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Thread ID: 144188 2017-08-07 00:00:00 Lawn Mowers DeSade (984) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1438032 2017-08-07 00:00:00 I need one

My guy (who is also my cousin) is closing his business so no more cheap mowing and I am not willing to pay the going rate around here.
Advice and recommendations for mowers
Electric
Petrol

etc etc
DeSade (984)
1438033 2017-08-07 00:19:00 If electric don't get a corded one, big pain in the butt. I have a petrol Ryobi from bunnings. More then happy with. Not a budget mower but not to expensive around $500 from memory. It does have a steel deck rather than alloy. Not a problem if you look after them plod (107)
1438034 2017-08-07 00:44:00 Years ago I bought a second hand alloy base with an old motor on it. I needed eventually to replace the motor with a Briggs & Stratton, it just simply bolted on (4 bolts) and since then I've never had a problem. I did have a steel base at one time which rusted out in no time. I would never have another on my mind. I can't see the point of having to clean and dry it every week. Alloy is the only way to go.

I would suggest that you might like to look at a Lawn Mower dealer or two and see what used stock they might have. You might be surprised.
Bryan (147)
1438035 2017-08-07 00:51:00 I have an all Plastic Ryobi brushless battery mower and I love it. Still a bit Dubious about it's long term viability and price but it's been nearly a year so far and no problems. I Mulch all year round as well which requires me to keep the lawn fairly short so I can't comment on the catcher as I've never used it. Sold my petrol mower after owning this for 3 months and don't intend to go back. For a small to medium section I can recommend them, might be worth researching other brands but I like my Ryobi.

My pros and cons for battery electric:
Pros:
Light and easy to use - about half the effort of my old petrol mower
No Starting issues
No servicing except the blade
About half the noise of most petrol mowers
No Fumes
Can tip it in any direction whenever you want - no chance of oil getting in the air filter etc
Can't really stall it (well you can but no need to restart)
So cheap to run it may as well be free (8-10c a charge is my guesstimate)
Can get a lot of other garden tools that use the same batteries

Cons:
Can't handle really long grass - need to keep it short(ish)
Battery (5AH 36V) is good for a 600-700 sq M section tops - mine is around 800sqM plus 2 lots of road frontage with a strip either side of the footpath - takes about 1.25-1.5 battery charges
Recharging takes 2-3 hours (I bought a second battery meaning I spent about $1K)
Not quite as much power as my old petrol mower - but much closer than I expected
Replacement batteries are expensive and it's hard to say if they work out cheaper than petrol in the long run
Bunnings is the only agent
Blades cost > $30
dugimodo (138)
1438036 2017-08-07 01:25:00 We paid $20 a fortnight for lawn mowing for a bit. Not exactly budget shattering.

But I decent motor on the mower and avoiding plastic wheels is the main thing.

Can't comment as our mower is still going after a million years....bought second hand too.
pctek (84)
1438037 2017-08-07 01:48:00 I bought cheap Chinese Sanli plastic and larger steel body mowers on Trademe, engines are OK. But the accessories tend to break easily, e.g. the spark plug receptacle, throttle lever, plastic star handles, etc. I still use the large power cut Sanli. But new generic parts are cheap online from eBay (China). I also have 3 working petrol Briggs and Stratton engine mowers bought cheap on Trademe,(about 50 to 80 dollars - mainly from West Auckland TM Sellers), but required me to swap out parts and fix them from other mowers I have. But they are all strong workhorses, and relatively easy to fix (Good Youtube Vids), to mow my massive lawn.

Perhaps need to think if you want mulcher, cut, or catch. Then how to utilize or dispose any grass clippings.
kahawai chaser (3545)
1438038 2017-08-07 02:06:00 Avoid steel bodied mowers , they will rust out.
Ive been though 2 steel bodies on my previous mower. And yes I did look after it , hosed it clean after every use. It still rusted out .
Ended up giving it away.

If you want something good, get alu body & honda engine . Wont be cheap.
Mine cost $700+ 17 years back : will keep going almost forever . It does need new wheel bearings though .

I guess, the questions are
how big is the lawn, what condition is the lawn, do you want a mulching mower or do you have somewhere to put the grass clippings .
1101 (13337)
1438039 2017-08-07 02:21:00 Avoid steel bodied mowers , they will rust out.
Ive been though 2 steel bodies on my previous mower. And yes I did look after it , hosed it clean after every use. It still rusted out .
Ended up giving it away.

If you want something good, get alu body & honda engine . Wont be cheap.
Mine cost $700+ 17 years back : will keep going almost forever . It does need new wheel bearings though .

I guess, the questions are
how big is the lawn, what condition is the lawn, do you want a mulching mower or do you have somewhere to put the grass clippings .

about 10m x 7m
Condition?
Green bin for clippings
DeSade (984)
1438040 2017-08-07 05:35:00 Hmm I'm looking for one for 10 acres, actually the 30 steers on it at the moment are doing a good job, might buy some lambs in after they go. gary67 (56)
1438041 2017-08-07 11:10:00 My mower has an aluminium body. It did cost a bit more though. Bobh (5192)
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