New lawn-mower

[PeterC]

Seems that the Bosch electric mower has emitted a few too many sparks. I might be able to fix it, but just in case I can't I'm considering buying a petrol mower before I need to hire a combine harvester!

Looking at various models, most seem to be very loud - about 96dB, so are there any less loud ones? I don't want self-propelled as the grass (about 250 sq. m) is in 5 parts and rather, er, 'complex'. The electric Bosch cuts almost right up to an edge - wall or path - and I'd like one that does the same, if petrol ones can. Also don't want too big; this leads to the old problem of smaller machines lacking abilities as they are seen as 'cheap', so 40cm would be tops I guess.

What seems to be a good make, reliable and has a reasonable warranty? Up to a sensible limit I don't mind how much I spend .

[Brian Gaff]

Dunno myself but a guy down the road is always extolling the virtues of a Honda he got cheap in a recent sale. Its petrol and though not noisless, has more of a rattle than a purr. Brian

[The Natural Philosopher]

If you have a small area and don't mind a simple rotary you can have my old hayterette. its a rotary on wheels and still goes well - but needs new cutting disk fitted as it eaten one too many stones in the last 14 years.

You have to raise it up on its back wheels and lower it onto really long stuff tho or it stalls. Only a 3.5bhp B & S in it.

Better made than modern ones.

[rbel]

I have a Honda Izy - self propelled but they are available in push versions - and the documented dB is 94. It has been very reliable throughout the last ten years, but it, like all other domestic, wheeled, petrol rotary will not mow right up to the edge. Because the lack of this facility was beginning to irritate me earlier this year I contacted Honda and Hayter to ask if they were intending to rectify this shortcoming in the foreseeable future and was told that current design constraints did not allow for cutting heads to be wider than the wheel tracks. I ended up buying a good Stihl rechargeable strimmer for edging.

-- rbel

[John Rumm]

Most petrol mowers with a B&S motor, concentrate much of the noise into the lower ranges of the audio spectrum, so while they are loud they are not particularly hard on the ears (or the neighbours). Far less unpleasant to work with than say a two stroke garden tool that may emit the same level of noise in dBA terms.

No reason why not...

Might be a tad on the small size for that area of lawn.

Things to think about...

for that sized mower 3.5hp will be fine for either collecting or cutting and dropping. If you want to mulch then you will need double the power to do it well.

Easy height adjustment is worth having - some need you to tweak the setting on each wheel individually. Some have a leaver that does the whole deck in one hit.

Something that has loads of airflow through it, and preferably a manual throttle so you can up the revs when the grass is damp and you want effective collection.

Had my Hayter Harrier 41 for about 18 years... its had one oil change since new and that was about its only engine maintenance. Its on its third plastic undertray though (they fatigue near where the real wheels attach). Airflow not really good enough, and no throttle control on mine. So I don't think I would buy the same model again. Having said that the engine is good. Starts easily even after a winter in a cold shed etc.

[PeterC]

Thanks TNP. If circumstances were different I'd be very interested - I like older machines and working on them. It's a bit far from Norfolk(?) to Northampton; my neighbour is not mechanically minded (she's OK just using machines and likes them); most importantly I want to replace the Bosch quickly so that she has a mower as I'm due for cardioversion at the end of next week and I might be making the grass grow even more quickly!

[PeterC]

Honda could do the same as Bosch then - make the wheel track narroer than the cutter ;-)

[PeterC]

Trouble is the lawn isn't "that size", it's in bits and has bushes and other obstacles, so using a bigger mower would be very tiring. Same goes for self-propelled - it'd be a nuisance in the many tight spots.

The Bosch has been on the same setting since new: lowest acceptable for the roughest part and don't worry about the rest.

I'd be happy to spend this sort of money - what do you think about this one?:

[The Natural Philosopher]

West Suffolk..past Cambridge and turn right so to speak..

to Northampton; my neighbour is not

Ah I did see a Hayter with ELECTRIC STaRT and some self propel capability which has to be the luxury end of things but around 600 notes.

As one gets older pull starting and the old high blood pressure dont mix.

Frankly though a 'man' can be obtained for reasonable money compared with buying storing and maintaining a mower..

[John Rumm]

rate and never seem to give much difficulty (probably why the hire shops like Honda powered stuff so much).

Note that they say its ideal for lawns up to "half a tennis court" in area - so about 130m^2. Depends a bit on how much actual grass is in your 250m^2 - however its probably less than a couple of km to walk if you are emptying it.

[PeterC]

Too big for here. If all of the grass was in one area it'd be much easier.

Not a problem for me - my blood pressure (at 65) is OK for a fit 40-yo. I just need to remember not to pull really hard when I'm too close to a rustic brick wall - it do exfoliate the skin a bit!

I'd rather spend it on a woman.

[PeterC]

Governing factor is the green bins. I have a heap of stuff to go in and with the wet 'Summer' there's too much every fortnight for 2 bins.

I'll get the Honda. Any suggestions as to source? It's about £240 on Amazon and there are a couple of places at £285 but I know nothing about them. Machine Mart is £250.

think that these 2 might be related/the same).

[rbel]

I have been getting all my garden kit from Radmore & Tucker in Exeter (on Frog Street) for years and they now have a web order facility -

are a reputable company specialising in selling and servicing commercial and domestic gardening and arboricultural equipment with franchises from virtually all the major equipment manufacturers.

-- rbel

[PeterC]

First of all: typo - should have been £340 on Amazon, otherwise...

Well, I like the site: easy to find the item and quick to load. Price is good; delivery even better :-) I am a bit wary of the 2 sites that I posted as they are so similar in offers, pricing etc. and I often wonder about the ethos of one business having many pseudo-outlets - but I know why they do it.

I value genuine recommendations made in this group so I'll ring Radmore and place an order. Thank you.