2016 - Which lawn mower to buy?

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boland

545 posts

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#204854 20-Oct-2016 13:15

After reading this topic I thought to buy a Lawn Mower. We've got a couple of Fly Buys (go BNZ mortgage with fly buys!), and I can get a Masport 300 ST or 400 AL.

But then I googled for reviews for the 400 AL, and they are not so good? See here: http://www.productreview.com.au/p/masport-2-stroke-iron-force.html

Not many people happy there in general with Masport...?

If it's good, I'm thinking about buying the 300 ST. Or should I go for the alloy one, it's an additional $120... Is that really worth it? See the details on FlyBuys site:

https://www.flybuys.co.nz/rewards/masport-300st-combo-lawnmower?outlet_id=0

https://www.flybuys.co.nz/rewards/masport-400al-combo-lawnmower?outlet_id=0

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13684 posts

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#1655085 20-Oct-2016 13:28

From Consumer

Body: A rotary mower’s body is made from steel, aluminium alloy or (less commonly) plastic. An alloy body is more expensive. It’s corrosion resistant and likely to last longer in damp conditions – although it won’t last as well in sandy coastal areas because sand wears away the aluminium. Steel is cheaper but will rust unless cleaned and dried after use. However, if hit by a large rock it’ll only dent – whereas an alloy body can crack. Plastic is lightweight and doesn't corrode … but it may not last as well if regularly pounded by stones and other debris. A plastic body is more suitable for well-tended lawns where there’s only a slight chance of it being hit by rocks or stones.

cynnicallemon

370 posts

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#1655091 20-Oct-2016 13:48

Having lived rural in the past I would recommend one of these (below). They get right into the corners, eat weeds and fertilize the soil. Once they start to wear out you can introduce them to the curry pot.

Warning, do not try to introduce your electric or petrol mower to the curry pot, they're a bit tough and don't taste very good.

Stu

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#1655094 20-Oct-2016 13:59

Masport aren't made locally now, but are still okay.

As everyone suggests, stick with the alloy body if you can as it will last a lot longer than a steel body. If you take an hour to mow your lawn each time, watch out for the cheaper models as their engines might not like it. We recently picked up a Masport President 5000 AL S19 Combo IC. Our lawn can take from about 30-40 minutes to over an hour to cut, depending on length and also whether we bother with the bit down the back of the section or not. Works a treat and should keep working for many years, as most will if serviced appropriately.

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1eStar

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#1655116 20-Oct-2016 14:38

My folks just bought a new masport President (alloy with Briggs stratton got a smart chute installed) and liked it so much that they bought a second one for the bach. Be warned there's a variation concerning whether they have proper wheel bearings, some models have inferior bushings. Their last masport of similar spec had done 20 odd years and still running, just getting tired in the mufflers and wheels depts.

frankv

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#1655120 20-Oct-2016 14:41

I recently bought an electric (24v SLA battery-powered) mower. A bit more expensive, and a lightweight plastic body. The first time I started it up I managed to pick up a stone which cracked the skirt. But the beauty of plastic is that you *can* epoxy it back together. It's been fine ever since.

As the sales guy warned me, the batteries wouldn't fully charge until it had been used a couple of times. Now I do the whole lawn on one charge... admittedly a small lawn (1/8 acre with lots of gardens).

The biggest advantage to me of electric is that it starts at the push of a button, first time, every time. I'd got sick and tired of hauling on the rope of an petrol-powered one. It's also lightweight and easy to push round, and doesn't sink into a damp lawn. And fairly quiet.

One downside... the "throat" that the clippings come out of, into the catcher, is a bit narrow and tends to clog.

Stu

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#1655124 20-Oct-2016 14:44

Was tempted to get an electric start petrol mower, but figured the wife shouldn't have much trouble starting a new petrol mower anyway, so that saved a few dollars.

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MikeB4

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#1655132 20-Oct-2016 14:59

Mr Green, best lawn mower

Equinox IT

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raytaylor

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#1655320 20-Oct-2016 19:56

boland:

2016 - Which lawn mower to buy?

Obviously it should have a lithium battery and be remote controlled by an app, and be missing any form of onboard control such as a starting pull cord, self drive switch, and speed control - app only!

Ray Taylor

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vexxxboy

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#1655323 20-Oct-2016 20:07

i swear buy mulchers and the dedicated kind not the combo and self propelled also helps. It cuts my mowing time by 20 minutes and my lawn is always green even in the middle of summer, i have this one, they are not cheap but i love it.

http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/products/lawn-mowers/lb-548s-e/967256901/

Common sense is not as common as you think.

MikeB4

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#1655346 20-Oct-2016 20:59

vexxxboy:

i swear buy mulchers and the dedicated kind not the combo and self propelled also helps. It cuts my mowing time by 20 minutes and my lawn is always green even in the middle of summer, i have this one, they are not cheap but i love it.

http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/products/lawn-mowers/lb-548s-e/967256901/

mulching mowers can cause over thatched lawns. You should use a tool designed to lift the thatch and allow cutting of the thatch.

tdgeek

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#1655352 20-Oct-2016 21:28

MikeB4:

vexxxboy:

i swear buy mulchers and the dedicated kind not the combo and self propelled also helps. It cuts my mowing time by 20 minutes and my lawn is always green even in the middle of summer, i have this one, they are not cheap but i love it.

http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/products/lawn-mowers/lb-548s-e/967256901/

mulching mowers can cause over thatched lawns. You should use a tool designed to lift the thatch and allow cutting of the thatch.

Thatch, tell me about it. Thats my current project. From the many articles I've read, it isn't grass clippings. Common reason are poor watering practices, frequent and light watering, that draws roots up and kills the grass, and it decomposes too slow. High use of fungicides and insecticides that killed microbes that help decomposing, and kill worms.

The property we bought had long, but not untidy grass, methinks to get more green than brown for viewers. But its thatchy, and in many areas the grass is thin,blades 1/4 inch apart. Some grass has moved to the garden edge and its rocking. Got a thatching rake, and into it.

Never seen this issue before though, I couldn't understand why it was brown underneath, and thin, and watering never seemed to help. Been here since Feb

neb

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#1655927 21-Oct-2016 18:37

I've always had good luck with the lawn dude, costs $35/month to operate and does both the flat areas with lawn as well as the random sloping strips where you need a line trimmer. And he gets rid of the clippings afterwards.

PeterQ

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#1656082 22-Oct-2016 08:52

Zippidy-do-dah

tdgeek

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#1656089 22-Oct-2016 09:09

vexxxboy:

i swear buy mulchers and the dedicated kind not the combo and self propelled also helps. It cuts my mowing time by 20 minutes and my lawn is always green even in the middle of summer, i have this one, they are not cheap but i love it.

http://www.husqvarna.com/nz/products/lawn-mowers/lb-548s-e/967256901/

Very nice. I mulch by mowing anti clockwise so I overmow the clippings, poor mans mulcher. My mower is a Mitre 10 basic one, starts with M I think. Its fine, but it doesnt fill the catcher unless its short and bone dry, if I mow catcher free I have twine to hold the cover up two inches otherwise it blocks or goos clumpy. PITB

doctormaxim

102 posts

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#1656090 22-Oct-2016 09:09

I bought a Flymo H40 push mower yesterday for my smallish lawn and already think it might be the best lawnmower I've used. Really easy to push around, cuts the grass really well and takes up far less room.

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