The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

I had a husqvarna steel deck 53cm mower with Honda engine. It was an excellent mower, but I had bad luck with the deck and it rusted out in 8 years despite being kept clean. Deezel gives great advice to paint the deck underside with anti rust paint and I'd heed that advice. When I sold on the husqi, the engine and gear box and all other parts were perfect and it still had a buyer with deck gone.

I bought a mcculloch 51cm mower on end of season discount. Again a good mower very happy with it. Honda easy start engine and it's brilliant. Deck has stated rusting on it... But I will say there's a surprising noticeable difference between a 51 and 53cm mower for cutting time. So my advice for bigger garden is get a 53cm mower.

Not a bad mower if you can get it for a bit less, like here for €505. I was poking at these as it happens while in my local hardware store. They are robust, particularly the handles are of a sturdy design, wheels nice and firm. The 53cm with the composite deck is my favourite, but would be in the €700 bracket

https://hanleysashford.ie/product/husqvarna-lc-151s/

I'd be happy enough with the engine, I think they use Kawasaki, or a made to specification unit. There's decent competition in the 20"/51cm bracket. This Mountfield has a Honda GCV engine in a generic deck for €469.

Or in a similar generic deck with a generic engine, this Webb 51cm for €379 in the coop superstores,

Or what seems the same machine in red for only €330 online from Oxendales! (I thought they just sold ladies clothes).

Recognised brand names with brand engines, Stiga, Snapper,Toro, Honda, can cost multiples of this, though some (like Webb above), will brand generics and compete in that segment. This 53cm/21" Harry from a proper dealers is only €419, so not surprised they're sold out.

You pays your money and you makes your choice. If you're going to be mowing tracks through long grass, pay attention to max cut height. Most are 75cm, you might want something that can go a bit higher.

@deezell great stuff and thanks for the detailed response. I actually was at the Coop at the weekend and saw those Webb mowers and they were a great price but I wasn't sure about the quality. The Mountfield with the Honda engine seems the best value so I might have a look at it, having the Honda engine might sway it for me and having a Screwfix near enough to me helps as well.

thanks a million for taking the time to give such detailed advice - much appreciated!

I actually didn't think of the option of getting a wider-cut walk-behind mower. I'll look into that

I can remember when Webb were a big name in quality cylinder mowers. Some 25 years back they got some connection with Mountfield as some Mountfield machines were rebranded Webb, then the Webb brand seemed to drop off the radar for a good few years.

Anyway found this on the online which explains who they are now and also gives a good (salesman orientated) run down of the various machines and features.

That looks good and seemed a decent price but then I saw the hour meter. Thats high so probably commercial use which may have included loading and unloading off a trailer which all add to the wear and tear.

Engine should however be fine. I've seen thousands of hours on the little 3 cylinder engines.

Edit the comment about the engine "suits John Deere Gators, mini digger" suggests to me the mower part may be beyond continued economic repair.

yes, the lever is still intact and i can hear the microswitch as i move it -- is there a mini alarm that emits the beep? if so where is it situated?

2002 (i think)

This is the board for 2002 TC102, part no. 25722413/0. You can see the buzzer in middle, large round thing.

Don't most of those bag full indicators also have a light on the dash? I can't hear the buzzer on mine with ear defenders on.

If neither light nor buzzer is coming on I wouldn't suspect the buzzer itself.

I wear ear defenders so I can listen to audiobooks on earphones. They aren't that necessary on a Honda 2417.

Just off now to do some wood chipping - you really do need ear defenders for that.

Hi

Pulled the trigger on the Mountfield SP53H from Screwfix and it seems to be a good solid basic petrol lawn mower. It feels well built even though it would be light on fancy features but it does the job perfectly.

Anyway it said that it doesn't come with oil but when I pulled out the dip stick there was some oil on it. The manual doesnt say how many ml of oil it should take so I had to look up the engine on-the-line and it says 400ml. Also the manual doesn't say where to fill up to on the dip stick. I put in 200ml into in and this is what the dipstick is showing. Have I enough oil in the machine?? I am confused with this dipstick...do I fill to the top of the wavy line of the circular bump. Tried to find it online and cant seem to find it anywhere.

Thanks

First, did you wipe the dipstick and reinsert before filling. My opinion is the the 'some oil' you seen was no more than the small amounts used during engine assembly to coat bearing and sliding surfaces. A wipe and redip would likely show no oil mark. I'd contend that the mower was empty, and your addition of 200ml is half recommended amount, which is showing exactly on the divide between hashed and smooth surface of the stick, and any level below the highest hash area is deemed too low. If you add the remaining 200 ml, I'd expect it to go up to the top of the flat area below the big circular plastic moulding on the stick, which is probably there to keep the stick guided in the tube, and wipe any oil from the tube to prevent it collecting on the stick as you withdraw it and give a false reading. If you're in any doubt, drain the mower completely, then measure what comes out, add enough to make 400ml and pour it back in.

Cool thanks for attaching the manual as that wasn't included within the box and would have been handy...

Anyway I put in the 400ml of oil and like ye guys said I didn't screw in the dipstick cap, which I was doing before and was showing that I was already at the limit when I had 200ml in there.

Just rechecked it and I think I'm all good the oil level is just at the top of the high level mark as you can see below. It doesn't help the oil is so light and new....I'm used to black dirty oil in diesel engines 😏

Thanks again

why oh why can't manufacturers make it clear on dipstick readings, a min & max should be stamped on all dipsticks and also make it clear whether its dip and screw down or just dip 😐️