Time for a petrol mower?

[Blackjack Davy]

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.

You mean steps leading up to the garden? Get two scaffold planks or similar and lay it over the steps then wheel it up/down if it had a rear roller you'd only need one. Heh I spent the afternoon cutting two lawns with an Izy today.

 

[Werewolf]

Get one with a Briggs and Stratton engine if you can, they last forever.

The only thing that tends to let them down is the diaphragm after about 5 years, but that's an easy fix.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Run E5 fuel if you can.

If not, fit an in-line fuel tap so you can run the carb dry when you’re done mowing without draining the fuel tank.

And if you’re cutting the fuel line to fit a tap, fit a filter after it. They cost €3 and changing them annually is way, way less hassle than cleaning the crud out of the gauze filter inside the carb.

 

[moon man]

I would go cordless for sure, mine is one of my best ever purchases, ultra light, powerful quiet , good cut it doesn't trip out it just steps up the power .not just playing the eco warrior as i use a sthil petrol hedge cutter i just find them so much easier
Mine is also not over wide but long,this being the top section, it goes down to the bottom houses and will cut very easily on one charge, edit bottom house not in shot just think same again beyond greenhouse (now demolished)

 

[Chabsy]

My Honda izy is about 15 years old and still going strong.

 

[BenjiSayers]

Run E5 fuel if you can.

If not, fit an in-line fuel tap so you can run the carb dry when you’re done mowing without draining the fuel tank.

And if you’re cutting the fuel line to fit a tap, fit a filter after it. They cost €3 and changing them annually is way, way less hassle than cleaning the crud out of the gauze filter inside the carb.

I only ever put the good stuff in the car so will just take a can with me for when I need it for the mower.

 

[Fluffybob]

I switched to a Greenworks 40v battery mower and the weight difference is great, small front lawn but a large one at the rear and 1 battery usually does both with no issues.

 

[pigeonguyuk]

Anyone used SGS Engineerings own branded stuff.

SGS 46CM 125CC Self-Propelled Rotary Petrol Lawnmower BS450E

Introducing the SGS 46cm Lawn Mower - your reliable companion for maintaining a neat and tidy lawn without breaking the bank.

www.sgs-engineering.com

Garden Multi-Tools | SGS Engineering

Garden multi-tools designed to tackle a variety of tasks with ease. Our multi-tools combine multiple functions into one versatile device, allowing you to trim, cut, and maintain your garden efficiently. Ideal for both professional landscapers and avid gardeners, these tools offer flexibility and...

www.sgs-engineering.com

 

[sithlord]

For small gardens as in the pics OP posted, Id go with Lithium battery. Had mine for 4 years and its still going strong. Barley drops 20% once Ive done a session.

 

[Mysterae_]

Anyone used SGS Engineerings own branded stuff.

SGS 46CM 125CC Self-Propelled Rotary Petrol Lawnmower BS450E

Introducing the SGS 46cm Lawn Mower - your reliable companion for maintaining a neat and tidy lawn without breaking the bank.

www.sgs-engineering.com

Garden Multi-Tools | SGS Engineering

Garden multi-tools designed to tackle a variety of tasks with ease. Our multi-tools combine multiple functions into one versatile device, allowing you to trim, cut, and maintain your garden efficiently. Ideal for both professional landscapers and avid gardeners, these tools offer flexibility and...

www.sgs-engineering.com

That multi-tool looks to be a rebranded Hyundai unit that I just moaned posted about in the tools thread.

If you think you'll use it infrequently or a lot, don't do it, it's crap - heavy, stinky and unreliable. If you lived closer and I decided I didn't like you I'd give you mine for free.

 

[mingeroonie]

I used to have a titan petrol strimmer that was loud and too heavy for the Mrs to use in the garden, so I had to do it.
Got a makita cordless and she finds it way easier

She likes gardening btw

 

[moon man]

For small gardens as in the pics OP posted, Id go with Lithium battery. Had mine for 4 years and its still going strong. Barley drops 20% once Ive done a session.

Mines McGregor 36 volt from Argos with 5ah
I could just do it on the spear and Jackson with 2.5ah but the.mcgregor 36!v ( see.argos, I didn't pay that ) with 5ah it's done with ease.
As regards petrol theres lots of British names just relabeling Chinese generic units, I fixed my exes a while back , carb strip down, plug, recoil unit ect

 

[cuke2u]

I moved into another property last September which is on the edge of a small village, some 750 houses in total. It has only a small front lawn and grass verge to the road, we're all encouraged by the local council to cut our own verges.

Everyone around me has a petrol engined mower or strimmer and they're all out there at the weekends, every weekend, chugging away leaving nice and neat lines on their lawns so much so it seems to be a unwritten competition as whose lawn can be the neatest.

I'm rather embarrassed as I have only a bosch 32" rotak corded mower, it's flimsy but cheap and does the job but I only mow on weekdays when everyone is at work to avoid being laughed at.
Still if and when it does eventually break I'll probably join the clan, but until then I refuse to replace it.

 

[Noakesy85]

We have an HAYTER Harrier, its served me well for several years now... although it is overdue a service and blade sharpen... might be worth doing before i try to tackle my new garden

 

[Terminal_Boy]

I moved into another property last September which is on the edge of a small village, some 750 houses in total. It has only a small front lawn and grass verge to the road, we're all encouraged by the local council to cut our own verges.

Everyone around me has a petrol engined mower or strimmer and they're all out there at the weekends, every weekend, chugging away leaving nice and neat lines on their lawns so much so it seems to be a unwritten competition as whose lawn can be the neatest.

I'm rather embarrassed as I have only a bosch 32" rotak corded mower, it's flimsy but cheap and does the job but I only mow on weekdays when everyone is at work to avoid being laughed at.
Still if and when it does eventually break I'll probably join the clan, but until then I refuse to replace it.

My Rotak has been horribly abused its entire life (at least 15 years) and shows no sign of quitting.

Seems to work best if you mow down to the desired grass length in 2 or 3 cuts and always empty the grass bin when it’s 2/3rds full. If you sharpen the blade every spring and after hitting rocks, it does a pretty good job.

 

[Hedge]

When it comes to caring about petrol lawnmowers and keeping them serviced etc..

Putting my lawnmower in the shed became a bit of a chore due to my bikes and junk taking up space. This ultimately mean I didn't really give a crap about my Ryobi Petrol mower and I started just leaving it outside in the elements. Sometimes under a tree if it was lucky.

Funnily enough it's survived for 6 years like that. Metal deck is still not too rusty. Just the odd bubble. It just sits outside annoying anyone who looks at it

I believe it's a Subaru engine on it. And other than a few snapped pull cords its managed to come alive every summer .

My advice though is to buy a nice Honda if going petrol. Or grab a battery powered lighter smaller thing that's less annoying to lug about.

(I just got a worx thing for £200 and it's first use has been more than satisfactory)

 

[sparton_SPA]

Must have been a robust lawnmower to survive that long in the elements.

Exactly why I still go for a petrol lawnmower, even with a relatively small lawn.

 

[cuke2u]

My Rotak has been horribly abused its entire life (at least 15 years) and shows no sign of quitting.

Seems to work best if you mow down to the desired grass length in 2 or 3 cuts and always empty the grass bin when it’s 2/3rds full. If you sharpen the blade every spring and after hitting rocks, it does a pretty good job.

Yep although it's a tad flimsy it does it's stuff OK, I purchased it to replace another rotek, a 34" version, it seemed more robustly made until the motor decided to seize solid after 10 years of use. As I say I'll keep this one I've got until it goes pop then look at an alternative mower.