by: Start A Lawn Care Business
During the Louisville, Ky lawn and garden expo, I saw many lawn care equipment manufacturers displaying propane powered lawn mowers. As pollution laws become more strict, LCO’s are going to offer more and more lawn equipment powered by clean technology.
I’m not sure about your weedeater but one of my old reliable stringtrimmers is a real polluter. Even when it’s dialed in and running right, there is a slightly visible exhaust at all times. I attempt to be as environmentally friendly in my business but there has been very little to replace the 2 cycle engines…until now.
I am glad to say that I picked up a Lehr propane powered weedeater today. After assembling the unit and purchasing a couple cannisters of propane, I gave it a 15 minute test.
I am impressed with initial tests. It starts quickly, it’s quieter than gasoline powered units, torque is impressive, and rev up time seems to be less than my echo trimmer.
My standard review takes about 3 weeks to complete. I will have a long range follow-up review in several months.
Please keep an eye on this blog to see results.
Amazon.com has these propane powered weed eaters in stock. Click the link below to order.
#1 by kirk on June 11, 2009 - 8:17 AM
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what do you do with all those used empty bottles? how “environmentally friendly” are those to dispose of and how much pollution is involved making those? At least with gas, you reuse the same gas can for years on end. And I believe they make a four stroke which would pollute even less than a mixed gas trimmer.
#2 by admin on June 11, 2009 - 3:06 PM
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Additional waste and cost from using 1 lb. propane bottles is a major concern.
I have been in contact with the company and I believe they are working on an effective refill method. Giving users of propane line trimmers an ability to refill their bottles will dramatically reduce waste and cost attributed to desposable propane bottles.
Propane line trimmers are going to become much more prevelant. Watch for the entire industry to change to propane and battery power the next few years.
Thanks for your comment.
#3 by Mike on June 14, 2009 - 8:21 AM
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How about nat. gas powered. With a small filling station at home you can refill and go without the limitations of extra tanks and their associated costs.
#4 by Colin on July 27, 2009 - 4:19 PM
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We certainly don’t have any propane powered garden machinery here in the UK . First time I have heard about them.
How long do the canisters last for?
#5 by Eric Hansen on November 27, 2009 - 2:55 PM
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I Was at the Louisville Kentucky show as well and our company will be using much of this equipment and currently is the first commercial lawn maintenance company to run one of our crews 100 percent on propane. This includes the trucks(Ford F350 Roush 1 ton), 72″, 60″, 48″, 36″, and 21″ mowers, and trimmers and blowers. We still have a bit of an issue with the Lehr units because of the lack of ability to refill the canisters. We have had some success with using a 10 pound fiberglass canister in a backpack for the trimmers. We desperately need smaller refillable cylinders to have the trimmers and blowers working just like a 2 stroke echo line trimmer but believe that this is coming down the pipe. Our site http://www.greenpropanepower.com will eventually be following our company as we convert over other crews to this propane equipment. in 2009 we used over 1500 gallons of propane and are targeting 5000-10000 gallons of propane to be used for the 2010 season. This will significantly cut down our use of unleaded fuel for our operations, reducing down our annual emmisions and performing quieter and cleaner.
#6 by Lawn Care Business on November 28, 2009 - 8:29 PM
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Eric:
Putting a 10 lb. fiberglass propane canister in a backpack is a very interesting idea. I have found some of the refillable propane canisters that I think you are referencing.
At $90, they will probably pay for themselves in 1 or 2 fills.
#7 by Eric Hansen on December 18, 2009 - 5:03 PM
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Yes, our canisters are made by Ragasco. We will see how they work moving forward. We also just picked up the first in the country Roush/Ford F350 truck from Jack Roush. See the press release at http://blog.roushperformance.com/blog/2009/12/competitive-lawn-service-takes-keys-to-first-roush-under-bed-propane-f-350.html . Thats me in the photo.
#8 by Trinidad Tribbett on December 29, 2009 - 6:59 PM
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#9 by Thank you on February 16, 2010 - 11:52 AM
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startalawncarebusiness.com; You saved my day again.
#10 by lawn care man on March 8, 2010 - 2:53 AM
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Hi Everybody
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