Advice for choosing a lawn mower

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Romn

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#247925 3-Mar-2019 09:29

Hi,

My cheap lawn mower bought from Bunnings just died and I need to buy a new one.
I have sawn two models at Mitre10 matching my budget:
- Lawnmaster 20" at $439
- Masport S18 at $499
They both have the same Briggs and Stratton 140cc engine, Lawnmaster is a bit wider (20" against 18"), has a higher handle (I am tall) and a fabric catcher but the main differences can be seen under the mower:

Lawnmaster:

Masport:

The lawnmaster has 4 blades and a restricted funnel leading to the catcher, the Masport has 2 blades and a fully open catcher.
The main concern I had with my previous lawnmower was that the grass was not going into the catcher, it always gets packed at the entrance of it and it didn't work.

What would be best for collecting grass?

Thank you.

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#2190152 3-Mar-2019 10:20

Why not get your old mower fixed?

If the solution really is to replace your mower then Bunnings/Mitre10 is the last place to look. Most locations would have a small-business retailer of garden equipment with an associated (small-engine) service workshop, operated by the owner who therefore has a vested interest in making sure you have the best product they sell for your needs, and the ability to keep it running.

Personally I use an electric (mains powered) mower which is still going strong after 20 years. With rechargeable-battery mowers now available, petrol powered mowers are a nich old-technology product.

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Romn

23 posts

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#2190156 3-Mar-2019 10:31

I actually brought my old mower to a local repairer in the same idea as you described.
He is the one who told me that my mower can't be repaired because it is an Australian importation but you can't find parts easily in NZ, and he is the one that told me that it will too much to repair it considering the price of the mower (I bought it for $299 4 years ago).
But the brand he is selling (husqvarna) is out of my budget, so he is the one who told me to go for a Masport/Morrison with a Briggs and Stratton engine because it will be repairable.

Romn

23 posts

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#2190158 3-Mar-2019 10:33

As for electric mower, I can't access all my lawn with a main lead (especially the kerbside) and the ones running on battery are too expensive for me.

richms

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#2190164 3-Mar-2019 10:44

When did you buy the one that died from bunnings? Under the CGA they have an obligation to ensure that spares are available etc, and since bunnings isnt staffed by bitter old men with a financial interest in the company like mitre10 are, they are usually quite good about honoring their obligations when challanged over that.

Have you discussed the lack of spares with them? Might get a bit of credit towards a new one.

Richard rich.ms

MadEngineer

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#2190246 3-Mar-2019 12:47

Stay away from the fabric catcher.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Romn

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#2190248 3-Mar-2019 12:50

Oh, why?

robjg63

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#2190253 3-Mar-2019 13:15

Fabric catchers are fine.
Go the lawnmaster if the engines on both models are the same.
You said the lawnmaster had a longer handle - more comfortable to use.
Lawnmaster had a wider cutting path - cuts more with each pass.
Lawnmaster also has a disk with 4 blades so cuts twice as many times as the masport. The idea of the disk is that if a blade hits a rock it folds back out of the way (which you would need to fix with a spanner to reposition it) but it is supposed to prevent a rock from jamming the blade and stopping the engine and sending a massive force up into the engine. Which seems like a good safety idea to me.
What are the bodies made out of and what are the wheels like?

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#2190262 3-Mar-2019 13:40

robjg63: Fabric catchers are fine.
Go the lawnmaster if the engines on both models are the same.
You said the lawnmaster had a longer handle - more comfortable to use.
Lawnmaster had a wider cutting path - cuts more with each pass.
Lawnmaster also has a disk with 4 blades so cuts twice as many times as the masport. The idea of the disk is that if a blade hits a rock it folds back out of the way (which you would need to fix with a spanner to reposition it) but it is supposed to prevent a rock from jamming the blade and stopping the engine and sending a massive force up into the engine. Which seems like a good safety idea to me.
What are the bodies made out of and what are the wheels like?

I have a Lawnmaster, and I'm pretty happy with it. It doesn't have all the polish of a Masport or Husqvarna, but it is solid, and works fine.
Mine has a 21" cutting path which makes a big difference on our 1/5 acre lawn.
We have various rocks peeking through patches of the lawn, and the swing-out blades function as they should, folding back when they hit.

The body is steel, and after a couple of years is getting a bit of surface rust, but frankly, it is not something I'm worried about.

MadEngineer

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#2190263 3-Mar-2019 13:47

Fabric catchers will rip from the sewed on clips or frame. They are typically threaded to the frame work which will break eventually.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Bung

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#2190278 3-Mar-2019 14:42

I've got 2 similar Masports. The one with a fabric catcher fills completely while the plastic catcher one needs to have the grass shifted to the back of the catcher. The airflow through the fabric bag is much better.

robjg63

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#2190280 3-Mar-2019 14:48

I had a lawnmaster with a fabric catcher and it was as tough as hell. Bought it in 1989 and gave it to my brother in law around 2002. Catcher was still in perfect nick. I know it still had the same catcher around 5 years ago when I last saw him using it.

No idea what the modern ones are like though. You should be able to tell if it looks like tough enough mesh.
The advantage with the mesh catcher is the airflow isn't reduced as much with the mesh catcher as compared to a hard plastic one. So from my experience the fabric catchers always filled better.

Lawnmaster did have good parts availability back in the day.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

farcus

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#2190284 3-Mar-2019 14:57

MadEngineer: Fabric catchers will rip from the sewed on clips or frame. They are typically threaded to the frame work which will break eventually.

I have a 30 year old masport still going ok that has a 25 year old fabric catcher on it. Still in reasonable condition and much lighter than those heavy plastic catchers.

sbiddle

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#2190287 3-Mar-2019 15:04

I got a new Lawnmaster Estate about 6 months ago and love it. End up opting for the bigger engine as I do occasionally use it for mulching some bigger garden waste.

The pastic catcher on it has big vents for airflow so there are no issues with clogging or stuff sitting at the front of the catcher.

DuncanMcC

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#2190319 3-Mar-2019 15:51

The second pic looks to have a mulching blade on it. That's a cool thing to have, IMO. Throw your garden waste on the lawn and just mulch it. Works great.

Metal body is probably a good thing too.

Don't like the fabric catcher much either.

Cheers, Duncan.

Dratsab

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#2190329 3-Mar-2019 16:17

Are you in Wellington by any chance? I have a 4-stroke mower I brought from Bunnings years ago which I don't use anymore so it's sat in a shed for a couple of years. It could be taken away and cannabalised for parts in exchange for some beers :-) The tension spring on the side has snapped and there's a little rust on parts of the steel body. I can't remember the remember the brand off the top of my head but can have a look tomorrow.

The mower I use now is a Victa 2-stroke with an aluminium body that runs like an absolute champ, so I can't see myself using the other ever again.

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