Stiga - Front Cutting Deck Advice

Stiga - Front Cutting Deck Advice

Author
Discussion

scz4

Original Poster:

2,497 posts

240 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
quotequote all
Afternoon all.

Been looking into various options for cutting the garden now it's all sorted. Only requirements are; mulching, cope with bumpy ground and gentle inclines.

A few machine shops I've been round see to recommend the front cutting deck, what's folks thoughts on that, seems to make sense for in and out trees, close to fences etc. I like the idea of adding other attachments, snow plough etc

Struggling to find reviews on the Stiga Park 520. Does anyone have any experience of one (or similar)??

http://www.stiga.com/products/stiga_en/2f6220610-s...


V8RX7

26,766 posts

262 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
quotequote all
Front cutting deck is better for getting around trees but it's not essential.

Front cutters are rarer and more expensive.

I'm not a great fan of articulated machines - overly complicated - but I buy old things - if you're buying new then that's not an issue.

Stiga have a great reputation albeit there are far cheaper options that will do 99% as well.

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
quotequote all
Stiga are not what they once were. Since they sold out to the Italians, only their Pro range still flies the flag (literally) - you can get most of "their" machines rebadged as other brands all of which roll out of the same massive factory - Mountfield / Castel Garden / Atco etc.

That aside, front-cut and mulching is a brilliant combination assuming you're not worried about stripes. Yes they definitely make working around trees, borders or awkwardly shaped lawns a whole lot easier.

Husqvarna make one which is fairly well thought of if you want to stick with articulated, but as V8RX7 commented they do have a bit more to go wrong. Another option would be a rear-wheel steer John Deere / Iseki / Ransomes of some flavour, with the added advantage that most of those are diesel too which saves on the pennies and tend to be more robust than an ickle petrol twin banging and crashing at full chat. A large deck and petrol engine makes for large bills. I have a rear-wheel steer John Deere which can turn practically within it's own axis which is a godsend for drawing circles round trees.

scz4

Original Poster:

2,497 posts

240 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies above.

The Husqvarna could be a good shout! Definitely get better value, can get AWD for the just a little more. - http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/products/riders/r-216-...

I'll call my local re-seller and make sure they do servicing and warranty work, that's my biggest concern!

five5

716 posts

252 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
RedLeicester said:
That aside, front-cut and mulching is a brilliant combination assuming you're not worried about stripes. Yes they definitely make working around trees, borders or awkwardly shaped lawns a whole lot easier.
I'm thinking about a front-cut ride on but I hadn't considered the lack of stripes. Stripes are important smile. Is there such a thing as a front-cut that does create stripes? (I have a number of trees that I need get under and can't see how I can do that without a front cut.)

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
five5 said:
RedLeicester said:
That aside, front-cut and mulching is a brilliant combination assuming you're not worried about stripes. Yes they definitely make working around trees, borders or awkwardly shaped lawns a whole lot easier.
I'm thinking about a front-cut ride on but I hadn't considered the lack of stripes. Stripes are important smile. Is there such a thing as a front-cut that does create stripes? (I have a number of trees that I need get under and can't see how I can do that without a front cut.)
Most of the Stiga's have rollers on the deck, the bigger commercial machines don't.

Rotaree

1,146 posts

260 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
quotequote all
scz4 said:
Thanks for the replies above.

The Husqvarna could be a good shout! Definitely get better value, can get AWD for the just a little more. - http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/products/riders/r-216-...

I'll call my local re-seller and make sure they do servicing and warranty work, that's my biggest concern!
Sorry I'm a bit late to reply but I've recently bought the Husqvarna 216AWD and I'm very impressed, the four wheel drive is great - on a number of occasions where I would have had the wheels spinning on my old mower (a Husqvarna 26hp centre deck) this one has just carried on with ease. It's really manoeuvrable and you sit 'in' it rather than 'on' it as you would with the Stiga which feels much more stable and you don't bash your head on overhead branches as much.

scz4

Original Poster:

2,497 posts

240 months

Wednesday 21st October 2015
quotequote all
Rotaree said:
Sorry I'm a bit late to reply but I've recently bought the Husqvarna 216AWD and I'm very impressed, the four wheel drive is great - on a number of occasions where I would have had the wheels spinning on my old mower (a Husqvarna 26hp centre deck) this one has just carried on with ease. It's really manoeuvrable and you sit 'in' it rather than 'on' it as you would with the Stiga which feels much more stable and you don't bash your head on overhead branches as much.
Thanks for replying. I'm leaning towards the 216AWD. How reliable are the Briggs and Stratton engines? Powerful enough to tow a 200kg roller?

herewego

8,814 posts

212 months

Wednesday 21st October 2015
quotequote all
I have two Briggs and Stratton engines and both of them have emptied the contents of the fuel tank into the sump via a leaking carburetor float valve.

scz4

Original Poster:

2,497 posts

240 months

Wednesday 21st October 2015
quotequote all
herewego said:
I have two Briggs and Stratton engines and both of them have emptied the contents of the fuel tank into the sump via a leaking carburetor float valve.
Hmm, I don't like the sound of that.

Might go back to looking at the John Deere X304, pretty sure that was a Kawasaki engine.

That said, I do like the idea of the front cut mount for getting into tight spaces, cutting closer to walls, corners etc and ease of cleaning the deck...

Rotaree

1,146 posts

260 months

Wednesday 21st October 2015
quotequote all
scz4 said:
Thanks for replying. I'm leaning towards the 216AWD. How reliable are the Briggs and Stratton engines? Powerful enough to tow a 200kg roller?
Not discounting what the other poster said about his experience with Briggs and Stratton engines but I've had a few and never had a problem with any of them and a quick Google doesn't suggest any major issues, especially considering the number out there.

I can't comment on towing a 200kg roller but I have towed a well loaded garden trailer with ease, although I couldn't say what it weighed.

I would say that if you're looking for manoeuvrability around trees etc I have found the out-front cutter to be massively better than a conventional lawn tractor.

If you're any where near West Cornwall you'd be welcome to come and have a test drive!

Edited to say that I've just looked at your profile and see that a test drive of mine probably isn't an option! wink

V8RX7

26,766 posts

262 months

Wednesday 21st October 2015
quotequote all
scz4 said:
How reliable are the Briggs and Stratton engines?

Powerful enough to tow a 200kg roller?
They were the standard by which others were judged until Honda came along.

My mower has 16hp and it regularly tows 500kg - it's the rear axle that's the weak link on mine (Countax)

scz4

Original Poster:

2,497 posts

240 months

Thursday 22nd October 2015
quotequote all
Rotaree said:
If you're any where near West Cornwall you'd be welcome to come and have a test drive!
Thanks for the offer, but I couldn't be any further away in the North East of Scotland smilesmile

Overgeared

43 posts

167 months

Thursday 22nd October 2015
quotequote all
I have a Stiga Park Ranger SVAN which I bought new in 2012, and love it. It has a Honda v-twin engine and, with the exception of a problem last year with the earth wire which made it a bit hard to start and was easily fixed, has been reliable so far.

I mow about 1.5acres, including a 0.5acre orchard - the front deck is perefect for this. Wilst it doesn't stripe I'm pretty sure it could pull a roller easily. My machine is 2wd as whilst my land isnt flat I don't have any really steep inclines. I get a bit of wheelslip when the grass is wet but otherwise it's fine. Most Stiga dealers will offer to come and view your land to advise whether 2wd or 4wd is needed I think.