Time for a petrol mower?

Honda with alloy base instead of steel, and get one with a clutch thingy. Clean it after every use and service it every year.

Dont leave petrol in it for a long period, read the manual properly.
 
Had a Viking self propelled for about 8 years now, never had any problems with it, just using ordinary unleaded.
Chose one with a plastic deck so to avoid any rust issues.
I think Viking are part of the Stihl group, would certainly get another when its needed
 
BenjiSayers said:
Stupid question as this is a whole new world to me, where do you take a lawnmower to get serviced? and when it comes round to this time of year when it's being used are there any kind of steps I should be taking before and after use? As I see above you've mentioned making sure to drain the fuel over winter for example.
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Days gone past I would have said yellow pages for lawnmower servicing/repairs but these days whatever is local online and look for reviews they'll come and collect in a van and drop off when done
 
Due to lack of cleaning my Honda Izy now has a 10 inch crack in the base, engine still starts first pull after winter at 17 years old. It needs new wheels aswell as the base and some mounting parts so not worth repairing.

The new Honda HRX I replaced it with doesn’t start aswell sometimes needs a second pull, old model had a manual choke this one is auto which I think is the issue. Overall it doesn’t feel aswell put together I’ll be surprised if it lasts as long.
 
I was on a Facebook group yesterday, used garden machinery. I’m looking for a second hand petrol mower, something around £300 to £400 as we need something pretty robust. Anyway, steer clear of new Hondas was the general consensus, not made as well. Cobra seemed to get a lot of glowing reviews, Weibang more positive than negative.
 
Yeah, I will just get a new base for mine when required as it will also be a lot cheaper albeit I am not sure how easy they are to fit?
 
Bases are pretty pricey cheapest I could find was £300, you’ve then got parts on the under side that are unlikey to come apart due to corrosion and my wheels were almost slick. Was roughly £450 in parts and looking at some of the bolts an angle grinder may have been needed to get the old one apart.
 
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I got a Hyundai thing last year, then realised it's not a Hyundai at all they just get to use the name however I stuck normal unleaded in, left it all winter, started first time last month for it's first cut and been fine since.

 
I've got a 40(ish) year old Honda HR194 - powerful thing although this year I did put a new carb on it as it just wouldn't start, but now all good :)

I've also got (left when bought a house) a new Honda from Toolstation. The thing is £500 to buy and really not impressed (https://www.toolstation.com/hawksmoor-166cc-53cm-honda-self-propelled-petrol-lawnmower/p13640 - they appear to have reduced it so maybe it's not that great!). It's self-propelled and is just that bit too slow that you feel like you're walking behind someone going far too slow on teh pavement! It has a big cutting deck though, but not sure I'd recommend it
 
This is what I'm working with btw, first pic shows how wild it gets (last cut before this pic was back-end of Sept when it was last sunny I think) and second kind of shows the size but doesn't really show how steep it is. I know my Garden is a tip but I don't use it all, I only mow it so it's presentable.

The second pic is also how far I got before the old mower died :D

CVaxTh9.jpeg

zlTVv7s.jpeg
 
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If you're looking to be cost efficient:
I got the cheapest petrol, metal bodied lawnmower on the market - Webb. Got from Wickes two years ago - not missed a beat. £150 can't really go wrong.
 
Having just cut the grass I remembered I have swapped the wing nuts holding the tip casing on (only because easier to tighten than the ones it came with) and have replaced the pull chord handle

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Still going strong
 
Same as mine although I think yours is a newer model as I have a manual choke/speed control on the handles and I believe they removed them for auto-choke later.... Never lets me down - Put throttle to full choke, pull once then pull choke back to normal and it just goes :)
 
Yeah they're all auto-choke these days just pull and go!

BenjiSayers said:
This is what I'm working with btw, first pic shows how wild it gets (last cut before this pic was back-end of Sept when it was last sunny I think) and second kind of shows the size but doesn't really show how steep it is. I know my Garden is a tip but I don't use it all, I only mow it so it's presentable. :D
zlTVv7s.jpeg
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If its that long it'd be better to just leave the box off it or you'll be emptying it every stripe
:)
Then rake up the loose or better still get a blower on it blow it into a heap and then bag it up. Start at the top then mow crossways till you reach the bottom much easier than up/down and if its struggling to do it in one go do it in two first cut high and the next lower nearer to the height you want it
 
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Accordingly to some comment by an American on a UK gardening video on Yootoob, UK gardens are so small that most people use a strimmer to cut them, not lawn mowers.

Ditch the mower.... problem solved!
 
sovietspybob said:
My mower has the same engine, they're ok but not as powerful as the older models. Plus you need to be really careful not to use E10 fuel and even then make sure its totally drained if not using it for more than a month or 2 or you'll have to take the carb apart and clean it all.
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Is E10 normal unleaded petrol as my dad's lawnmower struggles to start and tickover until warm ?

Should premium unleaded be used instead ?

Tx
 
mickyflinn said:
Is E10 normal unleaded petrol as my dad's lawnmower struggles to start and tickover until warm ?

Should premium unleaded be used instead ?

Tx
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Yeah E10 is the standard stuff, you want premium which is E5 and in some cases still has no ethanol at all even though it's labelled as up to 5%.

Ethanol is just awful awful stuff for smaller engines and fuel systems in general :(
 
I ended up getting the base petrol Honda Izy and took it for a spin today. Made light work of the garden, the only issue I have with it and this is very a me issue, is that there is no kind of handle on it for me to pick it up by. As I'm in a town house my rear garden is first floor height of the house so it's a pain to get it down the side stairs to put it in the Garage.
 
BenjiSayers said:
I ended up getting the base petrol Honda Izy and took it for a spin today. Made light work of the garden, the only issue I have with it and this is very a me issue, is that there is no kind of handle on it for me to pick it up by. As I'm in a town house my rear garden is first floor height of the house so it's a pain to get it down the side stairs to put it in the Garage.
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Is there room on the side stairs for a sack barrow?

Fold the handle on the Izy, stick one of these under it and away you go.

www.sacktrucks.co.uk

2 in 1 Stair Climber Sack Truck 150Kg Capacity

Shop the most versatile heavy-duty sack truck suitable for stair climbing with puncture-proof tri-wheels. Multiple loading positions with a 150kg capacity.
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