Which Flymo

point of order:

hover mowers are rotary mowers, the rotary blades spin on a shaft mounted on a vertical axis to create the downdraught for the hover effect.

mowers with wheels and a roller tend to be cylinder mowers, with the cylinder mounted on a horizontal axis

RT

Reply to
[news]
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Someone wrote that, but outbound e-mail doesn't work a cest mo:

It's just the "compact" one - I've no experience with others, except old simple motor-on-deck hovvers without grass collection...

I bought a PP one, but "it wasn't liked", so had to go back to be exchanged (+ extra cash which I *could* have spent on beer!) for the "pants" mower I've alluded to, which had the advantage of being "cool-looking" and "much more like it". Yeah, right. Gimme PP and a receipt to keep, I've used one of these (wheeled rotary) & it was fine; if it blows up, take it back.

Reply to
Chris Bacon

All hovers/rotary mowers produce minced lawn clippings.

Personally I'd rip the whole lawn up and put down bark over geotextile. Also avoids worn/muddy patch under the climbing frame and grass stains on knees.

Owain

Reply to
Owain

Not so I'm afraid. The big difference between hover and wheeled rotary mowers is the direction of airflow. With hovers, naturally. they blow downwards, and then a second fan, on the same shaft, hidden within the plastic casing, has to try and suck up the grass off the ground.

Wheeled rotary mowers arrange the airflow to be upwards carrying the grass straight into the grass box.

Chris

Reply to
Chris J Dixon

"[news]" wrote

I surrender !

Yes, OK, a rotary mower with wheels will collect better than a hover mower. It is often a more practical option than a cylinder mower, although these also collect well.

Reply to
Toolmaker

"Alan" wrote

Almost all the wheeled rotary mowers on the market have induction motors (even the cheap ones). Almost all hover mowers use universal motors (for weight saving reasons). An induction motor should last longer, as there are no brushes or commutator to wear.

Reply to
Toolmaker

FACT

airflow is a secondary issue after cylinder/rotary

RT

Reply to
[news]

I used Unibond bathroom and shower sealant from the local shed. Expensive at 8 quid a go but it's so bloody waterproof it's v.difficult to smooth it after application 'cos it sticks to

*everything*. Flexible too, the only thing that broke it in our case was for some reason the shower tray managed to drop a few mm (don't ask why, I dunno yet!) and the stuff stretched and broke the grout on the surrounding tiles resulting in much leakage.....

The moral to this tale is if yer tray doesn't drop this stuff is good! IMO obviously.

cheers

witchy/binarydinosaurs

Reply to
D

I've had both hover and wheeled rotary. The hover is slightly better for irregular shaped lawns, but remember, the more they fill up the more they lose their hover anyway.

I'd go for a wheeled rotary with a roller on the back. That way you get the stripes as well.

Funnily enough, I need a new mower myself after my Flymo's given up after just 6 years. At Homebase tomorrow (29/04/05) they have 10% off day and already have some great prices on Qualcasts. I'm planning on getting a Qualcast Power-Trak 4000 @ £98. It's £149 most other places.

Reply to
RedOnRed

The hovers only leave a "snail trail" when the grass collector bin starts getting full, or the blades start getting clogged with wet grass.

In dry grass cutting conditions, say mid-summer, none of that would apply providing the collector is cleared.

Reply to
RedOnRed

Absolutely!

Nice & wide...

Yes, quite - not to mention the hassle...

There is a great deal to be said for this.

However, people don't seem to realise that these are viable! Also, of course, they don't "look the part" (ptooi!).

Reply to
Chris Bacon

IME, they always spill more than a non-hover mower. Wet conditions just makes them *really* terrible, and clearly if the collector is full, it is difficult for them to do anything but spill

Reply to
Toolmaker

So to put you all out of your misery, i went for this one

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I got it at B&Q, as it was over =A320 cheaper. Has a roller for stripes, wheeled not a hover so the grass comes up, and Flymo, so it lasts at least 6 weeks!

Will keep you posted if it goes pop, but my first flymo (very mini hover) which is over 10 years old now is still going strong.

Reply to
Ed B

At least it's a POS on wheels. Now, who can tell me how to buy shares in Carlsberg-Tetley? Their price is due for a rise....

Reply to
Chris Bacon

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I got it at B&Q, as it was over £20 cheaper. Has a roller for stripes, wheeled not a hover so the grass comes up, and Flymo, so it lasts at least 6 weeks!

This is the one i'm going for...

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i'll be getting it from Homebase at £98.

Reply to
RedOnRed

I looked at that - it's quite a beast compared to my flymo. How come it is so much cheaper at homebase?

Oddly enough Argos are running homebase's online shop now - had you noticed the pages are the same? Not sure if the stores are still part of Sainsbury's or not.

Reply to
Ed B

I got one last night (Thurs, still 10% off after 18:00hrs) and it is a bit of a beast! It's supposed to fly through long grass.

Homebase had it at £109 and then another 10% off today/last night. Dunno why. It cost me about £98, when it's £140 most other places.

Qualcast are now owned by Bosch and have Bosch engines. It comes with a nice

5 year parts guarantee.
Reply to
RedOnRed

Sainsburys sold Homebase a couple of years ago.

Reply to
usenet

"Ed B" wrote

No surprise there, Homebase are owned by Argos

Reply to
Toolmaker

That would explain why their prices are now very competitive to the point that Wickes (with many of its substandard products) is now almost out of the equation.

Reply to
RedOnRed

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