lawnmowers?

[Mallory Black]

Got a Honda 19" bought new 1988 still going like a dream

[Redcherokee]

We hired mowers from a mower shop for a while when the old one died.  The guys in the hire shop wouldn't use anything but Honda, because it copes with mistreatment and just keeps on going. 

So we bought a Honda and it hasn't had any problems.   

[hainess]

Is this the mower you want to pay for or do you want to use it as well . As a contractor l use Honda . Currently my main mower is a 3 speed 21in cut mulch/catcher . a very handy bit of kit .This will last me 2 years then it will start to give  me strife . ln that time it will have 20 or more sets of blades , handle bars , wheels , oil  , air cleaners & possibly do in a week what you might do in a year .
Buy quality once . lf it goes paired shaped you can sell it back to the mower shop that can best service to for you . My gear costs $1500 a go , but it goes when it has to & thats all l want . OR get a pro to cut your lawn & go camping instead 

Yep.

2 years out of the honda self prop.
The motors still go great, but the rest of it starts to fall apart after 5000 or so lawns.

The high end Rovers now run their own built motor. They've gone away from the B&S.

The B&S motors would usually do about 16 months before needing major work.

If you do go for something with a Honda motor, make sure the motor is genuine.

Rod

.

[Mace]

Have a 12 year old Honda.  Still runs perfectly and no rust in the base. Never been washed below, give it the occasional brush.

The usual story:  If it doesnt start in 2 pulls, either:

Ive put the wrong fuel in (2 stroke mixed in - doesnt like that at all)
The plug is cactus (happens very rarely)
The air filter needs cleaning - sorry, wrong, the air filter is full of dust & cr&p (thats about the only issue I have with it, newer ones have a better filter)

I think it cost just over $500 when new. Money well spent, it should  last me another 10 years I reckon.

[Kalebjarrod]

Old school Briggs and Stratton where the best, 4 stroke, I have one still going from 1988

The new ones are hopeless

I have 2 Honda mowers, they never stop, but there only as good as the deck there attached too

I have 6 Honda engines running around our property now, I've had one pump which was under flood water for 3 weeks, new filters and oil, fresh feul, bit of cleaning, started first pull

[Mace]

I have 2 Honda mowers, they never stop, but there only as good as the deck there attached too

Agree completely,

Our prevous mower was a Honda Engined Victa commando.  The deck lasted somewhere between 8 and 10 years. Thats when we brought the full Honda Deal.

[Bushman]

Honda

[cancan]

i have a victa pro mulch ....has the Honda 5hp motor and hasn't had an issue since i bought it in 1999. i even have it serviced every couple of years....

[homerj]

Go the Honda , mine is 18 years old , still goes first pull .If stitting for a while drain stale fuel and with new fuel first pull always a goer .it is worth spending the extra money on them.
Cheers Homerj

[Nomad]

Get something with 4 blades.

I have a 12 year old victa with a B & S. THe motor still kicks over first go, even after more poor....really poor levels of servicing. But in only has two blades..........can you swap them to 4 blades.........

[Riguez]

Nothing wrong with the old Victa. Been going for years. Not a big brand name, but OK.

I just got my pop's old victa out of his shed yesterday - its 30 years old and hasn't been started since he died 3 years ago. Started 1st go. surprised me given how old the fuel is, just sitting in the tank all that time.

[cruisindub]

Thanks swaggers.
(As always) really helpful advice and information.  Some great help, not only on engines, but equally importnant points such as the deck quality,discharge size and even blade info.
Even had a super generous offer from a swagger offering me his old mower. Lots of thanks.

So, a couple more questions.
2 or 5 bladed mower? Or doesn't matter?

Also how often should I mow the lawn.?
( I seeded it myself, so I'm quite proud of it) I have the greenest lawn in the street. The fertilizer I put on was awesome.!

Cheers.

[Mace]

I think most mulching mowers, like my Honda, have only a two blade single bar set up.

Mow whenever SHMBO complains, or you cant find the dog in the yard!!

 

[LJs GU]

So, a couple more questions.
2 or 5 bladed mower? Or doesn't matter?

They come in 5 blades now?  They sound like razors...

Also how often should I mow the lawn.?

I use the scientific approach of 'length'.  If it looks long I cut it. 

LJ

[Marschy]

Steer clear of pressed steel body and go for cast. Will last longer than the motor.

[gibbo301]

Also how often should SHE mow the lawn.?
Cheers.

There you go all fixed 

[pauljygrant]

Honda, as others have said.  Providing budget allows of course.

More importantly, steer clear of Bunnings type places and go to a proper mower shop.  You might save 20-$50 at Bunnings, but a mower shop will sell it to you fully assembled and shop tested.  Also alot less hassle if something does go wrong down the track and it needs to be sent back.

Understand where you are coming from and depends on what you can afford - Honda is better than B&S, but either are miles better than any non-branded Chinese motor - wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

As far as Bunnings is concerned, they have the advantage of a first month replacement warranty on top of the standard manufacturers 2 year repair warranty - this applies to most power garden and tool shop items and is a Bunnings initiative regardless of the manufacturer. They are also open all weekend so if something does go wrong, you can drop it off at any time.  As for building the machine, only a few bolts for the handle, clip the catcher together and fill with oil - not that difficult.

Paul

[snakehips]

Another ex contractor (Jims Mowing) here backing the Honda self propelled mulch/catch.  Starts first time every time and I've still got one for home use and can do my lawn in 5 minutes..

A couple of extra points to consider.  What kinda grass you got and what weather do you experience?  If you've got 2 inch thick Buffalo that grows 3 feet a week in summer and is always damp from dew or rain (Sydney northern suburbs anyone?), and you can only get out to mow it once a month, spend $1500 on a decent mower with a powerful motor coz you won't get through it with anything else.  If you've got wispy nothing and you're mowing dust, you won't need as much power as you won't be using it much, but get something with good air filters.  If you've got a big block, any slope or thick grass, get self propelled-you'll notice the difference.  Just remember one of the reasons they are self propelled is 'coz they're heavy, something else to remember if you have to drag it up stairs or anything.

Whatever you get just remember to service it regularly, they're pretty easy.  Change the oil, blow out the air filter (clean the oiled foam outer if its got one) and change the blades.

BTW, 4 stroke all the way for a mower, 2 stroke for whipper, blower etc.

[cancan]

I think most mulching mowers, like my Honda, have only a two blade single bar set up.

My mulching mower is a 4 blade, and you should mow in a certain direction to mulch properly to maximise the shape of the body...so the instructions say...not that I read instructions

[Campa]

Understand where you are coming from and depends on what you can afford - Honda is better than B&S, but either are miles better than any non-branded Chinese motor - wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

As far as Bunnings is concerned, they have the advantage of a first month replacement warranty on top of the standard manufacturers 2 year repair warranty - this applies to most power garden and tool shop items and is a Bunnings initiative regardless of the manufacturer. They are also open all weekend so if something does go wrong, you can drop it off at any time.

So if in the 1st month the item is found to be faulty do Bunnings need to send the faulty item away to the manufacture for a decision on replacement, or do they make a decision and replace the item right there and then at the returns counter?

[pauljygrant]

So if in the 1st month the item is found to be faulty do Bunnings need to send the faulty item away to the manufacture for a decision on replacement, or do they make a decision and replace the item right there and then at the returns counter?

Assuming that the product does not show signs of misuse, then they swap it straight away and they send it back to the manufacturer for a credit - however, if the product has been misused, eg, too much oil in a mower, or a DIY tool used by a tradie, then either the warranty is voided, or the other 2 options are to send it to an authorised repairer for consideration, or leave it at the store for the rep to assess on their next visit, usually every 2 weeks.  (this policy only came into effect a few months ago).
Paul

[Mallory Black]

Ha Ha now we're getting picky.
I did live at a place in Greenbank once and the grass was super fine couch, setting 1 on the Honda burnt it and setting 2 didn't touch it so I got (and still have) an old Victa utility because it had a finer height adjustment.

I now only use the Victa if I have topdressed or seeded because it's blades are thin and flat and  can be sharpened like a knife to cut brand new grass,  and there's no suction to lift the top dressing cos the Honda's suction is so good it even pulls wet grass right into the back of the catcher.

[Squalo]

Another Honda voter here.

Mulching mowers are the best thing since sliced grass

[Campa]

Another Honda voter here.

Mulching mowers are the best thing since sliced grass

Yep. In the last 5 years of owning the Honda mulching mower, Ive probably only used the catcher once or twice.

[cruisindub]

After great swagging advice, I bought a basic 'all power' brand lawnmower with a kohler engine 150cc.
After using this, over my brother old rusty mower,I  learnt a few tips.

4 blade over 2.
large wheels.
mulching capacity.
Self propelled
Quality deck.
Large cutting area, 18-19"
Power start
Large high sided fuel filler
Quality catcher
high powered engine.(preferably Honda!)
fine cutting blades.
fine height adjustment.

I learnt that after buying my new one, Somme good choices, some not so.
Has large wheels, good catcher, four blade mulch, high large filler fuel, 18".

Wish I had got a larger engine, its always quite damp down south here, number of times the mower struggled with wet grass, I was knackered after 3 hours pushing a heavy mower, the fuel filler is easy, mulch function works good, power start would ease frustration whb it doesn't start first pull.
Oh yeah
 Stopped mowing when ran out of fuel,dent finish the last front corner of house. Got pissed of when it wouldn't start after I proudly tried to show the wife our new purchase after she finished work last night. Cheekily the wife innocentty asked if it had fuel. I slunk away not commenting anymore. Didn't spend a huge amount.

Oh yeah, like general consensus of CTs, don't dismiss quality built second hand ones, over cheaper new ones around same price.could have bought everything above second hand, for a little less than my cheaper new one. I bought new, wish I had bought the quality second hand one.

Cheers
(Sorry for waffling)