Cub Cadet’s EFI Engines

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Cub Cadet’s EFI Engines: Cub Cadet’s new fuel-injected engine boasts serious strength, offering the kind of high-performance power you’d expect from Cub Cadet.

EFI uses up to 25% less fuel, which means fewer emissions and fewer fill-ups. Less time needs to be spent on maintenance as it has no carburettor and requires fewer oil changes.

Cub Cadet's EFI Engines

To become Cub Cadet certified, engines are evaluated using a rigorous process to ensure they have been built to uphold our standards of strength, high performance and premium quality. Going to extremes, Cub Cadet engines are field tested in the most challenging environments to ensure dependable all-temperature starting.

EFI FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS EFI?

Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) is a high-pressure fuel management system. Just like on today’s cars, EFI uses an onboard computer, injector nozzle, and multiple sensors to reliably deliver exactly the right amount of fuel to get the most performance and efficiency out of your engine. Cub Cadet EFI engine is an advanced electronically controlled “Closed Loop” system that uses real time feedback to sense the usage conditions and instantly optimize combustion to give you smooth running, and exceptional starting you can count on… no matter what.

HOW DO EFI ENGINES WORK?

EFI, or any Fuel Injection system, utilizes a special high-pressure fuel delivery nozzle to inject an ultra-fine mist of fuel into the engine. An electronic control unit uses sensors around the engine to deliver the precise amount of fuel the engine needs, improving response, efficiency and starting. Cub EFI adjusts the fuel metering on-the-fly to compensate for variations in load, speed, fuels, temps, and pressures to always feed your engine the perfect charge that it needs for maximum performance at any task.

DO EFI ENGINES REQUIRE LESS MAINTENANCE?

Yes. EFI systems produce cleaner combustion resulting in a cleaner engine. Clean engines can go longer between regular oil changes and required major maintenances. We do still recommend a fuel stabilizer for long term storage to make sure the fuel in the tank stays fresh and you’ll be ready to mow with a push of button next spring.

ARE EFI ENGINES EASIER TO START?

A major benefit of EFI systems is the greatly improved cold and hot starting performance. Even after a long period of no use, during Winter for example, the EFI engine is much more likely to start first time.

ARE EFI ENGINES MORE RESISTANT TO FUEL SYSTEM CORROSION AND “ETHANOL DAMAGE” SO OFTEN SEEN TODAY?

The fuel system is ethanol resistant and compatible with ethanol fuel blends.

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The Polaris RANGER Story

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The Polaris RANGER Story: It’s been two decades since the RANGER® 6×6 vehicle was introduced and revolutionised the side-by-side category back in 1998. Mitchell Johnson, son of David Johnson – one of the founders of Polaris in the 1950s – was vital to the conception of the iconic machine and discusses how the RANGER® rode to market…

“When discussing the beginning of the RANGER®, we first have to think about the vehicle in the context of what Polaris was doing at that time. In the 1990s, the Sportsman ATVs were Polaris’ only Off-Road Vehicle and was selling well.”

The Polaris RANGER Story

Polaris’ reputation for being one of the fastest developing companies in the powersport industry held true, RANGER® went from initial development to production line in just two years.

“We had talked from time-to-time about making a side by side ATV for a driver and passenger. Every Friday we had a staff meeting in the morning and then in the afternoon, we’d go out and ride ORVs. We always took at least one 6×6 ATV to carry everything. We would try and ride around with one person sitting on each fender to see what it was like. One day, Edgar Hetteen [one of our founders] came to my office and said we should make a 6×6 in a side-by-side configuration, he loved the machine but wanted to ride beside his wife Hannah.”

Major decisions about the new model were all made as ‘gut calls’.

“Edgar mocked up side-by-side seating on a 6×6 in his workshop, we spent an hour or so sitting in it to see what it was like – should it have handlebars or a steering wheel? Should it be ride-on or ride-in? These are all things that are gut calls and we made using our experience. With brand new products like the RANGER®, you never know if you’re going to hit the bullseye with customers – the customers themselves don’t envision how the product will or can be used. Take the microwave for example, it hasn’t replaced the oven like the developers thought it would, but has instead created a new market.”

The key in developing the RANGER® in Mitchell’s opinion was to keep the team and investment small.

“I’m not sitting here saying that we knew it was going to be a success but we knew we had to get something out there. If we had identified a need, then we needed to find out. I worked with Edgar, Chuck Baxter – who was the VP of engineering – and James Bergman at BEAMCO in Alvardo, MN, to see if he would do the initial concept work. The idea was to keep investment small, so that if we didn’t hit the bulls eye, we could adjust the sights easily to get on closer to the target centre.”

During early conversations, the main characteristics that the new machine had to have were fairly clear.

“Good speed, great ride and handling with excellent off-road capability, plus a greater payload than any of the utility haulers on the market were all attributes we wanted the vehicle to have. Most of all, it had to be a lot of fun to drive and ride like the already popular Sportsman line.”

“The initial prototype was received well by management. And the first production made a small profit in the first year. We also achieved ‘off-road’ status for the vehicle – which was essential.”

The RANGER® is testament to the Polaris culture – innovation and development, moving with the times and trusting staff to make decisions. Even the name of the new model was helped decided by employees.

“We’d been playing around with names. One of the early Polaris products was a RANGER® snowmobile, when this model was discontinued, so was the name – which I always thought was a shame and I wanted to bring it back. We went out to the employees to ask them to think of a name and said we’d give $100 if their name was chosen. Mike Trihey and Donny Whiteman submitted RANGER® name and were given $100 each.

“The RANGER® name represents the category – it’s fun to ride and that’s one of the most important elements for us. That’s the history of Polaris throughout the years, people realise how much fun they are to ride and the volume grows, plus the RANGER® does a lot of work.

“The RANGER® was a team effort. This stuff doesn’t happen without the people on the team – contributing, listening and pushing, we don’t know for sure what is wrong or right – that’s what has made this successful. The culture at Polaris is one full of passion and an overwhelming desire for the products and people to succeed.”

Polaris celebrated rolling the one-millionth RANGER® machine off the production line in 2017 and 2018 marks two decades since the utility vehicle was introduced to the Polaris line-up. Forming a key part of the Polaris product line, the RANGER® is used all over the globe for a variety of tasks – with the RANGER® Diesel and RANGER® 570 variants being international best sellers.

The RANGER® legacy gets stronger every year, with the RANGER® XP 1000, the latest addition 2018, setting a new industry standard and boasting over one hundred user-inspired improvements. The model has class-leading power (82hp) and torque (61lb-ft), industry-leading towing (over 1100 Kg) and ground clearance (330mm) – making it the hardest working, smoothest riding SXS built.

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Arb150 Ticks All The Boxes

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Arb150 Ticks All The Boxes: Wiltshire Countryside Services have become the latest company to purchase an Arb 150p from GreenMech. For Owner Adam Lonsdale, his decision was made easier not only by the build quality and back-up service that GreenMech provides compared to the alternatives available in the current market, but also by the superior performance of this petrol version.

Founded in 2014, Wiltshire Countryside Services provide a variety of arboricultural and forestry services to domestic and commercial customers alike. “We were getting more and more problems with our previous chipper and ended up spending out more than what the machine was worth!” explains Adam. When his local dealer GA Groundcare took on the GreenMech franchise last year, Adam went with his wish-list and was excited to see what was available. “I told Ashley at GA Groundcare what I wanted, and the budget, and was pleased to see that the GreenMech machines satisfied more of my needs and wants than other manufacturers could.”

Arb150 Ticks All The Boxes

“We’d had a demo of both the diesel and petrol Arborist 130 machines, when Ashley mentioned that a 38hp petrol model was then about to launch. After seeing the Arborist 150p at the Arb Show I knew that was the one I wanted and bought it without even having a demo.” In addition to the significant cost saving over the diesel equivalent, Adam was particularly impressed with the output performance achieved whilst still keeping the unit under 750kg. “The sub 750kg weight means my colleague or anyone else can tow it without a special license. Also, because the majority of our work is domestic tree surgery, it can be towed by a Land Rover, quadbike or alternative right to the spot where it’s required, leaving a minimal footprint on lawns and gardens.”

The superior build quality was another box ticked for Adam. “Some chippers we’ve looked at have fibreglass bonnets – in this industry things get bumped and dropped and a fibreglass bonnet is asking for trouble. The GreenMech machines seem to consist of more strong, hardwearing metal components. It’s easy to use, simple to maintain and all backed up with reliable back up support from GreenMech and their dealer network.”

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Allett’s Complete Lawncare System

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Allett’s Complete Lawncare System: Whilst we’re all hoping the Beast From The East, The Pest From The West and any other cold weather extremes are far behind us, take a moment to consider their impact of such conditions on your lawn.

There is a direct correlation between grass growth and ground temperature, and the extreme lows followed by recent highs will have grass growing incredibly well. The downside to this, however, is that the chances of moss and weeds also growing have increased.

Allett's Complete Lawncare System

Dealing with these problems, and creating the perfect lawn, takes both time and patience so it is vital to use the correct equipment, and at the correct time. Buying various pieces of equipment can be costly and problematic, particularly for those where storage space is at a premium. The unique Complete Lawncare System from Allett could be the answer.

The Complete Lawncare System features six interchangeable cartridges that fit on to Allett’s Kensington petrol mowers and Liberty 43 battery powered mowers. The system transforms the machine from a traditional mower to a specialist gardening tool simply by changing its cartridges. The system includes an aerator, a lawn brush, dethatcher, verticutter and a 10-bladed cartridge, as well as the walk-behind cylinder lawnmower, all in one machine which eases storage issues and reduces costs.

Scarifying is a key way to ensuring your lawn is healthy and gloriously green throughout the summer and is a particularly good way of repairing it after the recent cold weather spells. The Allett scarifier cartridge gently removes moss and thatch, whilst also reduces weeds and prevents problems in the future. For lawns with severe problems and thick growth of dead matter, an alternative cartridge in the system to use is the dethatcher.

For more than 50 years, Allett has specialised in the design and manufacture of precision, single-cylinder, walk-behind mowers that produce a quintessentially striped lawn. The homeowner range are leaders within their various market sectors providing users with expertly-built, reliable, well-proven grass-cutting reel mowers which produce a seemingly effortless first-class finish to every lawn on which they are used.

All of the cartridges are available from Allett’s UK wide network of specialist independent garden machinery dealers. Lawn mower prices start from £429.

For further information visit www.allett.co.uk.

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STM and Espritt’s Prestigious Order

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STM and Espritt’s Prestigious Order: If you think of Brugge you almost instantly conjure up pictures of their spectacular waterway system.

But they do have grass as well.

STM and Espritt's Prestigious Order

This is the first season with STM/SCAG machinery being represented by Espritt, our new dealership in Belgium, their Dirk Allard has already obtained a prestigious order for ten SWZ pedestrian machines for maintaining the grass areas in the historic and beautiful city of Brugge.

This is a very good order to have received, not only as it reflects well on Dirk and Espritt, but as it also puts the familiar orange SCAG machinery out and about in a prominent European city.

The SWZ is a pedestrian unit with zero-turn operation, and they have selected the 36” rotary deck option, chosen for this work as it is ideal for intricate working areas and easy and quick to transport on trailers. Its cutting capability is a further benefit and we look forward to a long relationship with this landmark city as we help to maintain its internationally celebrated appearance.

 Machines are available for demonstration through the STM dealership network.

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