Looking at Push Mower with power to battle 3/4 acre of kikuyu.

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Looking at Push Mower with power to battle 3/4 acre of kikuyu.

Darwall

67 posts

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#245490 6-Feb-2019 18:35

A bit of background,

I have a ride on mower, and don't want to buy another. As it is on its way out, and maintenance has been to expensive. I want to push mow my lawn, have been doing so with a 160 cc smokey 2 stroke Victa 2 blade (sharpened).

Where the Victa struggles is the kikuyu grass.

I know this grass is a problem, but can a push mower be powerful enough to push through it with out having to lift it every time.?

Max spend is around $1000. Not to fussed on push assisted, exercise is one of best gains from this for me.

Thanks community.

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tdgeek

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#2174113 6-Feb-2019 18:57

I bought a Masport President AL6000. Wide cut (53cm I think) Its 190cc, so given the power and the wider cut well with a look. $1100 although I got mine at $1000 there was a coincidental Fathers Day special. Stihl Shop has them

mentalinc

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#2174127 6-Feb-2019 19:43

There is probably a very thick mat of grass that needs to be cut down using level 3 or 4 on the mower (start high and move down slowly) then keep on top of it...

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Darwall

67 posts

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#2174252 7-Feb-2019 08:06

Yes I do need to scalp the heck out of the kikuyu.

xpd

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#2174279 7-Feb-2019 09:42

Yeah, we have a lot of that around our place and its a nightmare..... just gotta keep cutting it low but then it makes the yard look crap.

Go talk to a proper mower supplier and see what they recommend.

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Gurezaemon

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#2174282 7-Feb-2019 09:53

I had this exact situation a couple of years ago - a mower that although powerful, choked on the thick kikuyu. I ended up borrowing a friend's ride on and utterly brutalized the kikuyu back to almost dirt, and that made all the difference.

My mower died of old age, and I replaced it with a Lawnmaster that although basic, just keeps on going. I now mow the lawn at the lowest setting and it keeps the kikuyu under control. The secret seems to be in not letting it turn into a thick carpet in the first place.

myopinion

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2174283 7-Feb-2019 09:55

I bought and can recommend a Honda HRU series lawnmower about 10 years ago and its been mowing crappy Kikuyu no problem ever since. The price was around $1400 but I got it discounted down to $1100.

empacher48

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2174284 7-Feb-2019 09:58

I've got it starting to spread across the lawn at home to the point where I'm going to bite the bullet and spray the lawn with round up and start the whole thing again.

I use a cheap lawn master mower I got from Mitre 10 (when I say cheap, it was $400) with a B&S 150cc on it. It copes with it well when the blades are sharp. Just keep the maintenance up on the blades and replace them every couple of years. My local Mitre 10 sell aftermarket blades for $25 a pack.

1101

3044 posts

Uber Geek

#2174289 7-Feb-2019 10:09

Darwall:
Where the Victa struggles is the kikuyu grass.
I know this grass is a problem, but can a push mower be powerful enough to push through it with out having to lift it every time.?

kikuyu grass isnt a problem until it gets too long
My whole ~lawn~ is kikuyu and other weeds . No issues mowing if done regually

If it gets long , you will have issues with small engines on the push mowers regardless . I dont think you'll find a 20hp push mower .
Perhaps consider supercharging and nitrous injection :-)

weedeater with a grass cutting blade if its really long.
My Honda powered mower struggles when I havnt moved for a month or so, I just take my time and accept it wont just power through it effortlesly

nickb800

2635 posts

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#2174301 7-Feb-2019 10:51

What about hiring a dethatcher once every summer? I'd imagine it would cut through the Kikuyu mat in the process, and might get it to the point where your old smokey will manage it. Possibly a good idea even with a new mower

surfisup1000

5087 posts

Uber Geek

#2174374 7-Feb-2019 12:06

empacher48:

I've got it starting to spread across the lawn at home to the point where I'm going to bite the bullet and spray the lawn with round up and start the whole thing again.

Losing battle unless you have lots of time to attend your lawn.

tdgeek

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#2174377 7-Feb-2019 12:11

surfisup1000:

empacher48:

I've got it starting to spread across the lawn at home to the point where I'm going to bite the bullet and spray the lawn with round up and start the whole thing again.

Losing battle unless you have lots of time to attend your lawn.

Yes, it's one of those things you can spend time and money and do it right, or potter away on it on and off, forever

Is Kikuyu similar to Poa Annua?

Darwall

67 posts

Master Geek

#2174473 7-Feb-2019 14:47

1101:

Darwall:
Where the Victa struggles is the kikuyu grass.
I know this grass is a problem, but can a push mower be powerful enough to push through it with out having to lift it every time.?

kikuyu grass isnt a problem until it gets too long
My whole ~lawn~ is kikuyu and other weeds . No issues mowing if done regually

If it gets long , you will have issues with small engines on the push mowers regardless . I dont think you'll find a 20hp push mower .
Perhaps consider supercharging and nitrous injection :-)

weedeater with a grass cutting blade if its really long.
My Honda powered mower struggles when I havnt moved for a month or so, I just take my time and accept it wont just power through it effortlesly

I have used round up on the lawn before, it does help and gives you a break. We have septic tank drip lines on some of the section which feeds the kikuyu all year round. :-)

Coil

6614 posts

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#2174479 7-Feb-2019 15:04

Kikuyu is like coachroaches in a nuclear winter for grass, just use your existing mower and do a few passes and scalp it right back past the top green layer to the bottom mat. Then just mow frequently at one height and it will develop a nice springy top that is green all year round.

ratsun81

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2174503 7-Feb-2019 17:04

Darwall: A bit of background,

I have a ride on mower, and don't want to buy another. As it is on its way out, and maintenance has been to expensive. I want to push mow my lawn, have been doing so with a 160 cc smokey 2 stroke Victa 2 blade (sharpened).

Where the Victa struggles is the kikuyu grass.

I know this grass is a problem, but can a push mower be powerful enough to push through it with out having to lift it every time.?

Max spend is around $1000. Not to fussed on push assisted, exercise is one of best gains from this for me.

Thanks community.

About 2 years ago i bought a Masport 800AL S21 with the Briggs 875 engine for around $1000. Its probably close to what you need but i might suggest shopping around.

Ive got a lawn mostly full of Kikuyu as well (960sqm)

It handles the grass just fine (mulch or catch) as long as you keep at it in regular intervals.

Downsides ive seen with this mower are its longevity.

several issues ive had so far are:

Such as the rear cover rattles lots due to the guides that keep it in place coming loose due to the design on the rear cover slamming into the body when taking the catcher off to empty.

Fabric catcher rips easily.

Front axle seems weak as well. ive now got to take mine into the repair shop as its now got "mad camber" making it almost unusable until the front axle is sorted.

driller2000

903 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2174541 7-Feb-2019 19:44

Yeah a grunty mower makes all the difference.

http://www.masport.co.nz/outdoor-garden-products/lawnmowers/silver-series/msv-al-s19-3-n1

I have one of these and a 1/4 acre section which is kikuyu and even if its knee height it will deal to it. But it is much better to NOT let it get that long by mowing frequently.

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