help finding good self propelled petrol mower

madrhino

Hello

I posted this in another section but it got no replies so thought I would ask here.

I am asking this on behalf of my mums neighbour.

He wants to buy a self propelled petrol mower. He wants a reasonably priced, reliable one.

If anyone can recommend a good one, and where to buy it, that would be much appreciated. He is Nottingham based.

Thanks

jimbo_the_jetset

Freecycle. I advertised a WANTED post for a push mower and got a lovely old Qualcast. Solid metal (unlikely plastics you get these days) so will last ages and it's got a hefty drum to keep the lawn nice and flat. Worth a try on your local board!

Ebe_Scrooge

Plenty of choice, really. It depends on the size of your lawn and the quality of cut you want. The larger the lawn, the bigger the cutting width you'll need. When you say you want a self-propelled model, are you meaning a ride-on tractor style, or an ordinary push-along ? The ride-on ones are pretty expensive, and you need a big lawn to justify the cost. Much more reasonable are push-along ones - some are self-propelled in as much as the wheels are powered, and that does make a big difference in terms of ease of use.

There are basically 2 cutting methods - rotary or cylinder. A cylinder mover will give a much better finish to the lawn, but a rotary can tackle rough uneven lawns easily, and gives a perfectly satisfactory cut for your average family lawn that's used as a kids' playground :-)

Electric mowers are cheaper, lighter and quieter, but a petrol mower is a lot more powerful and you don't have the hassle of a cable trailing around. Also, a petrol engine is pretty simple to service and repair, and should last for ages if you give it a basic amount of TLC - I've had mine for 15 years now, and it's still as reliable as the day I brought it. If you've got a reasonably large lawn, I would generally say that a petrol powered mower is a good long-term investment.

Where to buy ? Plenty of options, the 2 easiest being local garden centres or any of the big DIY shops - B&Q, Focus, etc. etc. These usually also have a good range of spares available - replacement blades etc., which is another thing to consider. I'm sure you'll be able to get some good deals online as well, though the P&P costs are likely to be fairly hefty.

Hope this helps - overall there's loads of choice, it's a case of buying the model that suits your particular needs best.

madrhino

Thanks for your help. Any particular makes and madels that you can recommend.

Chippy_Minton_2

madrhino wrote: »

Any particular makes and madels that you can recommend.

Hayter are about the best.

Ebe_Scrooge

Qualcast are a very old and established company, as are Hayter as Chippy suggested. But most manufacturers will produce a range of models, from budget to bowling green standard - you do tend to get what you pay for. But as I said before, you need to buy to suit your situation. Personally my lawn is a play area for the kids, so it's quite rough 'n' ready. I've got a Champion petrol powered rotary, with a Briggs & Stratton engine, and I can't fault it. Briggs & Stratton and Honda are usually the two most well-respected small engine manufacturers, along with McCulloch. If you're looking at a petrol powered model, then the engine is really the most expensive part of the whole thing - that said, look after it and it'll last you pretty much forever. My mower was about £150 as far as I can remember, and it's 15 years old and still going great guns. If you are after a bowling-green standard, then you'll need to shell out considerably more for a really good quality cylinder mower - and be prepared for the not insubstantial work involved in lawn care :-)

Inactive

Honda Ezi .... get's my vote, always starts first time, not the cheapest, but in my opinion, amongst the best.