The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

deezell · 27-02-2019 6:27pm

red bull wrote: »

Is a mountfield 1530H a good mower ?

You'll get far more for the 2500+ price tag it has. Mountfield are part of Castelgarden group, this mower appears under this and other group brands such as Stiga and Alpina. The engine is an own brand job. Here it is as a Stiga, for 2K.
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/stiga-estate-2084-ride-on-mower-hydrostatic-gear-shift-grass-collector-mulching-p-10464.html
Or here with a 3" wider cut, bigger Briggs&Stratton engine, for about the same price..
In between are variations with B&S engines, bigger cut, just do a search using the filters. This is the B&S engined 84cm hydro Stiga for 2295, includes a free trailer and service kit.
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/stiga-estate-3084-ride-on-mower-briggsstratton-grass-collector-mulching-system-p-10480.html

thebackbar · 27-02-2019 6:36pm

hi im looking to purchase a self-propelled mower, some thing like a Honda HRX 476 , im wondering is there any place i could pick up a second hand one ?

NIMAN · 27-02-2019 7:11pm

thebackbar wrote: »

hi im looking to purchase a self-propelled mower, some thing like a Honda HRX 476 , im wondering is there any place i could pick up a second hand one ?

Maybe could do a deal on this?
Looks in decent nick

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lawnmowers-trimmers/honda-535-lawnmower-/1331349814

ustari · 28-02-2019 12:16pm

deezell wrote: »

I know nothing about Iseki, except that Iseki ireland are Broderick.ie, but their link to manuals is dead, their parts site for Iseki shows a total of 4 parts!
https://www.turfparts.ie/product-category/iseki-spare-parts/.
Getting the parts manual for your model is the key, many manuals are on the UK site.
https://iseki.co.uk/manuals1/index
Armed with this get the part no. say this solenoid, 6281-910-013-00.
Run this part no in a search, see what you get.

Heres one outfit in France which have a stock
https://www.m-jardin.fr/shop/recherche?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=iseki&submit_search=

That random part no. I used cost €227 !! For a solenoid? Ouch.
https://www.m-jardin.fr/shop/iseki/195988-solenoide-d-arret-moteur-iseki-ref-6281-910-013-00.html

Some Iseki are Landinis, others built by Massey Ferguson, the trade repair guys would be wise to common parts and perhaps cheaper sources of these. I tend not to worry about parts until I need them, then go on the trail, but if you're a commercial operator, time is money, you might not have the luxury of scouring the Net.

Appreciate the links.

NIMAN · 28-02-2019 1:38pm

Big reduction in the price of this one in Woodie's (assuming RRP is accurate)

https://www.woodies.ie/mcculloch-m46-125-classic-petrol-mower-online-offer-only-1154932?utm_campaign=203016_28%20February%202019%20&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Woodies%20DIY%20Limited&dm_i=4TP1,4CNC,1QYXOR,ENGM,1

deezell · 28-02-2019 4:20pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Big reduction in the price of this one in Woodie's (assuming RRP is accurate)

https://www.woodies.ie/mcculloch-m46-125-classic-petrol-mower-online-offer-only-1154932?utm_campaign=203016_28%20February%202019%20&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Woodies%20DIY%20Limited&dm_i=4TP1,4CNC,1QYXOR,ENGM,1

Well its a bigger mower (46cm) for less than the one BlazingSaddler posted 8 days ago, 40 cm for €179.
https://www.woodies.ie/mcculloch-m40-125-classic-petrol-mower-1154930
I hope he hasn't bought yet.

NIMAN · 01-03-2019 11:23am

Cheapest ride on I've ever seen.

Hard to tell condition from photos, but maybe even able to get it for less?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/lawn-mowers/ride-on-lawnmower/1331708343

deccydohc · 01-03-2019 1:42pm

ustari wrote: »

Does anyone have a supplier of Iseki parts that they could recommend?

Struggling to find many online with decent sites/list of stock.

Robert Kee Power Equipment are Iseki dealers, they will have full parts available

red bull · 01-03-2019 7:03pm

deezell wrote: »

You'll get far more for the 2500+ price tag it has. Mountfield are part of Castelgarden group, this mower appears under this and other group brands such as Stiga and Alpina. The engine is an own brand job. Here it is as a Stiga, for 2K.
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/stiga-estate-2084-ride-on-mower-hydrostatic-gear-shift-grass-collector-mulching-p-10464.html
Or here with a 3" wider cut, bigger Briggs&Stratton engine, for about the same price..
In between are variations with B&S engines, bigger cut, just do a search using the filters. This is the B&S engined 84cm hydro Stiga for 2295, includes a free trailer and service kit.
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/stiga-estate-3084-ride-on-mower-briggsstratton-grass-collector-mulching-system-p-10480.html

I was looking at 2ndhand one seems to be in good condition €1500. Just wonder are the Mountfield engine's reliable ?

deezell · 01-03-2019 9:04pm

red bull wrote: »

I was looking at 2ndhand one seems to be in good condition €1500. Just wonder are the Mountfield engine's reliable ?

These engines are made by the Castelgarden parent company, GGP, probably in their Chinese plant, so I would expect the quality control to be of the group's standard while conferring a manufacturing cost advantage. Spurious Chinese engines fitted to cheap big store equipment are often poor, with a very short lifespan if worked resonabky hard, but I'd expect the GGP engine to be of a more reliable standard, as it's fitted to many Stiga, Alpins and Castelgarden as a lower cost option.

deezell · 06-03-2019 12:55pm

ustari wrote: »

Appreciate the links.

Also in relation to Iseki and other brands, this outfit in Tallaght do a lot of service parts for different mowers, mostly for the commercial and agri sector, but I see Iseki blades and bits in their catalogue.
http://www.mchc.ie/uploads/catalogues/1711_Forest_Garden.pdf

Mr. Grieves · 06-03-2019 8:03pm

Anybody have any opinions on Aldi's mower?

https://www.aldi.ie/self-propelled-petrol-lawn-mower/p/097814271231500

07-03-2019 8:48pm

Was looking for a Scarifier for a few small lawns I look after. €350 - €400 budget to start off. Any recommendations. I found this for my low budget.

https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/einhell-gc-sc-2240-lawn-scarifier-118-cc-4-stroke-engine-p-8369.html

monkeynuz · 07-03-2019 10:32pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Was looking for a Scarifier for a few small lawns I look after. €350 - €400 budget to start off. Any recommendations. I found this for my low budget.

https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/einhell-gc-sc-2240-lawn-scarifier-118-cc-4-stroke-engine-p-8369.html

I think “the lawn guy” on YouTube mentions an einhell in one of his scarifying videos, can’t remember what he thought of it but take a look.

deezell · 08-03-2019 9:48am

Deleted User wrote: »

Was looking for a Scarifier for a few small lawns I look after. €350 - €400 budget to start off. Any recommendations. I found this for my low budget.

https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/einhell-gc-sc-2240-lawn-scarifier-118-cc-4-stroke-engine-p-8369.html

A lot of those listed are for small garden personal use. Hardly any faster than a good rake. If you're going to be doing this on hire, go for the most powerful engine you can afford, you don't want to spend a full day scratching along a few inches at a time. Try hiring out one, see how well it performs then check out it's engine specs. The working width is immaterial if there isn't the power to turn the blades. Scarifying is power hungry.

monkeynuz · 08-03-2019 10:10am

Here it is

https://youtu.be/MyzWZ9hWdAI

08-03-2019 2:24pm

Thanks lads. Most of my gardens and properties are keep the grass cut and the place tidy. Just -a few 100 - 200 sq m ones I got last year that would like the lawn looking good. Will probably just hire.

I'll take a look at the video.

scouser123 · 08-03-2019 4:37pm

Hi,

I have a half acre to cut and have been using a castlegarden 40'' 12.5 HP for the last 18 years. It has served me very well but I don't think its long for this world.
I was thinking about getting the Husqvarna TC138 or the TC142C? Was thinking of spending between 2.2k and 3k
Anyone advice would be greatly appreciated.
This thread is a great source of useful information and its much appreciated.

Gforcemurphy · 08-03-2019 4:59pm

Hi all

Any chance anyone knows if Aldi (Gardenline) do good lawnmowers? There is one going this Sunday for €229, 65l capacity, self-propelled. I expect that, like with a lot of these Special Buys, they will probably go quick.

https://www.aldi.ie/self-propelled-petrol-lawn-mower/p/097814271231500

Any feedback appreciated, thanks!

deezell · 08-03-2019 6:24pm

Gforcemurphy wrote: »

Hi all

Any chance anyone knows if Aldi (Gardenline) do good lawnmowers? There is one going this Sunday for €229, 65l capacity, self-propelled. I expect that, like with a lot of these Special Buys, they will probably go quick.

https://www.aldi.ie/self-propelled-petrol-lawn-mower/p/097814271231500

Any feedback appreciated, thanks!

18" cut, 3 HP self propelled with a Briggs and Stratton engine with 3 year guarantee for €229. What's not to like? It'll owe you nothing in 3 years.

naulpolan · 08-03-2019 8:47pm

Hi Folks, does anyone have any experience or opinions on Gianni Ferrari mowers? I am in need of something robust with a decent sized engine. I have an acre of grass and sometimes it gets ahead of me in that I don’t have time to cut it every week. The machine I’m considering is fairly old but hasn’t done much work and I’m wondering what the reliability and spares availability ( and cost) is like. Thanks

deezell · 11-03-2019 1:49pm

scouser123 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a half acre to cut and have been using a Castlegarden 40'' 12.5 HP for the last 18 years. It has served me very well but I don't think its long for this world.
I was thinking about getting the Husqvarna TC138 or the TC142C? Was thinking of spending between 2.2k and 3k
Anyone advice would be greatly appreciated.
This thread is a great source of useful information and its much appreciated.

Only to say that you'd be doing well to get the 107cm cut 15HP TC142C for within your Budget. Best I see is ARM rentals in Newry at £2690, near enough to €3100. Still a lot of machine for that money, a cut above (pardon the pun) the general 102 cm/40" offerings, which with Hydrostatic drive, decent power of at least 12-14 Hp will set you back close to the same. The V twin engine is well worth going for, in terms of smooth power and quieter running, so make comparisons with other twins.
Is your vintage Castelgarden a v twin? Even if not, You'll be surprised how much it will sell for if it's in any kind of decent condition. 18 years of only a half acre is very light work.
I got €500 for a well maintained 19 year old exact same machine (with twin V engine), Castelgarden TC102 which had mowed the same 1.5 acres since new, so get it on Donedeal/Adverts.
As for the build quality of Huskies, some swear by them, others demur.

scouser123 · 11-03-2019 5:19pm

Cheers Deezell!,

Yes mine is the TC102 12.5 HP and have to say other than replacing the deck has performed really well. Based on what you say I might squeeze a another couple of years out of it :-)

Thanks a lot for the reply.

Edward M · 11-03-2019 5:27pm

scouser123 wrote: »

Hi,

I have a half acre to cut and have been using a castlegarden 40'' 12.5 HP for the last 18 years. It has served me very well but I don't think its long for this world.
I was thinking about getting the Husqvarna TC138 or the TC142C? Was thinking of spending between 2.2k and 3k
Anyone advice would be greatly appreciated.
This thread is a great source of useful information and its much appreciated.

My only advice is regards the bagging of the grass if you collect it.
Honda, castelgarden chutes are much shorter than husqvarna and will bag damp grass much better, other than that there's not a lot of difference really. The last and condition of most mowers is down to the owner and from your post I think you'd be a careful owner.
There is a thirty inch walk behind from toro, it would retail at less than half of most ride on mowers, and for a half acre it wouldn't take much time to mow with it and you'd get a bit of exercise too:).

scouser123 · 11-03-2019 5:50pm

Thanks Edward , some things to ponder on.
Actually one of the only issues I have at the moment is the chute on my castlegarden has a few holes which resulted in grass getting in around the engine last year (had to clean the carb). I have repaired them with metal tape but not sure how long this will last. I might consider replacing the chute and see if I can get another few years from it.

Cheers!

Paul Pogba · 11-03-2019 8:19pm

Hi, short term lurker here. Bought a house over the winter, it’s got a decent size lawn maybe 0.7 acre in size. Need to buy my first tractor lawnmower. Visited a few places over the weekend that sold cub cadet, stihl, husqvarna, Honda, John Deere and castle garden. I’d like one that mulches and collects, hydrostatic and preferable 2 cylinder. My head is a bit fried with all the info I got but I need to decide soon as the lawn is getting long. I’m looking for quality and maybe more importantly, reliability , for less than €3500 that does all the above. Can someone point me in a definitive direction. Thanks.

deezell · 12-03-2019 1:41pm

Paul Pogba wrote: »

Hi, short term lurker here. Bought a house over the winter, it’s got a decent size lawn maybe 0.7 acre in size. Need to buy my first tractor lawnmower. Visited a few places over the weekend that sold cub cadet, stihl, husqvarna, Honda, John Deere and castle garden. I’d like one that mulches and collects, hydrostatic and preferable 2 cylinder. My head is a bit fried with all the info I got but I need to decide soon as the lawn is getting long. I’m looking for quality and maybe more importantly, reliability , for less than €3500 that does all the above. Can someone point me in a definitive direction. Thanks.

You'll get a lot of mower for that money, this MTD (Aka Cub Cadet) has a massive 20HP V twin B&S engine and a cut of 105cm.
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/mtd-optima-ln-200-lawn-tractor-hydrostatic-transmission-grass-collector-p-8689.html

This husky TC239T has a V twin engine also, 97cm cut but significantly has the Mulching option on a lever, No fiddling with plugs and chutes. Newry price is a little over your budget, ROI price probably higher
http://www.amrentals.ie/Ride_on_Lawnmowers/husqvarna-tc239t.htm.

This husky TC142t without the mulch lever option scapes in under budget, same engine etc.
http://www.amrentals.ie/Ride_on_Lawnmowers/husqvarna-tc142t.htm

Stihl are the former Viking brand painted orange, the 5112Z is a very robust machine with a huge cut, but outside your budget. You could probably drop to the MT 5097 C, at 95cm cut. Premium built product, and that size cut/engine fine for .75 acres/

Honda are the only other brand I see that have the mulching on a lever, but its way over priced for what it is, Newry price,
http://www.amrentals.ie/Ride_on_Lawnmowers/Honda-ride-on-lawnmower.htm
Well over €4.5k down here.

Castelgarden have gone a bit upmarket and pricier, but their badged derivatives, Stiga and Alpina are good value.

If you want to buy from a dealer local, not a bad thing at all, check how easy the mulch option is, look at the engine supplied, a twin is much smoother and quieter and well within you budget. You probably don't need bigger than 95cm cut, 12hp engine, but the bigger the better, especially if mulching, you don't want a wide cut with a small engine. (the mulching lever husky has a smaller 38"/97cm cut but the same big 15hp engine). Its a pity they don't do a mulch lever equipped smaller version, but maybe you'll treat yourself to the Husky, you'll fly around the mowing in no time.
On the other hand, you only have .75 acre/3000 m2, so a mower like this Stiga Estate 3084 H is well within your requirements, B&S engine , quality build, free mulch plug and lots of other goodies for €2295 online from Agrieuro, but € 2350 from this dealer in cavan,
https://www.fitzhire.ie/tractors/235-stiga-3084h-estate-mower.html
Stiga Estate 3084 H.

Good Hunting!

scouser123 · 12-03-2019 4:55pm

Hi,

Just wondering about the ride on mowers that have the mulch plug option. i.e. Snapper RPX 200 and some Husqvarna models. They look like they just plug in to the chute and the collector is removed. Do you need to change to mulching blades as well or does it mulch with the same blades?
Also does anyone have experience doing this on a regular basis, for example I was going to collect out back and mulch the front, is it time consuming to switch over the mucking plug?

Thanks a lot in advance.

my3cents · 12-03-2019 5:44pm

scouser123 wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering about the ride on mowers that have the mulch plug option. i.e. Snapper RPX 200 and some Husqvarna models. They look like they just plug in to the chute and the collector is removed. Do you need to change to mulching blades as well or does it mulch with the same blades?
Also does anyone have experience doing this on a regular basis, for example I was going to collect out back and mulch the front, is it time consuming to switch over the mucking plug?

Thanks a lot in advance.

They take seconds to fit but imo they DO NOT WORK.

deezell · 13-03-2019 3:45pm

my3cents wrote: »

They take seconds to fit but imo they DO NOT WORK.

When my 21HP Viking gets a blocked chute, damp soft grass say, it becomes a mulcher by accident. I hardly notice on the light dry bits, but when I hit the heavier damp patch that blocked the chute, it's not pleasant, clumps, labouring deck blades etc, eveb with all that power. I suppose it shows you can only mulch if it's dry short and light. Big leafy damp clumps are out.
Some mowers have a rear spreader funnel attachment that sits in place of the collector, and directs the grass flow down over the mowing width. It's cut but not mulched. Proper mulching needs multi clip blades. Here's a Castelgarden deflector.

castelgarden-grass-deflector-fits-102cm-122cm-models-299900016-0-719-p.jpg

castelgarden-grass-deflector-fits-102cm-122cm-models-299900016-0-719-p.jpg

The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

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