Need some petrol lawn mower recommendations please

Iggyman · 18/05/14 - 18:47

I'm after a new petrol lawn mower, requirements as follows:

- Electric start - this is essential!
- Self propelled
- Readily available parts in the UK
- Rotary, not cylinder
- Good for tough/thick grass and slightly uneven/bumpy ground
- Reliable, sturdy

I won't specifiy a price at this stage, let's just see what happens.

Thanks

c4rv · 18/05/14 - 19:49

how big an area do you need to cut ? What sort of cut width are you looking for ?

Iggyman · 18/05/14 - 20:36

Haven't really measured it to be honest - two smallish lawns with thick, dense grass AND a moderate amount of grassy paths that also have thick, dense grass. Quite a bit really - not huge in total, but certainly not small either.

The mower really needs to be tough, capable and reliable.

As for cut width - at least 16 inches (42 cm).

Thanks

scorpio man · 18/05/14 - 21:37

You wont go far wrong with a Mountfield petrol mower....If you can obtain one with a Briggs and Stratton engine so much the better.

Whatever you do don't go for a cheapie ....the likes of power devil etc etc.

Iggyman · 18/05/14 - 21:46

Thanks, I was reading about Mountfield and they do sound good. However, some people were warning that some of the engines used are poor so presumably it MUST have a Briggs and Stratton engine?

scorpio man · 18/05/14 - 22:22

Iggyman wrote: »

Thanks, I was reading about Mountfield and they do sound good. However, some people were warning that some of the engines used are poor so presumably it MUST have a Briggs and Stratton engine?

I have a fiend who services and repairs petrol mowers and he swears by Briggs and Stratton (not at them lol) he also recommends Honda engined mountfields.

edit: I'll be speaking to him tomorrow and I'll ask what size B&S engine he reccomends.

Iggyman · 18/05/14 - 22:33

Perfect, many thanks.

oldcrakpot · 18/05/14 - 22:41

Hi

After 20 years cutting 5000 square metres of rough lawn I suggest a Honda engine and an aluminium chassis Briggs and Stratton engines are Ok but in my opinion Honda are more powerful The first thing to go, I have got through 4 in this period is the clutch/gearbox via a band drive followed by a rusty steel chassis , if I could afforded it I would buy hydraulic drive and side evacuation for when the going gets tough I have no idea of self starters

Iggyman · 18/05/14 - 22:51

Thanks very much, that's useful to know.

emptybox · 19/05/14 - 00:38

The Honda engine definitely has more poke than the Briggs and Stratton.
(I've used both, in 20" Mountfields)

Why do you insist on an electric start?
Just another thing to go wrong, in my opinion.

Mind you, a pull start can be hard on the elbow. Specially if you stand too close to a wall or fence post when trying to start it. :eek:

I've been a professional gardener for 20 years, and when I first started I had nothing but Honda mowers, but they've priced themselves out of the market, as far as I'm concerned.
Mountfields aren't as good, but with a Honda engine, they are the next best thing.
Still not cheap by any means though.

Using it professionally a mower is worn out in about four seasons (unless you buy the proper 'professional' models), but for my own grass at home I have a little Haytor, and that's been going strong for 22 years.

Iggyman · 19/05/14 - 10:08

Thanks for the advice.

We need an electric start as my wife has problems with pull starts.

Galaxy266 · 19/05/14 - 11:10

Definitely go for a Mountfield fitted with a Honda engine.

Whatever you do, don't buy a Mountfield fitted with a Mountfield engine; it's Chinese!

Iggyman · 19/05/14 - 11:13

Noted re the engines - apparently some are also Indian and they're also of a poor quality.

gemma-the-husky · 19/05/14 - 13:11

we just bought a Viking (made by Stihl) from a proper farm machinery place. They also had John Deere mowers, which were out of our price range

The viking is brilliant.

Hey there!

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Need some petrol lawn mower recommendations please

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