Lawn Mower

[Too Late]

Need a new petrol lawn mower.
Is it worth hitting eBay for one second hand?
I have about a 60ft garden to cut.

Or should I go brand new.

What models do people recommend?

Thanks
N

[HootersGsy]

I have a Honda which has been extremely reliable. Definitely better built than the POS I got from B&Q many years ago.

The questions to ask are do you want a push along or driven mower and how many times do you want to run up and down the garden (blade width). Oh, and how much £££ of course!

[agent006]

I bought second hand recently, as I was after a decent Honda and there's no way I can justify £700+ on a new one.

Between now and late spring is a good time to buy second hand. Early spring you tend to get a glut of "oh fk this it won't start let's go and buy a new one" spares/repair easy fixers.

[Too Late]

HootersGsy said:

I have a Honda which has been extremely reliable. Definitely better built than the POS I got from B&Q many years ago.

The questions to ask are do you want a push along or driven mower and how many times do you want to run up and down the garden (blade width). Oh, and how much £££ of course!

Hmmm, i have about £150, if thats not enough i will look at second hand.

What blade width should i look at?
Push or mower driven doesnt matter too much

Thanks
N

[Spare tyre]

I've got two that I was given
Honda which needs some work but feels robust
Flymo with a Briggs and Stratton engine, i consider it the fiesta of the lawn mower world, but fiestas are good at the job designed for! Starts, stops doesn't need anything apart from fuel.

Make sure you get one that is self propelled, makes a chore a lot less boring

I also use mine to hoover up leaves by adjusting it to its highest setting

[Paul Drawmer]

Too Late said:

Hmmm, i have about £150, if thats not enough i will look at second hand.

What blade width should i look at?
Push or mower driven doesnt matter too much

Thanks
N

We have a small grass area. After having a huge Honda, I down traded to the Honda Izy, and I chose a push version. With a smal lawn, you are continually turning at the end of each row, and the lighter weight of the push mower makes it far easier to just turn it, the lawn is small so actually pushing it is no hardship.

Give yourself a treat, but the Izy - it's bloody good!

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I would say 60ft is reaching the sort of size where a self-propelled mower would be a distinct advantage. I have a self-propelled Hayter and the weight for turning isn't an issue at all.

If you can get one with an aluminium deck that would be better - I'm starting to fight the rust on my steel-decked Hayter after about 4-5 years.

[markbigears]

you need a second hand one of these: honda HRX426

[AmiableChimp]

I went through 2 Qualcast self-propelled from Homebase (each broke fairly quickly) before plumping for a Honda Izy and haven't looked back.

I did buy new and paid just over £400 IIRC so a bit north of your budget but great mower.

Self-propelled makes a big difference, I have around 270sqm to cut.

[trickywoo]

Avoid anything with an 'automatic' choke.

Really is a LOT more bother than its worth. Its not even that easy to rip out.

[agent006]

markbigears said:

you need a second hand one of these: honda HRX426

He'll need a good £100 more than his budget for even a second hand HRX. HRG (izy) or HRB will be fine for a 60' garden and much closer to budget.

[Too Late]

The Izy's look really good, and the reviews look good.

Just out of curiosity, what are peoples views on Mountfileds?

i think im set on an Izy now

Thanks
N

[sjj84]

I've got an izy after many many recommendations on here. Wasn't cheap but should last. Easy to start too, even after a winter of no use.

[LooneyTunes]

Too Late said:

Just out of curiosity, what are peoples views on Mountfileds?

I had one for a few years. OK, but not great.

Never had an issue with the deck rusting, but found the Briggs engine nowhere near as good as the Honda/Kawasakis you get on higher end models.

Comparing the Mounfield to the Hayter that replaced it, several things were noticeable:

1) General meatiness of construction - especially blade and shaft
2) Size of grass collector - OK the new mower is bigger, but the grass bag is much larger and this alone saves a lot of time cutting the grass.
3) Type of grass collector - the Mountfield has a plastic box, the Hayter a semi-flexible canvas bag which is much easier to empty.
4) Ease of starting - I don't recall the Mountfield ever starting first pull. The Hayter always does.

Might also be worth looking on eBay for the commercial brands (Toro is one that springs to mind, but there's another that escapes my memory that is basically a Honda clone c/w Honda engine) as these may well be overlooked by those looking for Honda/Hayter.

[jinkster]

I always understood the Hayter to be the Rolls Royce of the lawn mower world.

[dazwalsh]

another vote for a Honda Izzy, nice and light and so easy to start

[grumbas]

Too Late said:

Just out of curiosity, what are peoples views on Mountfileds?

Bought the base model Mountfield out of desperation 18 months ago, cost £160ish which is about as cheap as they get.

It's not a bad mower, but it lacks grunt, and the automatic throttle on ours causes it to constantly 'hunt'.

In hindsight I wish I'd had time to find a decent secondhand Honda or similar, or been able to up the budget a bit - however the old mower packing up the day before a christening party forced my hand a bit!

[kooky guy]

I bought a self propelled Mountfield from B&Q some years ago and it's been pretty good apart from needing a new diaphram in the carb after the first year. Somewhat annoying as it was apparently a known defect (manufacturing?) in that particular Briggs and Stratton engine yet I still had to pay for it to be replaced (the 2 year warranty only covered the mower itself apparently).

Still, since then it's been fine. It's a bit rusty but it does the job. Cost about £160, as I recall.

I think this model was made for B&q though as the Mountfields I was brought up with were of far better quality than this one is.

[Tuvra]

Used Etesia you want, something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Etesia-PBE-lawnmower-Bri...

The chap above buys his at the Reading International Plant Auction, maybe worth considering if your local and know what your looking for? I have had some dirt cheap lawnmowers there!!

[Too Late]

Found me a Honda! got to bid now!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//26131276?pt=UK_Garden_L...

Edited by Too Late on Tuesday 29th October 12:56