Lawnmower recommendation please

EssexExile

stuhse said:

Petrol rotary is the way forward, Honda, Hayter, Mountfield all good to the best of my knowledge/experince.  Most important feature for me is a roller at the back, not for stripes, but it enables you to overhang the edge of the lawn at the borders meaning you get right to the edge.  With 4 wheels if you get too close to the edge the wheels drop into the border and you scalp your lawn and blunt your blade at the same time.  Roller at the back prevents this and enables you to cut right to the edge and slightly over.

I thought I was the only one who worried about this, there are so few mowers with rollers and in my view they are essential.

Chickereeeee

After moving house I now have a medium sized lawn at the back  ( and two small ones at the front) and use a Bosch Rotak cordless. I can do all three twice (and a half!) on one charge. I would never go back a petrol one! It is so much less bother, and much lighter. PLUS despite appearances, it has a roller at the back!

stuhse

I remember back in the 70s my grandad had a  traditional quite large cylinder mower powered by a car battery.  It sat on charge in his garage and was super quiet in use...No one seems to do such a thing these days, but the potential with the better battery technology (the deep cycling leisure batteries as used on caravans) around must be fantastic.  Much quieter around the housing estate on a Sunday morning if they were still a thing. There are of course robot mowers which are a great idea..but crazy prices and easily nicked.  ohhh i found one !  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355467488326?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=Cj0KCQiA84CvBhCaARIsAMkAvkLsEBzyQFXl-PVCj41SgW33uuZyRfUfWZarhxBq2YovgniJMoF7WwEaAkesEALw_wcB

It gets better !!!!   https://oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/mowers/profiles/mp036-atco-battery-mower-1950s60s

Rhino666

Hi Guys

My apologies, I thought I had brought closure to the thread and other issues have taken over my life.
Dropped in here for something else for the first time in nearly 2 months and saw the additional posts, thank you.
Having stripped the Briggs, ground in the valves and checked/tested and cleaned everything else, I still could not find the issue. Last thing to try was brand new fuel, having completely cleared the existing. Did not seem likely as issues started at the end of last season but yes new E5 fuel appears to have resolved the issue and now two lawn cuts in.   
I really appreciate all the comments and if a new mower was required would probably aim for a Mountfield with a Honda Engine and 18/19 inch blade rather than existing 15 inch.
Happy Mowing to everyone, when the weather finally dries up.  

Ganga

Rhino666 said:

Hi Guys

My apologies, I thought I had brought closure to the thread and other issues have taken over my life.
Dropped in here for something else for the first time in nearly 2 months and saw the additional posts, thank you.
Having stripped the Briggs, ground in the valves and checked/tested and cleaned everything else, I still could not find the issue. Last thing to try was brand new fuel, having completely cleared the existing. Did not seem likely as issues started at the end of last season but yes new E5 fuel appears to have resolved the issue and now two lawn cuts in.   
I really appreciate all the comments and if a new mower was required would probably aim for a Mountfield with a Honda Engine and 18/19 inch blade rather than existing 15 inch.
Happy Mowing to everyone, when the weather finally dries up.  

Got my grass cut today ,first dry day in ages ,live in the N E of England ,grass looks great but my back and legs are not happy ,the joys of old age 

fluffy_kittens47

With mowing season 2026 almost upon us, I thought i'd chip in with my recent lawnmower experiece.

Previously had a 'McCulloch' badged Husqvarna 46 inch self propelled with a Brigg & Stratton engine. Bought it as ex display for £50 20 years ago, it's only had oil twice, once when I bought it, and once after it had been stood on end for a winter and the oil had leaked out! I re-gapped the park plug about 10 years ago.

Never been properly 'serviced', still starts on the first or second pull. Unfortunatley the steel deck has rusted right through. Now, 15 years ago, I had the idea of screwing a magensium block to it to prevent rust, but never actually got round to it!

Regarding Mountfield, they have not been a 'british' company for quite a while now, owned by 'Stiga' a large european manufacturer.

Honda have supposedly stopped manufacturing lawnmowers, and whats in stock is all you'll get. By the way, a Honder dealer told me to qualify for the 5 year warranty, you need to have it serviced every year, at the cost of £104!

I bought another Husky, with a 'composite' deck, time will tell regarding durability! I won't be getting it 'serviced'.

bjorn_toby_wilde

I went for an Atco with an alloy deck and Honda engine last time after the steel deck on my old Mountfield rusted through.

It’s about 8 years old now and no issues. It starts on the first pull every time and I’ve serviced it once myself (gapped plug, changed oil and air cleaner element). Can’t fault it really.

I do use Briggs and Stratton fuel conditioner to prevent a gummed up carb or fuel deterioration over winter but that’s all the attention it gets. For a landscaper using one every day then an annual service is essential I’d have thought but for the average householder it’s not doing enough hours to warrant servicing as often.