Comparison Makita ELM3320 vs Makita ELM3310

The cutting height adjustment method provided in the machine.

— Synchronous. Adjustment carried out "in one movement" — as opposed to the manual described below. In traditional lawn mowers, it is usually carried out by a lever that changes the height of all wheels at the same time; in other units, not the wheels, but the cutting tool itself, can be adjusted in height. Anyway, synchronous adjustment is much more convenient than manual adjustment, and for some devices (for example, robots and riders, see "Type") this is generally the only technically possible option. However, in classic mowers, such a system complicates and increases the cost of construction.

— Manual. The meaning of this type of adjustment depends on the type of device. So, for trimmers, this is almost the only possible way by definition: in them, the cutting height is regulated by how high the operator holds the working nozzle. In lawn mowers, manual adjustment means that you need to separately adjust the height of each axle, and even each individual wheel. Such systems are simpler and cheaper than synchronous systems, but less convenient to use.

The area of the site for which the lawn mower is designed. It cannot be argued that this parameter is critical when choosing a device, these are only manufacturer's recommendations and are very conditional. However, they are more than justified and generally show the available front of work based on the heating of the motor, the capacity of the tank or battery, and other factors that affect the duration of work.

The volume of the grass clipping bag supplied with the lawn mower. Manufacturers select this volume depending on the power, performance and overall level of the unit, however, similar models may differ in this indicator. In such cases, it is worth considering that a larger bag takes longer to fill and needs to be unloaded less often, but it weighs more and takes up more space (even when empty). Mostly the difference in the volume of the bag is 5 liters and there are lawn mowers for 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and more liters.

Indicator indicating the degree of filling of the bag. The design and capabilities of such an indicator can be different: for example, in some models it only gives an overflow signal, in others it allows you to determine the amount of grass in the bag at any time. However, anyway, this function provides additional convenience: it allows you to evaluate the fullness without removing the bag and without interrupting work.

- Self-propelled. In self-propelled lawn mowers, the engine rotates not only the cutting tool, but also the wheels of the lawn mower; thus, the user does not need to push it in front of him - it is enough just to set and control the direction of movement. This is convenient, but such models are more expensive than non-self-propelled ones. This is due not only to the complexity of the design, but also to the fact that such devices require more powerful engines - after all, power must be divided between the cutting nozzle and the chassis. For the same reason, a self-propelled unit will be less productive and efficient than a non-self-propelled analogue of the same power. However, some types of lawn mowers are by definition self-propelled - in particular, these are heavy professional models that would be difficult to push with your hands, as well as mini tractor riders(see "Type").

- Height adjustable handle. Possibility of height adjustment of the lawn mower handle, which allows to optimally adjust the device to the height of the user. This feature is especially useful for short or, conversely, tall people - by default, lawn mower handles are made for medium height, and it would be inconvenient to work with the unit without height adjustment.

- Piano wheels. The lawn mower has special, so-called. caster wheels (similar to th...ose used, for example, in supermarket carts). These wheels automatically turn in the direction of movement of the device, which significantly reduces the turning radius of the lawn mower and increases its maneuverability. At the same time, it is worth noting that this design is usually used only for the front wheels, while the rear ones remain rigidly fixed to the axle. So moving such a structure sideways still does not work.

- Flushing fitting. The presence of a fitting in the lawn mower for connecting a garden hose; usually such a fitting is located on the deck and is designed for a standard connector used in hoses. In accordance with the name, this function allows you to rinse the deck and blade of the unit, removing grass residues and other contaminants from them: just connect the hose, turn on the working nozzle and give water. This is much more convenient than removing the deck and washer blade by hand - especially when it comes to a heavy professional mower or rider (see "Type").

- Cup holder. The presence of a cup holder in the design of the lawn mower - a specialized stand for glasses and relatively small bottles. Such a stand usually has a characteristic recess where a container with a drink for the operator is installed. Often, cupholders are made in pairs, they are placed on a separate panel between the tubes of the handle of the unit. There are coasters in traditional lawn mowers and riders (mini tractors).

Lawnmower engine power expressed in watts. This designation is used absolutely for all electric models (see "Engine type"), and it is also often found in gasoline and diesel units along with horsepower (these units are clearly related, 1 hp is about 735 watts).

In general, the more powerful the engine, the more performant the mower and the better it will cope with heavy work such as cutting thick grass, bushes, etc. On the other hand, high power has a corresponding effect on fuel / electricity consumption, as well as the weight and price of the engine. In addition, note that the power requirements depend on the type of mower itself and its engine (see above for both). For example, for most robots, the power does not exceed 500 W — more, taking into account specialization, is not required, besides, otherwise the devices would turn out to be too bulky and heavy. Trimmers and lawn mowers of similar power are only electric, and the power limit for power tools is 2500 – 3000 W when powered from the mains and 1500 – 2000 W for battery models. But in gasoline tools, the minimum power is about 500 – 1000 W for trimmers and 1000 – 1500 W for mowers; the maximum value can exceed 4 kW.

Detailed recommendations for choosing a lawn mower d...epending on its type and features of the planned work can be found in special sources.

The material from which the deck is made is a protective casing that covers the cutting tool of a lawn mower or trimmer. In modern mowers there are such options:

— Plastic. The cheapest and at the same time the least durable material.

— Aluminium alloy. The most advanced option: these decks are durable, lightweight and less prone to corrosion, but quite expensive.

— Steel. It has greater strength than aluminium alloy and costs less, but is heavier and more prone to corrosion.

The diameter of the front wheels of the unit. For more information about this parameter, see "Rear wheel diameter" — everything written there is true in this case. We only note that the front wheels relatively rarely have their own drive, so the diameter for them is not as important as for the rear ones.

The diameter of the rear wheels of the unit.

Larger wheels, on the one hand, increase cross-country ability and allow you to effectively overcome pits, bumps and other obstacles on rough terrain. On the other hand, they cost more, are more expensive, and in self-propelled models, they also require more traction from the engine.

This indicator is often determined by the type of lawn mower (see above). So, mowers and riders, by definition, have large wheels, because they are designed for difficult terrain, and in a minitractor, the wheels must also withstand a fairly significant weight. But robotic lawn mowers, on the contrary, are used mainly on flat surfaces with low grass, and they do not need large wheels.

If you have to choose among classic lawn mowers, where this parameter can be different, you should proceed from the planned working conditions. So, if we are talking about a flat lawn — you can not pay much attention to this indicator; but for rough terrain with pits, tubercles, ditches, etc., you should choose larger wheels — from 25 cm or more.