Etesia's Hydro 80 is claimed to be the ideal ride-on rotaryfor the rough and tumble of
contract work but mth the compact dimensions to access housing estate lawns and other tight areas.
Glendale Grounds Maintenance tries it out.
For Glendale, the Warwick District Council total amenity contract means just that - from verges and open spaces, to housing estates and cemeteries across Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth. So the machinery fleet needs to be tough and versatile.
   Etesia has offered a compact ride-on rotary in the past, but the Hydro 80 is a beefed up model to suit more rigorous duties. A 15hp Kawasaki twin cylinder petrol engine provides more power and quieter operation, while the hydrostatic gearbox and clutch can be adjusted or repaired in the event of a breakdown rather than needing replacement. The steering quadrant and gearbox are now of heavier duty construction. the latter offering increased speed.
   One option that could appeal to operators in municipal situations - and certainly caught the eye of Glendale's Mark Stevens - is the use of Amerityre puncture proof tyres. "Punctures are a major cause of downtime, so any way of avoiding them is useful", he commented.                
   The wheels are studded for easier maintenance and their larger diameter makes for a smooth ride over kerbs.
   Operator Paul Friswell praised the quality of cut and the manoeuvrability of the mower, which can also cut in reverse, a feature which could be useful in cemeteries with limited tuming space.  "It feels stable on a small bank and is comfortable to operate, with plenty of room in the driving seat, even though I am taller than many groundsmen," he laughed.
   "I particularly like the cleanness of the design," said Mark Stevens. "Anything sticking out on a machine easily gets caught on gravestones and kerbs. But this simp]icity is a feature of Etesia's machines, and from experience with the company's other mowers, we know them to be robust and reliable."
    At just 82 cm wide, the Hydro 80 is designed to fit through a garden gateway, and this was throughly tested in a number of tight spaces at St Nicholas's Park, Warwick, including the Victorian gateway to the arboricultural officer's garden.    "That could come in handy," commented Paul Friswell. "There's one churchyard on our books with a very narrow gate, and it would be useful to be able to drive through narrow gaps."
   The grass catcher tips hydraulically to empty, and while the Glendale team commented that a high tip is essential for the bigger spaces, Mark Stevens added that it would be possible to drive the Hydro 80 into a high sided trailer and tip directly onto the bed.   For longer grass, a deflector is available to side discharge the clippings, or alternatively removing the bottom plate on the grass catcher allows them to simply drop behind the deck.
    "That's a useful feature. it's amazing how often we need to work in longer grass, and a quick adjustment saves a lot of time" said Paul whose verdict on the Hydro 80 is: "While not big enough for the large areas of grass we have in this park, it would be ideal for the housing estates. "Where an operator is doing a mixture of  park and estate work, it could be a good option. We borrowed a compact machine while our larger mower was being repaired and given the time savings from the improved manoeuvrability and being able to get under low branches, there was little loss of output."

Amenity Machinery & Equipment - April 2005