Cheap petrol lawnmowers?

[Toaster Pilot]

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?

[chibbard]

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.

[98elise]

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.

[anonymous-user]

Smallish garden? Qualcast pushalong @50 is easier/quicker/makes nice noise/can be used anytime without bothering neighbours!!

[Convert]

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.

[ColinM50]

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

[PugwasHDJ80]

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

[jet_noise]

Dear A,

A lex said:

snip

Ive also rigged the governer to run slightly faster

Proper job,

regards,
Jet

[toasty]

Honda Izy - worth the extra.

[BigTom85]

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-hp164-39cm-2-...

Job jobbed.

[Blackpuddin]

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.

[scenario8]

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?

[Gareth79]

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.

[itsnotarace]

Jimboka said:

Smallish garden? Qualcast pushalong @50 is easier/quicker/makes nice noise/can be used anytime without bothering neighbours!!

This

[Condi]

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.

[Toaster Pilot]

It's not a massive garden but it's not tiny either

[Toaster Pilot]

BigTom85 said:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-hp164-39cm-2-...

Job jobbed.

Is that a B+S engine?

[Blackpuddin]

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.

[Blackpuddin]

Toaster Pilot said:

BigTom85 said:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-hp164-39cm-2-...

Job jobbed.

Is that a B+S engine?

100cc? A bit feeble surely?

[BigTom85]

scenario8 said:

Petrol consumpition on a typical residential lawnmower has to be tiny over a year, doesn't it?

I reckon I use about 2 gallons a year, hardly a lot of money.