The Great Big Lawnmower Thread

OHV - Over Head Valve

Those sometimes don't have a gasket and instead use silicon sealant. Check after next use that its not leaking a bit of oil if it is replace gasket or clean it all up and use fresh silicon sealant.

Don't worry about the spilt oil the valve cover will always have a drop of oil in it as it gets lubrication along with the rest of the engine.

Also don't over tighten the bolts on the OHV cover. They are thin metal and if you over tighten them the metal deforms and you get leaks. You can still remove the cover fully and hammer the mating surface out flat. I know from experience :-(

You can generally get through overgrown grass with a ride on by using a combination of the highest cut, slow speed and only cutting a portion of the width on each pass, half or third. It might be tedious, but beats faffing around with a walk behind. You could also pay a landscaper just once to raze it with a commercial zero turn. Life's too short.

Back in November, I got mine done by putting in the mulcher plug (to block chute from clogging) and cutting it on a higher setting. Its been tidy all winter as a result. Main thing was i gave it a decent clean before it went into the shed.

I'll do the same in Spring, weather permitting, only taking the mulcher plug out when the grass is dry enough not to clog the chute.

Yes, Optimate brand. Cost 70-100 depending on model and capacity, but can nurse nearly any type and capacity back to life. Mine has saved and prolonged batteries from mowers to motorbikes to stop start AGMs to a very pernickety auxiliary battery in a lexus hybrid which refused a standard charger.

The cheapo China one from amazon will probably do most of the same stuff, or will appear to, until it doesn't someday, and maybe toasts your battery. If you're only ever going to use it on the mower, it'll do the job.

Today I tried to start my lawn mower (with instart battery ignition). All I hear is a clicking noise and all the green lights on the battery flash repeatedly.

I did take off the blade and sharpen it, so the mower was on its side for a few mins. Could I have flooded a part of it with oil/fuel? The Spark Plug looks OK as well, but maybe needs to be replaced? It worked perfectly before I sharpened the blade.

Any ideas?

Yeah, tried that. I put it back in the charger for 30 mins until it was fully charged. No luck though on the mower. It seems to drain down quickly as well when I try to start it each time

Poor spade connections on the wiring have dogged my instart mower since new. I never know when it'll go click click, but wiggling the wiring while holding down the bar and pressing the starter (requires 3 arms and hands, I know), sorts it till the next time. Battery lamps don't flash though. That only hapoend me on a first use last spring, very cold and batteries were in the garage . Both read 4 green lamps, both went into flat and flashing as soon as I pressed start. Kept them indoors for a good while then charged. Started no problem. Generally, I think it's a poor system, as a current surge failsafe the batteries to 'off' too easily, like on a cordless drill.. An old fashioned lead acid battery will just grunt and turn slowly. Rotate the blade a little to maybe give the pinion a better chance of engaging.

@deezell (or anyone else who might have an answer), looking for a bit of help getting service parts - fuel and oil filters, etc for my Stihl rt5112z ride-on. It's the model with the Stihl engine rather than the Briggs&Stratton engine which used to be in these. I've had a look online but no luck and too many results coming up about the mower itself but no mention of parts on any website selling the machine it seems. The company I bought it from (which is based a long distance from me) does have a service kit on their website but it's for the rt5112z with the B&S engine not the Stihl engine. I'm presuming the service parts would be different sized for the different engines?

Edit to add: I've emailed the company couple of days ago but yet to hear back.

Any help greatly appreciated as ever.

Thanks Deezell, I'll follow that advice and report back in due course.

Cant decide if the petrol would be safer though, no way Im cutting the back garden with the electric if my meadow plan fails and it all goes to grass...

Are Lidl lawnmowers considered okay for light use or have they been bad down the years?

The electric one is not cordless, you've to drag a mains lead behind you, (or in the place you're about to mow, looking at the picture). You'll cut the lead sooner or later. It's also only a foot wide cut, so for tiny areas. Your man in the picture is a 4 foot nothing model who makes the mower look huge....

Plenty of small battery mowers, starting in the region of €200 with a battery and charger (many are advertised 'bare', without the latter assuming you might have other battery power tools.) This Einhel 12" claims to cut 150 m² on a charge, which is a decent size square.

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/einhell-ge-cm-18-30-li-18v-1-x-3-0ah-li-ion-power-x-change-brushless-cordless-30cm-lawn-mower/986fc

Will a bottle of this be fine for the Lidl lawnmower or can I get something better?

https://www.woodies.ie/maxol-1lt-4-stroke-lawnmower-oil-343838

Hi all.

Anyone up for a challenge. Below is the underneath of my B&S ProLawn 51cm lawnmower from Woodies 10 years ago. It’s been through the wars and owes me nothing.

It’s self propelled but I didn’t get the drive belt cover that I should’ve. They don’t sell this model anymore but they do sell covers.

Wonder if anyone would help me select which one I should purchase (knowing of course that none might fit). Thanks all.

http://tinyurl.com/5bd9jxkp