Lawn Mower Recommendation

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#1474981 19-Jan-2016 22:50

It's just that IF someone told me he could tell if a motor was doing 9-10 and not 11.2 ...

IMHO all 4 strokes are pretty close in cutting performance motor-wise.

The higher end ones might struggle less on a long job vs a short job, say. And hence actual cutting performance then is probably more to do with blade design and extra features like mulching.

Sorry not really answering your Q - is the $500 Ryobi as good as the $1000 masport ... anyone?

Batman

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#1474982 19-Jan-2016 22:52

oh and Re weight ... if your ground is soft wand damp .... it will dig and bog like a corolla on the beach

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#1475138 20-Jan-2016 09:51

Martynnz: I would recomend anything with an OHV Honda engine. Talking to our local mower shop guy recently and he recomended them over anything else for any purpose (I was looking for a water blaster). ....

I have a Victor Mulching Mower with a Honda Engine. Damn near bullet proof, Ive now had it 15+ years

It cost me $700 , so wasnt cheap, but over 20++ years it should last thats nothing. Ive sometimes gone months between lawn mows, the ~grass~ would be

shin height in places. The victor would mow it, but took alot of effort & alot of time.

Definitely get alu body, I previously went through many steel bodied mowers (rust)

But, I dont think the Original Post is realistic. He seemed to want commercial ride on power at consumer push mower price.

red_xsi

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#1475876 21-Jan-2016 08:44

networkn:

joker97:

They should know all the details and how to work all their products. But I wouldn't take any critical reviews from them ... he also probably has bought the Ryobi for his home hasn't he?

This wasn't his product, he works for Ozito.

It is all the same company

Reports are that the engines are fairly solid - although spares are hard to come by. Chassis, wheels, catcher will only last a few seasons.

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#1475948 21-Jan-2016 10:07

First off I have a mower problem, I currently have two, two multi tools, a blower vac, a chainsaw etc etc

I had a small lawn mowing round for a few years, and the best mower for catching wet grass was and is the Testarossa, a light weight plastic mower that can be bought chassis only or with choice or engine, a Honda or Honda Copy Lonchin OHV preferred (Easy to start and low fuel use). They get broken with stones and fade from UV. Have an alloy blade adaptor that breaks if solid objects struck, to save the engine and shaft from damage.

Other than that is grass is too long and or wet, you need to cut without catcher, or cut twice staring higher, and then lower. Forget mulching long or wet grass.

Mower needs to be kept clean and serviced, and regularly check and sharpen blades. Any vibration is not good, and indicates out of balance blades or bent engine shaft.

I currently have an older Tandem 19" Honda powered mower with mesh catcher, which cuts nice. I replaced the throttle as it fell apart, and modified the handle as it was too low for me. About a year ago I bought an old Victa Mulcher and tidied it up, replaced throttle, upper handle, bolts, fitted a big Lonchin 196cc engine. I currently use this most of the time. It is about torque not power.

If I had a smaller lawn I may have a cheaper domestic type mower, Consumer reports suggest the Ryobi petrol mower is ok. If is lasts 5 years with some maintenance then that's fine.

For my use I like more solid alloy chassis mowers with a good engine, and taken care they will last longer. The cost per year is similar, but I believe the mowing experience is better. However, I now have younger children and may have to downsize to a smaller lighter mower if I want them to mow the lawns. I hope to find a suitable electric mower eventually.

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#2086611 9-Sep-2018 20:30

Bump.

Does anybody have any recommendations other than those in this thread already?

My old 15+ yr old mower is on it's last legs and I see no point spending more money on something so old when I could just put it towards something new.

Section isn't that big (6-7 catcher loads typically with maybe 10 or so when it's long).

I'm not really seeing much of a difference between the cheaper and more expensive models except for the 50cc moar power on the Subaru one!

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Batman

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#2086618 9-Sep-2018 20:58

my cobra $299 is now on its 7th year and going fine. no rust even though it's steel body!

sonyxperiageek

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#2086632 9-Sep-2018 22:13

sbiddle:
Bump.

Does anybody have any recommendations other than those in this thread already?

My old 15+ yr old mower is on it's last legs and I see no point spending more money on something so old when I could just put it towards something new.

Section isn't that big (6-7 catcher loads typically with maybe 10 or so when it's long).

I'm not really seeing much of a difference between the cheaper and more expensive models except for the 50cc moar power on the Subaru one!

Would you go for something like the electric EGO lawn mower?

Sony

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#2086683 10-Sep-2018 08:54

Folks, don't forget to keep your mower blade sharp. Gave mine a good go over the grinder and it's like a brand new mower. The blade edges were beyond dull and had lots of stone dings. Mowing was hard going. Now it's a *lot* quicker and easier.

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#2086685 10-Sep-2018 09:01

How to sharpen? Thanks!

sbiddle

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#2086687 10-Sep-2018 09:08

sonyxperiageek:

Would you go for something like the electric EGO lawn mower?

To be honest I hadn't really considered a battery mower but looking at them now has made me consider one.

There are a number of options in the $350 - $500 range for battery mowers. While I didn't have a budget for a petrol mower looking at them yesterday I expected to end up paying something similar.

Our lawn isn't huge but catcher sizes are obviously slightly smaller for the same price point.

I'm guessing like everything else I be looking at a mower as a disposable item rather than something that will last for 15 - 20 years again!

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kryptonjohn

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#2086692 10-Sep-2018 09:28

Batman: How to sharpen? Thanks!

Plenty of videos on youtube - take the cable off the spark plug first so you don't accidentally start the mower. Unbolt the blade and run it over a bench grinder holding at the right angle to maintain the blade angle. Or put it in a vice and go at it with a grinding blade in an angle grinder. Or slowest but most precise of all, use a flat bastard file. Remember to preserve the angle. Don't worry about getting it razor sharp, just get rid if the dings and flat edge spots.

Or take the blade into the local mower shop - they'll do a way better job for only a few bucks.

All the cutting is done out at the tips of the blade, so you only have to sharpen a small area.

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#2086693 10-Sep-2018 09:31

sbiddle:

sonyxperiageek:

Would you go for something like the electric EGO lawn mower?

To be honest I hadn't really considered a battery mower but looking at them now has made me consider one.

There are a number of options in the $350 - $500 range for battery mowers. While I didn't have a budget for a petrol mower looking at them yesterday I expected to end up paying something similar.

Our lawn isn't huge but catcher sizes are obviously slightly smaller for the same price point.

I'm guessing like everything else I be looking at a mower as a disposable item rather than something that will last for 15 - 20 years again!

The old Masport 2 stroke cast aluminium deck mowers lasted the life of the owners!

Now days it's all pressed steel decks with plastic wheels and 4 stroke motors. At least the motors are quiet and economical but the decks and wheels will fall apart in no time, especially if you don't hose out all the grass after use.

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#2086731 10-Sep-2018 10:41

sbiddle:

sonyxperiageek:

Would you go for something like the electric EGO lawn mower?

To be honest I hadn't really considered a battery mower but looking at them now has made me consider one.

There are a number of options in the $350 - $500 range for battery mowers. While I didn't have a budget for a petrol mower looking at them yesterday I expected to end up paying something similar.

Our lawn isn't huge but catcher sizes are obviously slightly smaller for the same price point.

I'm guessing like everything else I be looking at a mower as a disposable item rather than something that will last for 15 - 20 years again!

@sbiddle:- Separate thread on battery powered ones: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=224169

I wasn't sold on the idea personally and ended up with a mains powered one, which is fine. Having now seen and used some (better) battery powered ones using brushless motors, I regret that decision. They've got power in spades, impressive run time and *so* convenient. Next one will definitely be battery.

Initial costs are higher (battery cost), but if you end up with multiple tools using the same battery configuration (line trimmer and/or chainsaw especially) they become price competitive.

Most now come with two batteries so you can alternate them on a charger. I get a bit nervous about charging anything while it's warm from a sustained run, so tend to let things cool down first. Depends on the size, length and dampness of your lawn whether two would be sufficient or you might need more.

Ego at Mitre 10 and AEG and Ryobi at Bunnings are exclusives. Quite a few other options available at both, including 2x18V, 36V, and 54V options. If you haven't already backed a battery system, I'd aim for the 54V ones to start with.

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#2086769 10-Sep-2018 11:22

sbiddle:

sonyxperiageek:

Would you go for something like the electric EGO lawn mower?

To be honest I hadn't really considered a battery mower but looking at them now has made me consider one.

There are a number of options in the $350 - $500 range for battery mowers. While I didn't have a budget for a petrol mower looking at them yesterday I expected to end up paying something similar.

Our lawn isn't huge but catcher sizes are obviously slightly smaller for the same price point.

I'm guessing like everything else I be looking at a mower as a disposable item rather than something that will last for 15 - 20 years again!

why don't just mulch the grass?

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