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Toaster Pilot
Original Poster
7,644 posts
27 months
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I'm going to need to buy a lawnmower soon and was thinking about a petrol one instead of electric - mostly because I can't be arsed trailing a cable out of the house to use it. Budget is very limited though because I'm going to be skint after moving house.
I've noticed that Tesco, Argos, Homebase etc all have petrol lawnmowers for about £100, all unknown/own brand (Challenge at Argos for example)
Are these a bad idea? I assume it's going to be hard to get spares if ever needed? Anyone got a really cheap petrol mower like these?
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chibbard
684 posts
129 months
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I bought a cheap petrol mower from argos for just over 100 quid for the exact reasons you mention. The only maintenance i done was 2 oil changes in 18 years. The only thing that broke was the fast idle cable. Engine wise, it just kept on going. I decided to scrap it two months ago (replaced with another 100 odd quid petrol mower) because the metal body rusted. The engine was still running fine. Therefore, i would say go for it.
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98elise
3,172 posts
30 months
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I've got a cheap one, had it for about 7 years and no issues. Its got a briggs and straton engine so starts and runs like a 50's motorbike though.
The benefits are that it takes half the time to cut the grass, and it will cut wet grass.
I will never buy an electric mower again.
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Jimboka
2,676 posts
73 months
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Smallish garden? Qualcast pushalong @50 is easier/quicker/makes nice noise/can be used anytime without bothering neighbours!!
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Convert
2,855 posts
87 months
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I bought a cheap McCulloch (Tecumseh emgine) 12 years ago.
The only issue I've had is the petrol pipe from tank to carb perished.
It's got a polycarb deck so no rust. Just sharpen the blades once a year, prime the carb (10 pushes) and pull the cord once. Great bit of kit.
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A lex
8,849 posts
102 months
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I bought a cheap petrol one from Lidl (FloraBest or somesuch) German brand with a B&S motor.
Its 2 years old now and has been abused something rotten, various bits have fallen off the body and its a bit rough around the edges but it still starts every time and cuts the grass well.
It lives under a tree in the corner of the garden!!
Apart from an oil change and a service (air filter was blocked with green gunk) its needed nothing. Ive also rigged the governer to run slightly faster, its a bit loud now but chomps its way through the long grass a lot easier.
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ColinM50
1,007 posts
44 months
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Got an e-mail from Screwfix yesterday saying they've got an offer on for a Mountfield mower down from £199 to £139 at the moment
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PugwasHDJ80
5,193 posts
90 months
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second hand honda izy from eblag
bought mine 5 years ago for £115 and the only things its needed is a new sparkplug! wonderful little things
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jet_noise
1,201 posts
51 months
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Dear A, A lex said: snip
Ive also rigged the governer to run slightly faster Proper job, regards, Jet
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toasty
3,270 posts
89 months
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Honda Izy - worth the extra.
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BigTom85
703 posts
40 months
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Blackpuddin
4,803 posts
74 months
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Going thru the process of looking at my sad old mountfield B&S powered mower and was just going to replace it woth another, may still do that, but my eye has also been taken by the Bosch cordless mowers that run on Lithium-ion batteries, they look the bizzo. More expensive up front but cheaper overall (if it lasts) because no petrol to put in. Also quiet and light. And not smoky.
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scenario8
2,771 posts
48 months
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Blackpuddin said: Going thru the process of looking at my sad old mountfield B&S powered mower and was just going to replace it woth another, may still do that, but my eye has also been taken by the Bosch cordless mowers that run on Lithium-ion batteries, they look the bizzo. More expensive up front but cheaper overall (if it lasts) because no petrol to put in. Also quiet and light. And not smoky. Petrol consumpition on a typical residential lawnmower has to be tiny over a year, doesn't it?
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A lex
8,849 posts
102 months
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For a whole season of mowing, cutting, snipping etc etc over all my petrol powered garden tools I use about 20L per season. Tis nothing, especially as the mower is used for about 6-8hrs per month.
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Gareth79
2,620 posts
115 months
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I bought a non-runner off ebay for £25, a German Sabo with a B&S engine. It just needed the carb overhauling and the cables fixing up a bit. I'm sure you could get a bargain on something really nice if you pick the right one.
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itsnotarace
3,667 posts
78 months
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Jimboka said: Smallish garden? Qualcast pushalong @50 is easier/quicker/makes nice noise/can be used anytime without bothering neighbours!! This
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Condi
2,671 posts
40 months
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Mum bought a cheap one... erm... Challenge Extreme (?) from where-ever that is from, and tbh its nothing special. Very hard to start this year for some reason, not sure why. Plug looks okay, fuel getting through the carb, and once it runs its fine, but just exceptionally hard to get going first of all even for a fit 23 year old let, let alone mum who is over 50... I had to resort to easy-start first time after winter as it simply would not go. The wheels are held on with a terrible arrangement, and when pulling the mower backwards one always falls off because the bolt unscrews itself!
All in all, I would pay the little extra and get at least a B+S engine, or Honda or something well known and reliable.
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Toaster Pilot
Original Poster
7,644 posts
27 months
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It's not a massive garden but it's not tiny either 
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Toaster Pilot
Original Poster
7,644 posts
27 months
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BigTom85 said: Is that a B+S engine?
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Blackpuddin
4,803 posts
74 months
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Starting a B&S is all in the wrist action. I find the best method is to prime it up with a couple of squirts on the bulb, pull the string gently through a couple of times, then give it another couple of squirts of juice followed by a more committed pull.
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