Overview
Review Background
- Author: Sid
- Research Sources: Amazon.com and Mowers Direct
- Verified Purchases (?) Used For This Review: 9
- Average Amazon Rating*: 3.0 out of 5.0
- Average Mowers Direct Rating*: 4.4 out of 5.0
- Average Total Owner Rating (Amazon + Mowers Direct)*: 3.7 out of 5.0
* On Publishing Date.
Rating By Owners
Product Facts
- Official Homepage
- Model Number: 42LS
- Lawn Type Compatibility: works with all common residential lawns.
- Lawn Tractor/Riding Mower Compatibility: works with machines that have a universal hitch (check with the manufacturer about your specific towing machine).
- Weight: 95 lbs (43.09 kg)
What Owners Say
What Owners Like
The storage hopper is relatively large on this lawn sweeper, which allows for a large lawn to be swept without having to constantly stop to dispose of collected debris.
However, the suitability of the hopper size depends on the size of your lawn and the amount of debris that covers it. There are larger lawn sweepers than this one available.
The Ohio Steel 42″ seems to handle pine straw better than competitor models.
Owners report satisfaction with how sturdy this lawn sweeper is.
What Owners Dislike
The dump cord can get stuck in the brushes if you do not watch it.
Some people report that the hopper fills up too fast. However, that depends on lawn size and the amount of debris on the ground. If you have a really large lawn, a larger tow behind lawn sweeper might be more suitable.
There are very few complaints about the Ohio 42″ (18 cubic feet) tow behind lawn sweeper.
What The Lawn Sweeper Picks Up Well
Owners report that the Ohio Steel 42″ is good at picking up the following:
- Leaves
- Wet leaves
- Sticks
- Pine needles
- Pine cones
- Small nuts
- Hickory nut hulls
- Acorns
What The Lawn Sweeper Does Not Pick Up Well
No major problems are reported. However, pine straw needs to be occasionally cleared from the wheel axles and brush shaft to prevent jamming up.
Reported Lawn Sweeping Time Savings
** One owner reports that prior to getting this lawn sweeper, it would take his family of fiver several days to tackle the annual leaf raking chore. Now, with the Ohio Steel 42 inch tow behind lawn sweeper, he gets the job done fast with only him and his wife.
Fun Factor
Because the Ohio Steel 42 inch tow behind lawn sweeper is easy to build and works well, it is fun to use. It makes an otherwise frustrating and time-consuming chore feel more like play.
Ease Of Assembly (With Approximate Assembly Time)
Users report that this product is easy to assemble and the instructions are reported as being easy to follow. The instruction manual is four pages, with the pins and bolts printed to scale so that they are easy to identify. The time reported for assembly is around 2-3 hours.
People say the parts are easy to match with the assembly drawings.
Ease Of Use
No problems were reported with the ease of using this lawn sweeper. It seems like a straightforward and hassle-free product to operate.
Ease Of Storage
The lawn sweeper has a small footprint, especially due to the ability to fold it with the removal of pins. The basket comes off through pin removal.
The hopper can be removed and collapsed to allow for easier storage.
The sweeper itself can be hung up on the wall by the hitch.
Fatigue Reduction
The lawn sweeper is easy to operate, and can be emptied out from the seat of a riding lawn tractor. It will reduce the time and energy required to clear your lawn, especially compared to raking it.
Build Quality
The parts are reported as being of high quality, with a sturdy frame. The bag (hopper) for catching debris comes with two back braces that keep it upright when sweeping, which allows for better collection and less chance of chafing of the fabric.
Many users report that the product is generally heavy duty and sturdy.
However, the fabric of the hopper can tear and may require repair with duct tape.
The gears on this lawn sweeper are plastic, which is often the case with lawn sweepers (the Ohio Steel has ball bearing parts and is an exception).
Packaging Quality
People seem satisfied with the way the product is packaged. The smaller parts (used during assembly) are stored in sealed plastic bags, which prevents them from going missing.
Emptying Mechanism
The hopper is emptied with the use of a dump cord, which can be done without leaving the seat of the tractor/riding lawn mower.
Safety Issues
None reported.
Customer Service Experiences
There are no reports of people contacting customer service for this product.
Performance Tips From Owners
- Dumping the contents on a big tarp without getting off the tractor will save additional time.
- Some people report that the base will drag against the ground. However, this is because they have not used the height adjustment to properly calibrate the lawn sweeper to their lawn height. Make sure to learn how to set the height to avoid the base from dragging on the ground.
- The dump cord can get snagged into the brush, so it is important to keep an eye on the cord while you are dumping the hopper and make sure it does not remain inside after you drive off.
- To avoid pine needles clogging up the wheel axels and brush shaft, inspect the unit from time to time and clear any stuck needles and straws.
- When driving on hills and inclines, set your tractor drive to the slowest speed and only move up and down. Avoid sweeping across the slope, as it could cause the lawn sweeper to slip and the hitch to break. Take extra precautions when sweeping on inclines to make sure conditions are dry.
- Because the hopper is quite large, it is recommended to avoid overfilling it as that would make it difficult to unload.
Additional Details
About The Manufacturer
Ohio Steel uses 300,000 square feet of factory space to manufacture products for a variety of industries and markets, one of them being lawn and garden care.
They have a strong focus on innovation, performance and quality when it comes to their products and lawn sweepers are one of their flagship garden care items. They also build other garden care tools such as aerators, dethatchers and rollers.
They originated and are still based in Columbus, Ohio.
Manufacturing Country
United States of America.
Warranty Coverage
Two years.
Return Policy
The return policy depends on where you purchase the lawn sweeper from.
Replacement Part Availability And Cost
http://www.ohiosteel.com/partsStore/product?productId=83
Product Manual Download
None available but a parts list can be found on the Ohio Steel website.
Can Sweeping Be Turned Off? (Brush Disengagement Feature)
ASK MANUFACTURER.
What stands out with the Ohio Steel 42 inch tow behind lawn sweeper is how easy it is to assemble, and how sturdy it is. It is made of heavy-duty material, and this reflects in the level of satisfaction expressed by users.
It also is capable of handling inclines and slopes, which many other tow behind lawn sweepers are not good at. Furthermore, it is reported to be adept at handling tight spots and corners.
This is a heavy duty machine that is suitable for people with heavier leaf coverage on their lawns. It is a good choice for people with smaller lawns (1-2 acres), that have tight spots to navigate.
The lawn sweeper is also capable of handling slopes and hills.
Where To Buy Online (Securely)
You can start becoming the owner of an X lawn sweeper in the next few minutes through the convenience of e-commerce.
Big box retailers (such as Home Depot) tend to sell lawn sweepers only through the Internet. They often do not carry stock in-store.
The following reputable e-commerce retailers use secure encryption technology to make sure that your credit card and personal information are safe when ordering:
| Store | Availability | Free Shipping? | Return Policy | Price + Shipping (Pre-Tax) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Check Stock | No | 30 days (details) |
$215.90 + $35.48 shipping Best Price |
|
| Home Depot | Check Stock | Yes | 90 days (details) |
$279.00 + $0 shipping | |
| Mowers Direct | Check Stock | Yes | 30 days (details) |
$299.99 + $0 shipping | |
| Sears | Check Stock | No | 30 days (details) |
$309.98 + $54.58 shipping |
Last Updated: August 12, 2015
