One of the varieties of gardening equipment is a cultivator. This is a special type of equipment that greatly facilitates gardening. There are a huge number of models and types of cultivators. In order not to get lost in this variety, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of specialists. What is a cultivator, its characteristics and varieties will be discussed later.
general characteristics
What is a cultivator? This is a special gardening technique that is used for cultivating land of various sizes. Today, cultivators have become almost indispensable in the country and homestead farming. The cultivator allows you to perform a number of functions. With its help, loosen and plow the earth, perform hilling. Also, with its help, you can perform harrowing and cutting furrows.
The equipment presented is quite simple to manage. Therefore, the demand for it is great. However, experts say that when choosing a cultivator, it is necessary to take into account its main operational qualities. There are many models that perform different functions and differ in scope. Cultivators differ not only in quality, but also in power, design, cost, etc.
Considering what a cultivator is, you need to understand the difference between this technique and a walk-behind tractor. This equipment has some differences. Motoblock is very similar to a motor cultivator. However, it has a higher power. Cultivators of the highest power class can compare with motor blocks. At the same time, motoblocks are more versatile. They can perform the functions of a snowplow, mower, etc. However, the cost of walk-behind tractors will be an order of magnitude higher.
Therefore, many owners purchase a cultivator for their garden or garden. He is able to carry out almost the entire range of land work. And more is not required of him. Motoblocks often remain aloof due to the high cost. Buyers are much more likely to choose cultivators. Such equipment fully copes with the functions assigned to it. At the same time, the cost of the cultivator will be many times less.
Device
Considering the purpose of the cultivator, it is worth noting that this unit can perform several different functions in the process of tillage. The first cultivators began to be produced at the beginning of the last century. Today, their device has improved significantly. Especially the designers paid great attention to the engine technology.
Also, over time, the main disadvantages of the heavy, clumsy units that were produced in the past were eliminated. Today it is a mobile technology that greatly facilitates the work of a summer resident. A modern cultivator consists of several parts. It necessarily has an engine in its composition. The motor can run on different types of energy. This is one of the main characteristics of the equipment that is considered when choosing.
Also, the system of the unit includes a mechanical transmission, there is a running gear (powerful wheels), as well as controls. Each manufacturer brings characteristic features to the design of the unit. Therefore, the models of similar equipment presented on the market are distinguished by functionality and comfort during work.
The size of the cultivator can vary significantly. Its weight and scope depend on it. There are 3 classes of cultivators. They can be light, medium and heavy.
Size and weight
The characteristics of the cultivator must be carefully considered during the purchase of equipment. Light varieties can have a weight of 9-30 kg. Their engine power varies from 1 liter. from. up to 3.5 liters from. Such cultivators are designed for processing a small summer cottage. Its area should not exceed 14 acres
Lightweight cultivators have many advantages. They are mobile and allow you to perform work in hard to reach places. At the same time, the cost of such equipment is quite acceptable. It ranges from 10 to 35 thousand rubles.
Medium cultivators are called aggregates that weigh from 40 to 65 kg. In this case, the power of their engine can reach 5.5 liters. from. This is a more functional equipment. It has 3 gears, it can loosen the soil to a depth of 35 cm. Moreover, the width of the passage is about 85 cm.
The cost of cultivators for the garden of this group is approximately 13-45 thousand rubles. This equipment is suitable for owners of medium and large summer cottages, semi-professional gardeners and small farmers. The average weight of such equipment is 50 kg.
Heavy cultivators in their functions are comparable to walk-behind tractors. They differ in significant weight (more than 70 kg). Motor power is from 5.5 liters. from. This equipment is used for processing large agricultural areas. In this case, you can even process complex, dense varieties of soil. Heavy cultivators can plow up to 2 hectares of cultivated land.
The cost of heavy equipment is from 20 thousand rubles. Equipment is offered for sale, the price of which can reach 100 thousand rubles. and higher. When equipped (with a trolley), the cost can be up to 300 thousand rubles.
Do not overpay if you need to process a small area of the garden or vegetable garden. For this, simple, relatively inexpensive models are suitable. Medium and heavy motor vehicles belong to the class of semi-professional and professional equipment.
Electrical engine
On sale equipment with an electric or gasoline engine. Which cultivator is better? To make the right choice, you need to know the features of such a technique.
Cultivators began to install an electric motor at the beginning of the last century. Modern models of such equipment differ from the technology of the last century in lightness, greater safety and maneuverability. The dimensions of cultivators with an electric motor are relatively small.
In the process, this type of equipment does not emit harmful, toxic substances into the environment. Therefore, considering which cultivator is best for a secluded, quiet country house in nature, it is worthwhile to definitely choose an electric motor. The owners of this site go to nature to relax, breathe fresh air, and not the exhaust of a noisy gasoline engine.
However, it should be remembered that cultivators with an electric motor have certain disadvantages. The device will always be followed by a cord that must be powered on. This limits the scope of the technique. In the process, you need to constantly monitor where the network cable is located. Otherwise, it may be damaged and seriously injured. It is also worth noting that the power of such equipment is low. It does not exceed 3 kW (4 hp).
Gas engine
Garden cultivators can run on a gasoline engine. They are very popular. Equipment of this type is powerful and productive. However, the cost of a cultivator with an internal combustion engine is higher.
Also, the presented equipment is more difficult to maintain. It is necessary to periodically clean the engine, apply special oils and perform other operations. In enclosed spaces (for example, in a greenhouse), such equipment cannot be used due to exhaust gases.
Two-stroke or four-stroke engine?
The motor may be two or four stroke. They differ in a number of characteristics. If you want to purchase a productive and inexpensive cultivator, you need to give preference to models with a two-stroke engine. They are more powerful than equipment with a four-stroke engine by 65-70%.
But there are two-stroke engines and a significant drawback. They consume more gasoline. At the same time, the resource and endurance of such units is lower than that of four-stroke ICEs. For this type of engine you need to purchase high-quality oil and fuel. Moreover, they need to be mixed in clearly established proportions by the manufacturer. Repair is more expensive, despite the fact that breakdowns occur more often than cultivators with a four-stroke engine.
Almost all new models of the presented equipment are equipped with four-stroke engines. This greatly improves comfort during tillage. Four-stroke engines are less noisy and heavier. This facilitates the process of cultivating and plowing. Four-stroke ICEs have less harmful emissions. This is a reliable, durable technology.
Gearbox
Before starting work, you need to carefully study the operating manual for the cultivator. The duration of the operation of the equipment directly depends on the correctness of its operation and maintenance. In addition to the motor, gear and clutch are important elements of the system. Comfort during operation, as well as equipment reliability, depends on the characteristics of the transmission.
Unit gearbox may vary. It transmits torque to the wheels from the engine through the clutch. Most often in chain cultivators a chain, gear or worm gearbox is used. In the first case, such a transmission is mounted on a shaft located in a horizontal plane. The cost of this gearbox is low, and the service life is long. Therefore, on most models this type of transmission is installed. Should be preferred cultivators with collapsible chain gear. In this case, if a breakdown occurs, it can be eliminated independently.
The worm gear is installed in the presence of a vertical crankshaft. This type of transmission can often be found on light cultivators. This type of gearbox does not withstand heavy loads.
Gear reducers are highly reliable. They are installed on heavy cultivators. The disadvantage of gears is the high cost.
Other transmission elements
The hitch for the cultivator can also be of various types. It is installed in a similar technique required. There is a belt clutch, with a clutch release and automatic. They determine some of the qualities of the technology.
Clutch with clutch release can be found mainly on professional models of cultivators. It provides long-term operation of the system at high loads. If a coupling belt device with a tension roller is installed on the unit, this unit has an average cost. Budget models are equipped with an automatic centrifugal clutch.
When choosing equipment, it is important to pay attention to whether the system includes reverse gear. This is a useful feature that greatly simplifies the tillage process. In light rear cultivators in most cases, no. In other varieties of technology, this function must be present.
The number of gears is also of great importance. There must be at least two. If there are more gears, the equipment will be more versatile. It will be convenient to apply in the process of tillage.
Milling cutters
Choosing an inexpensive cultivator that will serve for the benefit of its owners for a long time, it is worth paying attention to the number of cutters. The width of the site processing in one pass depends on this indicator. Their number may be different. Typically, in such equipment installed from 1 to 4 pairs of cutters. The more of them, the wider the processing area. This increases the load on the transmission and engine.
If the cutters are not installed enough, the technique loses stability. Therefore, you need to choose the right equipment in accordance with the type of soil. For complex soil, the device must have 2 pairs of cutters. If the soil is light, this figure should be increased to 3-4 pairs. Complex soil can only be processed in the second or even third pass.
Well-known manufacturers
A large selection of such equipment is on sale. It is produced by different manufacturers. Cultivators Champion, Texas, MTD, Husqvarna, Caiman, Viking, etc. are in demand. The leading places in the ranking of manufacturers are occupied by companies in the USA and Europe. However, domestic products are in demand in our country. The most popular is the Russian brand Elitech. In the line of this manufacturer there are many models of light, medium and heavy type. The cost of domestic production is acceptable, and the quality is high. This makes the represented company popular and in demand.
Wanting to save money on the family budget, but at the same time purchase foreign-made equipment, it is worth paying attention to Champion cultivators. They are released by the United States together with China. Texas is also known for its reasonable cost and decent quality. Denmark manufactures its products together with China.
When choosing a manufacturer of cultivators, preference should be given to well-known, trusted brands. They are constantly improving their products. The quality of the equipment in this case will be an order of magnitude higher.
Having considered what a cultivator is, its features and varieties, each owner of a summer house, garden plot will be able to choose the best option for himself.