Stihl lawn mowers: varieties, selection and operation

The Stihl lawnmower is a modern technical solution for garden maintenance, capable of providing really high-quality cutting of grass both on a well-groomed lawn and away from an already landscaped area. The range of brand products is so wide that it allows you to choose the optimal solution for each site and type of work. Professional gardeners and amateur gardeners highly value German reliability, high precision and durability inherent in each product under the famous brand.

An overview of gasoline and electric lawn mowers will help you make the right choice. It will be useful to study the features of self-propelled battery models - they are of the greatest interest to summer residents today. Only by comparing all the pros and cons of different models, you can make a really balanced decision.

The Stihl lawn mower manufacturer is well known to home and garden tool buyers around the world. The brand has representative offices in Australia, Asia, Africa and America, and the company itself is based in Germany and Austria. The company has existed for almost 100 years - since 1926, and initially its range was focused on the forestry sector. It was the reliable and modern chainsaws that brought the company popularity and made it the industry leader by 1971.

Only in 2002 did outsiders join the ranks of the leaders. But this did not affect the success of the company. Since 2016, after merging with Globe Tools, battery technology has appeared in the company's assortment.

The Viking brand, created by Stihl in 1981 for the production of garden equipment, deserves special attention. The company was based in Austria and supported the development of lawn mowers, garden cultivators, scarifiers and shredders. It entered the Viking concern in 1992. Since 2019, the entire line of this equipment has been fully branded as Stihl products, changing the green body colors to orange.

Stihl mowers have the following obvious advantages can be noted.

• High reliability of technology. All parts and components are manufactured according to European standards at the company's own factories.
• Availability in the model range of mowers for large areas and country lawns. It is possible not to choose powerful models, spending only a part of their resources. There is a specific technique for each range of tasks.
• Bright recognizable design. The mower will not get lost in the grass, it will be clearly visible from afar - this is important for ensuring safety when mowing.
• Robust frames made of durable steel. You don't have to worry about the lawnmower not being able to withstand the force of work. This is especially important for non-self-propelled models.
• Special coating of wheels. It is made from a special rubber compound that facilitates traction on the ground. At the same time, the grass does not suffer from the movement of the mower on it.
• Stainless steel knives. The grass after contact with them does not undergo oxidation.

All existing Stihl lawn mowing equipment can be attributed to two large groups: self-propelled and non-self-propelled (manual) without wheel drive... The first group is necessarily equipped with an engine that allows the autonomous movement of equipment across the territory. These are, first of all, robotic models and gasoline vehicles with the highest possible cross-country ability.

Non-self-propelled lawn mowers are also a popular option and are mainly focused on the maintenance of already formed lawns, which simply require regular maintenance of the optimal grass height.

By the type of design and power supply, the following types of equipment can be distinguished.

• Gasoline. The most common and popular models. They differ in larger dimensions and massiveness, but provide maximum performance. The lawn mower does not depend on the availability of power supply, most often it has a self-propelled type of construction.
• Electrical. Convenient and sustainable garden solutions. They are lighter, quieter than gasoline ones, but require frequent breaks in work. The range of their action depends entirely on the length of the cable. Electric mowers should not be used on wet grass.
• Rechargeable. Lightweight, compact, non-volatile. But their runtime is limited by power and battery capacity. A good choice for maintaining a small lawn or an entire garden if gasoline technology does not seem too eco-friendly.
• Robotic. The most expensive programmable models. They act within a given contour, provide free movement along it, and return to the base themselves. You can set the mowing mode and not worry about mowing the lawn all summer.

Among the Stihl lawn mowers there are many models that deserve attention. It is worth considering the best options in more detail.

In the class of battery technology, the RMA 235 model deserves attention. It is compact, easy to use, maneuverable, equipped with a folding grass catcher, a mowing width of 33 cm is enough for working on a small lawn. The power of the model is 450 W, the Stihl Compact system is suitable for it - lithium-ion, 2.8 Ah.

The RMA 339 is a 900 W cordless lawnmower with a cutting width of 37 cm - it handles the maintenance of a medium lawn. The set includes a lithium-ion battery, handles for easy carrying, a special grass catcher, a branded knife with flaps, which prolongs autonomous operation by saving energy.

There are 4 of them in the Stihl iMow line, but 2 models deserve special attention. The RMI 632 P is the most powerful, capable of handling up to 4000 m2 thanks to its 194 Wh battery. The model overcomes slopes up to 45%, cuts grass at a height of 20-60 mm, can work up to 8 hours a week, makes a minimum of noise. The swath width is 28 cm, the technique requires the use of a boundary wire, there is control from the remote control.

RMI 422 P is a medium power model. This robotic lawnmower is capable of caring for a lawn of up to 1500 m2, the control and setting of the mowing program is carried out using the display on the body.

Interest in the electric segment is represented by both the lightest models and rather powerful units. The youngest model in the RME 235 line is equipped with a 1200 W electric motor, capable of traversing a strip of 33 cm at a time. The increased maneuverability makes it the best option for treating the garden space between trees and flower beds.

RME 545 V is the most powerful solution, with a plastic housing and a sheet steel frame. The model has a 7-step cutting height switching system.The power of the equipment is 1600 W, the set includes a 60 l grass catcher, a 43 cm wide cutting element, a mono-handle with a folding mechanism and special transport handles.

Among the Stihl gasoline equipment for mowing lawns, models 2, 4, 5 of the series, related to household ones, can be noted. For example, the RM 248 is the youngest in its class, with a cutting width of 46 cm and is capable of processing lawns up to 1200 m. And the RM 448 TC, equipped with a special ergonomic handle with one-way holder type, mows the same area faster and saves fuel.

Among the most powerful petrol-powered Stihl lawnmowers are the 6 series units. This is the RM 650 VS - a powerful lawn care solution for areas up to 2000 m2. Includes a special braking system and infinitely variable Vario drive. Cutting width - 48 cm, height - from 25 to 85 mm. The RM 756 YC is the most powerful 6 Series mower, equipped with a hydrostatic drive system. The model is equipped with a mono-handle for easy access to the grass catcher.

The main criteria for choosing Stihl lawn mowers the following points can be mentioned.

• Requirements for the environmental friendliness of technology. If you do not want to inhale gasoline vapors while working, it is better to give preference to an electric cordless or corded lawn mower.
• Availability of free time. If it is not there, but you still want to see a beautiful lawn outside the window, a robotic lawnmower will save the situation.
• Reliable electrical network. For areas without electricity or with a low-power network, a gas or battery mower is the best option.
• Mowing area. For large plots, fields, maintenance of an estate of several hectares, only a gasoline lawn mower is suitable. All other options are only suitable for trimming the lawn grass near the house.

Having decided on all the parameters of the equipment operation, you can easily find the most convenient option for yourself.

A prerequisite for the effective operation of Stihl electric lawnmowers is the health of the batteries. Before starting work, you need to make sure that the battery is charged, the cable is intact, and there is current in the network. In the case of gasoline models, everything is somewhat more complicated. If you only have enough winding or changing the reel in the trimmer, setting up the equipment for mowing large areas will take a lot of effort. Before starting the engine, you need to check the readiness of the equipment for work. The mower has to be refueled as needed, depending on the fuel consumption. But you need to fill in and change the oil every time before use. To do this, you will have to open the tank lid and use a hose to drain the old grease.

When starting up for the first time, it's worth exploring in detail what controls are available and where they are located. Excess debris, stones, fallen tree branches are removed from the lawn. NSBefore starting work, the belts are checked and, if necessary, tightened. It is recommended to examine the blades of cutting elements for damage. If you need carburetor adjustment or other complex manipulations, it is better to contact a service center.

During the operation of Stihl lawn mowers, the user may face the following problems:

• knives dull too quickly;
• the equipment does not start;
• the motor runs, but stalls during the mowing process;
• the carburetor is clogged;
• power drops significantly during operation.

Most of the malfunctions diagnosed in battery and wired electric lawnmowers are associated with oxidized contacts or broken wires. In brush motors, a moving element - a brush - fails, but a spare is usually included in the delivery set.

Vibration of the mower body indicates that the standard mounting bolts are loose.They should be tightened regularly to avoid global breakdowns. If the mower cuts the grass unevenly, there may be a problem with the sharpening of the blade. It is performed at an angle of 30 degrees. Heavily chipped metal discs require replacement.

Whistling inside the case when starting up is a sign that a foreign object has gotten inside. It usually blocks the aerator roller. It is necessary to disassemble the corresponding block and remove the obstacle. A stalling engine is usually associated with a blocking piston or engine crankshaft. In addition, lack of oil in the crankcase gives the same symptoms.

In the following video, you will find an overview of the Stihl RMA 448 TC cordless lawnmower.