The Mower Bench

[GardenKit]

In on Sunday to try to catch up!

 

Just finished a service on this JD X300R. This is the flagship 42" central rear collector from JD. It sports a Kawasaki motor and a rather different 'blower' collection system.

 

The blades rotate in the opposite direction to other twin bladed vacuum collectors and cut rearwards on the outer edge to leave a much cleaner and uniform cut. They then carry the grass into a fan which blows it into the grassbag which increases the ammount of grass you can get in the box.

 

It is extremely well built, far in excess of any other mower in its price range. It is a joy to work on. I just love quality!

 

 

 

[GardenKit]

Next was the slightly lower spec X155R, still an excellent 42" rear collect but not quite as heavily built as the X300.

 

It sports a twin cylinder B&S Intek engine and a conventional 2 bladed deck, but the interesting thing about this deck is that each blade is driven by its own belt. This results in better power transmission and less slip, therefore less wear.

 

Again, it was a standard service with no repairs needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not so sure about the next on though, suddenly the though of a Sunday afternoon at home seems appealing.

 

 

 

[Rich2484]

Yep that would be the time to stop, go home and enjoy the afternoon. Just try not to have nightmares tonight......

 

Do you find that the undersealed on the deck holds well. I've always found paint better and left to dry properly. Always worry that the undersealed will work off leaving black streaks down lawns.

[GardenKit]

Yep that would be the time to stop, go home and enjoy the afternoon. Just try not to have nightmares tonight......

 

Do you find that the undersealed on the deck holds well. I've always found paint better and left to dry properly. Always worry that the undersealed will work off leaving black streaks down lawns.

To be honest Rich, I do not think there is a best way to tackle the underside of decks. Ideally they would be sandblasted and painted but the cost of this is prohibitive on a service.

 

I used to spend hours with a rotary wire brush and then paint, but as it was impossible to get rid of all the rust I found the next year that even worse rusting had occurred under the paint, which then came off in thick flakes.

 

So for the last 8 years or so i pressure wash, dry, wire brush and then treat with black waxoyl. The anti corrosive additives penetrate the rust, and whilst not killing it, I do think it slows it down. The black waxoyl does wear off slowly during use throughout the year but does not leave evidence on the grass.

[mikerecike]

Thanks barrie and bill for carb info.u/s cleaning the carb and have found a suitable bolt. Recoil spring was not recoiling -rusted up but couldnt remove recoil from shroud - one nut rounded and rusted in.Welded another nut on top and got some purchase on it. Recoil off spring unseized -now functioning so could reassemble.first time ive done the welding trick -happy.

[mikerecike]

Jizer degreaser.anybody know the diff between the green 5ltr tins and the black tins? Both are parts/engine degreasers? Am i right thinking these are relatively safe to use?

[GardenKit]

I use Jizer in aerosols. Its convenient to keep under the bench and quick to use. I spray it over oily carbs etc and then blast off with airline.

 

It seems pretty safe.

[GardenKit]

The Yardman was done this morning with no major parts required this time.

 

Next up was another MTD, this time a Pinto. Horrible little things with a variable belt transmission which only works properly with new belts. When the belts start to wear the transmission becomes slippy and noisy. This one had worn belts so a new set of transmission belts and deck belts on the way at over £100.

 

This will be an expensive service on a cheap mower. The owner regretted buying it shortly after he purchased it in 2005.

 

Next up was an ALKO lawn tractor, which was just about done before hometime, will post some pics tomorrow.

 

Then a callout on the way home to a Stiga that would not start. The fuel pump would not prime, but after a quick suck and a mouthful of tesco's finest it was away. It will probably need a new pump shortly.

 

Now sitting at the PC with the occasional unleaded Burp.

[mikerecike]

The Yardman was done this morning with no major parts required this time.

 

Next up was another MTD, this time a Pinto. Horrible little things with a variable belt transmission which only works properly with new belts. When the belts start to wear the transmission becomes slippy and noisy. This one had worn belts so a new set of transmission belts and deck belts on the way at over £100.

 

This will be an expensive service on a cheap mower. The owner regretted buying it shortly after he purchased it in 2005.

 

Next up was an ALKO lawn tractor, which was just about done before hometime, will post some pics tomorrow.

 

Then a callout on the way home to a Stiga that would not start. The fuel pump would not prime, but after a quick suck and a mouthful of tesco's finest it was away. It will probably need a new pump shortly.

 

Now sitting at the PC with the occasional unleaded Burp.

 

It does help reduce plaque:)

[GardenKit]

The ALKO was finished this morning. These tractors hold their own against others in their price range. They are affordable homeowner machines, but I would not recommend them for pro use. The collection, even in long and wet grass is brilliant, possibly the best.

 

The chassis is very well made from fully welded steel tube which does not flex like many others, but the machine is let down by poor quality plastic body parts and low spec belts and bearings. Easy to work on though, and parts are reasonably priced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was a JD X165 with a 48" side discharge deck. No problems at all with build quality. strong chassis, good belts, bearings and pullies and a 22hp Briggs Intek.

 

The paint on the decks of early models was not good, with sheets of paint coming off when pressure washed (easily repainted though) but in the last 2 years the paint process has been upgraded to solve the issue.

 

Parts are of good quality, easily obtainable and quite cheap generally. A good side discharge mower suited to rougher areas. The optional collector is poor in long or damp grass though.