Petrol Lawnmowers - new vs old

[carbs for arbs]

Hi folks

 

I need to get a lawnmower.  I've got two "lawns" and a whole load of paths to cut.  None of it is particularly flat, and it's not really a lawn as such - more just an area of grass!  So no need for it to look like Wembley, no need for stripes, etc  Up until not I've been doing it with a strimmer.  And I might continue to use the strimmer on the paths.  But for the two "lawn" areas it takes ages with a strimmer.  

 

What are people's thoughts on old vs new?  There are a few old Honda Izys about, and some old Mountfields and Kawasakis and similar.  All around the £150-£200 mark.  Not knowing much about such things, I'm not sure if I am better off with one of those or getting a brand new budget machine in the same price bracket.  

 

Any thoughts from those more in the know?

 

Cheers

[Woodworks]

We bought an old Izy off Facebook for £100. Works perfectly and our other mower is an old Stiga which was well used when we got it and thats still going strong 10 years later

[rapalaman]

Plastic parts on mountfield break and spares often not available. Most mowers in that budget have already had a hard life though if careful you can find some hidden gems. No experience of new budget mowers, but I picked up a lovely Toro (can’t remember the number) at the end of season sale at b&q for a shade over 400. Around 580.00 everywhere else. Cracking machine so far after 4 months regular use on 9 lawns I do.

other than that I run a couple of older hayters and a danarm which is a really good strong Honda engined machine

[scbk]

Get the widest mower that will fit. Have a look at ex council type walk behind machines, you get them in sizes like 28/30/32/36/48" (and beyond...) Ideal for rough ground, paths, infrequent cutting etc.

 

I like cutting grass, but if you can do it in less time, why not.

[Stere]

I have a mountfield with the honda engine its ok SP53H bought new had for about 5yrs. They still sell the model

 

Mountfield SP53H 51cm Self Propelled Petrol Lawnmower | Charlies

WWW.CHARLIES.CO.UK

 

 

Deck is starting to rust and various plastic bits have fallen off now but all spares are availabl (but as is  350 new spending to much on spares doesn't make sense e.g 110 quid on a new deck bettter just get another mower etc). I prefer honda V briggs enginers as they seem to keep running better and use less fuel....

 

 

 

Before this I had an husky with a brigs and before that an izy that lasted decades (alu deck outlast the steel ones)

 

Second hand looking from on ebay etc 90% seem over priced and also abit of a gamble as any replacement parts if  sill available are so expensive  V costs new?

 

Ideal for you might be a rough cut  with side disharge but they are more expensive....

 

Scag side discharge mower 48 inch cut 15hp Kawasaki tidy good tyres

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

---

First used it is believed 2017 It has a 15hp Kawasaki recoil start 2 cylinder petrol engine hydrostatic dual drive, Sold as...

 

Modern honda izy it appears they have  downgraded both the quality and engine size but not the prices?

 

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2022 by Stere

[doobin]

I’d recommend the mountfield above, I have three around five years old and they’ve lasted better than any other cheapish mower, and better than an Etesia (utter overpriced shit) and Viking 

 

 

[carbs for arbs]

Just returning to say thanks for all the replies. I'm still mulling it over and using the strimmer in the meantime. Perhaps if any good secondhand options crop up I'll come back to see what you guys think.  

 

Cheers

[Steven P]

Might not be the answer but I got a petrol B&Q job for £100 about 10 years ago, now about £150 and that does me OK for grass. I also cut paths in the wood behind the house which gives it a decent work out - a lot of sticks, nettles, brambles, nettles, and so on. This is standard domestic size, but how large are your lawns? Are you needing something bigger than that?

 

I can't fault this mower, It had an oil change once, gets a blade sharpening once a year (the woods... needs a proper good sharpening after them), usually 2 stroke petrol (got 1 petrol can, the little 2 stoke engines and the 4 stroke mower all get the same regardless), turned over once a month over the winter and it is still going OK.

 

Problems with it are all body work, a couple of holes underneath (wonder where it did that), and it lost a screw for the handle - all fixed OK

 

 

I'd certainly look second hand as well, and the local police auctions might throw up a bargain if you have the time to look.. and even worse Freecycle - you never know! Factor in some cash for any repairs, clean filters and spark plugs that way