Petrol Lawn mower, £250 budget. Possible?

[TheAngryDog]

I want a petrol lawn mower. I hate cutting grass, so if I am going to be forced to do it then I want a petrol one. I'd prefer a self propelled one.

Would I be able to get a half decent one?

[chow pan toon]

I picked up a decent 2nd hand Mountfield self-propelled mower from Gumtree for £80 4 years ago, I've had no problems.

[sinbaddio]

Depends on the size of the lawn and whether you want new or second hand. A pal just bought a new Hyundai something or other that he's pleased with, around £175 I think.

[Dog Star]

You should have no problems at all for that price.

I'd actually buy a used one and save a couple of hundred quid.

I've got a 17 year old "Performance Power" (B&Q own brand, Briggs and Stratton motor) self-propelled jobbie. It's always started first pull every spring, but had started to hunt. I was going to treat myself this year but then I decided to simply lob a new carburettor on - runs like a dream. Sure it looks old but it cuts grass perfectly well and has the massive advantage that it can live in the shed and no thief is going to take it; they'll nick somebody elses spangly new one instead of my 14kg lump. This means I don't have to store it in the garage. Very liberating.

[VeeDubMcG]

You shouldn't have a problem for that amount.

I recently got one of the Homebase Qualcast ones and it has taken everything I have thrown at it in it's stride. My only advice, if it's a largish lawn, would be to get one with the biggest cutting diameter you can afford, anything to make the job quicker and easier. I think mine was 46cm for a bit under £199.

[sjg]

I have this, or whatever the equivalent was a couple of years ago - the cheapest steel deck, B&S engined, self-propelled Mountfield from Screwfix.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-sp185-45cm-12...

It's fine.

[joestifff]

Second hand Honda Izy.

Mine was much less than that.

[Composite Guru]

If you have Costco membership and can push a little more then I can recommend this.

mtd-optima-140cc-18-46cm-self-propelled-rotary-petrol-lawn-mower-model-o46spbhw-186115

Good thing with Costco is that you get a no quibble 5 year guarantee with all of their stuff so it was a no brainer for me.

[TheAngryDog]

thanks guys.

Here is the lawn in question:



Re Costco membership, sadly not, would love it if I could get it.

[dazwalsh]

I have a 150 quid Mountfield jobby from screwfix for my own garden and for the gardens after my wker tenants leave my houses without touching the garden during their tenancy duration. Copes with it all fine. It will be more than sufficient for your garden.

[eldar]

sjg said:

I have this, or whatever the equivalent was a couple of years ago - the cheapest steel deck, B&S engined, self-propelled Mountfield from Screwfix.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-sp185-45cm-12...

It's fine.

I have a very similar one, works fine, but rusts quicker than a 1973 Fiat. It it lasts out summer, I'll patch it up over winter.

[Alucidnation]

Get anything with a Honda engine.

B&S engines are crap and nothing but trouble.

[Dog Star]

Alucidnation said:

Get anything with a Honda engine.

B&S engines are crap and nothing but trouble.

As above - my B&S has been amazing for 17 years, all it's had has been a carb (only really needed a diaphragm but it was £8 more for a carb) and I changed the oil about a decade ago.

Having said that I'm sure Honda engines are better.

[Alucidnation]

Early ones were ok TBH, its only the last few years really.

[anonymous-user]

TheAngryDog said:

thanks guys.

Here is the lawn in question:



Re Costco membership, sadly not, would love it if I could get it.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/mountfield-sp164-39cm-100cc-self-propelled-rotary-petrol-lawn-mower/21442

I have the push-a-long version and to be honest I cannot fault it.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 31st July 19:39

[XCP]

Me too. Been going strong for last 3 years.

[rustyuk]

Dog Star said:

You should have no problems at all for that price.

I'd actually buy a used one and save a couple of hundred quid.

I've got a 17 year old "Performance Power" (B&Q own brand, Briggs and Stratton motor) self-propelled jobbie. It's always started first pull every spring, but had started to hunt. I was going to treat myself this year but then I decided to simply lob a new carburettor on - runs like a dream. Sure it looks old but it cuts grass perfectly well and has the massive advantage that it can live in the shed and no thief is going to take it; they'll nick somebody elses spangly new one instead of my 14kg lump. This means I don't have to store it in the garage. Very liberating.

I have the same one, never been serviced and always starts! Just moved house and we now have a hill rather than a garden so was going to stick it on eBay.

[CorradoTDI]

No offence OP but for that size it's buy something light and electric that you can hang up in the shed...

Other options as you hate cutting grass are to put the money towards a robot or just get it layed with artificial grass

[Halmyre]

Alucidnation said:

Get anything with a Honda engine.

B&S engines are crap and nothing but trouble.

? my B&S engine gets treated like a red-headed stepchild and never gives trouble. I might give it a treat and check the oil level next time.

[BlueHave]

The problem is that some of those cheap Mountfield lawnmowers they sell in Screwfix etc for £150 aren't really Mountfield.
They are cheap generic petrol mowers with the Mountfield name licensed to be stuck on the front.

Same with Qualcast petrol mowers they sell in the DIY sheds. Qualcast was sold to Bosch who then licensed the name to a company who buy a mower from China in a desired colour and stick the name on it. Qualcast as it originally was is no more but Hayter bought all the tooling apparently.

Look at the MacAlister 1600w in B&Q and the Qualcast 1600w from Argos, exactly the same mower in a different colour and name.

Only way to get a 'proper' Mountfield, Hayter or Honda is to spend £400+.