Most Americans apparently would rather have a lush lawn than a fashionable wardrobe, if Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey is any indication.

The survey shows that when it comes to spending hard-earned money, buying new clothes or going to the movies are less important to Americans than having a beautiful lawn. With lawn care so high on the list of priorities for cash-spending consumers, is it any wonder that lawn care technology continues to evolve? Outdoor power equipment increasingly focuses on reducing the time and effort one invests in lawn care.

For hand-held tools, the cutting edge is “4-cycle” engines. Operating much like a car engine, 4-cycle products are rapidly replacing the old 2-cycle engines once common in handheld power tools. The main advantages of 4-cycle products such as string trimmers, blowers/vacs and even garden cultivators are:

* They are easier to start. A spring in the 4-cycle starting system reduces the amount of effort required to pull the starting cord.

* They are more fuel efficient and produce better engine performance than traditional 2-cycle products.

* Where 2-cycle engines ran on a mixture of oil and gasoline, 4-cycle products run on gas.Users can rely on one can of gas for all their power equipment needs. Spills are reduced and the odor of burnt oil is eliminated.

* The average 4-cycle engine produces half the emissions of a standard 2-cycle, making them more environmentally friendly. And with a cool running engine, fuel efficiency is approximately 25 percent better.

* Old power tools belted out 95 decibels of noise (comparable to the engine of a motorcycle). The new 4-cycle engines create less noise – typically 75 to 95 decibels – and at a lower frequency that is more comfortable to the ear. They also generate less vibration for increased control and comfort.

* Despite the vast increased efficiencies and benefits of a 4-cycle product, the price point is only slightly higher than a 2-cycle product – typically 25 percent.

For example, Troy-Bilt 4-cycle string trimmers boast Spring Assist starting technology to dramatically reduce the starting effort, an extended reach shaft for easy trimming under shrubs or low branches and a system that allows replacement of the line without removing the spool.

Homeowners who want to reduce effort by multi-tasking are turning to products like Craftsman’s blower/vacs that automatically mulch debris at a 10:1 reduction ratio. Some 4-cycle equipment is even compatible with easy attachment systems, allowing users to interchange a variety of attachments for added versatility and time savings. For example, a 4-cycle string trimmer can be transformed into a blower/vac, edger or cultivator within seconds, making it a complete lawn and garden system.

Americans continue to take pride in the appearance of their lawns and gardens, so if outdoor chores are going to be performed, they might as well be enjoyable.

For more information on premium 4-cycle outdoor handheld power equipment, log on to www.mtdproducts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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