Smallest rideon WITH floating deck

[Creak]

Hi I was wondering what the smallest rideon mower is with a floating deck. In the past I have covered uneven terrain using a larger countax with a floating deck. It was even versatile and tough enough to level out ground more as though it were a tractor or rotovator than a mower. I also used it to mulch up pruned branches into woodchips which it did very well. I no longer have access to the countax as it wasnt mine and am in the market for a smaller machine that can do both these jobs. Smaller so it can go into a van and through garden gates. I feel a fixed deck wont achieve these jobs. Collection option needed too. Any advise appreciated thanks

[Burgess]

Etesia Hydro 80 has some pretty big anti scalp rollers on it for its small size.

 

However I think a Walker mower has a ridiculous amount of movement in their decks but its an American style walk behind so not quite what you want. They do standers and ride ons but I think they're all a bit bigger.

[Creak]

Etesia Hydro 80 has some pretty big anti scalp rollers on it for its small size.

 

I definately had my eye on this model due to its size but i came under the impression it has a fixed deck. For me the issue of fixed or floating is the height i can get the entire deck up off the ground. Looking at the Hydro 80 it appears the deck is plush with just above ground level. I assume the blades are what raise and lower therefore. I need some height to mulch branches. Ideally also to mow straight over bramble patches, for which i need height, something again the countax was good for. The anti scalp rollers are great for doing lawns but if i am evening out ground by for example mulch shredding compost then i am keen to scalp non stop once it is down to soil level. Not sure if anyone else has used a rideon this way, just takes lots of cleaning after and occasionally fixing blade belt.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Creak

[GardenKit]

Can't say I know of a ride on with a fixed deck.

The decks go up and down and the blades go with them.

The decks hang so that the position above the ground can be maintained, but are on slack links so that they can lift with ground contours.

[Creak]

Can't say I know of a ride on with a fixed deck.

The decks go up and down and the blades go with them.

The decks hang so that the position above the ground can be maintained, but are on slack links so that they can lift with ground contours.

 

Oh i see. So is my question more like which is the smallest rideon with the highest clearance? Would the hydro manage the mulch shredding job ? I like to shred branches to bag up woodchips or compost quicker.

[Burgess]

Sounds like you need a rough cut mower really.

[GardenKit]

Mowers are only realy meant to handle grass. Trying to mulch sticks will abuse the deck and premature failure will result.

 

Some will handle it better than others though.

 

Under no circumstance should you buy a "timed" deck.

 

I am no fan of countax, but a high grass field mulcher deck is tough enough for your job.

 

A Grillo type machine would be ideal.

[Creak]

Can i ask what a timed deck is? I read that the countax i used is suitable to brambles but i agree the branches might be taking the piss a bit. When you say abuse the deck do you meam dull the blades? I only mow branches upto 1 inch max diameter usually less. Like one time i cleared a lot of ivy from some poplars some of the branches were really thick since it was mature. I raked them out into a line then started out on highest elevation cut, through to lowest. By the end it just looked like soil but tinted brown.

[Creak]

What is the smallest rough cut mower if anybody knows?

[Mortimer Firewood]

Like garden kit said you want a grillo you can pick them up for reasonable money ,

 

Etesia do something similar