mowandgo

iam running a Honda 476 hrx qx. its light fast turns on a penny fills the big grass box to the brim powerful in long grass strips well leavs nice finish. Unlike the other honda mowers I have had its belt drive makes it very smooth and controlable. I love it at the minute I have only used it for about 10 hours so time will tell if its realy up to it!

Etesia looks good 19 inch and 40kg the way I like them. Whats it like in long grass and rough ground? is it belt drive? most of my customers like a strip now the have got a custom to them so I best stick with a roller. How do you find mulching I had a stiga multiclip once I thought it was no quicker than collecting grass and if was a bit long and a litte damp it took cut grass and just made a big horrible mess with it all over the lawn. I kept the blades sharp too. It was allso poor as rough mower cause it choked it self up with grass and stalled all the time there was no drawft created by the blades and it would not pick any derbris up off lawns as a collection mower does.

I think pre 2003 hayter 56 is best mower of all time. However the decks fall to bits and mine are all completely shot. The drives never give any touble there light do a fantastic cut and work hard year in year out. I needed a new mower and had terrible experiences with the over heavy honda hrh 536 qxe. The gearbox was terrible all of them its either off or on no control it allways clunks when you pull the clutch in and eventally just goes click click and £300 every season or less for a new one. Also the handle bars go on for ever so hard to turn around and the roller is way to small for a 21 inch 60kg mower. I hate the big Hondas. In the end I bought a Honda HRX 475 the 19 inch roller it wieghs 45kg it turns quickly one lever hieght adjustment not like the stupid 3 point one on the big honda. Its very fast strips well packs grass bag right up with cuttings and the best thing its belt drive so smooth so much more control. I have the revs about 3500rpm and its just as quick on real big lawns and doesn't leave fluffy bits of grass like its big stupid brother. I have only had it a week from new time will tell its durability.

It looks good much better than FS55 FS90 FS100 & FS130. But its not a combi and vibs on paper are higher than Husqvarna 327 which iam more drawn towards at the moment. Also i like the short shaft combi hedge cutter attachment what Husqvarna do. Its all food for thought! I have learnt one thing on this Thread you cant beat a good 2 stroke

I have had enough of my 4 mix combi engines I have a KM100R & KM130R. They both fill up the air filter with fuel via the breather, there both very hard to start, they dont hold revs very well, the valves allways need adjusting, they sound like there labouring all the time with that stupid 4 stroke noise, there deffently heavier snd I think they use same amount of fuel as a 2 stroke rember the 130R is like 36cc a 2 stroke can do more with just 25cc. In there deffence they do work hard week in week out and the attachments Hedge Cutter, Strimmer & pole saw seem to do a great job with much abuse. I like combis because you allways have engine unit ready like when one bends a valve and when both are going you can run two tools! I used to have the 35cc Honda Strimmer it worked hard but compared to a 2 stroke it was very heavy, vibrated alot (like 4mix) was akawrd if at all possible to run upside down, used a fair amout of fuel too, revs did not pick up quick like a 2 stroke. I like Stihl attachments the only 2 stroke choice on a combi is KM55R but the vibs are high and the triger is hard plastic not ruber important if your on the triger all day. Maybe time for a complete change like Husqvarna or Tanaka or Maybe Makita. Whats your dealings with other makes guys and do you have same troubles with 4 mix/4stroke?

I run 3 mm pentagram or star in my d loop stihl km 100 or 4 mm oregon flexiblade in the jet head on FS460 I find 2 lines best for grass and 4 for thick brush. I find 3mm line in a d loop strimmer fantastic for edging & strimming paths its also great in grass too. it works for me!

I have a Stihl FS460 with oregon jet cut head. I run 2 lines for grass 4mm oregon flexiblade it slices through tough long grass very well and leaves little mess and lasts a long time befor braking. For brambles and thick brush I use 4 oregon flexiblade lines again gets through it very well and leaves little mess however it does get through some line if very thick. This is the best methord I have found for long grass and brush the strimmer does seem to drink alot of fuel but its allways on the van and goes any where you want it to acsess is never a problem unlike rough mower!

well I usally successful in fixing mechanical troubles with saws ,mowers strimmer, hedge cutters etc. What made me take it to a dealer was my lack of experience and knowledge with electronics I find computers boring and have a complete lack of interest in them fixing a pull start spring sharpening hedge cutter blades adjustin mower valves gets me exited might be a bit sad but I love doing it my self. However I could think of nothing worse or boring as solving computer management. Playing with wires testing circuts pluging things into a computer and programing chiping what ever it is they do. I hoped tge dealer would do all that boring technical stuff what I dont understand for me and I dont have to gamble which part has stopped working. The dealer is about 25 miles from where I live it takes 1.5 round trip to get there and back it has left a bad taste iny mouth for so called authrised dealers and as soon as there correct part was in my hand the strimmer was fixed like new in 20 minutes by my fair hands. This means its so much quicker and more economical to fix my self even if I got the diagnosis wrong a couple of times I put this experience down as a valuable lesson if I cant fix a machine myself its more economical to sell as spares or repair than take it to a shop.

Hi strimmer all fixed at great expense. I took it to one of many local stihl dealers but thr only one to have a diagnostics machine the said it was the coil module it fixed it for 10 minutes stupidly I paid them £157 for labour and parts before testing machine. The machine was playing up the same before it went into shop. There are 3 possible parts it could be coil, wiring lume, carburetor. I can fit all these parts myself easly so if I orded them it would be less than £200 I still would have been quids in. I orded a new carburetor what cost £105 fitted and strimmer works great. This leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth about dealers fixing my machines I was told by the dealers it would be very expensive guesing which part was at fault as the 3 possible parts would outway the cost of there diagnosis as they would not be guessing lije I would. Little did I know there diagnosis was just a guess as well.

stiga mulchers are great simple little mowers. very light and no hassles of grass box. you cant cut lawns lower than 2 inches or take more than a 3rd off each time you mow with out making a mess with too much grass. Also I think mulching makes the grass grow quicker as clippings fertilise the lawn which is and advantage and dissadvantage at tge same time. If you have to collect the grass I would say the old type Hayter Hairier 48 was the best mower ever made other than the 56. Hondas are good but are very heavy and the gearboxes are very weak they dont last a season which are nit to bad to fix but its the cost of parts what kills them as your sure to find one with this fault on ebay. Hope this is helpful.

I took the machine to local mechanic he said its deffentatly over fueling which is making it choke the problem is because its a seald electrical unit theres no way he can fix it. it has to go to an authorised stihl dealer I fear this machine might be a write off a 18 months old. I hope the new stihl equipment is built to last longer this all the other parts of the machine are in very good condition. I will let you know if I ever fix it. Cheers Chris.

recently acquired a stihl ms460 clearing saw was going great guns very powerful fantastic for cutting long grass, clearing ect. Then it sarted to mess about low power revs would not peak then it cleard its self then started again. I have had the exhaust off the tank off checkd it all breaths and clear through. I have changed the plug and filter. I looked at what I think is the carburetor not sure what it is its a carburetor in the way it has a choke and a throttle primer bulb diaphragm but its missing a jet well I coukd nit find it also missing hi low screw and a tick over screw instead it has wires which my screwdriver can not adjust. I cleand out the carburetor thingy with compressed air and its still the same. on stihl machines in the past I have similar problems I found a carburetor clean with compressed air and check the listed above and adjyst of the hi low screws always cured any problems however this machine has got the bettrr of me. Has any one else had any dealings with stihl m tronics or can help with thesse troubles? Cheers Chris.

Hi all After this terible wet year do you boys wear waterproofs. I have tryed them but I find cheap ones leak and get ripped snagged and fall to bits after a few hours and the more expensive do the same but in a few weeks. I find wax jackets mostley waterproof and very robust but very restrictive for working. Good for walking the dog but but bending down, jumping about, climbing ladders and crawling about in tight spaces not so good. I am looking at the weather and see lots more snow/rain and need to get on so thinking its worth purchasing waterproof clothing but dont know where to start looking somthing like a wax but dont get snagged and in the way. Any Idears.........?

How much do you boys charge for taking away green waste, grass clippings, Hedge clippings, brush, timber and old fence panels ect? Do you need a waste carriers licence? Where do you take it? I have heard alot of conflicting stories about this subject I think it boils down to the council and if the council employes horse come in!

I think in this case it would be far less hassle in the long run to pay up otherwise it could be on going trouble you can do with out. Unfortunately its all part of the fun of mowing and simply can not be avoided. I have done it my insurance exes is £350 so I just pay local window guy myself usually around £100. I did one job where I was brush cutting brambles ect. between customers house and a 7' panel fence when I had finished a guy shouted 'OI I want you to look at this' He was the neighbour he wasa used car dealer used his drive as his yard he showed my a newish Peugeot with the tiny est scratch on the window and try ed to accuse me of doing it with my machine I investigated the area and found a few tiny bits of brush chip the sort that blows around in the wind. At this point I new he was taking the piss. I said ' I can not take any responsibility for that scratch because it looks very much like it happened when you was driving the vehicle and I can not find any evidence on your property of any chip that has come from the force of my machine and not blow en over here by the wind'. With this he started to make small talk and became very polite I was polite back and got on with my work taking extra care not to give him any more reason for a false claim. This goes to show people try it on so be aware if there talking out there anus take time to asses the situation never admit your at fault and explain a perfectly good reason why your not at fault and you take damage to property and health and safety very seriously and needless to say your fully insured.

Whats the difference between 0.325", 3/8" and .404" I understand .325 smoother but takes more power out the saw and .404 is rougher but less power out the saw?.....

Well semi chisel sounds the best choice 0.58" 3/4. Still havent made my mind up on bar length 15" or 18" , 15" runs better and better for cutting timber 18" is easyer for brush cause longer reach clearing and large trees which I rarely do. Maybe two saws isa good answer lol.

I have just bought a husqvarna 350 off of ebay it hada 15" bar. I bought this saw for a good price and it does not apear to have done to much work and does not smoke much is clean and runs up nice. However the nose sprocket left the bar and the chain ant all that either so I need a new bar and chain and begs the question which one? I have found so many different choices 15" to 20" bar, full or semi chisel chain wide kerf narrow kerf 3/8 or 3/4 pitch, bar gauge and Iam sure there is more choices than that. I use the saw for felling, firewood, sneding, clearing brush, copiceing and evern cutting up old pallets and old building timbers for firewood so a broad usage. I am not that knowledgable about chains and bars so any info would be welcome cheers.

Whys That? There spec is very good but untill you go to work with one you never know what a machines like. Also how much are they new I have looked on google and cant find a price for new.

I have bad experience with mulching I find leaves a mess clumps of awful grass epecaly with long grass its very hard work for me and the mower worse if grass damp and it seems to make the grass grow quicker which makes it even harder on the next visit. Also you cant cut it any shorter than 3 inches unless you cut it twice a week so I stick with collection. Maybe the grilo system is better than my experiences.

Hi I am looking for a small width ride on mower I have lots of mowing to do next season. I love the manourverabilty and quality of cut my walk behind Honda 536 but its weaknes is its to small for some of the big 1.5 acre lawns I cut I seem to be emptying my grass box more often than im actually mowing. I have looked at etesia and snapper both are around 32 inches which is small enough for garden gates manourverabilty and loading also have over 200 litre grass boxes which is far larger than 75 litres on my Honda. I have owned and worked some terible ride on mowers before I found them to be unreliable unmanouverable and poor quality of cut. I would like to hear your experinces of rideons and find out if the snapper or etesia would be better than a Honda 536.......?

Hi, I just passed my CS30/31 Iam looking for work with trees in East Sussex. I have a green landscaping business which has quiten down for the winter months. My intesoins are to gain more experience with trees and at the same time keeping busy. Can any one help your welcome to reply. Cheers Chris.

Thanks for reply but when i put the spring cage in it got caught on the edge of the housing I tried to tap it in square it would not sit in the dish fully home so I removed it then the spring came out and got its all knoted I checked for dirt in the way and tried to make sure it was all there. I rewound the spring then relized I had it the wrong way round then I layed it out so I could see which way it had to sit to work the pully in the right driection affter rewinding the spring correctly I noticed I maybe misshaped the sping and now the internal hook dose not reach the plastic wheel what the rope gose round I have tryed to bend it and hook it in with a screwdriver but it seems impossible. This is when I relized I was out of my mechanicle comfort zone. I though of buying a new spring bit then it might happen all over again. So I though I would anoy some one else with my troubles lol.

Hi the spring snapped on my pull start today I bought a new spring from local dealer but find it imposible to fit I should be quite an experienced D.I.Y. mechainc buy now but find this task has beaten me and my mate who is good at fixing stuff like this. Either im being stupid and assembleing it wrong or there is another part missing or broken I have searched the internet for diagrams and parts but this did not help. Hence posting this fred I bet one of you boys can help and shed some light on this one fire away please.............

Thanks for the advice but on closer inspection the hydro drive works the problem lies in the chain and sprockets a broken chain and small sprocket has missing teeth also the ratchet on the wheel drive spindle has broken. I visited my local dealer and the parts will come to nearly £100. Sounds dear to me but the rest of mower looks pretty good there fantastic mowers for rough long grass and brush there also good on banks so I think its worth doing.