AL-KO lawn mowers: pros and cons, varieties, choice, operation

AL-KO lawn mowers have gained popularity among Russian owners of suburban housing and summer residents. Inexpensive and reliable garden equipment is widely represented on the market, and attracts attention with a variety of model range. Classic and frontal lawn mowers of the German brand have an interesting design, good equipment, but even in a store it is difficult to understand what a mower knife should be., if you have to harvest hay or you need to process a large area. It is important not to get confused in the proposals, and to make the right decision.

Which AL-KO lawn mower better solves the problems of gardeners, and what should a farmer choose - a detailed review of electric and gasoline self-propelled models, as well as reviews of owners, who have already evaluated all the advantages and disadvantages of technology in practice, will help to understand the topic.

The AL-KO lawn mower is a product of the German company of the same name, which has been successfully operating on the European market for over 80 years and is not going to give up its positions. The factories of the company are located in Eastern and Western Europe, in Asian countries, the model range is regularly expanding and improving. At the same time, the head country of manufacture still remains the same - Germany, and the quality standards in the production are German.

The main purpose of AL-KO mowers is to mow grass, and electric models are ideal for lawns or lawns around the house. The mulching options additionally transform the cut stems into valuable fertilizer. In addition, the brand has a range of gasoline-powered lawn mowers with a front knife that are used on the most uneven or remote sites, in fields and meadows.

Distinctive features of AL-KO lawn mowers are good corrosion resistance, easy adaptation to working conditions. In addition, the search for replacement parts for the brand's equipment is also not difficult, and the service life of gardening equipment exceeds the standard 2-3 years.

All types of lawn mowers produced by the AL-KO brand can be divided into two broad categories: self-propelled, in which a wheel drive is installed, and non-self-propelled, they are driven by human muscle power. Electric models are not often equipped with such add-ons.

By the type of their design, lawn mowing equipment models can be of several types.

Spindle lawn mowers are suitable for regular maintenance of English lawns. They are versatile, completely silent, easy to use. Mechanical lawn mowers do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere and have a long service life. The spindle versions are not suitable for cutting tall grass,

A simple option for small to medium-sized lawns. The technique ensures that the grass is cut evenly at a given height and angle. The equipment is capable of producing a minimum noise level, without complicated maintenance, and as safe as possible.

Lawn mowers for small gardens where wire-powered operation is not possible. The most maneuverable, comfortable, produce the lowest noise level. With such a technique, it is good to work on the area being developed, to pass between the trees. A replaceable battery, depending on capacity, lasts for 30-60 minutes.

Lawn mowers with limited mowing area with a special closed loop. The equipment returns to the base by itself, does not leave the perimeter of the laid cable. Such a technique is able to cope with even a large front of work without unnecessary complications. The most powerful models are able to do without laying a cable, due to grass sensors, and process autonomously up to 2000 m2.

The best option for lawns with an area of ​​1000 m2. Such AL-KO lawn mowers have powerful gasoline engines, wheel drives to improve cross-country ability, and are practically trouble-free in operation.

Professional equipment suitable for making hay or clearing large areas, maintaining order in parks and squares. Such equipment has increased productivity, it is considered the most environmentally friendly among motorized equipment.

The most popular are models of AL-KO lawn mowers with a gasoline or electric motor, as well as robotic technology options. Let's take a look at what the rating will look like for each of these categories.

AL-KO robotic lawnmowers include a range of options.

The most productive lawn mower in the range, capable of autonomously processing an area of ​​up to 2000 m2. The battery capacity of 4.4 Ah is enough for three hours of continuous movement. At the end of the cycle, the robot returns to the base, the grass is thrown back when cutting, the swath width reaches 32 cm.

The robotic model of equipment, capable of mowing up to 1200 m2, has a cutting width of 30 cm and a 2.9 Ah lithium-ion battery. The technical equipment includes an engine brake, floating wheels, piano type, the lawn mower is able to overcome an angle of inclination of up to 35%, it is enough for 2 hours of operation, charging the battery takes the same amount of time. Powerful, quiet model with rear ejection and adjustable cutting height.

Compact lawnmower with low noise levels and rear ejection. It is enough to care for a lawn up to 700 m2, a swath width of 22 cm is enough for high-quality and thorough processing of the site. The battery is a 2.3 Ah lithium-ion battery, the deck and the body are made of steel, the movement is carried out using four wheels, the model is able to overcome an incline of up to 45%, the autonomous work lasts 60 minutes, the same amount of equipment is needed to replenish the charge.

Electric lawn mowers have their own special properties.

The model is designed for processing an area of ​​900 m2, equipped with a 1600 W motor, 2 rear wheels with a diameter of 28 cm and a front pair of 20 cm are available. The mower is equipped with a grass catcher, which has a full indicator, adjustable by a handle, mulching function and 7-level central cutting height adjustment. The swath width is 46 cm - a good choice for medium-sized plots, light and maneuverable.

Compact and lightweight self-propelled mower with rear drive, 34 cm swath width, equipped with a 30 liter soft grass collector. The model is capable of providing high-quality lawn care with an area of ​​200 m2. The installed battery has a capacity of 2.5 Ah, 2 batteries are included in the package by the manufacturer.

Non-self-propelled wheeled lawn mower with a rigid grass catcher, average noise level, swath width of 38 cm.The model is designed for processing up to 500 m2 of lawn, varies the cutting height in 3 levels from 20 to 60 mm, is powered from the mains, 1400 W motor. A good solution for regularly mowing your lawn at home.

Gasoline lawn mowers are also featured in the ranking.

Self-propelled lawn mower equipped with an electric starter. The heavy machine is equipped with a 3 hp Briggs & Stratton engine. with., the deck and the body are made of steel, the front wheels have a smaller diameter than the rear. With its help, it is possible to process an area of ​​up to 1400 m2, the width of the passage is 46 cm, it is possible to install a mulching nozzle.

Self-propelled petrol lawnmower with Briggs & Stratton engine, rear-wheel drive, swath width of 51 cm. The model can handle an area of ​​up to 1800 m2, the set includes a rigid grass catcher, rear and side discharge, mulching attachment. The cutting height is adjustable in 7 levels ranging from 30 to 80 mm. The deck and body are steel, reliable, the equipment is quite powerful and efficient.

Reliable lawnmower with petrol 4-stroke engine. The model is capable of mowing grass on an area of ​​up to 1400 m2, equipped with a container for collecting cut stems, the swath width reaches 46 cm, there is no mulching function. The equipment has a modern design and is easy to operate.

In order to choose the right AL-KO lawnmower for the site, it is important to pay attention to its technical and functional equipment. For example, in terms of reliability, non-motorized mechanical options outperform all other models - they are practically trouble-free... Frontal lawn mowers have their own "range of tasks" - they are considered professional, optimal if you need to process large areas.

Other indicators are also important.

1. Height of the mowed grass. Robotic and corded electric mowers simply cannot cope with dense thickets. Mechanical models are also designed for constant cutting of a well-groomed lawn. For all other purposes, only gasoline technology is suitable.
2. Features of the relief and area of ​​the site. The more elevation changes, the more difficult it is to perform work using muscle strength alone. If you have to regularly handle large areas, it is worth choosing self-propelled equipment.
3. Options. Mulching, the presence of a grass catcher, adjustment of the cutting height are all quite useful additions. But they may not be useful on a specific site, which means that money will be wasted for extra functionality.
4. Noise level. If you plan to mow in busy buildings or where there are restrictions on loud sounds, it is better to choose mechanized equipment without a motor or robotic assistant.
5. Autonomy of work. If the optimal solution seems to be mowing the lawn on a schedule, you can start a robotic mower, which will go to the site at the exact time and return to the station when the area is cleared of new growth.
6. Price. Inexpensive models perform well in well-groomed areas. In all other cases, it is better not to save money by choosing a technique based on the totality of all parameters.

When using petrol and electric lawn mowers, it is very important to always follow the instructions. During the initial assembly and start-up, make sure that the cutting blade or disc is installed correctly, does not touch the protective cover.

The attachment of the grass catcher can also raise some questions. Rigid containers usually have special elements with which they can be fixed to the mower. In models with mulching, a special plug must be included in the delivery set that allows you to chop the grass. When using it, the grass catcher is removed.

Equipment with an electric motor is the easiest to maintain. She only needs to monitor the battery charging, while wired models need regular cable integrity checks. A common weak point of all types of mowers is the wheels - it is worth checking the fastening bolts from time to time.

With gasoline technology, operation and maintenance are much more difficult. Before starting the engine for the first time, you will have to figure out how to refuel a particular model. Two-stroke and four-stroke engines need to be filled with oil and gasoline in different ways. First, the technique is checked at idle speed. If there are signs that the motor is malfunctioning, knocking, you need to adjust the position of the jet with a screwdriver. It is better to dismantle the knives during the repair.

The air filter is another vulnerable part of the system. If it is clogged, clean or replace. This can be done in a garage, carefully observing safety precautions.

When the work is carried out independently, it is imperative to carry out them in the storage position, pointing the gearbox up. To change the belt, you will have to separate the mounting bolts.

According to the owners, AL-KO lawn mowers have obvious advantages. German mechanisms work flawlessly and are equipped with a large margin of safety. In addition, ease of operation is noted - both a fragile woman and an elderly person can easily cope with most models. There is a large selection of professional units. In addition, users praise the roomy, rigid collectors that make it easy to dispose of cut grass.

Electric models are criticized for not very ergonomic handles. In addition, only top-end versions can cope with serious thickets of grass, one should not expect miracles from budget technology. The limitation on the length of the wire, the need to place it outside the mowing place - in high stems, you can simply cut the cable, is also a disadvantage.

There are some complaints about the frequency of repairing gasoline models. After 3-4 seasons of operation, regular parts wear out and need to be replaced.

An overview of the AL-KO electric lawn mower in the video below.