5 Sep 2010 by Stuart GLS Last edited 5 Sep 2010
Hi
I was hoping someone will be able to guide me in the right direction towards the purchase of a scarifier for general lawn work.
I have a few options which include the Camon LS42, Eliet 401, John Deere D38R, D45C and the Wolf UV40B.
Are there anymore I should consider?
The Camon and Eliet seem to be a tried and tested units and some thought has gone into the blade designs while I can't find any reference to the JD models.
The Wolf was from a recommendation and is half the cost of the other machines.
I have no idea about parts issues with Camon and Eliet but I have a local JD dealership and they are always quick to help.
There are some others that I have seen but they use a high impact plastic tine system and I'm not sure that is what I would like.
I can highly recommend the JD D45C. I have various machines ranging in sizes but prefer that , tough yet light does a fantastic job and can be used on fine turf also. We used it for the first time on during croquet renovation and it worked superbly. I will be buying another very soon.
Thanks for the reply.
While I have a JD rotary mower which is a small 17 inch roller version for my smaller lawn work is not a common sight round here and its nice to hear that you are happy with the D45C.
Anymore comments please on these scarifiers.
While I have a JD dealership local to me (Turner Groundcare)
there does not seem to be many local dealers with the Camon or Eliet machines.
I would like to stay with a local dealer if possible and not go off hunting online but I did notice the Camon is sold under the Pitchcare shop.
Stuart,
Perhaps a chat with Richard or Jim at RTM, Aylesbury or John at Browns, Chesham.
Thanks Vic.
Never thought about RTM, my mind seems to be feeling its age!! I see they stock Eliet stuff which is great so I'll give them a buzz and have a friendly chat.
8 Sep 2010 by Mike
Have the Camon scarifier - not a fan of it at all tbh. Can't speak for the rest of them as i've never used them.
Mike
Cheers Mike for your reply.
Do you mind if I ask why your not a fan of the Camon?
Stuart
Have used both the Eliet and JD D45C
Found the Eliet to be the better overall machine.
JD is very good but struggles on lawns that have never seen a scarifier.
JD is better on good quality lawns.
Let us know how you get on with what ever you decide.
You all hate us and we don't care!
Bob
Thanks for the reply.
I'm just waiting for Richard from RTM to give me a buzz when some Eliet's are delivered and I'm going to pop over and have a try with the machine.
Its a hard call but I feel the Eliot is the way forward due to the mixture of lawns and my work load in general.
Not 100% sure on the blade config I require (3mm or 1.5mm) and was hoping the blade assembly is easy to change over so I can have the best of both worlds.
14 Sep 2010 by Mike
Stuart - apologies for not getting back to you... your reply passed me by somehow.
Anyway, having used the Camon for a number of years now, I feel that I have got to know it quite well. I feel that the bag is of little use for collecting arisings - it only tends to fill the bottom of the bag, hence having to empty it on an extremely regular basis. The grass catcher also has a nasty habit of falling off, and if you don't stop quick enough, it can leave a nasty mark on your shins, or even worse, you can end up performing a very close visual inspection of your sward! I think the rear wheel mountings are a little light weight, certainly for commercial use, and I don't like the front wheel assembly either. Further to this, I don't feel the ground clearance is great, so when you try to achieve any sort of depth, the sides of the machine can snag and dig in to the surface. It's also a bit of a pig to replace the blades.
Hope this helps.
No problem Mike, thanks for your advice.
Someone else said to me the blades are a devil to change on the Camon and I think I can wipe that of my list.
Just a little update.
I popped over to RT Machinery today and have to say they are a great bunch of lads. Andy Rutland went through the Eliet 401 with me and was very helpful and nothing was too much trouble.
Its a nice simple machine which is just right for my line of work.
In my experience with their chipper/shredders I find that brand to be sturdy & robust as well as simply constructed.
Also find that people pronounce the name in two different ways as in - Elliot or Elite.
GOGGA
I used to hire an orange Eliet every year with great success. I'd book it a month earlier for w/c about 15th September and insist on new blades because it always came blunt. Because the blades on the Eliet are fixed and not floating, the local hire company has unfortunately dumped it and gone for a fantastic machine with no label, much more powerful than the Eliet but with swinging blades and seriously emasculated because of this. With a fixed reel it would be one hell of a machine, Honda 6.5hp, sturdy shell, short wheelbase, best ever wheel scrapers, etc etc. but no label.
I asked why, and the answer was I was the only cricket club hiring a scarifier and everyone else using the machine was a contractor doing renovations on Cumbrian lakeland big house lawns, notorious for their 70% moss content. They wanted to remove moss and no more. Hmm.
24 Sep 2010 by Stuart GLS Last edited 24 Sep 2010
Sumomosr your right about the Elliot or Elite name change:)
Was a bit confused on choice of blades and engine type.
I've gone with the 2.5 fixed blades and the GC135 which is the OHC Honda engine. For a few hundred more I could have had the Honda GX120 OHV engine but would it be worth the extra? I just don't know so I guess the GC135 will be fine for me.
Just one thing baffles me. It comes with a spanner to adjust the height and this spanner has a slot on the other end and I've no idea what the slot part is for?
Well I tried the Eliet out today on a few lawns to see how it performs and a friend who has one gave me some tips on setting the blades and away I went.
Very happy as it did a nice job and clean job too. The grass box is a waste of time, fills up and tends to fall off and I just don't know why scarifiers have them.
Handled 2 lawns that have never seen a scarifier and I was amazed how much came out from such small lawns yet after the treatment the lawns still looked clean.
Well worth the money in my view.
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