Sun Joe Electric Dethatcher & Scarifier, Corded, with 8-Gal Bag, 12.6-Inch Cutting Width, 12-Amp Motor - Heavy-Duty Yard Trimmer for Lawn Maintenance, AJ801E

So, I purchased this item after my boss told me about it. He showed me pics of his usage, and I figured, why not? It was relatively inexpensive, costing about the same as a one-time rental of a dethatcher from the local rental place. I figured if I get 2 uses out of it and destroy it, I'm ahead of the game. Plus, I could use it at my convenience and not have to worry about returning it. We take pretty good care of our lawn/yard (it's not perfect, especially in the area that used to have an above ground pool, but we try). It's a larger lot (about 1/4 acre) in our neighborhood, and we mow every week with a push mower. We alternate weeks of mulching and bagging, so we really didn't think there would be very much thatch coming up. Boy were we wrong. We started off with my husband cutting and bagging the grass in one direction, and, as he moved to a different section of the yard, I started with the Sun Joe going in the opposite direction, using the dethatching attachment. I followed him around the entire yard doing this. Because we didn't use the bag on the Sun Joe (see "cons" below), he then went OVER the thatched material with the lawnmower to bag it up - first in one direction, and then he did the entire yard AGAIN in the other direction to ensure that it was all picked up. We were going to use our Billy Goat blower, but figured that would make an absolute mess, so we opted for the mowing route. Total time for about 9000sf - 4 hours. And well worth every minute. I should have taken photos, but rest assured that I was completely and utterly dumbfounded at the amount of dead grass and compost-like material that we raised, and it takes quite a bit for me to be impressed by a yard machine. Pros: - easy to assemble - only tool needed was a Philips head screwdriver (also, make sure you push the angled handle portions of the metal tubes ALL THE WAY into the body of the machine - many review complain about this, but I can see where the issue is not pushing in all the way). The rest of the handle is assembled using large, easy to turn plastic thumbscrews. Very convenient. - the height/depth settings are easy to change. Simply push the green t-handle in and move it to the setting you choose. I tried the "0" setting first so as not to damage any grass, and found that moving it to the "-5" setting worked even better and caused no damage. On the areas where we had moss, I moved it to the "-10" setting. Moss no more. - works exactly as described and as needed - they're not inflating the value of this machine, I can safely say. Cons: - the bag. As most other reviews stated, the bag is a joke. True, but we just left it off. See above for how we picked it up without breaking our backs raking. Notes: seriously - make sure you're using the right size extension cord. I used a 12 gauge cord at 100 feet and had ZERO problems. Machine didn't shut off, overheat, or otherwise explode. Also, you can use a tiny bungee cord to wrap around the handle to keep it powered as you move through your yard. The angle of the power switch can get a little uncomfortable over time. Overall - 5 out of 5. I wouldn't change a thing - even the bag. It would take a REALLY big bag for it to be convenient, and the only other option would be a giant vacuum, so I can't count that against them.

Hands down worth every penny. This is so easy to use, and the work it can get done is amazing. Was able to get my entire backyard scarified and ready for seeding in about an hour and that’s going over everything twice at different heights. It’s lightweight and easy to move. It can be a little noisy but with what this does, it’s not that bad honestly. Highly recommend this.

First off, hat's off the the people who came up with this product idea. Regardless of longevity, it's nice to see an affordable homeowner de-thatcher. That said, there are some issues people should know about, or at least my experience and suggestions. 1. The instructions mention NOT to use this product on moist/wet ground. Also, not to spray it off with water to clean it. These warnings should be taken very seriously. Not so much for fear of electrocution, but because the unit's electronics are definitely not well sealed. Yards to be de-thatched or scarified should be very dry in regard to both the grass itself AND the soil. Most homeowner's are going to expect to be able to just use their lawn equipment as they have time to do so. I would recommend being very careful with it comes to moisture with this product. 2. Because it's not all that well sealed inside, it's not all that unlikely that you won't have a buildup of material inside from de-thatching etc.. Because it tends to build up between the framework and the electrical motor there is a potential for both overheating and possibly fire. I have found that after summer use, I need to remove the body screws and do a thorough cleaning using an air hose to remove all the buildup. Also, as stated above, if you even suspect you may have gotten moisture inside I would suggest removing the cover and taking the time to ensure there's no water inside before using this thing. 3. Disassembly. I'm sure they would prefer you don't remove the plastic cover, but given the issues noted above, I think it's fairly likely that you will need to occasionally. I had to return my initial Sun Joe because of electronic failure. It worked until I went in for lunch, and when I came out it didn't. Sun Joe customer service is great, but their solution seems to be to just replace the unit (within 1 year). Not sure how they respond after warranty, so my advice is periodically do some under the cover cleaning and never use when there's any moisture on the ground. As for cover disassembly itself, it's not difficult but obviously make sure to unplug the unit first. The screws can be problematic because the channels fill up with muck so you will need to dig that out to get to them. The manufacturer definitely should have put plugs over the screw holes to avoid that problem. Also, the last screw is hidden under the stick on label. 4. Use.... Everything else considered, I have found that for lawn de-thatching (or in my case moss buildup removal), it doesn't work all that well with the wire drum unless you use it on a negative setting, which they do not recommend. Since I mainly purchased the machine for this purpose I was disappointed with the result, but then decided to just go negative and see what happened. What happened was pretty much lawn removal and wear out of the wire on the drum. But, if that's the result you need before reseeding and you don't mind springing for a replacement drum for around $30, then there you go. That said, I found the metal scarafier drum to be just the ticket. It's designed to be used at a negative setting and it works very well for moss removal at the -10 setting. Doesn't maim the grass too much and does the job. Might need to cross hatch the lawn to get it all but it's a good result. So in my opinion, set the wire drum aside and just go with the heavy drum for the whole show. So in summary, good product but could be better designed on the inside to avoid malfunction of electronics and buildup of dried material under the cover. Plugs over the screw holes would be great but probably won't happen anytime soon so just sub small pieces of electrical tape or whatever to keep the screw channels clear of debris. Definitely store inside a dry area and do not even plug it in if you see signs of moisture on the product. It isn't sealed all that well.

This review has two parts: 1. Product Review 2. Snow Joe Customer Service Product Review ----------------------- Let's start with the challenge I had to solve for. I have an lawn that spans 2000 sq. ft. that has never been dethached in the last 7 years. The lawn health has been steadily decreasing and no amount of chemical fertilizers or weed control have been able to restore the lawn to its early glory. After giving up on the chemical treatment path, I tried aeration. Presumably it helped, but I saw no real improvement in the health of my lawn. Finally, I hit upon dethaching. My lawn has become a patchwork of living and dead grass. I picked up the Sun Joe AJ801E for three reasons: 1. It had the highest powered motor (amp consumption) on Amazon for dethaching 2. It had a scraper / scarifier, which presumably will allow me to more easily reseed targeted areas of my lawn. 3. My "Mow, Blow, & Go" gardener claimed that all the dethacthers for a lawn my size were rented out to golf courses. Assembly is super easy, but I had some issues with one of the metal arms not fitting correctly into the main dethatcher. More on that later.... Product performance: I ran the Sun Joe at 0" across a small section of my lawn. In one pass across 10ft of lawn, the catch bag was full of thatch! I was shocked. Looking at the lawn, I could barely tell that the Sun Joe had actually lifted anything out, but the full bag told me otherwise. I ended up covering 200 sq. ft of my lawn, having to run multiple passes to get all the thatch. This little machine is super efficient, but I found the catch bag filling up way faster than expected. I've got another 1600 sq ft of lawn to cover, but will have to attack it one week at a time. Just covering 200 sq ft filled my yard waste bin. Pros: - Easy to assemble. - Efficient in picking up thatch. May need multiple passes if your lawn has been neglected. - Safety switch makes it impossible for my young children to accidentally turn this on. - Dethacther and Scarifier rollers are easy to swap Cons: - Small catch bag - Safety switch is a bit of a bear when you need to stop and empty the catch bag often. - Assembly requires some force to get the bent metal arm into the main dethatcher or the screw holes will not line up. - Changing the Dethatcher roller for the Scarifier requires a 10mm wrench. Not a big deal if you have a crescent wrench or socket set. It just took me by surprise since I thought they would use sizes a little more common for the American do-it-yourselfer that has minimal tools. Time will tell if this holds up over the 2-year warranty, but so far I am really happy with the performance. Customer Support --------------------------- All too often we hear about poor customer support. I am here to tell you that Sun Joe has top-notch customer support. When assembling the Sun Joe, you must insert the metal poles / arms into the main unit. If you look at the product picture, I'm referring to the black metal arms that support the power switch and push point. The portion that connects to the actual unit is bent at approximately 135 degrees. You must use a bit of force to get the arms into the main unit or the screw holes will not line up. On the unit I purchased, I was not able to push in the metal rod far enough to line up the screw holes, even after putting my weight into it. I was reluctant to use a rubber mallet for fear of bending the actual metal rod. When I called Sun Joe, the gentleman listened to my concern. He immediately said they would ship a new one out. Here is what totally blew me away.... Sun Joe support never questioned my ability to follow instructions, troubleshoot, or even verify that I followed the instructions correctly. I was preparing myself to verbally defend myself, which is exactly what you need to do when calling for support from nearly any other manufacturer. Nope. Not here. Sun Joe sent a brand new unit and provided a pre-paid slip to send the old one back. They didn't even ask for any credit card information to secure a deposit! Sure, I could have gone through Amazon to do the return process, but I wanted to give the manufacturer a chance to own the problem. No question about it, Sun Joe actually made it easier than Amazon.

Honestly shocked at how well this works. Easy to assemble and very lightweight. Yes the cord is a bit of a nuisance but you get used to working with it pretty quick and the amperage you get seems to be spot on for aggressive dethatching while also not destroying your lawn like the gas powered models. Honestly I couldnt see a battery version doing this well (at least not w the current tech) My lawn actually looked nicer immediately after dethatching heavily. My only caveat is the back cover that shields any potential material spitting back can also trap alot of thatch. I dont see this being a problem down the line but expect this if you have a heavy amount of thatch in first use. Outside of that a great purchase and worth the price.

I bought the Sun Joe Electric Lawn Dethatcher & Scarifier after reading positive reviews on Amazon. At 70 years old, I was reseeding part of my lawn that had been overrun with nimblewill. I tried dethatching manually with a rake but found it exhausting, so I decided to give this machine a try—and I’m very glad I did. Unboxing & Setup: The unit arrived in its original Sun Joe packaging, well protected and clearly labeled. Assembly was simple and only required a Phillips screwdriver. The instructions were clear, and everything fit together easily. It even comes with a separate scarifier attachment for slicing grass roots to promote new growth, which I haven’t tried yet but appreciate having included. Performance: I used the dethatching roller on a section of my lawn, and the results were excellent. The machine was easy to push and handled the job quickly and efficiently. It lifted a surprising amount of thatch without bogging down, and the motor showed no sign of strain. I do recommend mowing the grass quite low before using it—it helps the machine work even better. Pros: Very effective at removing thatch Easy to push and maneuver Straightforward assembly with good instructions Solid power for an electric unit Great value for the price Cons: The collection bag is small, but I simply used the dethatcher without it and raked up afterward—it worked fine for me. Value & Verdict: Considering the cost of hiring someone to dethatch my lawn, this Sun Joe has already paid for itself. It’s easy to use, saves a ton of physical effort, and I expect it to last for years based on the solid performance so far. Highly recommended for homeowners of any age who want to keep their lawns healthy without the back-breaking work of manual dethatching.

I recently purchased the Sun Joe AJ801E 12-Amp 13-Inch Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier with the hopes of rejuvenating my lawn. However, my experience with this product has been nothing short of disappointing. From its lackluster performance to its questionable durability, I found myself regretting my decision to invest in this machine. First and foremost, the performance of the Sun Joe AJ801E left much to be desired. Despite the manufacturer's claims of efficient dethatching and scarifying, I found that it struggled to effectively remove thatch and debris from my lawn. Even after multiple passes, it failed to achieve the desired results. The tines seemed too short and would frequently get clogged, necessitating frequent stops and manual unclogging. Furthermore, the 5-position height adjustment feature, which is supposed to provide versatility, was unreliable. It often resulted in uneven cutting, leaving patches of my lawn untouched while damaging other areas. This lack of consistency was frustrating, as I had to constantly readjust the height settings, wasting both time and energy. One of the main reasons I chose this dethatcher and scarifier was the promised Airboost Technology, which purportedly enhances lawn health. However, I failed to notice any discernible improvement in the health of my lawn after using this product. Despite following the instructions carefully and ensuring proper operation, my lawn appeared no different than before. The marketing claims about Airboost Technology seem exaggerated and misleading. Moreover, the build quality and durability of the AJ801E were disappointing. Within the first few uses, I noticed signs of wear and tear. The collection bag, touted as a convenient feature, started showing signs of fraying, and the zipper became increasingly difficult to operate. Additionally, the plastic housing of the machine felt flimsy and susceptible to damage. Considering the price I paid for this dethatcher and scarifier, I expected a much sturdier construction. In terms of usability, the Sun Joe AJ801E falls short as well. The machine is quite heavy and cumbersome to maneuver, especially on uneven terrain. This made it difficult to navigate around obstacles and maneuver in tight spaces. Furthermore, the power cord provided was relatively short, limiting the range of operation and requiring the use of multiple extension cords. This inconvenience added unnecessary hassle to an already underwhelming experience. Based on my personal experience, I cannot recommend the Sun Joe AJ801E 12-Amp 13-Inch Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier. Its lackluster performance, unreliable height adjustment, questionable Airboost Technology, and subpar durability make it a poor investment. There are other dethatchers and scarifiers on the market that offer better results and are more durable, making this product a disappointing choice for anyone looking to improve the health and appearance of their lawn. In conclusion, the Sun Joe AJ801E fails to deliver on its promises. Its underwhelming performance, inconsistent height adjustment, questionable Airboost Technology, and poor durability make it an unsatisfactory choice for lawn care enthusiasts. I strongly advise potential buyers to explore alternative options that offer better performance and reliability.

It worked exactly as expected. I was nervous at first because it seemed pretty flimsy, all plastic. But it proved to be pretty sturdy., did the job I needed it to!

It took a good long while to get here, and as other reviewers reported, it does feel somewhat "too light to be sturdy" and rather flimsy at unboxing, but let me tell you, it packs a punch! Took all of 5 minutes to assemble; the main unit comes fully assembled with the sacrifier tool in place, you basically need to put in two Phillips screws for the handle posts, then it's just a matter of hand screwing the 4 handle bolts and voilà, ready to roll. Switching from scarifier to dethatcher is also a breeze and is done in a manner of seconds; simply flip the unit over (the "lightweight" is already coming in handy), unscrew both 10mm retaining bolts, switch "drums" and put the bolts back in, not too tight, just nice and snug. Deck height adjustment is quick and easy, and once underway, I was amazed at how much thatch came out of the seemingly "clean" parts of the lawn. I quickly found that the "catch bag" is rather useless if you're dethatching for the first time in a long time, you'd have to empty it every few feet. The best approach I found is to leave the bag off, make one complete pass on the whole section of lawn then blow everything out on the driveway with a leaf blower and shovel the resulting mountain of thatch in a trash bag (or compost bin in my case). The only real reason I could see the catcher being useful if is you have very little thatch but have some debris hidden away in the lawn ( little rocks, small sticks, stray pieces of mulch and whatnot), then it would be super useful... The fact that it's lightweight is in no way indicative of its sturdiness or effectiveness, it simply makes it easy to operate, and the fact that the drum turns in the same direction as the wheels makes the machine almost "self-propelled"; I found myself having to hold it back rather than pushing it when scarifying. It's also much quieter than the "commercial" gasoline unit from the tool rental place; this one actually sounds like a shop vac. Oh, one helpful little tip; always walk "away from the electrical outlet": start your passes closest to the outlet, and gradually walk away from it, that way you'll hardy notice that annoying electrical extension, and won't have to constantly fight it out of the way. I had a huge problem with chinch bugs this year, I solved the problem, the bugs are dead but so were big parts of my front lawn (approx 2000 sq.ft), this little machine was a huge part of bringing my lawn back by taking all of the dead grass out, then scarify the soil making it ready to re-seed. I did two passes (left to right then front to back) with both tools, picked everything up between each pass and cleaned up the driveway, all in an afternoon... This is by no means a "commercial grade" machine, and it's obviously not meant to be used all day everyday, but as a home owner, you'll only be using it a handful of times per year (and maybe lend it to your neighbour once in a while), and in that regard, it's a great little tool to have around. And, it's light enough to be hanged on the wall or tucked away on a high shelf when you're done. Couldn't be happier with it! 1 YEAR UPDATE: Still very happy with the machine, a real soldier! It managed the fall cleanup very well with the "rake drum"(picked up the leftover leaves and twigs nicely), stored it away for the winter in my un-heated tool shed, pulled it out last week for the full spring clean-up and I just finished renovating the side part of the yard using both drums extensively, and the "little scarifyer that could" never missed a beat. I even lent it to both my neighbours for their spring clean-up, and both were flabbergasted at how much stuff was coming up from their seemingly clean-ish lawns. I love this little guy, easily my favourite garden tool, if sadly it were to die on me (not that it's showing any signs of it), I'd bid it farewell, thank it for services rendered, and order another one in a heartbeat!

Funcional máquina para principiantes, muy buen costo beneficio! Gracias por su atención.

What I liked was that it came with a scarifier blade. Don't need the dethatcher tines. The scarifier gets down to the soil level and prepares it for taking seed. In doing so it also dethatches at the same time. This is very light weight and did a much better job than I could have managed with a rake. I'm too old for that! This machine worked really well on our front lawn which has been neglected for many years. This was the first time is had been dethatched in over 20 years. It is lightweight so I can easily lift it up to get to different levels of our lawn. It is foldable and easy to store when you don't need it. I do recommend a heavy duty extension cord to prevent the motor from bogging down and overheating. I bought an AmazonBasics 12/3 SJTW Heavy-Duty Lighted Extension Cord and it worked really well. There were no real problems or complaints but at this price you need to have realistic expectations of what you are getting. It feels really flimsy because it really is. A few times the machine couldn't pull through the thatch and uneven ground and when I twisted the handle to free it, there was a lot of flex. The motor is very strong, up to the job, and never stalled out, but the chassis is questionable. Still it got the job done and am satisfied with the machine, so not a deal breaker for me. I didn't want a big heavy steel machine that I couldn't lift. The catcher on the back is almost useless. It works but has a very small capacity. I kept a bucket at each end of the lawn and emptied it after each pass. I just hate raking that much! Our back yard lawn was in much better condition so I just left the catcher off and did a light raking afterwards. Still not a deal breaker for me. A bigger catcher would mean bigger stronger chassis and a heavier machine which is not what I wanted. I'm only going to use this once a year so it was ideal for my purposes. So knowing what I know now, I would definitely buy it again. The scarifier blade works great. Relatively easy way of preparing the lawn for overseeing and Spring cleanup. Just remember to get a 12 gauge extension cord.

me gusto su fácil manejo y el resultado que logras con esta operación, se de verdad quieres tu césped no dejes de hacer esta labor para lograr un césped sano, bonito y disfrutable

So far I’ve only used it once, but are my first impressions. Pro: compact and powerful , easy to use. Worked great on my yard, Con: handle feels weak like it will break if I try to turn, collection bag is small so it needs to be emptied frequently (5 min to fill),