Atco Balmoral Lawnmowers
The Atco Balmoral range of petrol cylinder mowers are, in most people’s opinion, some of the finest lawn care machines on the market today. If you are keen to get the best finish for your lawn (and are prepared to put in the work required!) these mowers are very probably some of the best you can buy.
The range is made up of three sizes – 14”, 17” and 20”. All in essence share the same specification; any differences are summarized in the table below.
All are driven by the same powerful 3hp 4-stroke Kawasaki engine with recoil starter. The three-way drive system allows the blades to be disengaged without stopping the engine. This is so convenient for emptying the grassbox and for powered manoeuvres around the garden. In addition, when mowing in awkward corners or around trees, you can disengage the drive to the rear roller, giving you manual control. A centrifugal clutch protects the engine, should the blade cylinder jam for any reason.
The standard cylinder has 6 blades which give a great finish that is perfect for most lawns. However if you have a bowling green to maintain (or if you are a real perfectionist) there is a super-fine 10-blade cylinder available.
A great idea is Atco mowers’ patented “QX” system, which allows the cutting cylinder to be easily exchanged for a scarifying cassette. This turns your mower into a powered lawn raker – so bear this in mind when doing the sums, as you effectively have two machines in one here.. Cutting height is infinitely adjustable between 6 and 36 mm.
A spring-tine comb lifts the grass prior to cutting to improve the thoroughness of the cut, while the stainless steel front roller and heavy steel rear roller get you that classic striped finish. The 17” and 20” models have a split rear roller with a differential drive, which aids manoeuvrability and minimises damage to the lawn when cornering – great attention to detail.
Yet another useful feature of the Atco Balmoral range is the set of side wheels (supplied free) which lift up the mower to let you cut longer grass – again increasing the versatility of your machine.
The grassboxes are made in impact-resistant polypropylene to keep weight down and all have great capacity, so fewer trips to the compost heap.
The Atco Balmoral range are all covered by a great warranty as you would expect – 3 years for parts and 2 years for engine and labour
So if you are looking for the best, and only the best will do, a petrol cylinder mower from Atco should figure seriously in your thinking. You know that a Balmoral would be a significant investment – they are not cheap machines. But they are built to last a lifetime, and if carefully maintained, they is no doubt that they will. We think that a choice from the Balmoral range, whether your lawn is large or small, will not be regretted.
If you feel that an electric cylinder mower could suit you better, have a look at the Atco Windsor range – same quality, different technology.
Best Place to Buy
After researching the options, we reckon that you can’t do better than Amazon. Shipping is either free, or extremely low (£3.99!), with excellent returns policy should you need it – so you can shop with absolute confidence.
CLICK HERE for the Atco Balmoral 14SK
CLICK HERE for the Atco Balmoral 17SK
CLICK HERE for the Atco Balmoral 20SK
| Model |  Balmoral 14SK | Balmoral 17SK |  Balmoral 20SK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting Width | 35 cm (14”) | 43 cm (17”) | 51 cm (20”) |
| Grassbox | 52 litre | 62 litre | 70 litre |
| Weight | 45 kg (99.2 lb) | 51 kg (112.4 lb) | 54 kg (119.1 lb) |
| Engine | Kawasaki 3 hp 4-stroke. Recoil starter | ||
| Cylinder | 6-blade standard, 10-blade optional extra | ||
| Scarifier Cassette optional extra | |||
| Cutting Height | 6 – 36 mm, infinitely adjustable | ||
| Noise Level | 81 dB(A) | ||