Mowing ..

[FTE217]

Its come to weekly mowing already.
Grass is powering.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Nah mate Victa not made in Oz anymore but is assembled here, I had to double check for I knew GUD used to own them (the Ryco filter company owners as well) as well as Sunbeam once upon a time.

Victa has sold over 8 million lawn mowers in 30 countries. In later years, the company was owned by GUD Holdings Limited, who sold the Victa Lawn Care business to American-based Briggs & Stratton for A$23 million in 2008.
Both of the names you mention will do the job but I sooner the next motor size up.

I've got one with the new 725 series motor - the big one.

It's a pos with the automatic choke. Don't like em.

And in some sad news my ride-on will be needing a new head gasket. Only 250 hours ffs.

[FTE217]

You know what, I've found over all these years my experience most motors with automatic chokes - wrong move mate eh.
Double whammy sorry to see, have a ride in the Sprint to forget for a mo.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by FTE217

You know what, I've found over all these years my experience most motors with automatic chokes - wrong move mate eh.
Double whammy sorry to see, have a ride in the Sprint to forget for a mo.

Bloody thing, start it on a 40 degree day and the choke kicks in...and then the plug fouls with carbon.

Stall it and it won't restart because it's too hot and trying to start with the choke engaged.

I'm over it...

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

So I'm looking at an entry level Victa or Masport mower, both use the same B&S 450E series engine. I have Sir Walter Buffalo lawn, about 120sqm.
Not talking big dollars here, both are under $400, but I've never bought a new mower before.
Is one better than the other?
Is it true Victa are still made in Australia? I'd buy the Victa on that fact alone if it was verified.
Cheers.

Best advice from me would be to but the biggest engine in your budget. The 450e series engine is only 125cc. Buffalo is quite thick and I would worry about an engine that small bogging down.

Have a look at this one with a 500e 140cc engine.
https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...assic-cut.html

Or this one for a bit more with a stronger handle set up and a 550e engine.
https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...ce-100-18.html

[Pepscobra]

Yes, thank you, the Victa Classic Cut with the 140CC 500e Series engine is the one I was leaning towards. Cheers.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Yes, thank you, the Victa Classic Cut with the 140CC 500e Series engine is the one I was leaning towards. Cheers.

I started my mowing round 17 years ago with one very similar to the above, but with the old B&S 148cc side valve engines. Made me a LOT of money and still going today. Good choice.

[Pepscobra]

I'm liking the look and specs of this Masport mower too.
It has the same B&S 500E engine.

http://masport.com.au/outdoor-garden...s/boxer-st-s18

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

I'm liking the look and specs of this Masport mower too.
It has the same B&S 500E engine.

http://masport.com.au/outdoor-garden...s/boxer-st-s18

Note that the Masport lacks ball bearing wheels, important on thick lawns.

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Note that the Masport lacks ball bearing wheels, important on thick lawns.

Ok, that was the point of difference I was looking for. Both same price with exactly same engine. Victa it is!

[DFB FGXR6]

I should become a mower salesman

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by LyleXR8

great thread, love summer lawn battles with my neighbours!!! I live in outback WA, lawn is kikiyu and goes crazy in summer with the sun, only trouble is it loves a drink and mowing costs more in fuel than my XR8, I have to mow it twice a week, mowed it on Thursday and been at work since and its looking untidy now, I follow a bloke on youtube called Lawn Care Nut, has a garage full of Toro gear and buys and gets given free mowers to use and review. I remember as a kid growing up my old man having a big Victa mower, orange in colour, big wheels on the back, small wheels up front, rear mount engine and belt drive up to the blades, 2 stroke, had to hold 1 hand over the handle mounted air intake to choke it to start and then as others have stated, a million revs a minute!!! also had a walk behind slasher, real big spoked wheels and exposed belt drive up to a long shaft down to the blade which was like a metre long flat bar, 2 inch wide, half inch thick steel with the blade cut into it, lever forward to tighten the belt and engage the blade and a handle trigger to engage drive, Worksafe would prolyl lock you away if used in public these days, just did some googling, Victa super 24 and a Mobilco slasher

Kikuyu...OMG ...and Cooch grass..Kikuyu even grows well here in Tassie . One of our local golf courses uses it in certain places where not much else grows all that well . Never had the pleasure or otherwise of cutting it though ..what's the general consensus for home use because i do know it can really get out of control if you don't keep a leash on it .

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Bloody thing, start it on a 40 degree day and the choke kicks in...and then the plug fouls with carbon.

Stall it and it won't restart because it's too hot and trying to start with the choke engaged.

I'm over it...

Ah , the joys of an Aussie lawn in summer ...cantankerous mowers are all part of the fun .

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I should become a mower salesman

. Maybe you should ..Grass is always going to need cutting somewhere . There's money in them there lawns. It's going crazy here at the minute ..Almost literally can see it growing . I cut my Ponderosa on Saturday and it's noticibly upward and onward again already .

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Yes, thank you, the Victa Classic Cut with the 140CC 500e Series engine is the one I was leaning towards. Cheers.

This is fun to watch too ..

What do you guys think about this bloke's opinions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ8RlV0Ij8U&t=11s .. On Victa's and opinions here about chokes or not etc here's one of Victa's newer offerings I think .. Self propelled too in this mower . Jury's still out for me on that feature because if that fails most are a proper pain in the derriere I think .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkYtDSRZ-90 ..Muddying the water even more for ya ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1idBA64duY ...Geez it's hard to choose these days even within one brand ..

[LyleXR8]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Kikuyu...OMG ...and Cooch grass..Kikuyu even grows well here in Tassie . One of our local golf courses uses it in certain places where not much else grows all that well . Never had the pleasure or otherwise of cutting it though ..what's the general consensus for home use because i do know it can really get out of control if you don't keep a leash on it .

my yard is edged with railway sleepers so easy enough to keep it in check, kikuyu is common here as it handles the summer weather as long as you keep water to it, only have 60m of it, keep it fairly long to protect the roots from heat and keep the sun off it. I only put on seasol and fertilize with munns golf course green or any other cheap fert from Bunnings and it grows like wildfire

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Kikuyu...OMG ...and Cooch grass..Kikuyu even grows well here in Tassie . One of our local golf courses uses it in certain places where not much else grows all that well . Never had the pleasure or otherwise of cutting it though ..what's the general consensus for home use because i do know it can really get out of control if you don't keep a leash on it .

Couch and kik are perfect for home use, their ability to creep means they self repair when the dog digs a hole, and are drought hardy. As for them getting out of control, I have brick edging around mine and give it a squirt of weed kill if it grows through, it’s not a biggie.

[roddy1960]

Blowers and chainsaw's preferences too guys ..Especially in this regard there's a bit of a Ford versus Holden or Chevy battle going on ..

STIHL v HUSQVARNA .. Boy do people ever get passionate about that . I reckon I might favour Husky a bit due to a 25 y.o. Jonsered brushcutter basically trouble free which is now part of Husqvarna I believe AND that I decided to buy one of these this week . No real desperate need but just liked it at the price $349 ..Great harness too . Got it yesterday .

https://www.toolmart.com.au/husqvarn...SABEgKUBPD_BwE ..

My dealer told me the first consignment of these sold really well and the next lot are on order . I got the last one..

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Yes, thank you, the Victa Classic Cut with the 140CC 500e Series engine is the one I was leaning towards. Cheers.

I have this mower which works damn well on my 150sqm sir walter buffalo back yard. I'm no expert but based on my experience I highly recommend it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Blowers and chainsaw's preferences too guys ..Especially in this regard there's a bit of a Ford versus Holden or Chevy battle going on ..

STIHL v HUSQVARNA .. Boy do people ever get passionate about that . I reckon I might favour Husky a bit due to a 25 y.o. Jonsered brushcutter basically trouble free which is now part of Husqvarna I believe AND that I decided to buy one of these this week . No real desperate need but just liked it at the price $349 ..Great harness too . Got it yesterday .

https://www.toolmart.com.au/husqvarn...SABEgKUBPD_BwE ..

My dealer told me the first consignment of these sold really well and the next lot are on order . I got the last one..

Stihl BG 86 is the blower to have. The BG 56 doesn't rev as much as the 86 and feels and sounds strangled in comparison. These can also be converted into a Vac with a kit if needed.

[Rallye Sport]

We've been using stihl electric tools of late with the back pack battery. Lasts a couple of hours, time enough to do the dailys like blowing greens, clubhouse and dunny blocks. Blowers and whippy's are a bit down on power but its magic working in relative silence, with no fumes and early (4am) in the cool of the day. I'll use them whenever I can.
I was lucky enough to dust off the stihl 088 log saw for a big tree that came down this week, the exact opposite, big, powerful, loud, violent and sends a rooster tail of saw dust for a couple of metres... love it!

[DJR-351]

Chainsaw, Brush cutter / Whipper snipper and Hedge trimmer all McCulloch...

Got one POS Victa Whipper Snipper thats never run right since the day i bought it new 3 years ago, junk!

[DFB FGXR6]

Not much will stay standing in front of this bad boy.



64.8cc of Two Stroke Power! Great for big areas.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Not much will stay standing in front of this bad boy.

image

64.8cc of Two Stroke Power! Great for big areas.

That's a big blower but is it as much fun as the blown XR8..Both would blow stuff into the weeds I'm guessing .. My big brushcutter is 33 cc and that's pretty powerful but your machine is about double that . I see that the big Stihls and Husky saws are around 60 cc ..I see what you mean ..

What do you make of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYcwAj5OTnY ..Interesting and diverse lot .

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Chainsaw, Brush cutter / Whipper snipper and Hedge trimmer all McCulloch...

Got one POS Victa Whipper Snipper thats never run right since the day i bought it new 3 years ago, junk!

Didn't realise McCulloch were as diverse as this either ..They even make car detailing equipment too like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy9rCCRdEF4 and carpet cleaners and and.

Nice garden /yard gear .... ... Cool ..

https://www.mcculloch.com/uk/garden-tools/ ...Cheers ..

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Push mowers are for city dwellers.

John Deere D140, 724cc 22hp V-Twin Engine, 48" Cutting deck.

[roddy1960]

Taking this to yet another level .. here's a video on one of the big daddy's of chainsaws ..The Husqvarna 572 XP .. Not just in cars does tech and computers play a huge role ..If you can watch it until they're pulling the saw apart to show the innards but wait til they whack it on the diagnostics ..Quite incredible .

This is a fully pro saw though ..not meant for the backyard and a Saturday morning wood cut necessarily .. Enjoy ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-vpS3f-Z8w ..

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

That's a big blower but is it as much fun as the blown XR8..Both would blow stuff into the weeds I'm guessing .. My big brushcutter is 33 cc and that's pretty powerful but your machine is about double that . I see that the big Stihls and Husky saws are around 60 cc ..I see what you mean ..
.

What can I say, I like powerful things

[DFB FGXR6]

Thrashing the Rover today in mulch mode.



I have had this since 2014 and has been WELL used (check out the bald front wheels). Its had only one drive belt in that time but two drive system overhauls and a set of new rear wheels (they are cogged as part of the self-propel system). Apart from that, oil changes every few months.

I'm not a big fan of the Kohler engine as its a bit finiky to start and has always used just a tad of oil, no smoke but I keep an eye on it more that the Briggs engines I run.

[whitelion65]

Well Roddy, you old bugger,! You’ve cursed me!
After 20 years of faithful service, my Honda powered. vista push-mower has started playing up.....BAD!
Chewing through fuel, fouling the plug. Time for a car by make-over, I think!
She’s been a good old girl, mulch or catch, does a great job.
Like the Rover above (maybe more so) the old wheels are worn away, the catcher is broken, I recently replaced the cutter disc... sounds like grandpas axe ��