Kawasaki FJ180V

[pleasant]

Polymer deck are the same now, than they were 25 years ago. Aside from the design, Honda for example use the same materials for their current range than they did when introduced. Polymer does age, and will crack more easily the older it gets due to the oils in the material effectively evaporating in UV light. We regularly have machines in with polymer deck issues, but in a domestic environment customers are happy to continue to use them despite our warnings and the inherent danger of a stone flying out from the underside of a deck with a chunk of the skirt missing. Admittedly, Honda polymer deck are very good- in a domestic environment. If they would perform as well in a commerical use environment, then Honda of all people would employ it as an alternative to alloy, but they don't.

 

The Kawasaki commercial engines are very good, but personally I would certainly go with a Toro pro machine with a Honda lump- simply because it's easier to find an agent and spare parts for a Honda than Kawasaki.

 

Some Chinese stuff is very good- all European manufacturers have factories in China producing high end stuff to a high European standard- Stihl, Honda, Husqvarna etc, but in reality the only Chinese element of their machines is the par of hands putting it together and the geographical location- someone like Honda will supply materials, training, design, quality standards, whereby the Chinese stuff to avoid is made by a Chinese company, to a Chinese standard with Chinese materials- these are the shed stuff and other makes like Cobra/Gardencare etc. These are generally made down to a price to compete with the leading brands, and may well be ok in a domestic environment if price is your first concern, but not in a pro environment where it's your livelihood on the line.

 

The only manufacturer that I know of that has a range of genuine pro use mowers with polymer decks would be Etesia, which are very good- particularly collecting damp/wet grass, but are not the price of a Gardencare product.

 

Hope this helps you.

Edited September 24, 2022 by pleasant

[woodwoozles]

I've got a Weibang 56 with the Kawasaki engine. 

Edited September 27, 2022 by woodwoozles

[pleasant]

2 hours ago, woodwoozles said:

I've got a Weibang 56 with the Kawasaki engine. 

They are pretty good tbh. Did have a lot of gearbox issues on those, but apparently since been beefed up and issues hopefully sorted. You are restricted to a very small dealer base though if you need Weibang specific spares, such as a blade and they don't make spares readily available unless a dealer also stocks the machines, so a decent dealer that has an account with the people who supply Weibang, that also sell some of the other brands they import cannot order you a blade for example if they are not already a weibang machinery stockist.

Edited September 27, 2022 by pleasant

[Trailoftears]

The sarp/Kaaz mowers are astonishingly good,dare I say close to unbreakable,available with both honda gx engins plus kawis too.They are rebadged by loads of manufactures usually as their pro mowers-Danarm/lawnflite/kubota etc.blade/brake clutch,Direct drive,2 speed or variable speed,a REALLY thick alloy deck with stonegaurds,dustproof collection bags+usually fan-assisted collection etc,etc.Always made in Japan.Heavy beasts but built like brick sh*thouses!Forever mowers.

[Trailoftears]

Forgot to mention large metal wheel with twin bearings and PROPER rubber tyres!