Hows your Viking Mower fairing up .

[stevetee]

I am a horticultural mechanic for a large company in Bradford, our mowers do a lot of work around the city we have 10 Viking mb4rtps & though agree the engines are very good in the season we've had them i have replaced nearly all there front right hand drive shaft bearings which suffer from water ingress & 5 gearboxes at £70 a pop each so I'm not all that impressed with them our AS 531 & 470 mowers we have all are holding up well lads moan that the 470s are bit slow but other than wear & tear & the occasional breakage due to our seasonal workers being a bit heavy handed im happy with them but when the Vikings come up for replacement I'm gonna have scout around for something else i like the look of the husqvarna mulch mowers & our husqvarna chainsaws blowers etc have been excellent so who knows

Edited June 1, 2016 by stevetee

[IVECOKID]

Hi Stevetee, one thing I will say about the Viking mb4rtps is that the front wheel drive system is open to abuse, myself have been lazy at times and not taken drive out when turning, its difficult to explain or understand unless you use these mowers regularly .Has you turn at the ends and pick up the front you can get in a habit of dropping them while in drive , the design of the mower handles encourage you .

My little video link might help with the drive system.

 

My other two 21" Vikings (6 series roller and 4 wheeler) bearing well but most of my work is Domestic but the Mulch Viking is mainly used in Factory Grounds, Children's Nursery and a estate so that mower does get some rough work.

 

Ste

Edited June 1, 2016 by IVECOKID

[difflock]

I figgered the front drive wheels to be a very sensible idea since when manouvering or turning one simply leans down on the handles, without needing to disengage drive, all in all a very natural and intuitive reaction.

PS

Now in its 2nd or 3rd season, and I dont know our Viking mower exists, always a very good sign.

BUT

I switched to Husquvarna strimmers due to much better vibration figures, ergo also buying Husqy blowers.

I got the distinct impression Husquvarna has seriously "upped" their groundcare game.

As has a much welcomed generational change in our local dealership.

cheers

m

[widge34]

I have the 650vm. Cuts nicely, but has never started well from cold. 6 to 12 pulls to get it started. Apparently it’s a common problem with the auto choke on the Briggs engine, which is currently being sorted. Apart from that it’s been fine.