Comparison Forte 1350G 9hp vs Forte EPT-750

— Petrol. Internal combustion engine on gasoline. 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 noise level, exhaust emissions and the need to purchase fuels and lubricants, as a result - a fairly high cost of operation. However, most walk-behind tractors and cultivators have gasoline engines.

— Diesel. An internal combustion engine similar in design to a gasoline engine, but with a number of differences in the operating principle and, as a result, in operation. Thus, it is fueled with diesel fuel, which is somewhat cheaper than gasoline. Diesel engines have good torque at low speeds, due to which they are well suited for heavy work (plowing, transporting goods). On the other hand, they are not without drawbacks - high cost of repair and high requirements for fuel purity. As a result, diesel walk-behind tractors and cultivators are less common.

— Corded electric. Electric motors powered by an electrical network, most often a regular 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 (almost none required), low noise level and absence of exhaust gases. On the other hand, their power is relatively low — even for...models powered by the network it does not exceed 3 kW. Therefore, electric units are mainly made for small volumes of work, which are more like cultivators than full-fledged walk-behind tractors. It is also worth noting here that when powered by the network, the mobility of the unit is limited by the length of the power cord. On the other hand, models with such power are generally more powerful than battery-powered ones, with similar power — lighter and cheaper, and the operating time is practically unlimited.

— Battery. Electric motors powered by batteries. The main features of electric motors are generally 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 such power 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 sockets nearby; such situations occur extremely rarely, so this option has not become widespread.

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 processing depth provided by the unit. In cultivators with non-replaceable cutters, this parameter is determined primarily by the cutter diameter, 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 capabilities are quite sufficient. A depth of 26 to 30 cm already provides quite extensive capabilities, and the most advanced models are capable of "biting into the ground" more than 30 cm.

In any case, the optimal processing depth 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 matter can be found in specialized sources. So it does not always make sense to look for a model with maximum depth - especially since such capabilities require high power. It should also be noted that in many units the depth can be adjusted.

The number of cutters that the two-wheel tractor is equipped with. Note that for models with active rototillers (see below), this parameter is not indicated: such attachments are removable, and active rototillers with different performance characteristics can be installed on one unit.

Speaking of quantity, a cutter means a separate "asterisk" of several curved knives installed on the working axis of the unit. The number of such “stars” is selected depending on the processing width that the manufacturer wants to provide: one cutter captures a strip on average from 12 to 18 cm, and several of them are needed for a more or less decent working width.

— Power take-off shaft. The presence of a power take-off shaft in the design of a two-wheel tractor. Such a shaft provides the transmission of rotation from the engine to additional equipment used with a two-wheel tractor — seeders, mowers, mulchers, harvesters and other units that require a mechanical drive for operation. Thus, this function significantly expands the capabilities of the two-wheel tractor and the range of equipment compatible with it. On the other hand, it complicates the design, increases its weight, and most importantly, the price. It is also worth considering that different external units may have different types of tails for the power take-off shaft and different requirements for rotation speed; compatibility on these points must be clarified separately.

— Power take-off pulley. The function is similar to that described above — the power take-off shaft. A distinctive feature is its location and, accordingly, the method of hanging additional equipment. The shaft is located behind the rear end, while the pulley is on the side of the housing.

— Transport wheels. The presence in the design of the cultivator / two-wheel tractor of a special wheel (wheels), facilitating the transportation of the unit during non-working hours. In cultivators, such wheels allow you not to drag the device directly on the ground (which can damage the working tool) or...in your hands (which is inconvenient due to the large weight), and in two-wheel tractors they provide an additional point of support for both moving and parking. These wheels should not be confused with the main wheels of the device: the unit moves to the main wheels during operation (and in many models — all the time), while the transport wheels are used exclusively during non-working hours.

— Reverse. The possibility of moving the unit in reverse — for this, the direction of rotation of the wheels or the cutter is reversed. This function gives additional features for manoeuvring; it is especially useful in heavy equipment that would be inconvenient to pull on yourself manually.

— Differential lock. The ability to turn off the differential in the two-wheel tractor is a special mechanism designed to “coordinate” the movement of the wheels with each other when turning. The differential is necessary for normal handling on relatively flat ground, but it worsens the overall patency — these are the technical features of the mechanism. Therefore, in some two-wheel tractors, it may be possible to block the differential; this can be useful both in rough terrain and in some jobs with high and uneven wheel loads.

— Protections for plants. Special devices, also called "cutting guards". They usually look like two metal discs on either end of the axle where the cutters are located. These discs prevent plants from getting into the working tool and allow you to work the land in the immediate vicinity of already planted plants without fear of damaging them with the cultivator's cutters. You should definitely pay attention to the presence of such protection if you are going to use the device for inter-row cultivation.

— Height adjustable handle. The ability to change the height at which the handles of the two-wheel tractor are located. This feature is designed to adjust the handles to the height of the operator — for people of different heights, the most comfortable height will also be different.

— Lateral rotation of the handle. The ability to turn the handle of the two-wheel tractor to the side — so that the operator can go not behind the unit, but next to it. This function will be useful in cases where it is inconvenient or undesirable for the user to be behind the two-wheel tractor — for example, if it is impossible to trample on cultivated land, if the applied nozzle throws soil or grass back, or if this nozzle protrudes strongly backwards, and because of it it is not up to the handles reach out.

— Headlights. The presence of headlights will allow you to work with a cultivator / two-wheel tractor, regardless of the time of day and external light sources — in the dark, just turn on the headlights. They may also be required when using a two-wheel tractor as a tractor — both at night, and in some other cases provided for by traffic rules.

The type of gearbox provided in the design of the two-wheel tractor.

The gearbox is a mechanism for transmitting rotation from the motor shaft to the working shaft; the speed of rotation is reduced, and the tractive effort, respectively, increases. In modern units, worm, chain, gear and gear-chain gearboxes can be used; here are their main features:

— Worm. Gearboxes based on a worm gear are mainly used in light two-wheel tractors with passive cutters (motor cultivators). With simplicity and low cost, such a gearbox provides a high gear ratio, which makes it possible to achieve good traction at a relatively low engine power. Other advantages of worm gears include compactness, minimum noise level, smooth running and self-braking ability. On the other hand, such gearboxes do not tolerate high loads, which determined the scope of their application.

— Chain. Gearboxes based on a chain drive — two gears connected by a chain (similar to the mechanism used in bicycles). Such gearboxes are somewhat more expensive than worm gears, but they are more reliable and able to work with higher loads. Another advantage lies in the small width of the body, which is especially important for motor cultivators — the gearbox does not limit the depth of processing, since it can be buried in the soil simultaneously with the cutters.

...— Geared. The most advanced type of modern gearboxes. Such mechanisms are highly reliable and durable, they normally endure long-term work at high loads. The downside of these advantages is the high price. Gear reducers are used mainly on professional equipment, for which "endurance" is critical.

— Gear-chain. A compromise option, which, when installed on a motor cultivator, increases its performance (compared to chain and worm), and when installed on a motor block, slightly reduces the cost of the latter.

The number of gears provided in a self-propelled cultivator / two-wheel tractor, in other words, the number of travel speeds. There are both the simplest two-wheel tractors for 1 gear or 2 gears, as well as more advanced ones with three, four and even 6 gears. Lower gears are not fast, but they allow you to effectively cope with high loads, and are also better suited for starting from a place; higher ones give low tractive effort, but good speed. Thus, the presence of several gears makes it possible to adjust the operating mode of the unit to the specifics of the situation. The number of gears is also relevant for reverse gear, because there are walk- behind tractors and cultivators for 1 gear or more.

The type of internal combustion engine (petrol or diesel, see "Motor type") of two-wheel tractor/cultivator.

— 2-stroke. The advantages of two-stroke engines are their simple design (and consequently, low cost) and high power. On the other hand, they are characterized by high noise levels and fuel consumption. In addition, there are difficulties with the fuel itself: such engines are filled with a gasoline-oil mixture, which requires precise proportions, otherwise the engine will either wear out heavily (with a lack of oil) or smoke (with its excess). In walk-behind 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 the same volume) than two-stroke ones. On the other hand, they make less noise, have lower fuel consumption, and the fuel itself is filled separately from the oil, and when filling, you do not need to bother with preparing the mixture. Also note that diesel engines in walk-behind tractors are made only 4-stroke.

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.