Cutting Edge Technology Makes Grass Cutting Easier |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 07 May 2007 )
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 (ARA) – Most Americans
apparently would rather have a lush lawn than a fashionable wardrobe, if Bureau
of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey is any indication.
The survey shows that when it comes to spending hard-earned money, buying new
clothes or going to the movies are less important to Americans than having a
beautiful lawn. With lawn care so high on the list of priorities for
cash-spending consumers, is it any wonder that lawn care technology continues to
evolve? Outdoor power equipment increasingly focuses on reducing the time and
effort one invests in lawn care.
For hand-held tools, the cutting edge
is “4-cycle” engines. Operating much like a car engine, 4-cycle products are
rapidly replacing the old 2-cycle engines once common in handheld power tools.
The main advantages of 4-cycle products such as string trimmers, blowers/vacs
and even garden cultivators are:
* They are easier to start. A spring in
the 4-cycle starting system reduces the amount of effort required to pull the
starting cord.
* They are more fuel efficient and produce better engine
performance than traditional 2-cycle products.
* Where 2-cycle engines
ran on a mixture of oil and gasoline, 4-cycle products run on gas.Users can rely
on one can of gas for all their power equipment needs. Spills are reduced and
the odor of burnt oil is eliminated.
* The average 4-cycle engine
produces half the emissions of a standard 2-cycle, making them more
environmentally friendly. And with a cool running engine, fuel efficiency is
approximately 25 percent better.
* Old power tools belted out 95
decibels of noise (comparable to the engine of a motorcycle). The new 4-cycle
engines create less noise – typically 75 to 95 decibels – and at a lower
frequency that is more comfortable to the ear. They also generate less vibration
for increased control and comfort.
* Despite the vast increased
efficiencies and benefits of a 4-cycle product, the price point is only slightly
higher than a 2-cycle product – typically 25 percent.
For example,
Troy-Bilt 4-cycle string trimmers boast Spring Assist starting technology to
dramatically reduce the starting effort, an extended reach shaft for easy
trimming under shrubs or low branches and a system that allows replacement of
the line without removing the spool.
Homeowners who want to reduce
effort by multi-tasking are turning to products like Craftsman’s blower/vacs
that automatically mulch debris at a 10:1 reduction ratio. Some 4-cycle
equipment is even compatible with easy attachment systems, allowing users to
interchange a variety of attachments for added versatility and time savings. For
example, a 4-cycle string trimmer can be transformed into a blower/vac, edger or
cultivator within seconds, making it a complete lawn and garden system.
Americans continue to take pride in the appearance of their lawns and
gardens, so if outdoor chores are going to be performed, they might as well be
enjoyable.
For more information on premium 4-cycle outdoor handheld
power equipment, log on to www.mtdproducts.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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