I've been using the Sun Joe for 3 years now and it still works great, and lawn looks amazing. One thing I did is remove the 2 springs on the guard cover that aid in holding the bag on and guard down, they don't seem to be needed at all without the bag. Without the springs the thatch slips out the guard cover more evenly and allows the entire machine to work better.
Those carriage bolts in the handle need to be about 1/4 to 1/2” longer so you can open them up enough to fold the handle. I replaced mine and it’s perfect now!
Just bought the older model, scarified and dethatched my lawn and over seeded...absolutely blown away at how much it pulled out! Can't wait to see the difference in 4 weeks! Thanks for the reviews and advice!
Same here. Bought the original. I’ve done a few different sections of my lawn (the worst ones). After three weeks, it’s amazing. Be got a lager section I want to do, but it has become quite hot here recently so I’ll wait until September for the rest. For what I paid, if I get thru this year and next season, I’ll be happy.
Ok, I bought the Sun Joe dethatcher 2 years ago, I have used it for three seasons now and this cheap flimsy thing still works great. I am amazed, now i want it to break so I can get a bigger one. Great stuff! I think my 100' 12gauge cord costs more than the Sun Joe.
My SunJoe is one of my favorite pieces of lawn gear. 3 years of regular use it stopped working, it was the safety switch I just superglued it permanently closed and it kept trucking
Love my Sunjoe and all that it does. But there's a problem I ran into that I want to pass on: BEWARE of hidden tree roots lying just below the soil line. The spinning bar under the Sunjoe on one side has a slide that allows the bar to "skip up" if it hits anything solid. But the other side, attached to the motor and gears is solidly attached and has no play in it. While scarifying, I hit a buried tree root (at least 30 feet away from the tree), stripped the gears (they're made of plastic), and killed her. Sunjoe kindly provided me with a replacement for which I was happy. But it is something to be mindful of. Keep the good work, Ginja. Your videos are spot on!
Ginja, I bought the Greenworks version a couple of weeks ago and tried it on my large yard. The front yard alone is 10,700 square feet and is about 180 feet from front of house to street. The problem I had, and I suspect the SunJoe might also have, it lost power when I had to go beyond my 100-foot heavy gauge electric cord. The instructions warned of this but when I realized I could only reach about 65 percent of my front yard I dared the instructions and tried a second 100 foot cord. For sure a loss of power but it got thatch up with me walking at a slower pace. When I went back for a second round and went back to the single cord, the full power really didn't return. So be cautious as a buyer if your yard extends beyond the length of a 100 foot cord.
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ruclips.net/user/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
Great video. FYI, Don’t use a garden hose to clean it. Water will get into the motor. Use an air compressor or a damp cloth. Peel the decal back on the cover you want to remove. There’s another screw under that decal. Once removed, the cover will come off
Thank you, Ginja! I truly enjoy your videos. It's rare to find a video series that is both educational AND enjoyable, but yours are 5 Stars every time!
Use your blower to clear the vents or a gentle brush. Also I found another flaw. The depth setting lever can jump down if your lawn is bumpy. My workaround was to use a light bungee from the lever to the opposite side of the handle midsection. After using the bungee there were no further issues. Another plus is the improvement of the ground clearance in the front. The previous model would drag and scrape against the lawn as you went making it a bit more difficult, not so in version two.
Lots of vids on YT showing Sun Joe failing at gear that drives Scarifier and Dethatcher blades. Too many guys not scalping lawns and bagging clippings before using Sun Joe. Mine is 3 years old and have used it to dethatch and remove lawn debris on 18,000 sq ft lawn. No issues at all.
perhaps you could use a shop vac to clean out that clogged vent ! use your lawn mower to mow the grass short before using the Sunjoe ....don't waste you time raking or blowing the thatch - pick up with you lawn mower !
Thanks for the review! Probably going to get this model. It would seem to be less laborious to put a bagged yard can out in the yard and keep the bagger on and dump the pulled up thatch into the can as it fills bag, versus dumping everything on the lawn only having to have to go back and pick it up manually and fill the bag...
It looks like they fixed my main complaint, the back 2 wheels look a little further back from that rear flap so easier to cock it up to take it where you want to go before use.
Just ordered a sun joe 2.0... 1-2 months for it to ship. But I guess it means that I will be doing it just before end of season. (In time for over seeding.) I am sure I will do the "dethatch" when I get it. Then scarify just before season end. Enjoy the yard tips thanks for the help on getting my yard glorious and the envy of the neighbors.
i dethatched and scarified last fall with the SunJoe along with overseeding and the yard looks great this spring......i look at all the other lawns near me and there is way less snow mold, the grass came back quicker and greener and can go right into mowing and fertilizing without all the raking.....this original model was worth it's weight in gold and now the newer bigger version might save half an hour doing the yard...welcome back Ginga
Appreciate the detailed review. Did you happen to mow first before you dethatched? I'm about to do that this weekend. Also, noticed Timpanogos in the background. I think you live close to the fairgrounds by where I grew up.
For the clogged front vents, the website mentions AirBoost technology? The owner's manual says "Ensure that the air vents are always unobstructed and clear. Clean them if necessary with a soft brush. Blocked air vents may lead to overheating and damage the product."
I just bought the smaller one to get the small rocks out of my lawn. Dethatching with it works. It was worth the $116 gamble. And my property is 30,000 sq ft. Great point about the 12 gauge cord. My model is 12 Amp, but it’s good advice nonetheless. Glad to see you back!
Good point about the extension cord... need the larger gauge to carry the current over that distance! Another issue to look out for is when the unit is plugged into an outlet on a 15 amp breaker that is running other things. Then the breaker pops due to being overloaded. 13 amps is no joke! Seems like a solid unit!
Good and helpful info. My little unit is trucking along, but I do keep it on a short duty cycle. I use it for several passes and shut it off while I re-position the extension cord. Then I use my mower w/ the bag to vac it up on a lower setting. Lather rinse repeat. Give that little motor as many breaks as time allows and as you need too.
Looks like they greatly improved version 2 especially on the front leading edge; on version 1 the front leading edges would snag & drag on clumps and bumps mainly when scarifying. When I renovated my lawn with version 1 I ground off the lower edges of the plastic so I could smooth & level out the ground without being stopped by the bumps.
This is a great product. I raked, sacrificed, then overseeded. My lawn did take a hit after this procedure. I am hoping it will look much better in a couple weeks.
So I picked up the Earthwise dethatcher last season and it works well (and was cheap). But kinda wishing I picked up the SunJoe because of the ability to swap between the scarifier and dethatcher. I knew they made a dethatcher, but was not aware of the ability to swap cartridges.
Great review bud! On your 1.0 I've found that if you take it apart and get to the motor area it fills up with dust and debris that needs cleaned. If it gets too dirty there's some sort of shutoff that kicks in to keep it from over heating. Clean it out and you're good to go. 👊
I like the newer Height adjustment bar better. The tool attachment is very simple, but very effective at holding the blades or threshers to the motor. Same rule applies. Have a solid cord to run from a good circuit. I have an extra 30 amp dedicated for a freezer that I don't use anymore, and a heavy gauge cord. These little guys really pull some power.
Every sun Joe product I have bought has done well and held up, so I usually look for sun Joe products when getting yard tools. Most people do not need professional grade products and can get more for the $.
I have the same as the first version, but different brand and color. Cocraft sold by the Clas Ohlson chain at least in the Nordic countries. But the roller is a combined scarifier and dethatcher, and they don't sell them as separate rollers.
Love the video, this season I switched from my Kobalt corded Mower to a EGO. What a difference.. cut my 30 min lawn time into 15 mins. (Hope Sun Joe joins the cordless revolution) I started early this year... got lots to do .. to slay that lawn! :)
Only I don't like about the Sun Joe is that it's really thin -and it might not be able to clean up large areas of debris.It should be the same power but wider.
Hi there I love your knowledge.. Do you think that she should go in different directions of detaction. And scarfine. ??. And do you think she cut the grass roll close 1st
I got the new 15 inch and used it for the first time last weekend. Got a good amount out of my yard with a dethatcher and a ton with the scarifier. I had the same issue with the grill caking with debris. I used my air compressor to spray in there and it got it almost totally clean. That side collects the debris because there is a filter behind the grill. Overall, I am incredibly pleased with it and am getting ready to lend it out to some of my neighbors.
They now have a 2x24v twin cordless version. Problem is run time is only 20 minutes with 2 hour recharge. Not sure of power output of battery vs corded.
I put a rode across the handle bars the keep the door open and yes i get some dead grass on my shoes but it works great no clogging. I also wear eye protection but I had nevered got it in the face!
Ordered one from Amazon on June 24th and it arrives tomorrow. Once I realized it was going to take a while to get here I ordered the Greenworks one because I knew it would get to me in 2 days. It’s been working fantastic and I’m excited to see how the Sunjoe stacks up
Did you get version 1 or 2 of the SunJoe? If V-1, could you confirm if scarifier attachment possibly fits your GreenWorks? Curious about retrofitting the GreenWorks with a scarifier.
@@GravityRoller I got the latest version of the sunjoe and it’s a few inches wider than the greenworks so unfortunately I don’t think your idea would work. That would be sweet though if you were able to pull that off.
@@TheCureThatKillz Thank you for taking time to reply. Yes, I know the V-2 SunJoe is wider, which is the reason my question included qualifier related to the first version SunJoe (interested in retrofitting scarifier from V-1 into GreenWorks dethatcher). Thanks again ;-)
I wish you showed us the gear portion on the new one. Older sun joes have a weak point in the gears that connects from the motor and if it breaks it's not replaceable which is why I recommend not using the scarifier on rocky soil like in the northeast and just use the dethatch barrel. Anyways thanks for another great video lawn ginja!
keep going Bro!!! Im here cause only You help me with fluorescent spot on new lawn. Your appearing is not so professional but your knowledge is amazing. Wish my best!
I'm using the original, but there is a screw hiding under the sticker to get the top part off. I know because I hit a root and broke the belt. Received a new belt under warranty, but the replacement price is under $10. Should have ordered one at the same time! Thanks for the video!
I ordered this guy from the home store here.. and was super excited ... put it together and was getting ready.. but then found that the little plastic teeth that were used to set the height of the wheels, were broken... the teeth for the higher settings were snapped off, so the highest i could set it was at 0 height.. I wanted to run the first few passes of the dethatcher at a higher setting... Contacting Sunjoe to see if there was any warranty help was met with "Just return it where you bought it".. This model had become out of stock, so couldn't get a replacement.. so ordered the 13-inch...
I've got the Earthwise dethatcher. Works really well, no scarifier though. I loaned it out once last year with the 12ga cord. Don't get to use it til maybe August though. When mine gives out i'll get the SunJoe. For the price and ease of use compared to renting a big machine or paying someone, these are totally worth it. 2 total uses, if it last 10 times I feel that is pretty good value. The work afterwards was a pain, had 19 bags of yard waste.
Welcome back pale male! Great to see you gettin’ your groove on again! BTW, water and Sunjoe not good. I washed mine off real good last year. It pouted for a day, but snapped out of it. Love my Fisher Price lawn toy!!
I have the Homelite 14-inch dethatcher. I'm amazed how well these work! I wished mine had the scarifying blade change out assembly. I've been extremely happy with mine, but If it wears out, I will look at the Sun Joe for the ability to scarify. My only concern with the 15-inch, is the dethatching attachment. It does not look as robust as the 13-inch unit. Please keep us updated on your thoughts and experience with this new unit. Stay safe, healthy, and happy.
There are more screws under the sticker on the front. The older model did the same thing so I figure it is the same situation. I don't know if you figured it out or if someone else told you. Just thought I say something.
I apologize for being redundant but I am going to repost my earlier comment/question here with the hope that I will hear from you sooner because I think this is your most recent video. That being said, here is my earlier post. Ginja. I just finished playing with my new toy, The SunJoe! I dethatched or power raked if you will. My goal is to basically rejuvenate my lawn and get rid of some of the undesirables, while improving the desired growth which I believe is KY blue. And I have grubs. I saw them while cleaning out old purple loosestrife that had taken over some areas. I live in IL/Chicago area. It is April, 20th and it is snowing today although we have had temps pushing 80° for a day or 2 earlier in April. The ground temperature is between 46-49° F. My plan is to kill the grubs. Follow your Tenacity herbicide treatment along with SpeedZone first. In a couple weeks I plan to treat with Tenacity only and overseed with KY Blue. I have numerous grass types including KY Blue, but I want the Kentucky Blue to be dominant, and gradually take over. I am a little unsure of where to start in terms of grub treatment and herbicide treatment. I ordered Imidicloprid liquid, cyonara liquid and I have the menards brand, bioadvanced?, granular as well. And BTW I found a Barenbrug store near me just fyi. Will you please give me some input as to where exactly to start? Can I do the grub treatment and the Tenacity treatment together? Thanks. Enjoy your show!
interesting. I just sold my Sunjoe yesterday because I bought an Allett 43B w/scarifier. Note: I feel like most lawn care youtubers get them reversed - the dethatcher is the heavy solid tines and the scarifier is the spring tines. This is expected, because SunJoe gets it wrong too :)
funny story brian, it was allett that got the names wrong and they're aware of it too LOL. that's why they call it a power rake / scarifier. the term dethatcher is wrong in my opinion no matter the application. I think the term rake is great.
@@pestandlawnginja oh yeah? odd. I know that the "dethacher" really just pulls out debris via power rake, and the other metal slicing attachment actually cuts into the thatch layer. Either way, good product :)
I bought version 1 last year and the Landzie and I finally put them to use last weekend to overseed my small front yard. I hit it right before the first dandelions are just popping. Both were easy to use. I just scarified, as the lawn was REALLY patchy (only about 60% coverage). Fingers crossed it works for me.
Worse thing was that I had repaired a hose end and when I went to hook up my timer the end had absolutely welded itself to the hose bib. I tried PB blaster...I tried a propane torch...not budging. I may have to cut it off.
Thanks, because of you I just broke out my SunJoe and ran it over the lawn twice, then bagged it with the mower.....it’s Florida....It’s Hot. I don’t appreciate the motivation!
Of course I had to buy the original at regular price before price dropped because of this new model ! smh! I still loved how much easier it was to power rake thatch, still love it! lol
I'm sure you already figured this out, those two pillars you couldn't figure out are under the label on the top. You can see the indentation from one of the screws at 1:47.
Thanks for the info and update! Curious about 2 things. 1. I have a ton of creeping charlie and bellflower taking over my yard. (I have animals so I'm not big on spraying it). What are your thoughts on using this and then overseeding and then hitting it with Milogranite? Will I be spreading the weed or helping grass grow? 2. I have a tiny front yard with a 6 in slope to the sidewalk. Does it matter which direction I go? As in sideways or down? Sounds like a dumb question, but I'm new to all of this. Thx!
This will help the grass grow. Thicker the grass equals less weeds but with the weeds you listed it won’t be a cure. I prefer to go one direction with the machine then cross hatch
Just saw your video and am planning to get the newer model when Home Depot has it in stock (they have the older model in stock currently). I do have a 100 for 12 gauge cord ready to use but also saw the cordless version. I am concerned about its 20 minute run time - I wouldn't get much work done.
Last year the V1 as selling on Amazon for over $200, sometimes close to $300. I got mine for $174. Wish I knew V2 was coming out, I would have waited and paid almost the same. Oh well...
Going to pull the trigger on one of these, leaning towards the 15. Has it been that much of a hassle with the 15 & the clogging of the filter opening? Thats the only thing I worry about.
its a pain to be honest. its always clogged. the way they engineered it was it sucks air through that gap. I recently tried the rock and rocker and it pushes air through that gap. much better design. all in all i was pleasently happy with the sun joe. the motor was fine. I had an issue with the bearing failing after 30k sq ft of use. sun joe honored the warranty. but that appears to be the biggest issue with all of them. Hope that helps.
Finally a battery version to avoid that damn cord always in the way. Sun Joe 24V-X2-DTS15 Scarifier and Dethatcher Kit | 5-depth positions | 14-inch | Brushless Motor | W/ 2 x 24V Batteries and Dual Port Charger
Nice video and informative. Perhaps attach a piece of screen over the one side (vent grill) to prevent clippings from getting in there. What type of grass do you have…(appears to be a type of Zoysia…with the dense turf, since you mentioned golf-course quality was the goal) Where is your location? Appreciate you & thanks!💪😅
I bought 13" Sunjoe a week before the 15" came out and have to say I'm impressed so far. Off topic of this video ... Barenbrug had produced a regenerating perennial rye grass a few years ago .. i'm interested but can't find it.
I absolutely love the version 1 and saw, along with the new version, they have a battery-powered SunJoe...wondering what you think about that?? Think it’d have enough power??...also, glad the RUclips algorithm got you back my way!!!
Great review! I’m picking up a Sunjoe based on your reviews. I noticed your link takes you to the 13”. I do see the 15” available at HD. Is the 15” the newest version? Thanks!
The 15” is the newest model. It’s a great machine. I’ll be doing some updated review on the 15”. Some batches have been known to break so you’ll want to be sure you register your product if you choose the 15” over the 13”
I was looking to buy this, however Ryobi is getting ready to release its dual 18 volt Thatcher and rake. I have several 4AH batteries and a six Port charger. I am waiting for the reviews on that to see how it works.
@@pestandlawnginja I’ve seen that “hide the screws under the sticker trick” a few times on electronics. It may be a way for them to tell if you took it apart so they can void your warranty. But who needs a warranty.. 🤣
Nice video thanks. I was just wondering if you aren't using the bag; to help with keeping the underneath carriage freer can you cut out part of the bag either the bottom or maybe the back to allow some ejection? Wondering too if a shop vac will clean that front filter?
Now you need to compare the SunJoe to the new Greenworks 2533502 which is also a corded dethatcher/scarifier unit. (NOT the cordless 2528802 40V unit). Much more of an apples to apples comparison. This new Greenworks unit also looks a LOT like the GoPlus unit and a bit like the Rock & Rocker unit that are 2 other competitors on Amazon. Maybe they all come out of the same China factory?
Hey Lawn Gina! I love the channel, and really enjoy taking your suggestions out onto my lawn! I’m wondering though, will you ever get a lapel mic to help out with audio? I noticed on this video especially, that when you turn away from the camera, the audio really dips down a lot. Other than that, keep up the great content, thank you!
Great suggestion! I have one, just need to get it all tested out. adds an extra step and time to film has been really difficult to come by. really appreciate the feedback.
You didn't really discuss much if there was power loss due to the motor being the same but spinning a larger bar. You did discuss the differences in the old design vs the new as far as bar shape. With respect to rotational speed, did you find yourself walking the same, slower, or faster with the 15" in comparison to the 12.5" ?
You know...... You're right. I didn't discuss that. the issue was the redesign saved weight. both drums weigh about equal. The new machine feels different than the other due to the design overhaul. I'm still very pleased with the upgrade.
Great video. I recently picked up the first version from an online auction brand new in the box. While putting it together, I wanted to change the blades, but one of the bolts won't back out, just free spins. Any suggestions on how to remove it? Thanks.
@pestandlawnginga Does the scarifier help with making your grass more evenly thinned out if you seeded to heavily. My yard is 4 months old. In areas it’s nice and evenly seeded where you step on it feels nice, but in other areas when you step it’s too clumpy or bunched up.
My only question is how does it do on a rough lawn? I have dips and valleys in mine, working on leveling next, hoping the scarifier can help as I add sand and compost.
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I've been using the Sun Joe for 3 years now and it still works great, and lawn looks amazing. One thing I did is remove the 2 springs on the guard cover that aid in holding the bag on and guard down, they don't seem to be needed at all without the bag. Without the springs the thatch slips out the guard cover more evenly and allows the entire machine to work better.
Great idea!!
That's the tip I came here for!
Those carriage bolts in the handle need to be about 1/4 to 1/2” longer so you can open them up enough to fold the handle. I replaced mine and it’s perfect now!
Rad! I’ll have to try that
Just bought the older model, scarified and dethatched my lawn and over seeded...absolutely blown away at how much it pulled out! Can't wait to see the difference in 4 weeks! Thanks for the reviews and advice!
Rad! Slay that lawn Shane!!!
Same here. Bought the original. I’ve done a few different sections of my lawn (the worst ones). After three weeks, it’s amazing. Be got a lager section I want to do, but it has become quite hot here recently so I’ll wait until September for the rest.
For what I paid, if I get thru this year and next season, I’ll be happy.
I'm about to use the older one since it's all that was available.
Ok, I bought the Sun Joe dethatcher 2 years ago, I have used it for three seasons now and this cheap flimsy thing still works great. I am amazed, now i want it to break so I can get a bigger one. Great stuff! I think my 100' 12gauge cord costs more than the Sun Joe.
hahaha, its so true! I've hammered on these things and they keep on going
My SunJoe is one of my favorite pieces of lawn gear. 3 years of regular use it stopped working, it was the safety switch I just superglued it permanently closed and it kept trucking
rad! I didn't know that was a thing. Thanks for sharing
Love my Sunjoe and all that it does. But there's a problem I ran into that I want to pass on: BEWARE of hidden tree roots lying just below the soil line. The spinning bar under the Sunjoe on one side has a slide that allows the bar to "skip up" if it hits anything solid. But the other side, attached to the motor and gears is solidly attached and has no play in it. While scarifying, I hit a buried tree root (at least 30 feet away from the tree), stripped the gears (they're made of plastic), and killed her. Sunjoe kindly provided me with a replacement for which I was happy. But it
is something to be mindful of. Keep the good work, Ginja. Your videos are spot on!
I'm about to use one. Thanks for this comment!
great feedback John. that's an issue i've yet to run into. love the feedback.
Ginja, I bought the Greenworks version a couple of weeks ago and tried it on my large yard. The front yard alone is 10,700 square feet and is about 180 feet from front of house to street. The problem I had, and I suspect the SunJoe might also have, it lost power when I had to go beyond my 100-foot heavy gauge electric cord. The instructions warned of this but when I realized I could only reach about 65 percent of my front yard I dared the instructions and tried a second 100 foot cord. For sure a loss of power but it got thatch up with me walking at a slower pace. When I went back for a second round and went back to the single cord, the full power really didn't return. So be cautious as a buyer if your yard extends beyond the length of a 100 foot cord.
good call!
Wire size matters a lot and starving an ac motor is the worst thing you can do.
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ruclips.net/user/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
Great machine for sure
I just love the way you talk. Truly enjoying your lawn videos each time.
Thanks Adam !
Great video. FYI, Don’t use a garden hose to clean it. Water will get into the motor. Use an air compressor or a damp cloth.
Peel the decal back on the cover you want to remove. There’s another screw under that decal. Once removed, the cover will come off
great idea and feedback. thank you
Thank you, Ginja! I truly enjoy your videos. It's rare to find a video series that is both educational AND enjoyable, but yours are 5 Stars every time!
Wow, thanks!
Use your blower to clear the vents or a gentle brush. Also I found another flaw. The depth setting lever can jump down if your lawn is bumpy. My workaround was to use a light bungee from the lever to the opposite side of the handle midsection. After using the bungee there were no further issues. Another plus is the improvement of the ground clearance in the front. The previous model would drag and scrape against the lawn as you went making it a bit more difficult, not so in version two.
Awesome feedback
Lots of vids on YT showing Sun Joe failing at gear that drives Scarifier and Dethatcher blades. Too many guys not scalping lawns and bagging clippings before using Sun Joe. Mine is 3 years old and have used it to dethatch and remove lawn debris on 18,000 sq ft lawn. No issues at all.
Couldn't agree more. Great point
perhaps you could use a shop vac to clean out that clogged vent !
use your lawn mower to mow the grass short before using the Sunjoe ....don't waste you time raking or blowing the thatch - pick up with you lawn mower !
Thanks for the review! Probably going to get this model. It would seem to be less laborious to put a bagged yard can out in the yard and keep the bagger on and dump the pulled up thatch into the can as it fills bag, versus dumping everything on the lawn only having to have to go back and pick it up manually and fill the bag...
It looks like they fixed my main complaint, the back 2 wheels look a little further back from that rear flap so easier to cock it up to take it where you want to go before use.
they made some nice design changes, so far i'm happy.
Just ordered a sun joe 2.0... 1-2 months for it to ship. But I guess it means that I will be doing it just before end of season. (In time for over seeding.) I am sure I will do the "dethatch" when I get it. Then scarify just before season end. Enjoy the yard tips thanks for the help on getting my yard glorious and the envy of the neighbors.
Thanks Derek. It’s a great machine!
i dethatched and scarified last fall with the SunJoe along with overseeding and the yard looks great this spring......i look at all the other lawns near me and there is way less snow mold, the grass came back quicker and greener and can go right into mowing and fertilizing without all the raking.....this original model was worth it's weight in gold and now the newer bigger version might save half an hour doing the yard...welcome back Ginga
Thanks brian!!! It’s a time saver
Appreciate the detailed review. Did you happen to mow first before you dethatched? I'm about to do that this weekend. Also, noticed Timpanogos in the background. I think you live close to the fairgrounds by where I grew up.
Nice!
It’s recommended to mow 2” or less before using the machine. We want to make sure the tines can lightly scuff the soil surface
@@pestandlawnginja thank you for the quick reply. I'll go ahead and do that. Appreciate you.
For the clogged front vents, the website mentions AirBoost technology? The owner's manual says "Ensure that the air vents are always unobstructed and clear. Clean them if necessary with a soft brush. Blocked air vents may lead to overheating and damage the product."
I just bought the smaller one to get the small rocks out of my lawn. Dethatching with it works. It was worth the $116 gamble. And my property is 30,000 sq ft. Great point about the 12 gauge cord. My model is 12 Amp, but it’s good advice nonetheless. Glad to see you back!
That’s awesome you’re slaying that much grass
@@pestandlawnginja Sometimes it slays me. 😆
I bet!
Good point about the extension cord... need the larger gauge to carry the current over that distance! Another issue to look out for is when the unit is plugged into an outlet on a 15 amp breaker that is running other things. Then the breaker pops due to being overloaded. 13 amps is no joke! Seems like a solid unit!
Good call!!!
Good and helpful info. My little unit is trucking along, but I do keep it on a short duty cycle. I use it for several passes and shut it off while I re-position the extension cord. Then I use my mower w/ the bag to vac it up on a lower setting.
Lather rinse repeat. Give that little motor as many breaks as time allows and as you need too.
Right on 💪💯
Looks like they greatly improved version 2 especially on the front leading edge; on version 1 the front leading edges would snag & drag on clumps and bumps mainly when scarifying. When I renovated my lawn with version 1 I ground off the lower edges of the plastic so I could smooth & level out the ground without being stopped by the bumps.
interesting feedback. I never had that issue. that's good to know. wish I would have known before making the video that was a thing.
My 2nd season of the Sun Joe dethather/scarifier. Definitely gets the job done. Great purchase from a respectable company. Totally recommend.
Couldn't agree more!
This is a great product. I raked, sacrificed, then overseeded. My lawn did take a hit after this procedure. I am hoping it will look much better in a couple weeks.
it helps so much, hard to explain until you've been through the battle.
How did the Lawn turn out?
I bought one Friday. Because of your reviews...Thanks for the posts.
Great to hear!
Perfect timing on this vid, I'm still looking at 2-ish feet of snow on the yard (Alaska) but am getting the itch to get that first mow of the year 😎
rad! Slay that lawn!
So I picked up the Earthwise dethatcher last season and it works well (and was cheap). But kinda wishing I picked up the SunJoe because of the ability to swap between the scarifier and dethatcher. I knew they made a dethatcher, but was not aware of the ability to swap cartridges.
Hard to beat having two machines in 1
Great review bud! On your 1.0 I've found that if you take it apart and get to the motor area it fills up with dust and debris that needs cleaned. If it gets too dirty there's some sort of shutoff that kicks in to keep it from over heating. Clean it out and you're good to go. 👊
I’ll have to try that!!!
I like the newer Height adjustment bar better. The tool attachment is very simple, but very effective at holding the blades or threshers to the motor. Same rule applies. Have a solid cord to run from a good circuit. I have an extra 30 amp dedicated for a freezer that I don't use anymore, and a heavy gauge cord. These little guys really pull some power.
Totally agree. they made some significant upgrades that I'm very pleased with.
I really like my Sun Joe. I'm using it now, getting ready for seeding. I may eventually get the new version, but my old one may last awhile.
For overseeing, do you take or scarify for that?
these machines will go the distance.
Every sun Joe product I have bought has done well and held up, so I usually look for sun Joe products when getting yard tools. Most people do not need professional grade products and can get more for the $.
not a bad team to pick! Unfortunately you kinda have to pick a team due to the batteries all being proprietary to the brand.
Who doesn’t want an extra 2 inches... great to see you back at it.
🤣🤣🤣😅
I wouldn’t if my doctor doing a prostate exam said that....
😅😂😂😂
I have the same as the first version, but different brand and color. Cocraft sold by the Clas Ohlson chain at least in the Nordic countries. But the roller is a combined scarifier and dethatcher, and they don't sell them as separate rollers.
right on!
Love the video, this season I switched from my Kobalt corded Mower to a EGO. What a difference.. cut my 30 min lawn time into 15 mins. (Hope Sun Joe joins the cordless revolution) I started early this year... got lots to do .. to slay that lawn! :)
They have! Review coming soon
Only I don't like about the Sun Joe is that it's really thin -and it might not be able to clean up large areas of debris.It should be the same power but wider.
the tines are thin and so is the plastic. but these machines do such an awesome job, especially for the price.
Hi there I love your knowledge.. Do you think that she should go in different directions of detaction. And scarfine. ??. And do you think she cut the grass roll close 1st
I got the new 15 inch and used it for the first time last weekend. Got a good amount out of my yard with a dethatcher and a ton with the scarifier. I had the same issue with the grill caking with debris. I used my air compressor to spray in there and it got it almost totally clean. That side collects the debris because there is a filter behind the grill.
Overall, I am incredibly pleased with it and am getting ready to lend it out to some of my neighbors.
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing
Wish they would come out with a cordless version like greenworks. Waiting for toro or EGO. I have gen 1 but its a bit of cumbersome.
Soo true
I’ve been trying to decide if I should get this one. I love the 13 in but hate that cord
They now have a 2x24v twin cordless version. Problem is run time is only 20 minutes with 2 hour recharge. Not sure of power output of battery vs corded.
I put a rode across the handle bars the keep the door open and yes i get some dead grass on my shoes but it works great no clogging. I also wear eye protection but I had nevered got it in the face!
nice!
Love the view of the mountains in the background.
right! so awesome in person
Just got the 13" and have yet to use it on my pitiful thatch caked lawn. Wish me luck!
good luck! Slay that lawn!
Ordered one from Amazon on June 24th and it arrives tomorrow. Once I realized it was going to take a while to get here I ordered the Greenworks one because I knew it would get to me in 2 days. It’s been working fantastic and I’m excited to see how the Sunjoe stacks up
Did you get version 1 or 2 of the SunJoe?
If V-1, could you confirm if scarifier attachment possibly fits your GreenWorks?
Curious about retrofitting the GreenWorks with a scarifier.
@@GravityRoller I got the latest version of the sunjoe and it’s a few inches wider than the greenworks so unfortunately I don’t think your idea would work. That would be sweet though if you were able to pull that off.
@@TheCureThatKillz Thank you for taking time to reply.
Yes, I know the V-2 SunJoe is wider, which is the reason my question included qualifier related to the first version SunJoe (interested in retrofitting scarifier from V-1 into GreenWorks dethatcher).
Thanks again ;-)
the scarifier will not fit on the greenworks. the green works does not have the fitting to allow for swapping attachments.
@@pestandlawnginja Thanks. Appreciate the reply. Looks like SunJoe in my future 😎
Got mine last year...Paid for itself on 3 uses... Hope it hangs on for awhile...Thanks for the review..😎
Rad!!!! Really is a great machine to own
I wish you showed us the gear portion on the new one. Older sun joes have a weak point in the gears that connects from the motor and if it breaks it's not replaceable which is why I recommend not using the scarifier on rocky soil like in the northeast and just use the dethatch barrel. Anyways thanks for another great video lawn ginja!
Love the feedback. Thank you
keep going Bro!!! Im here cause only You help me with fluorescent spot on new lawn. Your appearing is not so professional but your knowledge is amazing. Wish my best!
I appreciate that! Love the feedback.
I'm using the original, but there is a screw hiding under the sticker to get the top part off. I know because I hit a root and broke the belt. Received a new belt under warranty, but the replacement price is under $10. Should have ordered one at the same time! Thanks for the video!
awesome. thanks for the feedback
I ordered this guy from the home store here.. and was super excited ... put it together and was getting ready.. but then found that the little plastic teeth that were used to set the height of the wheels, were broken... the teeth for the higher settings were snapped off, so the highest i could set it was at 0 height.. I wanted to run the first few passes of the dethatcher at a higher setting... Contacting Sunjoe to see if there was any warranty help was met with "Just return it where you bought it".. This model had become out of stock, so couldn't get a replacement.. so ordered the 13-inch...
Oh no!!!! That's the first I've ever heard of that happening. that's crazy. sun joe is good on warranty support.
I've got the Earthwise dethatcher. Works really well, no scarifier though. I loaned it out once last year with the 12ga cord. Don't get to use it til maybe August though. When mine gives out i'll get the SunJoe. For the price and ease of use compared to renting a big machine or paying someone, these are totally worth it. 2 total uses, if it last 10 times I feel that is pretty good value. The work afterwards was a pain, had 19 bags of yard waste.
Amen 🙏 such a fantastic tool
Yes Ginja my concern is.....where is my buddy the big headed dog #2? Rolls Royce...
Good call!!!! He will be in camera soon
They also updated the 13" (12.6" AJ798E) to Version 2, has the new metal height adjuster but till the older style bar attachment.
I just bought an AJ801E I wonder if that is newer
love the feedback.
I was just thinking that its been awhile since a Ginja video and a Sun Joe video at that!! Totes made my day. Keep it up as always!
Glad you enjoyed it! More to come!
After power ranking and scarifying with the son Joe what is the next step. Tenacity? Or over seeding first. What do you recommend
I commonly do 1 tenacity service now and another in two weeks while dropping the seed.
The box should have a pull string opening. I wanted to see you use your hand saw to open it like with your grass seed bag :)
👊🏻🤣
She couldn't handle the extra two inches, just fell apart on you when you were stowing her away. 🤣😁
Awesome vid man.
😂😂😂
I'm planning to use mine with my 10 gauge RV cord and a 12 gauge 50 foot cord.
That’ll work
Bought this off your recommendation. Works great. How do you feel about setting the mower high and using the bag to get the debris up?
This is exactly what I do. Works great, and definitely saves you some effort raking.
Same, I bag mine with the mower after I’m done, takes a few passes but WAY better than raking it up
Welcome back pale male! Great to see you gettin’ your groove on again!
BTW, water and Sunjoe not good. I washed mine off real good last year. It pouted for a day, but snapped out of it. Love my Fisher Price lawn toy!!
Sarah! thanks for dropping the comment! love these sun joes!
I have the Homelite 14-inch dethatcher. I'm amazed how well these work! I wished mine had the scarifying blade change out assembly. I've been extremely happy with mine, but If it wears out, I will look at the Sun Joe for the ability to scarify. My only concern with the 15-inch, is the dethatching attachment. It does not look as robust as the 13-inch unit. Please keep us updated on your thoughts and experience with this new unit.
Stay safe, healthy, and happy.
the scarifier attachment is so handy. love this thing.
Ahhhh good to be back!!! RUclips algorithm knew i missed you and first mow was today 😂
You the man Omar!!!
Ikr
Fo really doe
How did it know I cut my grass!
Thanks for the update. I still have my Version One and it's still running like a timex, "takes a liking and keeps on ticking".
Right!? These things are awesome
Tiking
There are more screws under the sticker on the front. The older model did the same thing so I figure it is the same situation. I don't know if you figured it out or if someone else told you. Just thought I say something.
They are for sure but I hate to rip it off hahaha
There is probably a screw underneath the sticker on the front cover that's why u couldn't get it off. My version 1 had a screw under that sticker
Good call
I apologize for being redundant but I am going to repost my earlier comment/question here with the hope that I will hear from you sooner because I think this is your most recent video. That being said, here is my earlier post.
Ginja. I just finished playing with my new toy, The SunJoe! I dethatched or power raked if you will. My goal is to basically rejuvenate my lawn and get rid of some of the undesirables, while improving the desired growth which I believe is KY blue. And I have grubs. I saw them while cleaning out old purple loosestrife that had taken over some areas. I live in IL/Chicago area. It is April, 20th and it is snowing today although we have had temps pushing 80° for a day or 2 earlier in April. The ground temperature is between 46-49° F. My plan is to kill the grubs. Follow your Tenacity herbicide treatment along with SpeedZone first. In a couple weeks I plan to treat with Tenacity only and overseed with KY Blue. I have numerous grass types including KY Blue, but I want the Kentucky Blue to be dominant, and gradually take over. I am a little unsure of where to start in terms of grub treatment and herbicide treatment. I ordered Imidicloprid liquid, cyonara liquid and I have the menards brand, bioadvanced?, granular as well. And BTW I found a Barenbrug store near me just fyi. Will you please give me some input as to where exactly to start? Can I do the grub treatment and the Tenacity treatment together? Thanks. Enjoy your show!
interesting. I just sold my Sunjoe yesterday because I bought an Allett 43B w/scarifier. Note: I feel like most lawn care youtubers get them reversed - the dethatcher is the heavy solid tines and the scarifier is the spring tines. This is expected, because SunJoe gets it wrong too :)
funny story brian, it was allett that got the names wrong and they're aware of it too LOL. that's why they call it a power rake / scarifier. the term dethatcher is wrong in my opinion no matter the application. I think the term rake is great.
@@pestandlawnginja oh yeah? odd. I know that the "dethacher" really just pulls out debris via power rake, and the other metal slicing attachment actually cuts into the thatch layer. Either way, good product :)
I’ve always wanted to live near mountains. Great view!
views for days here! soo beautiful.
I bought version 1 last year and the Landzie and I finally put them to use last weekend to overseed my small front yard. I hit it right before the first dandelions are just popping. Both were easy to use. I just scarified, as the lawn was REALLY patchy (only about 60% coverage). Fingers crossed it works for me.
Worse thing was that I had repaired a hose end and when I went to hook up my timer the end had absolutely welded itself to the hose bib. I tried PB blaster...I tried a propane torch...not budging. I may have to cut it off.
That’s awesome Bob. Sounds like you’re well on your way to slaying that lawn
SunJoe is killing it.
You need to try the Battery Reel Mower.
It’s damn good 🤘🏼🔥🦩
Way cool!!! I’ll check it out
Thanks, because of you I just broke out my SunJoe and ran it over the lawn twice, then bagged it with the mower.....it’s Florida....It’s Hot. I don’t appreciate the motivation!
Rad!!! Slay that lawn
Of course I had to buy the original at regular price before price dropped because of this new model ! smh! I still loved how much easier it was to power rake thatch, still love it! lol
I'm sure you already figured this out, those two pillars you couldn't figure out are under the label on the top. You can see the indentation from one of the screws at 1:47.
For sure. Just stinks because you’ll never get the sticker back on 🤦🏻♂️
Thanks for the info and update! Curious about 2 things. 1. I have a ton of creeping charlie and bellflower taking over my yard. (I have animals so I'm not big on spraying it). What are your thoughts on using this and then overseeding and then hitting it with Milogranite? Will I be spreading the weed or helping grass grow? 2. I have a tiny front yard with a 6 in slope to the sidewalk. Does it matter which direction I go? As in sideways or down? Sounds like a dumb question, but I'm new to all of this. Thx!
This will help the grass grow. Thicker the grass equals less weeds but with the weeds you listed it won’t be a cure. I prefer to go one direction with the machine then cross hatch
Just saw your video and am planning to get the newer model when Home Depot has it in stock (they have the older model in stock currently). I do have a 100 for 12 gauge cord ready to use but also saw the cordless version. I am concerned about its 20 minute run time - I wouldn't get much work done.
that's my concern with the cordless as well!
Last year the V1 as selling on Amazon for over $200, sometimes close to $300. I got mine for $174. Wish I knew V2 was coming out, I would have waited and paid almost the same. Oh well...
v1 is still a beast and you'll be pleased with it.
Going to pull the trigger on one of these, leaning towards the 15. Has it been that much of a hassle with the 15 & the clogging of the filter opening? Thats the only thing I worry about.
its a pain to be honest. its always clogged. the way they engineered it was it sucks air through that gap. I recently tried the rock and rocker and it pushes air through that gap. much better design. all in all i was pleasently happy with the sun joe. the motor was fine. I had an issue with the bearing failing after 30k sq ft of use. sun joe honored the warranty. but that appears to be the biggest issue with all of them. Hope that helps.
hi ginja, i don't think you need to take off your handle. when you unscrew it you can just fold it down. thx awesome vid man
Good call
I had the clog issue with mine. Shooting some compressed air in it every 30 min cleaned it out
perfect!
Finally a battery version to avoid that damn cord always in the way. Sun Joe 24V-X2-DTS15 Scarifier and Dethatcher Kit | 5-depth positions | 14-inch | Brushless Motor | W/ 2 x 24V Batteries and Dual Port Charger
rad!
Nice video and informative. Perhaps attach a piece of screen over the one side (vent grill) to prevent clippings from getting in there. What type of grass do you have…(appears to be a type of Zoysia…with the dense turf, since you mentioned golf-course quality was the goal) Where is your location? Appreciate you & thanks!💪😅
I’m in utah. Front yard is rye and the back is bluegrass
I bought 13" Sunjoe a week before the 15" came out and have to say I'm impressed so far. Off topic of this video ... Barenbrug had produced a regenerating perennial rye grass a few years ago .. i'm interested but can't find it.
its in the description of the video on my barenbrug seed videos. its on domyown.com and amazon
I absolutely love the version 1 and saw, along with the new version, they have a battery-powered SunJoe...wondering what you think about that?? Think it’d have enough power??...also, glad the RUclips algorithm got you back my way!!!
I’ll have to buy one and see
where are you seeing a battery powered SunJoe dethatcher?
Ginja is the best. I even have a Ginja on a shelf at Christmas!
bahahaha, man i need one
Great review! I’m picking up a Sunjoe based on your reviews. I noticed your link takes you to the 13”. I do see the 15” available at HD. Is the 15” the newest version?
Thanks!
The 15” is the newest model. It’s a great machine. I’ll be doing some updated review on the 15”. Some batches have been known to break so you’ll want to be sure you register your product if you choose the 15” over the 13”
I was looking to buy this, however Ryobi is getting ready to release its dual 18 volt Thatcher and rake. I have several 4AH batteries and a six Port charger. I am waiting for the reviews on that to see how it works.
K I’ll buy one
@@pestandlawnginja only if you really want to. 😁
Probably 2 screws hiding under the front sticker! Then that cover will come right off. 👍🏼
Good call!!!
@@pestandlawnginja I’ve seen that “hide the screws under the sticker trick” a few times on electronics. It may be a way for them to tell if you took it apart so they can void your warranty. But who needs a warranty.. 🤣
Nice video thanks. I was just wondering if you aren't using the bag; to help with keeping the underneath carriage freer can you cut out part of the bag either the bottom or maybe the back to allow some ejection? Wondering too if a shop vac will clean that front filter?
the bag is a total waste for dethatching. it fills up fast!
I got one last year but I didn't use it because I didn't have the right cord.....glad I didn't 😎
for sure! glad you know now!
Wish they made a cordless dethatcher, I have a corner lot and loathe corded yard tools.
There are a few out there. I’m going to test them out at some point
Love it dude! I might get me one of those! Thanks for the review!
They are fantastic
Now you need to compare the SunJoe to the new Greenworks 2533502 which is also a corded dethatcher/scarifier unit. (NOT the cordless 2528802 40V unit). Much more of an apples to apples comparison. This new Greenworks unit also looks a LOT like the GoPlus unit and a bit like the Rock & Rocker unit that are 2 other competitors on Amazon. Maybe they all come out of the same China factory?
I did a video on this subject. The sun joe goes lower and also includes the scarifier
Hey buddy good to see you back. I bought my sun joe last year and I love it. This machine does a great job. Warm weather on the way, sun screen up😄
Right on! It's good to be back! got my spf 2000 on
Ginja back in the house - let the season begin! Rolls Royce must have been power napping.....
LOL yes, he will be in up and coming vids.
Hey Lawn Gina! I love the channel, and really enjoy taking your suggestions out onto my lawn! I’m wondering though, will you ever get a lapel mic to help out with audio? I noticed on this video especially, that when you turn away from the camera, the audio really dips down a lot. Other than that, keep up the great content, thank you!
Great suggestion! I have one, just need to get it all tested out. adds an extra step and time to film has been really difficult to come by. really appreciate the feedback.
Would you recommend scarifying a lawn with lots of weeds/dandys? Or will scarifying just spread the weeds ?
As long as you mow the heads off it’ll be fine
You didn't really discuss much if there was power loss due to the motor being the same but spinning a larger bar. You did discuss the differences in the old design vs the new as far as bar shape. With respect to rotational speed, did you find yourself walking the same, slower, or faster with the 15" in comparison to the 12.5" ?
You know...... You're right. I didn't discuss that. the issue was the redesign saved weight. both drums weigh about equal. The new machine feels different than the other due to the design overhaul. I'm still very pleased with the upgrade.
Great video. I recently picked up the first version from an online auction brand new in the box. While putting it together, I wanted to change the blades, but one of the bolts won't back out, just free spins. Any suggestions on how to remove it? Thanks.
oof. aside from having a mechanic drill and remove the bolt, tough to say. Hope you got it all worked out.
Where you been? Almost a month of no ginja 😳 Missed your videos 🤣
Great question hahahaha
@pestandlawnginga Does the scarifier help with making your grass more evenly thinned out if you seeded to heavily. My yard is 4 months old. In areas it’s nice and evenly seeded where you step on it feels nice, but in other areas when you step it’s too clumpy or bunched up.
It does! Helps knock down earth worm mounds as well
My only question is how does it do on a rough lawn? I have dips and valleys in mine, working on leveling next, hoping the scarifier can help as I add sand and compost.
Totally fine