The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

jtown · 14-11-2019 3:46pm

hi all,

Recently acquirer Mountfield 1435e which was in a bad state -
Got it fixed up with a new deck and bits and pieces.

I am thinking of getting a ride on trailer for it for some light garden work - Does anyone know if the towbars are all generic and any recommendations for purchasing both for the machine?

Any sites would be great for reference.

Thanks

deezell · 14-11-2019 3:51pm

Krombopulos Michael wrote: »

Now that its coming to end of season, what is the best process for storing a ride on mower. Drain the petrol or pull spark plug?

Drain tank or close valve. Run engine till petrol all gone. Maybe drop carb bowel to see if there's any water/gunge in the bottom, clean and refit. ( hand mowers). Take out plugs if you wish, squirt a little light oil or wd40 in and pull the cord a few times. Maybe ensure piston is at top of compression stroke and valves are closed. (Finger over plug hole and turn until all the air has pushed out, single cylinder). Replace plug. Clean air filter sponge or check paper filter, brush out or replace. Drain oil if you wish. Replace oil and filter next spring. Make tea and drink with smug face.
Some of this is a bit anorak tbh, and more pertinent to walk behind mowers. Far more important to get any wet or stuck on grass off the deck, and from around any light steel. Nows a good time to check drive belts, if you've noticed them a bit slower on the uptake when engaging the deck or drive. Also check blades, especially for fine cracks. You have the winter to chase down best priced replacements if needed. There's lots of winter checklists online, such as
https://www.briggsandstratton.com/na/en_us/support/maintenance-how-to/browse/putting-your-lawn-mower-to-rest-for-winter.html
Apart from cleaning, I tend to just store, trickle charge battery, and start and run it a few times, maybe every month. I'd leave some fuel in the tank, I'd dilute this with a fresh top up in spring, about the same time I'd check and touch up blades, and check if the deck needs rust paint. Some manufacturers advise changing blades after a few years regardless, so check your handbook.

deezell · 14-11-2019 3:56pm

jtown wrote: »

hi all,

Recently acquirer Mountfield 1435e which was in a bad state -
Got it fixed up with a new deck and bits and pieces.

I am thinking of getting a ride on trailer for it for some light garden work - Does anyone know if the towbars are all generic and any recommendations for purchasing both for the machine?

Any sites would be great for reference.

Thanks

https://www.mowers-online.co.uk/mountfield-tow-bar

Krombopulos Michael · 14-11-2019 4:08pm

deezell wrote: »

....Make tea and drink with smug face......

Cheers deezell. I've the mower in my new garage for the last 2 weeks getting nice and dry so should make life easier for me to clean the deck etc.

14-11-2019 10:05pm

deezell wrote: »

Let's do the sums. Cutting 2000 m2 of lawn walking at 4km/h will take (2000/4000×cut width)×60 minutes., = 30/ cut width. Subtract 3cm for average overlap
Add turning, overlap, bag emptying to this.
Toro cut, 76-3 cm cut , takes 30/.73 = 41 mins
Active 57-3 cm cut, takes 55.6 mins
Honda 53-3 cm cut, takes 60 mins

At 88 litres each for the Toro and Honda grassbags, you'll empty each as often, no difference there.
At 68 litres for the Active, you'll empty 29% more often, IF you wait till it's full, not till your'e nearest your grass dump. Allowing a generous 30 seconds to empty the bag in a barrow, bin or heap, you would need to empty 40 active bags to 31 Honda bags for the Active to lose its 4.6 minute cutting time advantage, I cant see it needing emptying that many times for the size of plot, but a bag per lap would be more normal as you'll empty close to your barrow, not when its stiffed full but at the wrong end of 100m, and the Active will cut the plot in a lap less.
Realistically, there's little in the difference of the two single blade cuts, other than price differece, and about one lap less of the plot with the Active. Grass would need to be heavy to give the Honda emptying advantage, but it's not much use if the full bag occurs at the wrong end if the plot for emptying, you tend to empty on a lap basis.

The Toro is obviously hands down the fastest option, it's ridiculous to say otherwise, as its realistic cutting width is 50% greater than the Honda. For this comparison I used the Honda HRX537 as a sampe 21" model with variable speed, so the walking speed for all could be deemed to be the same. The Toro at €1450 is only €250 more than the aluminium decked Honda single speed, almost the same price as the variable speed version, but it's like comparing apples and oranges, as there are a large number of Honda's in the 21" cut size, starting at €900 for steel deck variable speed up to 1600 for aluminium deck hydrostatic. They'll all take an hour to cut this plot. Honda are high end machines, but cutting time is the main factor in a plot this size,

On paper 100%... in practice though as a owner of a Turfmaster which is same as timemaster I can say the comment about being poor at bagging is spot on. Deck bog’s fairly easily too. I found myself tipping on it side every bag empty to clear the deck... (more time) in the end I cracked the engine mount from not being careful bringing it back to flat. Expensive lesson.

So I started side discharging instead and raking the heaviest clumps.

Irish grass is too wet and heavy for the toro twin blade to bag reliably. I’d cut weekly but you’d want to be cutting every 3 days to bag reliably with one.

If I was buying again I’d probably go the Honda route or the active... active as someone mentioned they are excellent with wet grass which is an excellent characteristic for Ireland!

deezell · 16-11-2019 11:57am

49801 wrote: »

On paper 100%... in practice though as a owner of a Turfmaster which is same as timemaster I can say the comment about being poor at bagging is spot on. Deck bog’s fairly easily too. I found myself tipping on it side every bag empty to clear the deck... (more time) in the end I cracked the engine mount from not being careful bringing it back to flat. Expensive lesson.

So I started side discharging instead and raking the heaviest clumps.

Irish grass is too wet and heavy for the toro twin blade to bag reliably. I’d cut weekly but you’d want to be cutting every 3 days to bag reliably with one.

If I was buying again I’d probably go the Honda route or the active... active as someone mentioned they are excellent with wet grass which is an excellent characteristic for Ireland!

All bets are off in heavy wet grass. You'd want agricultural machinery in those conditions. I suppose the clue is in the name, lawnmower, for mowing lawns, proper laid down lawn grass. Many Irish 'lawns' are more like pastures, some are actually the original meadow grass with a bungalow plonked in the middle.
In normal conditions in a well tended slow growing lawn, more width means faster cut. 2cm can make a difference, as I found out when dropping this much to get the model of choice with electric start. An 80 metre verge of approx 2m which took a tidy 3 laps, 6 mower widths, now requires an annoying extra run, there's always a strip in the centre. When mowing dry, light fine lawn, a 76cm cut will eat up the ground compare to a 53cm.

Pkt123 · 10-01-2020 10:15am

Hi i have the same problem with the same lawnmower I have restored it and have a lot of pictures if ur still interested in doing it I’m in Tullamore

rn wrote: »

Hi,
In 2011 I "invested" in a decent mower and I bought a Husqvarna r53sv. It's the clone of some mcculloch mower, it has a Honda engine. Anyway overall an excellent mower, despite it being front wheel drive. The Honda engine is super easy prime and start. Never had a days trouble.

Until now. The deck has rusted badly. The front skirt around the blade rusted on one side and it broke free. One day, last month it got caught in the rotating blade and broke clean off other side.

So now mower works, but grass flies out front of mower as well as back into the bag. It leaves bits of grass all over the lawn, much to dislike of my wife when me and dog bring them into kitchen.

I rang my local, trusty husqvarna retailer who told me mower is now end of life and my mower is unrepairable. I'm really disappointed with this from a "premium" brand. Especially as the mower wasn't worked hard, grass cut regularly and rarely wet. Deck cleaned every year and engine serviced. In fact engine and drive are 100%.

Have I any options to repair the deck? Is there anyone that would take this mower for trade in towards a new one?
Im based in Athlone.

Pkt123 · 10-01-2020 10:19am

Pkt123 wrote: »

Hi i have the same problem with the same lawnmower I have restored it and have a lot of pictures if ur still interested in doing it I’m in Tullamore

I could send u the pictures

deezell · 10-01-2020 10:30am

Pkt123 wrote: »

I could send u the pictures

Post them here, we're all interested in stuff like this. What did you spend on it?

Ubbquittious · 11-01-2020 7:35pm

Did anyone here ever enter a grass cutting championship? some seriously hardcore stuff in this thread

jtown · 13-01-2020 10:22am

Thinking of purchasing the following for my moss filled garden.. Anyone have any experience with a machine like this ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001P3NUMQ?ref=em_1p_1_ti&ref_=pe_22122701_435781281

Thanks

Slasher · 13-01-2020 11:10am

jtown wrote: »

Thinking of purchasing the following for my moss filled garden.. Anyone have any experience with a machine like this ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001P3NUMQ?ref=em_1p_1_ti&ref_=pe_22122701_435781281

Thanks

I rented a similar product from HSS Hire a couple of years ago. Couldn't believe the volume of stuff it scooped up. Lidl and Aldi occasionally have similar rakes for sale for about €99.

RonanC · 14-01-2020 12:56pm

jtown wrote: »

Thinking of purchasing the following for my moss filled garden.. Anyone have any experience with a machine like this ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001P3NUMQ?ref=em_1p_1_ti&ref_=pe_22122701_435781281

Thanks

I have it and it is great for scarifying. The cord is fairly short so depending on the size of your garden you might need an extension lead.

jtown · 14-01-2020 12:58pm

RonanC wrote: »

I have it and it is great for scarifying. The cord is fairly short so depending on the size of your garden you might need an extension lead.

Large garden but have a large extension lead - Where did you buy it ? Amazon would be coming from UK and prefer to shop local

RonanC · 14-01-2020 10:12pm

jtown wrote: »

- Where did you buy it ? Amazon would be coming from UK and prefer to shop local

Amazon!

hieoin · 15-01-2020 10:13pm

2000 m2 garden, any recommendations on what robot mower to get for it

deezell · 18-01-2020 10:27am

hieoin wrote: »

2000 m2 garden, any recommendations on what robot mower to get for it

The biggest you can budget for. 2000m2 is a half acre, substantial size.

hieoin · 18-01-2020 10:47am

Thanks it’s 1960 caught between Robomow 635 and hus 450x

angeldaisy · 19-01-2020 5:33pm

Any recommendations for new lawnmower, we've 3 lawns, reckon the largest is about 50ft x 100ft, the other 2 are about the same combined.

Not the best quality lawn, live in country - have chickens and dogs which both wreck it.

Needs to be petrol, self propelled, budget is approx 500. we would be replacing a Toro, which was a present around 15 yrs ago. I know we can't afford the same again.

deezell · 19-01-2020 9:09pm

angeldaisy wrote: »

Any recommendations for new lawnmower, we've 3 lawns, reckon the largest is about 50ft x 100ft, the other 2 are about the same combined.

Not the best quality lawn, live in country - have chickens and dogs which both wreck it.

Needs to be petrol, self propelled, budget is approx 500. we would be replacing a Toro, which was a present around 15 yrs ago. I know we can't afford the same again.

Under a quarter acre of grass, this 21" (53 cm) Castelgarden with B&S engine will do the job smartly.
https://robertkee.ie/product/castelgarden-walk-behind-lawnmower-xc53bsw4
Get it for a bit less in arm rentals in Newry. Its €499 pretty much all dealers here, you might get a bit extra off in person.

Then there's this generic Proplus for a ton less, 21" B&S, looks decent.
https://grange.ie/builders-providers/proplus-53cm-self-prop-6hp-lawnmower-briggs-engine

This Cobra 21" with Honda engine, €545, from Brodericks in Baldonnel is probably worth the extra, but you will likely get it at your budget if you turn up and deal, there was 10% going there last year when I bought the Premium electric start.
https://www.lawnmowerworld.ie/product/cobra-mx534sph-21-premium-lawnmower/

GreeBo · 20-01-2020 10:47am

jtown wrote: »

Thinking of purchasing the following for my moss filled garden.. Anyone have any experience with a machine like this ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001P3NUMQ?ref=em_1p_1_ti&ref_=pe_22122701_435781281

Thanks

I bought this https://www.ebay.ie/itm/230V-ELECTRIC-LAWN-SCARIFIER-AERATOR-36-CM-1500W-3IN1-45L-SCHEPPACH-SC36/132457995139

and am very happy with it, free shipping from Italy so had it within 3-4 days

It rakes and scarifies which is a bit more useful than just the power rake IMO

jtown · 20-01-2020 11:23am

GreeBo wrote: »

I bought this https://www.ebay.ie/itm/230V-ELECTRIC-LAWN-SCARIFIER-AERATOR-36-CM-1500W-3IN1-45L-SCHEPPACH-SC36/132457995139

and am very happy with it, free shipping from Italy so had it within 3-4 days

It rakes and scarifies which is a bit more useful than just the power rake IMO

Looks good - Does the Aerator add on come with it ?
Ive 0.5 of an acre of a garden.

Daz_ · 24-01-2020 9:35pm

Slightly off topic but anyone have an opinion on the Alpina brand for chainsaws that are available on agrieuro? As good as any or avoid ? Entry level . Thanks

red bull · 25-01-2020 5:53pm

I need to purchase a ride on that has to go through a 38 inch passage so I would appreciate help on choosing the best 33 -36inch mower the lawn is about a third of an acre

monkeynuz · 25-01-2020 6:13pm

red bull wrote: »

I need to purchase a ride on that has to go through a 38 inch passage so I would appreciate help on choosing the best 33 -36inch mower the lawn is about a third of an acre

Etesia bahia 80 or alpina do a narrow one or snapper.

monkeynuz · 25-01-2020 6:13pm

red bull wrote: »

I need to purchase a ride on that has to go through a 38 inch passage so I would appreciate help on choosing the best 33 -36inch mower the lawn is about a third of an acre

Although 3rd of an acre a 21inch walk behind would be fine.

red bull · 25-01-2020 6:31pm

monkeynuz wrote: »

Although 3rd of an acre a 21inch walk behind would be fine.

Yea,but a half acre in another lawn

monkeynuz · 25-01-2020 6:37pm

red bull wrote: »

Yea,but a half acre in another lawn

Well I revert to my previous suggestion

have2flushtwice · 25-01-2020 11:23pm

Where do you buy your batteries,
is online cheaper that the local dealer?

red bull · 26-01-2020 3:00am

monkeynuz wrote: »

Etesia bahia 80 or alpina do a narrow one or snapper.

Would you rate a Husquarvarna or a Castlegarden

monkeynuz · 26-01-2020 8:43am

red bull wrote: »

Would you rate a Husquarvarna or a Castlegarden

Not so much husqvarna but I believe castelgarden are ok.

I know for a fact that the snappers and alpine are good from other people and I own an etesia albeit the pro version, but the bahia is fantastic.

deezell · 26-01-2020 10:47am

red bull wrote: »

I need to purchase a ride on that has to go through a 38 inch passage so I would appreciate help on choosing the best 33 -36inch mower the lawn is about a third of an acre

I recall you asking this about 8 months ago. Have you a budget in mind? 38 inches is 96.5cm, an 84 cm cut mower would generally have an overall width of 90cm, giving you just over an inch clearance either side. This Alpina is a basic enough b&s equipped version of a whole range of 84cm Castelgarden variants. Agrieuro site is handy as the width of each mower is given in the data.
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/alpina-bt-84-ride-on-mower-grass-collector-briggsstratton-344-cc-engine-p-12500.html

kaiserrussel · 31-01-2020 9:27pm

kaiserrussel wrote: »

kaiserrussel wrote: »

I took the plunge and purchased the stiga estate from agrieuro.

https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/stiga-estate-5092-ride-on-mower-briggsstratton-engine-grass-collector-mulching-system-p-10498.html

Let see how it goes. I’m probably a little mad buying so late in the season

Hi All

Will give a detailed report on this machine as soon as new season kicks off. Only got to use it 2/3 times before end of last season.

One thing I notice and I’m looking for some advice is around the alarm sounding when blades engage. Is there a list of scenarios where this alarm sounds out he then when the bag is full? It sounds when I engage blades, in thinking it might be a loose connection or something?

deezell · 02-02-2020 2:10pm

kaiserrussel wrote: »

kaiserrussel wrote: »

Hi All

Will give a detailed report on this machine as soon as new season kicks off. Only got to use it 2/3 times before end of last season.

One thing I notice and I’m looking for some advice is around the alarm sounding when blades engage. Is there a list of scenarios where this alarm sounds out he then when the bag is full? It sounds when I engage blades, in thinking it might be a loose connection or something?

Check is the bag seated properly, and check the sensor button for this. Same for tge seat sensor

kaiserrussel · 02-02-2020 10:03pm

deezell wrote: »

kaiserrussel wrote: »

Check is the bag seated properly, and check the sensor button for this. Same for tge seat sensor

Ok I’ll take a look thanks

P_Cash · 06-02-2020 9:57pm

Help
A honda lawnmower, but which model

HRX 537 VYE
Or
HRX 537 HYE

Only diffeerence is the paddle/drive but not sure which to go for.
Ive read online the VYE drive system can be annoying and its better sticking with tradition. More control,

Has anyone the select drive (paddle) and would you recommend.

Thanks

blackbox · 07-02-2020 11:18am

P_Cash wrote: »

Help
A honda lawnmower, but which model

HRX 537 VYE
Or
HRX 537 HYE

Only diffeerence is the paddle/drive but not sure which to go for.
Ive read online the VYE drive system can be annoying and its better sticking with tradition. More control,

Has anyone the select drive (paddle) and would you recommend.

Thanks

Not much difference in the price. I'd go with the hydrostatic.

07-02-2020 11:52pm

P_Cash wrote: »

Help
A honda lawnmower, but which model

HRX 537 VYE
Or
HRX 537 HYE

Only diffeerence is the paddle/drive but not sure which to go for.
Ive read online the VYE drive system can be annoying and its better sticking with tradition. More control,

Has anyone the select drive (paddle) and would you recommend.

Thanks

I have the select drive paddle one. Absolutely fine. Hold it against the bar with your thumbs. It's comfortable. I'm using it every day during the summer.

Mervyn Skidmore · 14-02-2020 8:28pm

Slightly off topic but does anyone know if Lidl's Parkside Strimmers are any good? They are €100 and I would only be using it a handful of times a year.

thebandit2020 · 15-02-2020 3:35pm

P_Cash wrote: »

Help
A honda lawnmower, but which model

HRX 537 VYE
Or
HRX 537 HYE

Only diffeerence is the paddle/drive but not sure which to go for.
Ive read online the VYE drive system can be annoying and its better sticking with tradition. More control,

Has anyone the select drive (paddle) and would you recommend.

Thanks

The HYE outsells the VYE by 3 to 1, but anyone who has bought the VYE has been very impressed by it. i certainly would be happy to recommend it

deezell · 21-02-2020 2:48pm

Smart robot lawnmower, German AlKo brand, quarter acre (500m2) capacity, £699
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AL-KO-Robol.../dp/B078ZNFQXF
These are Smart mowers, you can control them with IFTTT etc. See here.
https://ifttt.com/alko_smart_garden

Emmersonn · 21-02-2020 6:02pm

Was wondering if this lawnmower trailer is worth a go
https://www.adverts.ie/other/lawnmower-trailer/19811295

blackbox · 21-02-2020 6:07pm

Emmersonn wrote: »

Was wondering if this lawnmower trailer is worth a go
https://www.adverts.ie/other/lawnmower-trailer/19811295

I have one like that which came free with my ride-on.
It's cheap and cheerful- not very rugged. Paint not great. Best stored indoors.
Nevertheless I still have it more than 10 years later!

thisyear · 25-02-2020 12:32pm

Hi All,

seriously considering a secondhand kubota 2100 for the lawns. Have about 2acres to cut with a long driveway. Time is always against me so its not unusual to be cutting wet grass. was thinking of the kubota for the bag size and wet grass?

Am I mad?

25-02-2020 3:45pm

thisyear wrote: »

Hi All,

seriously considering a secondhand kubota 2100 for the lawns. Have about 2acres to cut with a long driveway. Time is always against me so its not unusual to be cutting wet grass. was thinking of the kubota for the bag size and wet grass?

Am I mad?

How much is it?

thebandit2020 · 26-02-2020 12:33am

thisyear wrote: »

Hi All,

seriously considering a secondhand kubota 2100 for the lawns. Have about 2acres to cut with a long driveway. Time is always against me so its not unusual to be cutting wet grass. was thinking of the kubota for the bag size and wet grass?

Am I mad?

Have you considered a robot?

That Kubota is a lovely machine though

thebackbar · 28-02-2020 10:29pm

I have recently purchased a second hand Castelgarden self propelled lawnmower, has anyone an idea where i would find the serial code for the machine ?

deezell · 28-02-2020 11:43pm

thebackbar wrote: »

I have recently purchased a second hand Castelgarden self propelled lawnmower, has anyone an idea where i would find the serial code for the machine ?

Under the seat if a tractor mower, for a walk behind, usually a label on the rear of the deck facing up, or possibly at the back under the grass bag. Could be missing from a 2nd hand mower, easily peeled off. Label should have a model no, serial no, sound level, manufacturer etc. The engine will have its own label. Usually the model no. Is also printed large on the side of the deck or on the engine cowling, again, easily defaced or unpeeled if a sticker.

deezell · 02-03-2020 12:57am

Incidentally, looks like the agrieuro site is a first casualty of Brexit, at least from a UK perspective. All Castelgarden products and GGP equivalents (Stiga, Alpina, etc) have vanished off the English language, .co.uk version of the site. They're still there on the .de, .es, .fr and .it versions. Mowers that are still on both versions such as MTD have a huge variation in price also. This MTD LN200 105cm cut Hydostatic is €2,737 on the German site,
https://www.agrieuro.de/rasentraktor-mtd-optima-ln-200-hydrostatgetriebe-fangkorb-p-8689.html
but is €3,221 on the UK site (which always displayed in euro)
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/mtd-optima-ln-200-lawn-tractor-hydrostatic-transmission-grass-collector-p-8689.html
When you select delivery to Ireland price shoots up to just over uk price. Its odd, you can still select all GGP mowers on EU sites, with delivery to Ireland or UK also. Hard to know what's going on.

thebandit2020 · 02-03-2020 6:57am

deezell wrote: »

Incidentally, looks like the agrieuro site is a first casualty of Brexit, at least from a UK perspective. All Castelgarden products and GGP equivalents (Stiga, Alpina, etc) have vanished off the English language, .co.uk version of the site. They're still there on the .de, .es, .fr and .it versions. Mowers that are still on both versions such as MTD have a huge variation in price also. This MTD LN200 105cm cut Hydostatic is €2,737 on the German site,
https://www.agrieuro.de/rasentraktor-mtd-optima-ln-200-hydrostatgetriebe-fangkorb-p-8689.html
but is €3,221 on the UK site (which always displayed in euro)
https://www.agrieuro.co.uk/mtd-optima-ln-200-lawn-tractor-hydrostatic-transmission-grass-collector-p-8689.html
When you select delivery to Ireland price shoots up to just over uk price. Its odd, you can still select all GGP mowers on EU sites, with delivery to Ireland or UK also. Hard to know what's going on.

That could possibly be a licensing issue. I know that GGP aren’t keen on Irish/UK companies shipping to Europe

The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

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