The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

You're right. No need now. Just planning to service it for the season ahead - have a bit of red oxide paint left over from something else so gonna pop that on it.

Never knew it came with one until recently - it’s a real pain of a job to clear the stuff out. Just wanted to add one on to make servicing easier.

Any ideas?

Alternatively, this plastic one (6) for the hym51 looks like it would sit over the metal section partially covering the belt, retained by a bolt (7). Part no is 1143050, there are similar looking ones about, but the previous metal central bolt fixing looks like it's the correct one. Does your mower have that rectangular plated blade holder boss (4)? The cover has a substantial cutout to accommodate it's removal without hammering off this boss, then has two half circle clip on ancillaries covers (8 & 9) to fit snug to the shaft. Very messy design

This looks similar also, but different mounting direct to the deck.

You could probably take a punt, or €15, on this woodies one, mod it to fit over the raised plate. Its for a 46cm, so the side flanges might not reach the deck edge.

Lidl 20V Lawnmower

Looks like the cordless lawnmower is back. €120 plus two batteries at €40 each plus charger €10 (I think)

Is it a good deal for €210??

Hi All

Recently moved to the countryside and don't have much experience with gardens. Have about 1000m2 of grass in 3 separate sections, mostly flat. From a bit of research it seems I need a self-propelled petrol mower with a decent cut width and large grass collector. Can anyone recommend one that would suit this? Budget is about €400. Ideally looking for something reliable with low maintenance. Thanks

Thanks deezell, much appreciated

Take out the spark plug or plugs if its a twin cylinder. Put a little oil in and turn it over. It should turn rapidly without compession. Sometimes cylinders will be slightly stuck lying up. Plug(s) back in and try again. Hopefully you battery wasn't completely discharged lying up, it might not take a full charge until its been cycled a few times.

I'm trying to figure out which to buy, a Honda 2625 or Stihl 6127? Honda is more expensive but which would be the better mower for large lawn. Anyone have either model?

I have the 6127zl in its original Viking brand and colours before Stihl bought the company. It's a big powerful mower, a couple of inches wider cut than the Honda, and a Kw more power in the engine. The Honda does have mulching on a built in lever. Both have similar syncro cutting decks, hydro drive, electric blade clutch, 3650l grass bag, electronic dashboards.

The Stihl has a rugged trailer hitch, it's optional on the Honda. Stihl also has cruise control, automatic blade disengage in reverse (when emptying), with an override to keep the blade engaged during tight manoeuvres. Steel deck on the 6127 is very heavy duty, a bi annual wire underneath wire brushing and coat of rustproof paint, and it will last a lifetime.

It's biggest asset IMO are the huge turf tyres, 20 x 10 inch on the rear, far less likely to skid, slip or damage soft ground, plus giving a more elevated view of the work area. Turning circle is also extremely tight.

Build quality is top notch, far superior to the rickety 20 yo Castelgarden it replaced in 2018. It was too big for its previous owner of 2 years, who had some narrow margins to cut, it eats the acre or more of grass on my coarse and bumpy 2.6 acre site.

Apart from breaking the timing belt catching a poplar root (twice!) I've had no major problems. New battery, drive/deck v belt. I replaced blade shaft bearings (really inexpensive), some v belt idler pulleys and the knives at 7 years old, this was really worthwhile to restore the deck to new condition, removed all rattles and hums from vibrational wear.

Either mower will last a long time, the Honda is sold as a premium machine, some of their economy manufactured ride on models got bad press for component quality, I can't remember which one offhand, but it was a 102cm cut I think.

Vats a bit lower up there, but technically you'd have to pay duty if the mower not manufactured there (though it's manufactured in the EU afaik), and of course the exchange rate, which is stiff enough. £4800 is €5750, adjust the vat from 20 to 23% and add 10% duty and its €6484, so cheaper here. I don't know of you're allowed just buy and come south, to save €500.

Yeah thats who i am looking at. I'd be saving 700-800e for a Stihl delivered versus local shops here.

Hi deezal - Im pulling this out off the archives as its time to get the mower up and running again. at the time you advised I did change the fuses but the engine didn't "turn" all lights tec are working. I ended up cutting lawn with push mower the last few cuts of 2023. do you know what other issues its could be - I see on the part list that there are two different microswitches and also a PC board (hoping its not that anyway)

Gave that €200 Lidl petrol mower its first spin today, cant fault it, the best pull starter Ive ever used on anything, one soft pull and away you go, 1/3 of a pull even. Lovely effortless height adjustment on it aswell. Bag is a bit small and its narrower than Im used to but Id say it only cost me one or two extra laps of my medium sized suburban lawn. I was done in 20 minutes which is all I want.

Do not like the two flimsy plastic hooks that are all that hold the bag to the mower though, it doesnt let a single blade of grass escape when fitted but Ill be looking for a way to reinforce those before they snap.

And I thought that it was all 'Stoney grey soil' in those parts. Or maybe that was Monaghan? Anyway, Patrick Kavanagh won't help you, but maybe there's something there or across the wee border that'll fit the bill. Wide cut electric start walk behind mowers are scarce enough, I've a Cobra 51cm with the B&S electric start Engine for steep banks. It's had its issues with starts, poor cable connections the main reason (I'm making up my own cable loom this year, I'm fed up with jiggling spade connectors). Stiga do a robust electric start 51cm that would work well on slopes

https://monaghanhire.com/products/stiga-combi-753se-st170-elec-start-self-drive-steel

Maybe you want a wider cut if you'd been thinking Ride-on, so the Toro time master 76cm electric start is an alternative to a small ride on. It has a twin blade cut, so it does have the complexity of a twin blade ride on, and costs as much as a small one, but it's an option.

There's no getting away from wet ground this minute, my ground is actual turf, as in bog turf. I could dig it and burn it if dry. It sits like a thick skin floating on the swampy morass underneath, (as does the house, on a pontoon of rock and concrete). Rain soaks through very quickly, and its never muddy as there's no clay in it. I can't allow heavy machines on it, but it'll support a car and trailer in dry summer, and my Viking turf tyred ride on any time. 20 years ago the chap across the road drove a tracked machine on his newly acquired site of similar composition, and it sank. I mean sank, almost disappeared. Now thats soft ground.

I'd be inclined to agree, reeds need a fair whack to cut, and a sharp blade. You can get quite large and powerful battery mowers (I presume by electric you meant cordless), but at a highish price. This would be the business.

https://www.toolfix.ie/p/milwaukee-m18f2lm53-122-m18-fuel-53cm-dual-battery-36v-self-propelled-lawn-mower-2x12ah/4933479822?taxdispinc=y

The corded ones tend to be small, 35cm cut for a suburban garden and not self propelled. Plenty of time and effort pushing and emptying on a half acre and making sure not to cut the cord. Budget electric start petrol would be generic or pattern brands, such as this 51cm Legacy,

or this affordable Woodies Pro Lawn large 53cm cut for a low €449

Some of these appear under other brands like Hyundai from time to time. I wouldn't be a fan of buying in Woodies, support out of warranty is poor, but you get bang for your buck for a few years at least.

I get the thing about prices viewed from the perspective of being old. I'm well retired at this stage, and I smile wryly at the news of all these monster semi state executive 'packages' that are coming to light. Pensions that you spent 45 years contributing to are only covering existing, with the huge inflation of recent years. I'm lucky to have a few assets that came good recently, but too late for me to go mad at this stage, as I struggle with health. I'm not awake at 5.30am reading this by choice. Like you, I'm horrified by the prices asked for everything from an overnight in a hotel to a fill of heating oil. A person on modest old age means could be in real trouble. On the other hand, it fuels my lifelong hobby of weaselling out a deal or a used bargain, and my habit of building/fixing up everything myself, which might be nearing an end. There's a lot of used value out there if you search and are patient. If I spot anything I'll post.