The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

whippet

whippet wrote: »

Looking for some purchasing advise on a new mower.

I have a largish garden .. approx .75 acres, not really suitable for a ride on, plenty of tight spots and awkward bits.

I have a Husqvarna mower which I was given a few years back and it has done the job pretty well to date but now it's more or less knackered. It was fairly old when I got it and despite having a few people look at it the engine is kaput and the rest of it has seen better days.

It is a self propelled mulching mower and I am looking to replace it with something similar.

Has anyone any advice as to where to start looking .. or what I should be considering. Ideally I'd like something that wouldn't have a problem with cutting wet grass, as I find if I were to cut the grass according to the weather it means that I end up having long grass half the time !

http://www.stigalawnmowers.co.uk/products/lawnmowers/petrol-lawnmowers/multiclip-pro-53s-svan-51cm-self-propelled-lawnmower-1-1


I have this for a similar type garden. Got it for about €950. I seen similar ones with a Honda engine while I was looking for the link. Honda are better according to a lot of people on here

It has served me well this year. It is very quiet. It can cut damp grass and does a decent job even if the grass hasn't been cut for 2 weeks. Its also easy to clean. You can flip up the front and have the back handlebar flat on the ground to get underneath.

The drive is on the front wheels and grass sticks to the axle so you need to clean it every time

whippet

Deleted User wrote: »

http://www.stigalawnmowers.co.uk/products/lawnmowers/petrol-lawnmowers/multiclip-pro-53s-svan-51cm-self-propelled-lawnmower-1-1


I have this for a similar type garden. Got it for about €950. I seen similar ones with a Honda engine while I was looking for the link. Honda are better according to a lot of people on here

It has served me well this year. It is very quiet. It can cut damp grass and does a decent job even if the grass hasn't been cut for 2 weeks. Its also easy to clean. You can flip up the front and have the back handlebar flat on the ground to get underneath.

The drive is on the front wheels and grass sticks to the axle so you need to clean it every time

cheers for that, there wouldn't be that much of a price difference between that Stiga and the Honda HRX 537 HYE when you factor in the sterling.

http://www.hondaireland.ie/lawn-garden/mowers/hrx537-hye/technical-specification/

Is the difference with the honda engine worth it, I like the option of both collecting and mulching

whippet

whippet wrote: »

cheers for that, there wouldn't be that much of a price difference between that Stiga and the Honda HRX 537 HYE when you factor in the sterling.

http://www.hondaireland.ie/lawn-garden/mowers/hrx537-hye/technical-specification/

Is the difference with the honda engine worth it, I like the option of both collecting and mulching

Honda mowers are the best around. The only reason I bought a dedicated mulching mower is that the 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 mowers don't have a proper mulching deck. The mower that just mulches is better than any 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 at mulching. I haven't had to use a collect mower yet but I'm the type that would mow the lawn after 3-4 days if I had a spare hour

CJhaughey

The plastic decks on Honda's crack after a while.
I have seen a good few with the decks cracked around the grass collector and the height adjuster.
Good engines for sure but not the best.

Wexford96

Hi.
I'm looking for 2 rear wheels for a Honda HRH536 (made in 1992). Originals are 175 EU. Is there anywhere I could get something cheaper to avoid buying these originals?
Thanks for reading.

CJhaughey

Wexford96 wrote: »

Hi.
I'm looking for 2 rear wheels for a Honda HRH536 (made in 1992). Originals are 175 EU. Is there anywhere I could get something cheaper to avoid buying these originals?
Thanks for reading.

Try a lawnmower breaker, usually a few on donedeal.

looking for a 40 inch castle garden deck shell. €230 delivered seems to be the cheapest I can find. Any one know of any better deals?

SoupyNorman

I was looking at at new 40" cub cadet (mulch only) for €2500, shop says it was €2900 at the start of the season. Comes with a 3 year warranty.

2nd hand, I'm looking at spending about €1500.

Whats the general consensus?

BadCharlie

Any good self drive push lawnmower going at a good price? 21inch is what I'm looking for

BadCharlie

BadCharlie wrote: »

Any good self drive push lawnmower going at a good price? 21inch is what I'm looking for

What's a good price?

BadCharlie

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What's a good price?

I would look at paying max €1000. But not looking for second hand.

veetwin

BadCharlie wrote: »

Any good self drive push lawnmower going at a good price? 21inch is what I'm looking for

These are decent mowers with plenty of power (7.5 hp)

http://www.irishgrassmachinery.ie/product-category/walk-behind-mower/

BadCharlie

veetwin wrote: »

These are decent mowers with plenty of power (7.5 hp)

http://www.irishgrassmachinery.ie/product-category/walk-behind-mower/

Never heard of Simplicity lawnmowers before, are they good? Looks like a good machine.

Discodog

BadCharlie wrote: »

I would look at paying max €1000. But not looking for second hand.

That's almost Honda money. I would look online including ebay.

The best mower you can buy is an Etesia but you wouldn't get a new one for that budget. However it would get you a very good used one. The Etesia is the only mower that will collect six inch grass in the rain without ever clogging.

veetwin

BadCharlie wrote: »

Never heard of Simplicity lawnmowers before, are they good? Looks like a good machine.

They are a fairly big American brand. I've cut a lot of grass with one of these over the past year and it seems to take anything I can throw at it. An equivalent Honda would be well over the €1k mark and probably nearer €1.3k and I don't know if it would be that much better.

BadCharlie

Thanks for the feedback guys.

At the moment im using an old Honda "15 years" it’s my dads & good in all but it’s on its last legs. The body is very well rusted & is not going to last next year im thinking. It has served us well in cutting my parents lawn until now, & from 2007 has been also cutting my lawn & my sister’s lawn. So working on 3 lawns ever 10 days I would say. It takes on average an hour to cut mine & sometimes an hour and a half if I let the grass grow for two weeks

I also like the look of the Kaaz lawnmowers, but might be a little over my 1k Budget.


No point in us getting a ride on, our lawns are just a not suited for it. With hills and drops ect...

yfaykya

This is a massive thread! Apologies I have not read it all.

I have a Honda HF 2417 HME (18 months old) and I hate it. From day one the grass collector was a PITA. Small jolt and it would come loose etc so I just took it off and just mulched (taped down contact). I have ~1 acre of lawn (1 large and a few mediums). I cut ah highest cut (7). But even mulching can cause tufts and the lawn can look a yellow mess of rotting tufts a few days later. I am looking to trade in for something better. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

BadCharlie

BadCharlie wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback guys.

At the moment im using an old Honda "15 years" it’s my dads & good in all but it’s on its last legs. The body is very well rusted & is not going to last next year im thinking. It has served us well in cutting my parents lawn until now, & from 2007 has been also cutting my lawn & my sister’s lawn. So working on 3 lawns ever 10 days I would say. It takes on average an hour to cut mine & sometimes an hour and a half if I let the grass grow for two weeks

I also like the look of the Kaaz lawnmowers, but might be a little over my 1k Budget.


No point in us getting a ride on, our lawns are just a not suited for it. With hills and drops ect...

I mentioned this one a few posts back

http://www.stigalawnmowers.co.uk/pro...-lawnmower-1-1


I have this for a similar type garden. Got it for about €950. I seen similar ones with a Honda engine while I was looking for the link. Honda are better according to a lot of people on here

It has served me well this year. It is very quiet. It can cut damp grass and does a decent job even if the grass hasn't been cut for 2 weeks. Its also easy to clean. You can flip up the front and have the back handlebar flat on the ground to get underneath.

The drive is on the front wheels and grass sticks to the axle so you need to clean it every time

I haven't lifted a blade of grass all year. It would really cut down on the amount of time you spend cutting the three lawns and its within your budget

BadCharlie

I looked at just getting a mulch mower also all the choices , I would love to use a mulcher for a month and see if it works for me.

Here is 2 that i found which i think look very good if anyone has anything to say about them

http://macplantsales.com/honda-gxv-160/
&
http://macplantsales.com/dormak-cr53h-self-drive/

The first link is a Kaaz under another name, i think maybe the 2nd the Dormak is also the same.

CJhaughey

They both look good but the Asuka looks better to me, Kaaz and Asuka are the same.
Engines are Honda GX which are good.

fox0512

Personally I would not pay that kinda money for push mower ...there are plenty options out there for 500/600....Mulching with small mowers is fine if you have time to cut reg....but with medium growth and damp grass mulching can be a nightmare...If a push mower is a must for mulching you must have a mower that will produce more than 2,900rpm with a very sharp blade!....Nout wrong with a mower carrying a briggs and strat engine on a less know body/frame once its looked after ... IMO

sheelbee

As someone who likes to shop local and keep the business in the community I was talking to a neighbour last September and he was thinking of buying a new ride on mower, I suggested our local man, but he thought he was too dear and could get the s same machine in Newry for €300 less. A couple of weeks later I met my neighbour in our local and asked him "How he got on" ? Don't talk to me about that "he says" What followed was a comedy....My man decided to go to Newry, but realised he had no trailer or tow bar, not to be daunted he borrowed his brothers car and a friends trailer and headed North. When he got to Newry the machine he wanted was out of stock but he could have a more expensive model, an extra €250. Happy enough with his purchase he loaded up and headed South for the Border. just after Dundalk he heard a loud bang and the car went into a mad snaking motion, pulling into the hard shoulder he realised he had got a tyre blown on the trailer, but by the time he stopped the tyre was in shreds and no spare. After many phone calls he got a local tyre man to sort it out with a new tyre and "call out" €150..Finally back on the road after 3 hours he made his way into our town and straight into a garda checkpoint. No lights, no indicators....Great. Eventually got home and unloaded his new "Hi Spec" machine...No start !!
Phone Mr. Newry "Must be the battery" Jump leads out. no start you guessed it phone Mr. Newry "Can you get it back to us" ? WTF can you not call to me ? We can call the next time we are in your area. What about my warranty ? "If you bring it back there is no problem with warranty. How long will it take ? "If we can fix it on the spot [grand] otherwise you will have to leave it with us........With his tail firmly between his legs he went to our local man who sorted him out for €75.... ...Not everyday you save €300:D:D:D

SoupyNorman

sheelbee wrote: »

...When he got to Newry the machine he wanted was out of stock

...Eventually got home and unloaded his new "Hi Spec" machine...No start !!

Didnt call ahead to ensure mower was in stock and obviously didnt start it up before buying it, you're neighbor deserved it.

sheelbee

I agree with you, but apparently he had phoned and was [led up] and the dealer drove it on !!!

Discodog

The local dealer could of dealt with it for free under warranty. I bought a new Honda mower on ebay & even allowing for £20 shipping, I saved €300.

737max

Discodog wrote: »

The local dealer could of dealt with it for free under warranty. I bought a new Honda mower on ebay & even allowing for £20 shipping, I saved €300.

Dealers struggle to get warranty covered for just the cost of the parts on product they sell from Irish Distributors much less the labour they put in to repairing the product they sell while in warranty.
About the only way to get warranty covered by a dealer is to get the Sales Rep in the workshop and let them wait around until they are sick standing for balance outstanding on account before the Rep is amenable to accepting warranty claims.
Do you honestly think they will do warranty repairs for free or rather at their own cost because there is little prospect of the Distributor honouring the warranty claim on a faulty machine that was purchased by a miser who wouldn't buy the same machine from them a few weeks or months before.

You display a shocking ignorance of the manner in which the distribution and support channel operates in Ireland.

Discodog

737max wrote: »

Dealers struggle to get warranty covered for just the cost of the parts on product they sell from Irish Distributors much less the labour they put in to repairing the product they sell while in warranty.
About the only way to get warranty covered by a dealer is to get the Sales Rep in the workshop and let them wait around until they are sick standing for balance outstanding on account before the Rep is amenable to accepting warranty claims.
Do you honestly think they will do warranty repairs for free or rather at their own cost because there is little prospect of the Distributor honouring the warranty claim on a faulty machine that was purchased by a miser who wouldn't buy the same machine from them a few weeks or months before.

You display a shocking ignorance of the manner in which the distribution and support channel operates in Ireland.

Shocking ignorance :pac:

It's not my concern, if a dealer sells a machine & advertises the warranty, but can't get the distributor to pay. All the more reason to buy elsewhere. When I last had problems with Honda parts it turned out that the retailer owed Honda money so they closed his account. He neglected to tell me this so I waited weeks for parts that were never going to arrive.

737max

You appear to be unable to make a connection between your purchasing behaviour and the inability of your dedicated local specialist franschise dealer to pay his bills.
Along with light, heat, rates and rent the invoices from your franchiser/distributor have to get paid or you go out of business or end up selling cheap no-name junk from China which is no business at all.

But you "think" you saved €300 so carry on.

Discodog

737max wrote: »

You appear to be unable to make a connection between your purchasing behaviour and the inability of your dedicated local specialist franschise dealer to pay his bills.
Along with light, heat, rates and rent the invoices from your franchiser/distributor have to get paid or you go out of business or end up selling cheap no-name junk from China which is no business at all.

But you "think" you saved €300 so carry on.

I have literally bought over a €100,000 worth of machinery during my working life. I am semi retired now, from the contract side of the business but please don't suggest that I know nothing about buying, running & servicing Lawnmowers.

If dealers can only make money by lying to the customer then they shouldn't be in business. A domestic Honda will have a 3yr or 5 yr warranty label on it. I trust that the dealers tell the customer that it won't be honoured unless they take the machine back to where it was bought. If the dealers fail to get support from the "middle man" & yes I know who it is, then they should get together & talk to the manufacturers. I did this recently regarding Honda parts & it worked.

If the local dealer wants to punish the consumer, for buying elsewhere, by refusing to help then he is an idiot. By helping the customer he will probably get all the servicing on that machine & the chance to build up a rapport. He will be in pole position to sell him his next machine.

Yes I did save 300 & I saved another 250 buying another machine in the North.

737max

You are completely fickle but you expect businesses in a low margin, highly seasonal market to be at your beck and call.
The only reason why you are able to leach off some of these businesses is because more loyal Customers who understand the value of a local franchisee are willing to pay the bills.
From my experience of one of the businesses of the type which you leached off there is absolutely no way that warranty would have been forthcoming from the local Distributor on product sourced overseas so if you presented your machine in the workshop it would be refused. Two Distributors in particular were absolutely obsessed with tracing any grey market(not counterfeit) product in the country.
If you came in for service work during peak season it would still most likely be turned away and if it were accepted it would be only dealt with after the machines of loyal Customers were serviced.

Please stop giving bad advice to posters. In practice local distributors will not honour warranty on product sourced abroad. Local franchise will not be welcoming to machinery purchased outside their assigned franchised area. Franchisee/appointed dealer pays for the "privilege" of having brand name product on their showroom floor and money doesn't flow to Franchisee\Appointed Dealer from Distributor.

If you buy from another dealer don't expect support from appointed dealer as you'll end up disappointed.

Even with the best brands it wasn't worth claiming for warranty labour as the paperwork involved was onerous and hourly labour rate/set times for repair jobs were unrealistically short.

DiscoDog, you really should admit that you know nothing about the business and that your chosen strategy was to buy at the lowest price and leach off other Customers who actually supported the dealer network in a meaningful manner.