Heavy duty rotovator?

[Bex2012]

So Ive been tasked with researching and pricing up a rotovator to go in the communal shed at the plot, but I have no idea where to begin! It needs to be a reasonable weight, so that it can be easily manouvered, and petrol as we dont have power.

Could anyone give me any pointers to brands, useful features, places to buy etc? Thanks!

[ESBkevin]

Honda.

Pitch the model to suit your needs and budget, but they are built to a standard unlike some others. They will start easily as long as maintained and the bores don't wear so you need east start or a bit of external heat to 'tighten things up' after the first season like many chinese machines.

They are light enough and manoverable. Try and have a session to learn how to use rotavators too, the rear 'leg' is there to lean on and hold the machine back while it does the digging. All you need to do is lift it to ease the resistance and the blades will draw it forward. The whole process should usually be quite simple unless you are trying to break up concrete, in which case a good soaking the day before is the key.

Something like the FJ500 is OK for modorate use, the machines with a rear tiller and main drive wheels are more expensive, more complex but are easier for the novice although they wont do deep cultivation like a regular shaft drive rotavator will when you bury the tines (although it is slow in this mode).

P.S.
Not everyone will be as gentle as you or I might be if it were your own machine. On that basis bigger is better and a used larger commercial unit might be better than a brand new gardeners model. Again a recognised brand with parts support makes it a wiser purchase.

[Bex2012]

Thank you so much Kevin, thats really useful advice. I'll have a look at honda models.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I have an "Earthquake" n swear by it for the heavier jobs!

https://www.mowerspareparts.co.uk/pr...r650-3365b.htm

And like Kev say's, it's all about balance and the back leg, which allows you to alter it for said situations, taking the strain from yourself and giving that course of action back to the machine!

But as always! It comes with a price!

[Baldy]

Our heavy rotavator caused no end of argument and cost - lots of people on the plot could not physically handle it - it got badly treated by people who didn't have any idea about how to use machinery. We tried to have training sessions before you were allowed to use the gear and were always available to give help and advice. We found that some were almost on a mission to destroy it no matter what we did. We flogged it about 2 years ago and as a direct result have been able to bring down the cost of site subscription by a couple of pounds.

Perhaps we were just unlucky!

[v6scorpion]

I got one of these for day when i did my 2 plots

Used it before on garden and does job spot on

[JMCKG]

You could also go the no dig way, saving more and energy!