Comparison Konner&Sohnen KS 2000T E vs Konner&Sohnen KS 5560T-1

— Petrol. Gasoline internal combustion engine. Such engines have good power, are easy to operate and are not limited by the length of the power cord (like electric ones). Their disadvantages are a significant level of noise, exhaust emissions and the need to purchase fuels and lubricants, as a result, a rather high cost of operation. However, most two-wheel tractors and cultivators have gasoline engines.

— Diesel. An internal combustion engine, which is similar in design to a petrol engine, but has a number of differences in the principle of operation and, as a result, in operation. So, it refuels with diesel fuel, which is somewhat cheaper than gasoline. Diesel engines have good torque at low revs, making them well suited for heavy work (ploughing, hauling). On the other hand, they are not without drawbacks — the high cost of repairs and high requirements for fuel purity. As a result, diesel two-wheel tractors and cultivators are less common.

— Electric (mains). Electric motors powered by an electrical network, most often — ordinary household 230 V. The advantages of all electric motors over gasoline / diesel ones are, in particular, low cost (including in operation), smaller dimensions and weight, ease of maintenance ( it is practically not required), low noise level and absence of exhaust gases. On the other hand, their power is relatively low — even for...mains-powered models, it does not exceed 3 kW. Therefore, mainly units for small volumes of work are made electric, which are more like cultivators than full-fledged two-wheel tractors. It is also worth noting here that when powered from the mains, the mobility of the unit is limited by the length of the power cord. On the other hand, models with such a power supply are generally more powerful than rechargeable ones, with the same power they are lighter and cheaper, and the operating time is almost unlimited.

— Electric (battery). Electric motors powered by batteries. The main features of electric motors as a whole are described above, and battery power makes the unit as autonomous as possible, independent of sockets and the length of the power cord. At the same time, models with this power supply are even less powerful than devices connected to the network — most of them do not even reach 1.5 kW. In addition, the battery affects the weight and cost of the unit, and the operating time is limited; charging the battery takes a lot of time and still requires a power source. So it makes sense to use cultivators of this type only when the volume of work is small and there are no outlets nearby; such situations are extremely rare, so this option has not gained distribution.

The maximum width of the strip of land processed by the machine in one pass.

The large width makes it easier to work in large open areas, allowing them to be dealt with faster. At the same time, it is easier to deal with bottlenecks and hard-to-reach nooks and crannies with a small working width — a large unit may simply not fit where a smaller one will pass without problems. So it is worth choosing according to this indicator, taking into account the features of the planned work. If we talk about specific numbers, then in the smallest models the capture width does not exceed 50 cm, in the largest it can be 1 m or more, a value from 50 to 75 cm can be called average, and from 75 cm to 1 m — above average.

Also note that some models allow you to expand the processing width by installing additional cutters. However, note that the wider the band, the more power is needed for efficient operation. It is believed that for the full use of the two-wheel tractor, it must produce at least 1 hp. for every 20 cm of width; however, for loose soils and shallow depths, smaller values are sufficient.

The maximum working depth provided by the unit. In cultivators with non-replaceable cutters, this parameter is determined primarily by the diameter of the cutter, in walk-behind tractors designed for active cutters (see below) - by design features (in such models, even high power does not guarantee a large working depth). The most limited indicator in modern walk-behind tractors is up to 20 cm, and a value from 21 to 25 cm can be called small. However, often even such opportunities are quite enough. Depth from 26 to 30 cm already provides quite extensive opportunities, and the most advanced models are able to “bite into the ground” by more than 30 cm.

Be that as it may, the optimal depth of processing depends on the type and condition of the soil, as well as the crops for which the soil is being prepared; detailed recommendations on this subject can be found in special sources. So it does not always make sense to look for a model with maximum depth - especially since such capabilities require high power. Also note that in many units the depth can be adjusted.

Type of internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel, see "Engine type") of the cultivator/two-wheel tractor.

— 2-stroke. The advantages of two-stroke engines are simple design (as a result, low cost) and high power. On the other hand, they have high noise and fuel consumption. In addition, there are difficulties with the fuel itself: such engines are refueled with a gasoline-oil mixture, which requires exact proportions, otherwise the engine will either wear out a lot (with a lack of oil) or smoke (with an excess of it). In two-wheel tractors, two-stroke engines are only gasoline, diesel engines of this type are not used.

— 4-stroke. Such engines are more complex in design, more expensive and less powerful (with equal volume) than two-stroke ones. On the other hand, they are less noisy, have lower fuel consumption, and the fuel itself is refueled separately from the oil, and there is no need to bother with the preparation of the mixture when refueling. Also note that diesel engines in two-wheel tractors are made only 4-stroke.

Model of the engine installed in the two-wheel tractor / cultivator. The main performance data of the engine is usually indicated in the general data for the unit. However, knowing the exact name of the motor, you can find more detailed information on it — starting from specific data like torque or revolutions and ending with reviews and reviews. Also, data on the engine model can be useful when searching for spare parts or consumables.

The working volume of the gasoline or diesel engine of the cultivator / two-wheel tractor. For an internal combustion engine of the same type (see "Type of internal combustion engine"), power and fuel consumption usually directly depend on the volume. Also, the classification of a two-wheel tractor as a vehicle according to the traffic rules of a particular country may depend on the engine volume; you should pay attention to this if you plan to use the unit as a tractor and drive on roads.

Engine power of the cultivator / walk-behind tractor in horsepower. The basic unit of power these days is the watt, but gasoline and diesel engines (see "Engine type") often use the more traditional horsepower designation. 1 hp is approximately equal to 735 watts.

A more powerful engine allows you to achieve higher productivity, width and depth of processing. On the other hand, high power significantly affects the price, weight and dimensions of the unit, as well as electricity / fuel consumption. In light of this, the characteristics of the engine are selected by the manufacturer, taking into account which “weight category” the walk-behind tractor belongs to. The most limited modern units have a power of up to 2 hp., in the most severe and advanced, this figure can exceed 13 hp. ; 4 - 7 HP can be called an average, and 2 - 4 hp. and 7 - 13 hp respectively below and above average.

Detailed recommendations on the optimal power for a particular situation can be found in special sources.

Motor block / cultivator engine power in watts. This designation is normally used for electric engines, but can also be used for gasoline/diesel engines, along with horsepower (for these, see Engine Power above).

A more powerful engine allows you to achieve higher productivity, width and depth of processing. On the other hand, high power significantly affects the price, weight and dimensions of the unit, as well as electricity / fuel consumption. In light of this, the engine power is selected by the manufacturer, taking into account which “weight category” the walk-behind tractor belongs to, what characteristics it should show. So, the lightest models have a power of up to 1.5 kW, just such a device is best suited for a small area of 6 - 8 acres. Motoblocks up to 3 kW are already able to cope with 10 - 15 acres, a power of 3.5 - 5 kW is suitable for a plot from 50 acres to a couple of hectares. Units for 5 - 10 kW already belong to the professional level, they are "too tough" open spaces of 7 - 10 hectares; and the heaviest and most powerful modern walk-behind tractors have a power of more than 10 kW.

Starting method of the gasoline or diesel engine (see "Engine type") provided in the unit.

— Manual. Starting due to the muscular strength of a person: the operator pulls a special cable or turns the handle, due to which the shaft turns and the engine receives the initial impulse necessary for operation. Manual start systems are inexpensive, light and compact, and do not depend on batteries that can run out at the worst possible moment. On the other hand, the starting process itself can require considerable effort, especially in a heavy, powerful engine. Therefore, this option is used mainly in relatively low-power models.

— Electric starter. Starting due to the starter — a small electric motor powered by a battery. Such systems are much more convenient than manual ones — the operator actually only needs to press a button or turn a key; at the same time they are suitable even for the most powerful motors. On the other hand, a starter with a battery significantly increases the weight, dimensions and cost of the entire unit, and with a long idle time, the battery may run out and the system will become useless (however, a spare manual "starter" may be provided for this case). Therefore, this starting method is used exclusively in heavy equipment, for which the ability to do without manual start is more important than the described disadvantages.