AS-Motor AS 940 Sherpa 4WD Questions & Answers

Hi john It’s hard to say without seeing machine I would get in contact with the nearest dealer to you to get an idea on service schedule and what cost you would be up for on a machine with the hours I know the first 50hr service is a big one. My blades have already copped absolute abuse and they still cut the lawn around my house beautifully

Thanks Ash. It’s a machine i would have to import so its not particularly easy to sort out an inspection etc. So on that basis, I don’t think I will go ahead with the purchase - to many unknowns!

Maybe because it has a drive shaft and a cast iron compact tractor front axle set with planetary hubs and larger fuel tank.... I still prefer my Sherpa, much more comfortable working it for a few hours especially if you're taller and you have legs!

Reg Hall
Valley irrigation and pumps
Moe

There is also a website
www.asmotor.com.au
Which links to Valley Pumps

They are the importer/distributor.

Dear Chris, thank you for your request an interest in our AS 940 Sherpa XL, please find here our website with dealers/ distributores listed in the USA https://www.as-motor.de/us/. As well you can contact us directly under [email protected] where we would be happy to answer all your questions directly.

Best talk to your local dealer (look at www.asmotor.com.au if in Australia). Price no doubt moves with currency exchange rates etc, but I would not be surprised if it to be in the $18k-19k ($AUD) mark.

Corinne,
We have had our Sherpa 940 for three years and have found it to be very good and safe on all terrains and with all types of surfaces, including lawn-like grass. We use it on setting 3 and or 4 for lawns immediately around the house, and the (higher) 5 setting for the paddocks. Because it is a mulching-type mower you will find that over time the grass becomes evenly spread and over time more lawn-like. If you do get a Sherpa, make sure you have the steering attachment on the steering wheel as it makes driving the Sherpa even easier than it already is. My wife and I have been very impressed with the solid German manufacture as well.
Kind regards
AC

Hi Corinne

We have 140 acres and most of it is pretty untamed farm land. We do use the Sherpa on all parts of it including around buildings where we want a more lawn like look. We still cut that at the top height to control weeds and because of the type of grass it is but it does give a very lawn like appearance even at that height. It does cut very neatly when we're not attacking 6 foot high lantana.

I've put a photo of the results here https://goo.gl/photos/qm3omNXLSucrHwMs5

The longer grass on the right is cut by the mower and you can see where it drops it. The other area is kept shorter but still only mowed at the top height setting.

Cheers
Andrew

My opinion is basically same as those above. It is extremely well built and stable on rough steep terrain. My use is 'grass cutting', rather than 'lawn' cutting. My advice would be to get a demo. My neighbour and another commercial contractor I know, have a 4wd (diesel) mower which has an outfront deck and a very small turn radius made by John Deere. It has 3 cutter spindles on the deck and produces a 'finer finish' as it was more designed for 'area lawns', playing fields etc. It also has the ability to change the deck to mulching mower for really rough mowing (stones etc). Both use their machines on neighbouring blocks of similar terrain to ours with no stability issues. I think you will find the John Deere similar priced to the Sherpa & it can also be used as a 'tractor' as it has hydraulics for a loader accessory. Also check out the Husqvarna awd machine, also with out front deck. However, to mow 4000sqm, any of these are a big investment $15-20k -- have you considered a 'commercial' grade self propelled that has a fairly wide cut, walk behind machine such as a Deutscher or one made by AS Motor?
Just my thoughts - Joe

I test drove the Razorback on my place too. It definitely had better clearance. It was a much smaller machine. I am 6'1" 185cm and I was cramped. It also used foot controls which I prefer. The Sherpa uses all hand throttle which is more stable on rough ground but not as familiar as a pedal.

My impression from the short test drive of the Razorback compared to a much longer time on the Sherpa is that the later is lighter and more capable sideways on a hill and generally more sure footed. But both are still excellent. The other big difference is shaft (Razorback) vs belt (Sherpa) drive for the blades. I prefer the later as I'd rather ruin a belt hitting something (and you will!) than a shaft or motor.

Test drive both. You will prefer one to the other.

I think comments of Andrew and Michelle are spot on. Check out how robustly the deck is constructed. I think the Sherpa is more robust in this area, but mine has taken a few hits/dings (but no serious damage) there from rock hits and pieces of wood and I might add some extra steel as a preventive measure as a wintertime job. Personally I much prefer a belt drive (with shear pins on the cutter shaft) rather than the shaft drive on the crosscut, even though I am assured it has shear pin protection. The gearbox geartrain must still take a bit of a pounding..... Belts take shock loads by slipping without undergoing catastrophic failure ... Hence my preference.
Joe

Hi Mark

Little ones they eject at high speed. Medium ones dull the blades and big ones I dare not think about. Since it's belt drive I imagine that would be what suffered. We don't have many rocks so it's not an issue for us.

We run ours on the top height setting and if there was a higher one we'd use it. Our main enemy is wrist thick branches lurking in the grass. It goes over most but if it hits one it pretty much smashes it to pieces without any problems.

There are other mowers or ride on brushcutters that are higher and the Sherpa also has mulching blades (which I think you can remove) that would mean rocks are a problem.

Cheers
Andrew

Mark,
All depends what you mean by 'rocks'.
The Sherpa is belt drive to the deck and the main cutter arm would be 10mm thick steel with a 'swing back' blade on each end. If you hit a rock, swing back blades will just do that -- swing back and there is a bit of a clatter (we have bluestone - basalt!). Best to avoid the rocks if possible as its not the best on the blades, but I have had some pretty heavy hits and managed to put a few 'dimples' in the deck surround, which is at least 3mm gal steel!. Running above the main blade and at right angles to it is the mulching blade which is about 8mm thick solid steel (no swing back tips on it). Both blades are protected with shear bolts (grade 10 bolts) and the cutter blade hub is connected to the main drive shaft with a square steel woodroofe key (I think it is about 6mm square - key steel buyable at any engineering shop -- prob $5 for 30cm or so) - which will also shear as a protective measure. Of course the belt will take any shocks, but no wear or replacements here so for.
I have managed to break several shear bolts and one key. The bolts are a standard spare part, but a bolt of same properties can be bought at any good engineering supply shop (Unbrako Grade 10 flange bolts) at a fraction of the 'spare part' price.
Probably takes about 30 mins to remove blade and replace bolts .... helps with ramps, or better still a winch block to just 'crane up' the front end to get easy access underneath.
I think I prob did most mischief when I engaged with a big basalt rock that was well buried, but just protruding above ground level and well hidden in grass.
Overall, I would rate the machine as pretty bullet proof and rocks not really an issue.

If however, you have a 'really rocky' site eg lots of rocks on the ground, a flail mower might be better than a rotary machine. Flail movers will also handle 'rough' vegetation pretty well. On that basis I would look at one of the out-front AWD Husqvarnas that will take either a rotary or flail deck (interchangeable) out front. Expect >$20k for the bigger diesel one P25D (commecial grade & >best) and there is also a smaller and less expensive one - domestic grade - R322AWD (about $10k).
http://www.husqvarna.com/au/parts-accessories/attachment-front-mounted/flail-mower/966796501/
Have heard good reports of the P25D from a commercial contractor for mowing rougher overgrown blocks& small acreages.
Also the outfront deck has less issues with 'breakover clearances' / scalping when you go over a crest compared to a mid mount like the sherpa. However on really steep stuff, the Sherpa is probably more sure footed.

Joe.

Look on the Aust website www.asmotor.com.au
This is operated by the Aust distributor who is located in Moe, Vic but I am fairly sure it will point you to a dealer local to your area. If you contact the distributor, please mention that Joe, Mt Dandenong a very satisfied owner of one the first Sherpa's brougtht in to Aust, referred you.

Nic, I am not familiar with the Etesia machine, but I have had no issues with the engine on the AS motor machine. My thoughts are that (any) issues with the engine are of lesser consideration than the quality/robustness of the build of the frame/mower deck (galvanised & powder coated) and the transaxle / gearbox / drive system. On these aspects I can say the Sherpa is A1. Other consideration is spares --- spares for Sherpa are readily avail, but much of the stuff is 'generic' (eg shear bolts, belts, bearings etc) and once you work that out, can be sourced from engineering suppliers at a fraction of cost of the 'genuine spares'. Joe

Hi Nic, I don't know the Eteisa either but if you work any motor hard enough you will be lucky to pass the machine onto your kids with the same one you bought it with. I agree with Joe about the rest of the machine. Andrew

Another point re comparing the Etesia machines with the Sherpa - the Sherpa 940 is 4 wheel drive and the Etesia is a 2wd (rear only).
Makes a HUGE difference to traction when working on slopes, especially if grass is green or has some moisture on it. The Etesia looks to be more comparable to the ASMotor 800 or the Italian made Grillo

3 - 4 litres per hour, depending on conditions.
I can have to do quite a bit of forwards / backwards manouevering/cutting rather than just 'round and round'.
this makes it use a bit more fuel as does heavy (long grass) cutting.

I have no idea as I live in Australia.
I suggest you look at the German AS Motor website (www.as-motor.de) which has an English language section and they list their international distributors/agents.

Send an email to omar @ as-america.com they will be importing the equipment to the US shortly. I have a demo scheduled in 2 weeks in Florida through a local dealer.

No issues with reliability so far.
Have had 2 replace 2 belts (motor to hydraulic pump) so far as well as blade 'shear bolts' through hitting obstacles.
As far as I know the Vic distributor / dealer has spares ex stock, but machine is mainly constructed from many 'generic' parts, and with a little research, I have been able to source the parts I have needed from local good engineering supply shops - at a significantly lower cost than AS branded spares.
Eg. Belts are standard metric sizes (Optiflex brand)
Shear bolts are Peiner brand (who emailed me the specs) and Unbrako brand supply an equivalent grade 10 flange bolt locally
The cutter drive shaft 'shear key' --- standard 6mm key steel. Etc.
If you have some mechanical nouse, repairs/mtce is easy.

Would I buy one again --- most definitely on performance, build & reliability, but the price point (with change in $AUD - Eur, might make it harder to negotiate with 'treasurer'.

Thanks for your reply and insight into owning and running one!

Reg Hall
Valley irrigation and pumps
Moe

There is also a website
www.asmotor.com.au
Which links to Valley Pumps

They are the importer/distributor.

Hi Rohwy,
I bought the AS 940 Sherpa precisely because we're on very steep land. I've been very happy with its stability and performance. Of course, common sense needs to be applied. If a slope is slippery or very steep then you need proceed with caution. Not that I've ever made use of it, but I also find it comforting to have the rollbar there if I really did misjudge. Maybe you can contact a dealer and get a test drive on a steep slope. I find there's no substitute for direct experience. Good luck!

Good morning Vern,

The machine cost me $16,900 including GST. The dealer was located in Brisbane - Remote Vegetation Management 32985874 - 0409272611.There is also a dealer being the imported in Moe, Victoria. I found the machine suited my application which was rough and rutted. I suggest an on site demo if you can, they did a demo at my place when requested. I hope this information assists with you query.

I forgot to mention that the website link is located to the right of the product image. Contact details for the importer / Victorian dealer are located there also.

Good morning Kevin,
My machine cost me $16,900 + delivery costs, my understanding is the dealer usually has a couple in stock due popularity of the model. The mower is suited to steep and slippery terrain though extremely capable of giving a neat finish cut around the house on your lawn. The Australian dealer is located in Moe, Victoria. Contact Reg at Valley Pumps and Irrigation Systems on 03 5126 1107