A tank from Star Wars - I thought at first

Today times my conclusion first:

Comes with Hermes (17 kg): *****
Delivery, packaging: *****
Assembly: ****
Processing / Quality: *****
Function: ***** (+)

Let's start with the delivery. The quite large package - the original packaging of the Bosch Rotak 43 - arrived without damage, and after three days of ordering with us. Itself very well.
As can be externally recognized by the packaging, the Bosch Rotak 43 is not manufactured in Germany but in the lawn specialists in England. So you buy a product made here in England Bosch product. But right in front made a really excellent workmanship and very good material. But before 5 Stars.
I compare it with my Gardena PowerMax 42 E, I've rated with 5 stars, is nearly two years old and in a direct comparison can not keep up. The sometimes even ahead.

We come back to contain Bosch Rotak 43. It's all in the delivery, what is needed besides a mulching flap to seal the grass evacuation, the Bosch 20 costs extra and is in Gardena, for example equal to it.
This can be seen either way in my opinion. I admit it definitely no penalty.

The assembly turns out not quite so simple, because as the screws are screwed together exactly for the handle bracket, unfortunately, is not seen in the drawing in the enclosed operating instructions. This, incidentally, proud 158 pages of which no fewer than 152 pages of safety and conformity declarations are made in many different languages. Entire five, pure held in drawings pages that contain drawn manual and, at the end of the book. One side again in images, then provides the accessories are, among others, with the mulching flap.

During the assembly and the grass box was then off, which consists of three parts. The two side parts and a cover. To build this level pot together, pushes one plastic tabs into the receiving brackets. Everything worked, then snap them into place. This is ever not completely smooth, because the halves deform and some edges in the basket are where you have to push ever and press. Finally it was done and then it was the turn of the lid. There is a special, because the joined parts of the basket have on each rear side a little smaller than the rest of the tab rather broad tabs along the longitudinal sides of the basket. You have these two tabs press together into a receptacle holder in the lid, which connects the sides then and this gives the bag the necessary stability.
With this is not entirely succeeded in what I then noticed the first mowing: The whole grass flew out between the lid and basket case. I had to then make improvements and have not got it, fortunately. In the meantime, I was afraid to have broken the strap, but this was fortunately not the case.

At this point I have to give one star deduction for this sub-discipline due to the unclear drawing the screws for the bracket and just assembling the grass box.

The operating instructions and small parts are packaged in plastic bags by the way, have been attached to the power supply with a hole in the plastic bag. One can demolish what works well with a certain effort, these only. What I noticed is that on these plastic bags is available in English, translated here - Only for UK. Thank you for purchasing a unit from Bosch - mutatis mutandis. The plan is there only in English, other customers seem to be there no matter well?

After I had mastered these little hurdles, so I could get started with the lawn mowing. Normally, this would be difficult at this date, if not impossible, but thanks to our warm winter this year, I could use dry and relatively warm weather, making the first turf cut this year.

For this purpose I was looking for but first the strain relief for the power cord. After a look at the manual which was also immediately clear. The Rotak 43 has two strain reliefs. One left, the other right under the crossbar. The cable is pushed in a loop by a rectangular recording and behind held by a hook.
Keeps bombproof and is the first strain relief that I got to know that simply awesome but is highly efficient in the truest sense of the words. The cable has despite frequent contact is not moved a millimeter. Excellent and the cable becomes disconnected from the strain relief, during mowing with my Gardena before, so you have a concern when Bosch less.
The grass catcher integrates very well in the unit, so that this looks like a unified whole, if you have hooked this.
What has impressed me besides the strain relief even at the Bosch Rotak 43 is the maneuverability, via the two upstanding rails or handles. The Bosch can be with these handles excellent maneuver is easy and is still well in hand. It has really heart Uschi just feel a very valued lawnmower on. The case seems to be very rigid and stable.
The sound is reminiscent - at least me - a little hoarse turbine. There are some higher proportions in tone. That does not detract from the power but because the Rotak 43 gets its 1800 W already well on the lawn. The cut is very good and evenly, stones, branches no problem.
The meter room is very smooth molded without corners and edges. It shows when cleaning - unlike my Gardena.
The Rotak 43 can be cleaned well, especially the grass discharge is but indeed very thoughtfully designed with corners so that it can be easily cleaned. I have always problems with the Gardena jammed grass under the top flap of the grass ejection, so that's no problem at Bosch. Two small problems but I had: to pour grass in the grip, the top center and the grass from the grass catcher, because this interior has an edge. In Browse pick up with 'Leaf Collect' but he's not much better than other mowers. Leaves are matted in lawn, gets even collected the Rotak. You should not expect miracles in this discipline.

So, what has particularly impressed me from the Bosch Rotak 43 is the feel and how it can be controlled. As are worlds between Bosch and my Gardena. In addition there are many excellent dissolved Details as strain relief, plastic not static, very smooth constructed average room, excellent landscaped grass discharge area, easy to clean.

So, after the first use, I have a little fell in love with my new Star Wars armor.