Ride-On Mowers. What Do I Need To Know?

[Rude-boy]

Bought very old tough as nails snapper.

Drove and mowed into the ground. Replaced 2 drive belts, one plug and oil in five years.

Sold for £100 more than I paid for it when sold house with just under 1.5 acres

[CharlesdeGaulle]

sparkythecat said:

That really won't work. Their suicidal tendencies would see that step into the mill race and get washed away.

[Garybee]

I bought a 2nd hand Honda ride-on. It's a 550cc V-twin with a hydrostatic drive and (much to my amusement) auto headlamps. These have a twin blade deck that throws the clippings up a central chute into the hopper. If the grass is damp and long it will clog occasionally but it's rare if you mow once a week. I did need to weld the deck at one of the mounting points as it had cracked but other than that it's been perfect. The hydrostatic drive is great, makes the fiddly bits around trees much easier.

I paid £700 for it 3.5 years ago but I suspect I was lucky here. Other than welding the deck I've cleaned the air filter, relocated an idler pulley for the drive belt (saved having to replace the belt for £60) and replaced the petrol cap (Honda ones tend to crack, my 3D printed one is much stronger and cost me pennies). Other than petrol I doubt It's cost me £1 to run (and a bit of my time of course). I was going to change the oil and filter of course but it still looks like it's new.

[Herbs]

Well, I've just managed to buy a sit/ride in mower but I don't know what I've bought as I've not seen it.

We exchanged on the house today so took a couple of bottles of whisky round to say thank you for the furniture he is leaving.

His son was there who operated a gardening business and was about to sell his law mower so agreed a price on the spot without seeing it.

I do know that it's petrol with the name that sounded like Bannel 125. It has seat sensors and electric key start where you have to have your foot on the brakes to start. However, I cannot find anything remotely like it on Google so short of twiddling my thumbs and waiting a week to find out what it is, any ideas?

Edited by Herbs on Thursday 8th March 15:02

[Herbs]

Found it! Bolens

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I haven't been to the machinery specialist yet, but the local Mole Valley shop has these two on offer.

This at £2200
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/product...


and this at £1500
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/product...


Any thoughts on these? Are they VFM? Is Mountfield a well-regarded make?

[V40TC]

very much Budget range
try and get a good secondhand Countax the quality against cheaper ones shows through in all parts.

PS Honda ones are not recommended if you have any tree root etc as the blades are synchronous and will not fare well if they encounter tree roots etc.

this stopped me getting a Honda opting for the C60 countax with sweeper instead

Edited by V40TC on Thursday 8th March 14:50

[Mammasaid]

You're all going about this the wrong way.

You NEED this and this, job jobbed.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

V40TC said:

very much Budget range

Ah, thanks. That's useful to know.