most mowers are  closer to 3 seconds
5. A Honda grass bag lifts off the mower in one easy movement.  There are no latches, snaps, zippers or ties!  The bag empties smoothly and completely
6. A Honda Master series lawnmower uses the finest control cables available - they are of the same nature as those used in aircraft controls - multi-stranded wire cables sheathed in a protective cable
7. A Master series lawnmower has an unusually powerful airflow underneath the cutting deck and out into the bagging system.  This ensures that the lawn is thoroughly vacuumed of twigs, debris, clippings, etc. and that everything discharges powerfully into the bag.  The result? A clean, manicured-looking lawn and a completely filled bag
8. The handle is adjustable for different operator heights
9. The handle loosens, folds and collapses for storage or transportation without any tools

The Honda Master series lawnmower is a fantastic machine!  We have been carrying this style of Honda lawnmower since its inception in the early 1980s and our customers repeatedly tell us that it is the best lawnmower they have ever used.  NOTE 8/04:  Unfortunately, Honda is discontinuing this fine mower and, as you read this, stock may no longer be available.

Honda today uses both steel and Zeenoy (polymer) cutting decks.  They use belt/gear drive systems and many models feature "zone start" whereby the engine and the blade both stop when the handle safety control lever are released.  The Honda Overhead Cam (OHC) engine is now the standard engine on Honda lawnmowers.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on the Honda Lawnmower.

Leaf Blower - Gas Backpack blower

We stock both Echo and Stihl gas backpack blowers.   Echo is the industry leader for high-quality, commercial-grade, 2-cycle OPE products - they are the #1 choice of the commercial landscaper.  Stihl is used much more by the municipalities and counties.

The secret of Echo's success is the quality of their engine.  Echo is a division of Kioritz, a Japanese engine manufacturer.  Kioritz is one of the world's leading manufacturer of small, 2-cycle engines for commercial use.

Being a Japanese manufacturer, Echo excells in design and manufacturing quality.  Echo manufactures a full line of gas backpack blowers for both commercial and home use.  By buying the industry-leader in commercial-grade 2-cycle products and using it residentially, the assurance is that the product will not only perform very well; but, it will last a very, very long time.  I personally have an Echo hand-held gas blower that is over fifteen years old and still operates perfectly (and, it is well used!).  The same applies to an Echo gas backpack blower - or, to any OPE product made by Echo.  Of course, the commercial user need hardly be sold on Echo products - he or she is probably already using Echo equipment.  As of 8/04 the Echo people make the single most powerful backpak blower in the industry - the 750/751 series!

Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on Echo products.

Stihl, of course, carries a name that needs little introduction.  Stihl is a German firm and all their products embody typical German quality.  A Stihl backpak blower offers a very smooth, very flexible and easy-to-use product.  Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on Stihl products.

Leaf Blower - Ground (walk-behind) blower

We carry two manufacturers' lines of ground leaf blowers - Little Wonder and Giant Vac.  Depending on the circumstances under which the equipment is to be used, we recommend particular models from each manufacturer's model line.  For smaller to mid-size residential properties we suggest the Giant Vac 5hp model 52.  This is a compact, welded, 12-gauge plate-steel blower with a 5hp Briggs & Stratton engine.  It uses a 1/4inch plate steel fan for power and durability, and is equipped with air tires for ease of use (hard rubber tires on a ground blower result in a situation whereby, as the tires become trapped in imperfections in the lawn surface and in rooted areas, it requires a good shove to move the ground blower forward.  With air tires, in contradistinction, the ground blower "floats" across the lawn.  Much easier!).  It will blow both to the front as well as to the side for maximum versatility.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on the Giant Vac leaf blower.

For any other application - whether commercial use or larger residential lawns (especially with a lot of leaves) - we unreservedly recommend the Little Wonder leaf blower - 8 hp and up models (they do make a 5hp model).  Little Wonder makes models with an 8 hp Briggs & Stratton IC (industrial commercial) engine, a 9 hp Honda engine, a 10 hp B&S engine, and a 13 hp Honda engine.

Little Wonder ground leaf blowers employ a unique, patent-pending design.  By working very closely with aeronautical engineers, Little Wonder has drastically improved the aerodynamic intake characteristics of this line of leaf blowers. This high volume of air coming into the fan chamber is then forcefully propelled by a uniquely-shaped fan that hurls the air into a natural, centrifigal action. Then, going a step further, the blower utilizes a unique feature at the discharge opening to split the discharge air stream into two, parallel, upper and lower air stream patterns.

The result is that an extremely forceful, high-volume, dual airflow is achieved.  No other ground blower in the industry achieves these velocities. When this airstream discharges from the blower, the bottom air stream 'digs' underneath the leaves and propels them forcefully while the upper air stream acts to prevent a 'blowback', or, recycle pattern - it serves to keep the leaves moving. This latter, blowback problem is one from which all leafblowers have historically suffered, and it has always considerably limited the distance to which leaves can be blown.

The differences are astonishing -- the Little Wonder's performance is so great - and we have the test results to prove it.  Our commercial users all report awesome results compared to what they have been accustomed to using for many years, and now these machines are available for home use, as well.  It is a thoroughly impressive design, and anyone interested in removing a large volume of leaves in the shortest possible time and with the least amount of effort will greatly appreciate the design of the new Little Wonder High Performance series of ground leaf blowers.

Sound impressive?  It is.  "Click" here to connect to our webpage on Little Wonder products.

Leaf blowers - hand gas blowers

We sell both Echo and Stihl hand gas leaf blowers.  See our information above ("click" here) in the section on Backpack leaf blowers to understand Echo quality and Echo OPE.  Echo makes a completely balanced, smooth and powerful hand gas blower that will last the average homeowner probably 15-20 years or more.  We think that Echo and Stihl hand blowers are "kissing cousins" and unreservedly recommend either one.

"Click" here to connect to our webpage on Echo OPE products.  Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on Stihl OPE products.

Line trimmer/weedwacker

We sell several manufacturers' lines of line trimmers - Echo, Maruyama, Solo, Toro & Stihl - however, our largest-selling line of line trimmers (funny, huh?) is the Echo.  Simply, they are the industry leader for commercial commercial-use (landscapers) line trimmers, and they make a number of models for home use, as well.  See our information above ("click" here) in our Echo Backpack blower section to understand Echo quality and Echo OPE.

As with most OPE products, one of the key factors to designing and building a good product is to critically maintain a low weight to high power ratio.  Echo excels at this.  In addition, a reliable engine is needed - Echo is an industry leader in small, high quality 2-cycle engines.  Smooth, vibration-free performance is also desirable - Echo answers all the above criteria with no problem!

If you need to better understand the differences between bent-shaft and straight-shaft line trimmers, "click" here to connect to our webpage on Outdoor Power Equipment Information and go to the section on line trimmers.  To connect to our webpage on Echo OPE, please "click" here.

Stihl manufactures a superior line of trimmers/brushcutters - equal in every way to the Echo products.  As mentioned earlier on this webpage, we find that Echo products here locally are used more by the commercial landscaper while Stihl products are used by municipalities, etc.

Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on Stihl products.

Outdoor Gas Vacuum

We only suggest one Outdoor Gas Vacuum - Parker!  Parker has a full range of gas (& battery-powered) vacuums for cleaning parking lots, warehouses, etc.  Their equipment is properly built to withstand constant commercial use, and there are a host of options available such as intake hoses, etc. that increase the versatility of the machine.

Our most popular Parker Outdoor Gas Vacuum is the Vac-35 with an 8 hp Kohler gasoline, cast-iron engine.  This unit features pneumatic (air) tires with a front swiveling caster, and a platform to support the large collector bag (this, latter feature increases bag life expectancy).  It has an five-blade, non-sparking (aluminum) impeller and it will ferociously gobble glass bottles, cans, dirt and dust, and almost any other kind of debris found on a parking lot, etc.

The Parker Vac is a very durable, powerful, easy-to-use machine.  We do not know of any other outdoor vacuum built with the Parker quality.  "Click" here to connect to our webpage on the Parker Gas Vacuum.

Pole (Power) Pruner

A Pole Pruner is a motorized device that simply allows for pruning of lower tree branches without climbing into the tree (see a picture of a pole pruner at the beginning of this webpage).  We carry Echo and Stihl pole pruners which come in two basic configurations.  In its standard form, the pruner has a 3 - 5 foot range; in its most popular configuration, the Pole Pruner extends a bit over 11 feet.  A pole pruner in its design looks a bit like a line trimmer with a small, revolving chain saw blade on the end.  It is a real handy tool for anyone regularly pruning trees.  Echo is the industry leader in small, 2-cycle commercial and homeowner products - to gain a better understanding of Echo manufacturing quality, etc. "click" here to connect to our section above under Gas Backpack Blowers.  This section will tell you a bit about Echo product excellence in general.

To connect to our webpage on Echo OPE products, please "click" here.  To connect to our webpage on Stihl OPE products "click" here.

Pressure Washers

We sell only one pressure washer model line - Kranzle.  Kranzle is a German manufacturer of pressure washers and their equipment is the finest in the world.  The most immediate difference between a good quality and a poor quality pressure washer is the pump.  The best pumps are solid brass with ceramic-coated pistons for durability.  A cheap pressure washer is usually made just that way - "cheap" - and, if it is used with any regularity at all, the pump will give out.

It is also very difficult to obtain parts/service on "highway store" pressure washers - a local servicing dealer normally carries no parts as that dealer is not selling a mass-merchant brand of pressure washer.  Likewise, the mass merchant does not stock parts nor do they service what they sell.  So, a word to the wise on the average pressure washer.

A good pressure washer, therefore, will produce a steady, high output and will last a long time.   A pressure washer is rated both on GPM (gallons/per/minute) and also by PSI (pounds/square/inch).  Pressure washers come in three basic configurations:  (1) cold water (2) hot water and (3) steam.  They are powered either by an electric motor or by a gas engine.

For commercial use the norm is to use an 11 hp, gas-powered , cold-water generator (preferably driven by a Honda engine) that will produce up to 3,000 psi.  This would be a unit used, as an example, by someone who is washing decks and siding for a living.  For moderate or irregular commercial use, a cold-water unit with a 5 hp engine (again, preferably, a Honda engine) can be used; and, for residential applications, our most popular Kranzle cold-water pressure washer is a 110V, electric, 1,650 psi unit.

Kranzle also manufactures a spectrum of accessories that range from nozzles for cleaning/unclogging leader/gutters/drains/sewers, nozzles for cleaning under vehicles, nozzles for cleaning houses or vehicles to a nozzle for wet sandblasting.

A pressure washer is a handy tool to have around a house - there are a myriad of tasks to which it can apply from keeping sidewalks, patios, pool areas and decks clean to washing outdoor furniture, vehicles, the house proper, etc.

Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on the excellent line of Kranzle pressure washers!

Snowblowers

We carry two lines of snowblowers - Honda and Toro.

Honda is arguably the premium manufacturer of most types of Outdoor Power Equipment, and this applies to their snowblowers, as well. Toro is the largest manufacturer in the OPEI (Outdoor Power Equipment Industry), and they make a solid line of equipment; however, Honda products use Honda engines which, alone, somewhat sets them apart from the competition.

Honda engines are high-precision engines - either OHV (OverHeadValve) or OHC (OverHeadCam).  The better engine is the OHV engine; however, any engine Honda makes is excellent quality.  Honda's single-stage snowblowers today use OHC engines; the twin-stage equipment uses OHV engines.  For a better understanding of the differences between single-stage and twin-stage snowblowers, you might like to "click" here to connect to our webpage on Information on OPE.

For small to average size residential properties with relatively flat surfaces (i.e., the driveway does not have a steep incline) we usually suggest either a Honda HS520A (or a Toro CCR3650) single-stage paddle-propelled snowblower.  The Honda units, of course, use a 5hp OHC Honda engine and are very efficient.  The Toro machines use a commercial-grade 2-cycle engine.  The single-stage design ensures that there is no loss of inertia when the snow is picked up and discharged (i.e., the snow is picked up and discharged in one direct movement) and this results in a powerful discharge action.  As well, the rubber inserts, or, "paddles", literally "squeegee" the surface clean.  These same paddles also serve to propel the snowblower forward - a design that works very well and entirely eliminates chains, gears, shear pins, etc. such as are found on the twin-stage variety.

These snowblowers are also nice and compact - easy to handle - and effortless to start.  They store in a minimal area when not in use and can be readily transported.  They are also, typically, as little as half the price of a twin-stage unit and, while we do not ever wish to curtail your desire to spend $ with us, the savings is kinda nice, too.

Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on Honda snowblowers.

Toro also, as indicted above, makes a superlative line of single-stage snowblowers, as well as an excellent lineup of twin-stage machines.  Essentially, any of the accolades used above to describe the single-stage Honda snowblowers are applicable to the Toro single-stage snowblower.  There is one essential difference: as noted, Honda snowblowers use a 4-cycle engine (gas & oil are separate); whereas, the Toro units are 2-cycle (gas & oil are mixed together).

There is one other, fairly profound difference:  Toro makes a larger-than-usual single-stage snowblower called "The Commander".  It is absolutely the finest single-stage snowblower ever!  It not only provides all the traditional single-stage advantages - i.e., ease-to-use, fast, hard to clog with snow/slush, efficient, less maintenance; but, it is considerably more aggressive, throws the snow up to 35', and propells much more decisively.  It is an awesome snowblower, and one of our all-time favorites!!  It is a little wider than normal (22" instead of 20") and uses a commercial-grade, 2-cycle engine for gobs of snow removal power.  It also can be adjusted for possible belt or paddle rubber wear - a very nice feature.

Toro makes a durable, "work-horse" line of twin-stage snowblowers.  At the beginning of the 2002-2003 snowblower season Toro revamped their twin-stage line.  This resulted in the elimination of their traditional 5hp/6hp 20"/22" twin-stage snowblowers in favor of 7hp/8hp 26" machines.  Of course, they still make the popular 828 (8hp/28"), 1028 (10hp/28") and 1128 (11hp/28") series snowblowers.

Toro offers a nice feature on some of their models - a "powershift" feature whereby the wheels on the snowblower can be repositioned by moving a lever.  This changes the angle of attack on the auger assembly which can be a terrific assist when digging into snowbanks, trying to clean surfaces starting to ice up, etc.

To connect to our webpage on Toro snowblowers, please "click" here.

For larger areas, driveways with inclines, etc. or for clearing snow from surfaces with gravel, we suggest the Honda twin-stage snowblower.  Such a unit provides several advantages over a single-stage machine:

1. 1. Transmission propelled
      • A snowblower with a separate transmission always provides better propelling action than a paddle propelled machine
      • Honda uses a hydrostatic (fluid) drive system instead of a gear-drive system
        • A hydrostatic drive allows for precise walking speed to match the snow conditions
        • A hydrostatic drive is controlled by a single lever that moves smoothly back and forth on the control panel to instantly adjust forward or reverse speed
      • Honda uses either wheels or tracks on the twin-stage models
        • The wheels models use a soft, knobbly, "underfilled" tire that is real "grabby" on the pavement, etc. and eliminates the use of chains
          • Chains mark the driveway and make a snowblower awkward to handle
        • The track models use a caterpillar tread similar to that on a bulldozer
          • This track design enables the snowblower to go virtually anywhere including up a ladder onto a roof to remove the weight of accumulated snow, up a terraced landscaped, etc.
          • The track models have a toe-activated bar in the back that, when tapped, instantly adjusts the front auger assembly of the machine up and down in three positions
            • The intermediate position is the normal position for clearing snow from driveways, walkways, etc.
            • The low position angles the auger assembly aggressively down onto the surface to aid in removing hard-packed or icy snow
            • The high position, by lifting the auger a bit off of the surface to be cleaned, immediately enables the snowblower to remove snow off of a gravel surface without picking up the gravel or to be used on any uneven surface (pavers, belgian block, etc.)
   2. Increased discharge distance
      • A twin-stage Honda snowblower uses a slow-speed auger to feed the snow into a high-speed impeller which discharges the snow forcefully a very long way
        • Honda twin-stage snowblowers average maximum discharge distances of 40 feet to 50 feet!
        • A Honda single-stage snowblower will attain a maximum discharge distance of about 33 feet - still good; but, considerably short of the twin-stage distances
   3. Discharge direction and height controlled from the operator position
      • A cranking mechanism with an oversize worm gear smoothly cranks a Honda discharge chute to any point on a 220 degree radius
      • A single lever on the operator control panel enables the user to direct the discharge of snow from about three feet away from the snowblower in any direction up to the maximum distance away - i.e., 40 feet to 50 feet
   4. Larger intake area and a more powerful engine allows for wider swath and deeper snow to be removed faster with less effort

Please "click" here to connect to or webpage on Honda snowblowers

Sprayers

We provide sprayers in two configurations - either pump sprayers or gas-powered sprayers.  The most popular sprayer is the tank-type, shoulder-slung pump sprayer.  Such sprayers are inexpensive, allow for a variety of spray tips to be used to achieve different spray patterns, and are rebuildable.  We sell both Echo and Solo pump sprayers.

Both manufacturers also make a backpack pump sprayer.  These units have several advantages over the standard, shoulder-slung pump sprayer.  First, they can be continuously pumped while still on the back - i.e., as the operator walks about spraying weeds, insects, etc. the sprayer pressure can be maintained by pumping an arm that extends alongside the user.  Second, they will hold more solution than a shoulder-slung pump sprayer.  We mainly sell the Echo backpack pump sprayer.

A gas-powered backpack sprayer provides for greater spraying distance for effectively spraying shrubs, bushes, lower areas of trees, etc. and, of course, does not have to be pumped - a considerable convenience.  Such units use two-cycle engine to provide the power.  We sell Echo gas-powered backpack sprayers.

Please "click" here to connect to our webpage on sprayers.