mowers

[nickk]

having welded a few mower decks over the years,i now want to buy a ride on mower & would like to hear some feedback from owners,i want something s/h up to about £1000 30-36" cut with a collection box minus the del' chute as i know they block with damp/wet grass,i,m not a fan of briggs & stratton engines btw,our garden is rough & bumpy but level-more paddock than lawn,i'm a big fan of honda engineering,yet have heard nothing of their ride-ons.

 

[wristpin]

The original Honda ride-ons sold over here were built to car standards, totally over engineered for "cutting a bit of grass" and a nightmare to work on. Built for American and Australian conditions and not that good for long, wet UK grass.
More recent machines are cheap and nasty Italian , Castell Garden machines badged Honda.
Surprised that you don't like Briggs but each to his own. However it will limit your choice.
Have a look at John Deeres.

 

[norlander]

Depends on your lawn/land but I had a Husqvarna Rider but I don't think you will find one s/h for 1K? . I have had niggly problems with Honda engined kit (log saw, generator) but the B&S stuff has been solid.
Anyway, all the Husky kit has been and still is- solid and giving good service if thats of use.
I had 5000sq metres of rough and sloping ground and the Husky rider tackled it with no probs- it was 4W drive model though.

 

[rich r]

Nothing to stop you changing the engine for something else as long as you're prepared to make up mountings and a shaft to match the original. Personally I've had no problems with B&S, either the smaller <50cc or the 200cc and larger mower engines.
I've got an MTD Pinto, which is right at the bottom end of the ride-on mower market (24" single blade). But it's about the right size for my garden (about 0.5 acre), and it cost me next to nothing other than replacement belts and a bit of fuel hose. And because the seat is on top of the engine, it keeps your backside toasty warm.

 

[nickk]

Nothing to stop you changing the engine for something else as long as you're prepared to make up mountings and a shaft to match the original. Personally I've had no problems with B&S, either the smaller <50cc or the 200cc and larger mower engines.
I've got an MTD Pinto, which is right at the bottom end of the ride-on mower market (24" single blade). But it's about the right size for my garden (about 0.5 acre), and it cost me next to nothing other than replacement belts and a bit of fuel hose. And because the seat is on top of the engine, it keeps your backside toasty warm.

on reflection all the b&s engines i've had anything to do with have been at least 8 years old.

 

[steviec_lj]

I know where there are potentially two going up for sale very shortly, or rather, as soon as they get around to clearing the barn a bit, its full of Deere stuff!

One is, a Deere, not sure on model though.
The other, I cannot remember.

I'm there again on Friday so will check.

 

[cecotto479]

Etesia Ride on brush cutter.

 

[Cyberprog]

Come on, am I the only one here thinking of building their very own V8 powered ride on mower? With a tiny garden too...

 

[Rocketman]

I'm not a fan of briggs & Stratton either. Honda just seem more reliable, quieter, smoother and easier to start on old petrol

 

[graffian]

We have had a few ride on mowers, the one that stood out as being the best pickup wise was a Westwood with a
powered sweeper, but the I always seemed to be fixing the mower.

 

[nickk]

I'm not a fan of briggs & Stratton either. Honda just seem more reliable, quieter, smoother and easier to start on old petrol

i agree,trouble is honda 'obsolete ' their models every 10 yrs ,whereas briggs & ;scrap -em bits area always available

 

[KemppiFrog]

We have an old Countax with a B&S 14hp OHV. 3 cutter deck with rear exit. It is way better than the other 12hp B&S powered ride on with a twin blade deck. But for the field out back I use the neighbours tractor. At 1 hectare, it is bit too much for a garden ride on.
Years ago, I bought a Husqvarna, only to find it was a badged US Lawn Master. Worked fine though.