Flymos

[Stamp]

OK, boring subject, but.
We have a lawn approx 60ft x 20ft and I am thinking about a mower.
I kind of like the idea of a flymo, something like the compact 350. Is this a good idea?
Has anyone got any of the range and are they any good?

[deckster]

Been done to death, but not for a while I guess

Flymos are crap. If your mower doesn't have an internal combustion engine then you're gay (FACT). In any case, you won't go far wrong with anything from Honda, Hayter or Mountfield.

[thomson]

Thought exactly the same thing, ended up buying one, utter sh!te, as above save up and get one powered by proper fuel.

[cjs]

I have the 350, works quite well. It will hack through rough and long grass and even damp grass is no real issue. They need regular cleaning at the underside get clogged with grass. I have 3 irregular shaped, bumpy lawns and a hover mower is the best option for me. As with all electric mowers the cable can be a pain, you may will need an extension lead. The grass collection is okay but can become clogged with long grass.

Don't expect any beautiful stripped lawns.

[Targarama]

Self propelled petrol power is the only way to go. Also serves as amusement as the other half tries to have a go.

[convert]

You do know that this is Pistonheads, right?

As said above you need a proper lawn mower, that runs on petrol.

I had a flymo thingy or a few years. Always struggled with the cable and the grass collection. Then 4 years ago I bought a cheap petrol mower. It now takes me half the time to cut the lawns. I even bought a petrol ine trimmer to go with it. Just need to convince SWMBO that the old electric hedge trimmer and chainsaw need replacement

[trimbo]

I have a yellow one, think its Swedish. My gardener says it's fantastic.

[Stamp]

Yes, I do know it should have pistons!
I have a odd shaped garden, which is not the flattest and using a roller mower would be a right royal pain in the ass

[Gaspode]

As other posters have already pointed out, the very idea of any garden implement powered by electricity should be anathema to any self-respecting PHer

I have a petrol Flymo (XL500) and a petrol Honda HR476c. I bought the Flymo because I thought it would be good for doing the bumpier parts of my lawns. I was wrong, on anything even remotely tussocky they are complete rubbish, so I bought the Honda and it's been great. The only reason I haven't got shot of the Flymo is that I have a vague idea of using it as the basis for an R/C hovercraft.

[cjs]

For a rational viewpoint, see my earlier post.

[V8mate]

I thought this thread was about a new Greek airline

[Chris Type R]

I have a Flymo. In fact it may be a 350.

It's rubbish.

[Pickled Piper]

They are actually fine for small lawns, are not bothered about having a Wimbledon standard cut and also if you are a girl.

pp

[t0ny99]

Would you like a free, used one, to practise with? At least, I think it's the same model, but I'm not braving the Arctic conditions to go and look in the shed...

[M3CHA-MONK3Y]

Flymo's are st, what you want is a Bosch Rotak 40. Hover mowers are crap, they use power to create hover so you lose power to the blade. Wheeled are better for consistancy and all the power goes to the blade. Imagine it as a supercharger, a supercharger uses engine power so is less efficent.
The Bosh rotak 40 has a 40 cm, metal blade, 1200w, guides on the edge to force grass in, like a front diffuser and 5 different cutting heights. This is only if you insist going electric, petrol is better and less gay.
I bought a new strimmer last year, I bloody hate strimming, so I bought a petrol one and it fking rocks!!!

Ps I used to work at homebase 2 year ago, thats all I can remember.

[FlossyThePig]

I have a petrol powered Flymo (very old), but it's not up to the job for our garden now. Upgraded to Honda last year.

[Busa_Rush]

2 stroke flymo hover mower is brilliant where you have lots of undulations or paths crossing the grass, absolutely brilliant. If you want the cricket pitch stripes then they are not the best tool. A flymo combined with a sit on tractor mower and a petrol strimmer is all a big garden needs.

[pincher]

Was going to give you an objective review of mine but I just tried it out in the garden and it blew up after about 6 seconds.

To summarise - don't use them in the snow.

[lanby]

M3CHA-MONK3Y said:

I bought a new strimmer last year, I bloody hate strimming, so I bought a petrol one....

It's unlikely you bought a strimmer, as "Strimmer" is a Black and Decker registered
trade mark and Black and Decker don't manufacture petrol Strimmers!
Bit like vacuum cleaners being called a HOOVER

Pedant mode

Edited by lanby on Monday 2nd February 14:09

[M3CHA-MONK3Y]

lanby said:

M3CHA-MONK3Y said:

I bought a new strimmer last year, I bloody hate strimming, so I bought a petrol one....

It's unlikely you bought a strimmer, as "Strimmer" is a Black and Decker registered
trade mark and Black and Decker don't manufacture petrol Strimmers!
Bit like vacuum cleaners being called a HOOVER

Pedant mode

Edited by lanby on Monday 2nd February 14:09

While possibly true, if you type 'strimmer' into google, it seems to be generally excepted that 'strimmer' refers to the name of garden equipment that is used to trim grass. Hoover is indeed a generic name used by folk to refer to their vacuum cleaner, but this is more well know because Hoover is the company name, not just the name of a product. I will, therefore, continue to refer to my strimmer as such.
Your right though, it's not a B&D, it's a Soverign and It has an engine, so it's cool in my book.

Edited by M3CHA-MONK3Y on Monday 2nd February 14:20