Rotary and segment mowers for walk-behind tractors: comparison and detailed analysis, prices and characteristics

There are two types of mowers that can be installed on a walk-behind tractor - rotary and segment. They differ only in the operating principle. Both have their merits; it is impossible to say unequivocally which is better. It all depends on the goals and characteristics of your site.

Rotary

It consists of a frame on which discs with cutting elements are installed. The number of disks varies, usually there are two or three. On the side of the frame there are slides through which the height of the grass cut is adjusted. The operation of the rotary mower is ensured by the walk-behind tractor using a transmission while driving.

The number of knives determines the performance: the more there are, the higher the speed. When choosing a mower for a motor cultivator, you need to start from the characteristics of the latter, namely its power.

According to the methods of aggregation with a walk-behind tractor, mowers are divided into groups:

• trailed, or frontal - it is located in front of the walk-behind tractor;
• hinged, or rear, - it is attached from the back;
• semi-trailer - it is installed on the side.

The main advantage of a rotary mower for a walk-behind tractor is its ease of operation. Almost anyone can operate it, and complete safety is ensured.

Such mowers are manufactured mainly in Russia and China. They are almost identical, although the reliability of domestic products is higher, plus they require less care and maintenance.

Segmental

This blade mower works on a different principle. On the frame, which is its basis and mounted on wheels, there are cutting knives. The blades move back and forth to remove grass and plants that fall between their edges. Height adjustment is made using a slide.

The performance of such mowers is slightly higher, the degree of uniformity of mowing is almost the same, however, more care is required during operation so as not to hit an obstacle. The grass clippings are laid in rows that are easy to collect. This function is included in a number of models produced for specific types of basic walk-behind tractors.

Operation of mowers for walk-behind tractors

It is easier to see a detailed description of the operation of each mower using specific examples.

Rotary mower "Zarya"

Mower for motor-cultivator "Neva"

Rotary mower for walk-behind tractor "Ugra", NMB-1

Segment mower for cultivators "Oka", "Neva", "Cascade"

All mowers are supplied with detailed instructions; as a rule, users do not have any problems during assembly, installation and operation. These technical devices are quite simple, so they are in constant demand. One of the arguments is the affordable price.

Rotary "Zarya"

The official manufacturer of the Zarya rotary mower, Kadvi, is located in Kaluga. But there are many home-made and Chinese models on the market, made according to the designs of the manufacturer “Kaluga Engine”. Externally, they differ only in color - the Kaluga Zarya is bright red, as in the video. But this is not the main difference. The Chinese ones have worse quality, as they use low-quality material for production.

User reviews of the Chinese-made Zarya are mostly negative. The model needs to be sorted out before work, there is not enough lubrication, there is not enough oil in the gearbox. Positive reviews about the Chinese “Zarya” are associated with the high quality of the gear. It lasts for more than 3 years and does not wear out. In domestic models, signs of wear appear after 2 years.

Characteristics of the Zarya mower for the Neva walk-behind tractor and the price of analogues and licensed equipment in the table:

Review of the most popular mowing machines

Let's start with rotary models, as the most common.

Rotary front mower SCOUT RM-1

It is designed to work with any vegetation whose trunk diameter does not exceed 1 cm. Connection and drive from the power take-off belt shaft. It is installed on SCOUT walk-behind tractors, but can be connected to other models, since the mount is unified. Installed on the front of the walk-behind tractor.

The working tool is two disks that rotate towards each other. Each has 4 knives that rotate freely - under the influence of centrifugal force, the knives move beyond the perimeter of the disks, cutting off vegetation. Height adjustment using special slides ensures high mowing precision. The mower has compact dimensions.

Characteristics:

• production - China;
• bevel width - 800 mm;
• number of working drums - 2 pcs.;
• number of knives in each circle - 4 pcs.;
• maximum cutting height up to - 70 mm;
• operating speed: 2-4 km/h;
• weight: 27 kg.

Price - 15,200 rubles

Rotary mower "Zarya"

Refers to attachments designed for mowing grass and small bushes with a diameter of up to 1.2 cm. It can be used not only on flat areas, but also on slopes, roadsides, and easily avoids obstacles. Farmers on small farms use it for mowing grain and forage crops and then laying them in rows. Light weight, ease of installation and high maneuverability with sufficient power make this mower popular. Produced in Kaluga.

The Zarya lawn mower has two modifications: Zarya and Zarya-1 - they are similar in many ways. Both models are connected to the walk-behind tractor gearbox through a splined connection, or through a belt drive to a pulley. The brush cutter is hung from the front. Motor cultivators that work with these mowers

• Ugra: NMB-1, MB-1D;
• Oka: MB-1D1, Oka MB-1D1(2)M;
• Kadvi MB-90M;
• Neva MB-1 and MB-2;
• Cascade, Luch, Agro and others.

Specifications:

Price from 15,000 to 18,000 rubles, depending on the seller

Mower KM-0.5 Terminator

Produced in Russia, designed for a wide range of walk-behind tractors such as SunGarden, Neva, Agat, Zubr, Favorit, Tselina, Luch, Oka, Plowman, Patriot, Salyut, Zirka, Pubert, Caiman and many others. Mows grass and can also chop it. Precise adjustment using the slide makes it possible to set the height from 5 mm to 10 cm or more. An adapter or attachment is not required for connection.

In addition, it is possible to work not only on lawns, but also on uncleaned areas - small branches and stones are not obstacles for this mower. After passing, a smooth surface remains - the quality meets modern requirements. The mulching function allows you to chop the grass instead of collecting it.

Characteristics:

• production - Russia;
• bevel width - 500 mm;
• number of working drums - 2 pcs.;
• number of knives in each circle - 2 pcs.;
• maximum cutting height - up to 100 mm;
• rated PTO rotation speed - 1800-2400 rpm;
• operating speed - 2-4 km/h;
• weight - 35 kg.

Price 16,000 - 19,000 rubles, depending on the seller

Mower KR-0.5 Neva

Designed to work in any area, including heavily overgrown areas, it can cut stems up to 1.3 cm thick. It is used for the initial treatment of areas of any configuration, including those with slopes.

It is unpretentious in operation - it requires minimal maintenance, which consists of periodic lubrication after 10-12 hours of operation. High productivity, up to 0.1 - 0.16 hectares per hour, makes it an indispensable assistant. Works with walk-behind tractors of various modifications. She can mow clover.

Characteristics:

• production - Russia;
• bevel width - 1000 mm;
• number of working drums - 1 piece;
• number of knives in a circle - 4 pcs.;
• maximum cutting height - up to 2000 mm;
• maximum PTO rotation speed - 2500 rpm;
• operating speed - 2-4 km/h;
• weight - 30 kg.

Price from 16,000 to 18,000 rubles, depending on the seller

Segment mower KN 1.1

It is used on all types of areas, including overgrown and hard-to-reach areas. It also performs well in wet areas, so it is purchased by farms for preparing feed for livestock.

High productivity, up to 0.2 hectares per hour, makes it very popular. Ease of connection and operation, minimum maintenance and low price - these are the main advantages of this mower. Can work with any motor cultivators.

Characteristics:

• production - Russia;
• bevel width - 1100 mm;
• number of working drums - 1 piece;
• number of knives in a circle - 4 pcs.;
• maximum cutting height - from 40 to 1500 mm;
• maximum PTO rotation speed - 2500 rpm;
• operating speed - 2-4 km/h;
• weight - 45 kg.

Price from 15,000 rubles, depending on the seller

Lawn mower for walk-behind tractor Neva

Rotary mowers are suitable for mowing grass on lawns. The KR-0.5 mower, produced by the same manufacturer, is suitable for Neva walk-behind tractors. Aggregation occurs using an H-shaped coupling. The KR-0.5 mower is a single-disc mower, perfect for working in parks and gardens, carefully cutting grass around trees, large stones, etc. The cutting width is 55 cm, the cutting height is 4 cm. The lawn mower can cope not only with trimming the lawn, but also with mowing thick and tall grass. Optimal use is on meadow-type lawns.

The Zarya rotary mower has two discs, which increases the working width to 80 cm. A double-disc mower allows you to process the area faster. The optimal height of grass for mowing is up to 1 m. The cutting height is adjustable from 3 to 7 cm, the tilt of the equipment allows you to work on a slope of up to 10°, which increases the maneuverability of the equipment. Zarya has high productivity, capable of processing an area of ​​up to 0.2 hectares per hour.

A rotary mower is a great option for those who only need to mow the lawn. It is compact, inexpensive, and versatile. Such a mower can mow not only grass, but also small shrubs, and folds the mowed vegetation into a windrow, which adds convenience when harvesting hay.

How to make it yourself

Retail chains offer a large selection of different models, both rotary and segmented mowers for walk-behind tractors, with prices starting from 15 thousand rubles.

However, someone may have specific requirements, or a suitable unit may be lying around as a basis - in this case, you can try to make a mower yourself. It’s not difficult to find drawings on the Internet, but the basis for a rotary mower will be a frame made from a corner or a metal profile. Or take a rotor from a tractor and reduce it based on the power of your walk-behind tractor.

The working elements are knives that are mounted on disks cut from a metal sheet. They are fastened as follows: an axial shaft (pipe) is welded in the center of the circles, a bearing is installed on it, and another bearing is mounted on the pulley.

Working units with knives are put on the axle, rotation is easy due to bearings, grass capture varies up to a meter, approximately. The finished structure is mounted on a welded chassis with wheels and covered with a casing on top. A homemade brush cutter can be either single-disc or double-disc.

For more information on how to make a rotary mower yourself, watch the video:

If you need a wider grip, then there should be two circles, like here

A segment mower is a little more complex to make and will require more skill and time. For its base there will be a small cross-section pipe in which sockets are made for mounting bolts. A metal strip with teeth and knives is installed on them, the knives are equipped with clips for drive, and clamps and slides are attached to the pipe for movement. The work is ensured by a drive from a walk-behind tractor.

Rotary mower with two discs on the Neva walk-behind tractor

A rotary mower with two discs is an attachment that turns the Neva walk-behind tractor into an effective tool.

The wide grip and high rotation speed of the discs allow you to quickly mow even tough grass over large areas.

The double-sided knives are easy to remove and sharpening them is no problem. While working in the field, you can, if necessary, simply wrap them with the other side, and then continue making hay.

The cut grass is neatly folded into windrows , so there is no need for additional work with it. Simply wait until the grass dries naturally and then collect it in the hayloft.

However, this equipment copes with unevenness rather poorly, and at the same time maneuverability leaves much to be desired. You need to be a professional to operate such a mower on difficult surfaces.

As for the price of a double-disc rotary mower, it starts from 11.5 thousand rubles if you buy an original model from the manufacturer.

If you decide to buy a Chinese low-quality analogue, it will cost at least 12 thousand.

That is why it is best to purchase original high-quality equipment, saving money without losing quality.

Safety precautions when working with a double-disc rotary mower

Before starting to work with the rotary mower, you need to check the fastening of all its parts. After all, operating equipment is subject to increased vibration, which can cause bolts to loosen.

You also need to check the fastening of the bolts on the knives, because during operation a dropped knife poses the biggest threat.

If you have moles on your property, you should at least wear sunglasses. Since during work, the mounds that the moles have dug will be scattered, and the earth may get into the eyes.

You should mow the grass with rotary equipment only after the dew has subsided. Otherwise, the knives can become dull very quickly.

When there is dew, the grass is less able to form windrows and the moving parts of the mower are more susceptible to corrosion. Therefore, you should not get up early in the morning, as tradition dictates; it is better to wait until the sun warms the grass, and only then start working.

Don’t be afraid of large areas, because the attachments for the Neva walk-behind tractor can easily handle them. In practice, it replaces more than five people with regular braids.

What kind of mower do you need?

Before you look for a mower in stores or try to make it yourself, you need to clearly understand what purposes it will be intended for. Therefore, we’ll start with the walk-behind tractor model. Each mower is produced for specific models; the fasteners are mostly standardized. The description clearly indicates the list of names and power of the cultivators.

Next come the tasks. High-performance rotary mowers do not always provide surface quality. So, for a garden plot with a lawn, there is no point in buying something very powerful; it is better to opt for a model with a mulching function. And, conversely, in a subsidiary farm where there is livestock, there is no point in thinking about a flat surface after processing; it is better if the mowed grass is laid in rows for harvesting. There is no point in arguing about the merits of rotary and segment mowers, although many prefer the first type. It's simpler and safer.

The question of price is always relevant, on average it is about 16 thousand rubles, give or take. The money is not very big, but it is not superfluous, so you need to think about further repairs and maintenance of the unit. Here, domestically produced models are beyond competition, for obvious reasons.

Single disc rotary mower

The single-disc rotary mower for the Neva-KR-05 walk-behind tractor was developed by the manufacturer and is produced only by it. In fact, the equipment is a rotary mower from the Honda company, adapted to the Neva walk-behind tractor.

The Neva-KR-05 mower is produced only at the manufacturer of the walk-behind tractor of the same name. Chinese analogues have not yet appeared on sale.

Their appearance on the market of the CIS countries is unlikely, since the manufacturer's price, with high quality, is much more attractive than the cost of a fake: Neva-KR-05 costs only 13 thousand rubles.

The advantages of this mower include:

• convenient design;
• high level of safety at work;
• affordable price;
• easy installation on a walk-behind tractor;
• high maneuverability.

It is precisely because of this last feature that the Neva-KR-05 remains a leader when it is necessary to work in a confined space. She easily gets around trees and overcomes uneven surfaces. At the same time, the operating efficiency is only slightly lower than that of the Neva double-disc rotary mower.

Safety precautions when working with Neva-KR-05

When working with Neva-KR-05 equipment, you must adhere to almost the same safety rules as with a double-disc rotary mower. However, thanks to its thoughtful design, it is much safer than its more efficient brother.

When working with Neva-KR-05, you need to pay more attention to the condition of the walk-behind tractor and ensure that it does not overheat. In addition, you need to check whether the knives are up to the task.

If they become dull, they can be wrapped the other way or sharpened. The last step is not difficult if you have the tools.

The Neva-KR-05 mower is more tolerant of dew than a double-disc mower , but manufacturers also do not recommend starting to mow grass when there is dew.

Disadvantages of mowers for walk-behind tractors

In conclusion, a few words about the shortcomings that exist in any technology. The rotary mower operates by rotating at high speeds, so you need to watch carefully for any pebbles that might fly off. Segment mowers also require attention, especially during maintenance and adjustments before work. In addition, they weigh a little more than a number of rotary ones and are more expensive.

Sharpening knives is a common thing, in any technique. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the quality of the cutting elements or finding out reviews from those who have already purchased the model you have chosen. Not all mowers can work on rough terrain, so here too you need to carefully read the instructions. As for productivity, there is no need to be under any illusions; hectares cannot be processed using such units.