Pros and cons of using petrol sprayers

Features of the choice of a gasoline sprayer

When choosing a gasoline sprayer for the garden, pay attention to the main features:

• Engine power. The power of the motor sprayer directly affects the performance of the unit and what area it is able to process in one working day. For processing 20 acres of land, machines with an engine power from 1 to 1.5 hp will be suitable. One hectare will be freely processed by gasoline sprayers with an engine from 2 to 3 hp. And for processing fields of 5 hectares, aggregates with a capacity of over 4 hp are needed. However, the use of the latter is justified only for large agricultural enterprises. It is also worth noting that the engine power also affects the height of the liquid ejection from the nozzle. The two-stroke engine is capable of pumping pressure inside the chamber up to 30 bar. Therefore, if you plan to process trees above 10 m, then you need an aggregate with a capacity of more than 2 hp.
• The size of the tank for the sprayed material. For processing an area of up to 15 acres, an aggregate with a tank of up to 15 liters is suitable — these are compact models of the satchel type that can be worn on the back. From 20 acres and up to several hectares can be processed with models with a tank volume of 20 liters and above. However, it is worth noting that sprayers with a large tank are not made of a knapsack type, since it is difficult to carry on your back. Units on wheels are designed for this purpose.
• The sprayed material. Depending on the configuration of the device, the gasoline sprayer can spray liquid substances or powdery. In those sprayers that allow you to work with powder, you can fill in small seeds, and their planting will go much faster (if you can neglect the accuracy of sowing). To work with dry preparations, the gasoline sprayer is equipped with a special "booster" (injection) pump, which creates high pressure, whereas in liquid models it is not present, and the substance can flow by gravity. A vivid example of this is the sprayer SADKO GMD 5714 , equipped with a special pump for spraying powder.
• Consumption of the substance. On average, sprayers spray 1 liter of substance per 1 hundred (a straight section of stunted seedlings). However, it is worth noting that the consumption largely depends on the height of the treated plants, the diameter of the nozzle and the type of nozzle. So tall trees will take much more than a liter per hundred. Therefore, choose a gasoline garden sprayer based on the height of your crops. Some models are additionally equipped with jet force adjustment.
• Management. Most gasoline sprayers are controlled using a trigger on the handle on the right side. However, some devices are additionally equipped with control levers for the left hand (shown in the figure below), which is especially suitable for left-handed people, as well as in case of failure of the main start button.

Control under the left hand

Also, motor sprayers have a number of additional functions that should be taken into account when choosing:

• Fine dispersion of the substance. This function allows you to turn a jet of liquid into a fine mist sprayed on plants. This happens thanks to the rotary nozzle, which has a cone-shaped chamber inside. In this chamber, the substance is split into small droplets and fed to the fan, which stands at the outlet of the nozzle. A powerful jet of air droplets are blown through the fan, creating a kind of fog. The fog itself gently settles with a fine aerosol film on the leaves and stems of plants. The advantage of this function is that damage to crops by strong pressure is completely eliminated, which is very important for weak plants with a thin stem. Fluid consumption is also significantly reduced. Motor sprayers capable of creating an aerosol film, usually, should be able to replace the nozzles.

Anti-vibration system of the knapsack model (represented by red springs)

• The presence of an anti-vibration system. During the operation of the unit, the engine produces a certain level of noise and vibration. Devices equipped with an anti-vibration system can reduce the discomfort of working with a gasoline sprayer. Thanks to this system, even after prolonged work, there is no tingling in the palms and severe fatigue in the back.
• Blower function. This function is applicable only to motor sprayers with a large diameter nozzle (from 45 mm in diameter) and an air duct supply to it, as in the STIHL SR 450 . It allows you to use the unit for cleaning leaves and other debris. And if you pour a water-based emulsion solution, you can easily paint the greenhouse.

Pros and cons of motor sprayers

It is possible to understand the positive and negative aspects of using gasoline sprayers only in comparison with battery and manual models. Of the advantages , it is worth highlighting the following:

• Efficiency. Thanks to the powerful internal combustion engine, a strong airflow is created in the unit, capable of pushing out a huge amount of liquid in a short time. So the gasoline sprayer will be able to process two or even three times more area in one working day than a battery, and even more so a manual one.
• Versatility. Some gasoline machines, due to the presence of a large pipe in diameter, can be used as a seed drill, or a cleaner of leaves and snow from the car. In battery cases, there is only a thin rod, which it is not possible to perform such actions.
• Powder spraying. This function is not available to any type of machines for processing trees, except for gasoline (a special nozzle is required).
• The possibility of refueling fuel. The gasoline unit can always be refueled anywhere in the cultivated field. The battery requires the presence of an electrical network.

Motor sprayers for the garden also have disadvantages:

• High noise level. Headphones are required to work in order to avoid hearing damage.
• High vibration. The high level of vibration produced by the internal combustion engine affects operator fatigue and work comfort. It is worth noting that devices with an anti-vibration system somewhat compensate (although not completely) for this disadvantage, but they also cost much more.
• Sensitivity to fuel. The piston system of the internal combustion engine is very sensitive to gasoline and oil on which it works, therefore, with their poor quality (or the use of oil from another company), it can quickly fail.
• Price. If the prices for battery devices start at $ 40, then the price for gasoline starts at $ 90. Also, do not forget about the regular purchase of fuel for motor sprayers.