Mowing ..

[Rallye Sport]

Digging through the back shed this arvo looking for a long lost throttle link clip for the Cortina I dug this one out. The sprinkler tractor that kicked off my interest in all things mechanical.

One of my childhood pocket money jobs was watering the lawn. Frankly it had knobs on it, standing there with the hose so by accident I found out about the agricultural revolution with this old machine Dad had laying around.

My productivity went up in leaps and bounds and each payday came much easier.

I also learned maintenance. Under the top cover is a set of gears that need greasing and the rear axle also has an oil hole. I experimented with many different grades and viscosities over the years.

Then there was performance, the nozzles needed constant cleaning and the angles changing for maximum throw and coverage.

It tracks the hose so I'd carefully plot a circuit of the yard and take into consideration corner apex. Occasionally a stick would be put in its path for a turf shredding burnout.

Distracted, I never did find that throttle clip but I gave it a quick service and cleared a spot in the main garage for my old sprinkler tractor to remind me what started all of this...

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Digging through the back shed this arvo looking for a long lost throttle link clip for the Cortina I dug this one out. The sprinkler tractor that kicked off my interest in all things mechanical.
image
One of my childhood pocket money jobs was watering the lawn. Frankly it had knobs on it, standing there with the hose so by accident I found out about the agricultural revolution with this old machine Dad had laying around.

My productivity went up in leaps and bounds and each payday came much easier.

I also learned maintenance. Under the top cover is a set of gears that need greasing and the rear axle also has an oil hole. I experimented with many different grades and viscosities over the years.

Then there was performance, the nozzles needed constant cleaning and the angles changing for maximum throw and coverage.

It tracks the hose so I'd carefully plot a circuit of the yard and take into consideration corner apex. Occasionally a stick would be put in its path for a turf shredding burnout.

Distracted, I never did find that throttle clip but I gave it a quick service and cleared a spot in the main garage for my old sprinkler tractor to remind me what started all of this...

Love stuff like that. Did you plug the hose in and give it a run?

[DFB FGXR6]

Mowing with a face mask whilst wearing eye protection isn't particularly fun. So do I compromise by lowering the mask to avoid fogging up or risk an eye injury but keep my mask on properly?

[.:4:.]

Class it as excersize. Just keep a mask in your back pocket. Or go face sheild. I dont think many people will walk up to have a conversation when you are mowing or most things that involve gardening equipment. Proper respirator mask things with the filters dont fog up safety glasses or goggles, but how far do you go? I did have one of those respirators for asbestos removal, but for good reason it got disposed of.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Mowing with a face mask whilst wearing eye protection isn't particularly fun. So do I compromise by lowering the mask to avoid fogging up or risk an eye injury but keep my mask on properly?

Not sure if its 'regulation' in the current situation but I use one of these, works well and doesn't fog up.

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Love stuff like that. Did you plug the hose in and give it a run?

Not yet, I gave the body a spray of lanolin today and stuck it in the garage with the Escort. Good to hear it made you smile, brings back good memories for me.
The other thing this machine taught me was respect, once that spray booms moving it stops for no shin, I only did that once

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Not sure if its 'regulation' in the current situation but I use one of these, works well and doesn't fog up.
image


Not yet, I gave the body a spray of lanolin today and stuck it in the garage with the Escort. Good to hear it made you smile, brings back good memories for me.
The other thing this machine taught me was respect, once that spray booms moving it stops for no shin, I only did that once

I ended up compromising by lowering the mask below my nose to prevent fogging but kept my mouth covered. The reality is, I am in an open space and not conveying with people, hardly risking others or myself.

I was into sprinklers and anything related at the same age too. I learnt that if the lawn was watered it meant that I could mow the lawn more. And now its my job ha ha.

[Tonz]

as an 8 year old I started mowing lawns and getting paid. with some old hand push thing, (we are going back to late 50's more people wanted me to do theirs and so it grew.
By the time I turned 15 and ready to shaft school, I owned a 6x4 trailer, 5 push movers, an old Masport roller cut mower and paid other kids to mow the lawns, I didnt do any, I must have been paying well as I had a waiting list of future employees,
Dad would drop the trailer and gear off on a street, we would do the whole street and grass between footpath and road. Dad also got paid for his work,

Turned 15 sold it in 24 hours to another school kid and bought a '56 Ford V8 Pilot car Then went into corner grocery full time and sold cars part time.

[arronm]

I scored a mower at a curb collection. Wouldnt start and broken starter handle. Cleaned the plug and away it went first pull. New blades and service then Gumtree $100

Someone should get the many years of service this mower can still provide. What a shame to go on the dump...

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by arronm

I scored a mower at a curb collection. Wouldnt start and broken starter handle. Cleaned the plug and away it went first pull. New blades and service then Gumtree $100

A lot of people give up on gardening equipment due to lack of maintenace/knowledge. My most reliable thing was gifted because it was a piece of ****. But fuel system, that was cheap enough, and a spark plug. Its apples. Its been apples for a few years now.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Digging through the back shed this arvo looking for a long lost throttle link clip for the Cortina I dug this one out. The sprinkler tractor that kicked off my interest in all things mechanical.
image
One of my childhood pocket money jobs was watering the lawn. Frankly it had knobs on it, standing there with the hose so by accident I found out about the agricultural revolution with this old machine Dad had laying around.

My productivity went up in leaps and bounds and each payday came much easier.

I also learned maintenance. Under the top cover is a set of gears that need greasing and the rear axle also has an oil hole. I experimented with many different grades and viscosities over the years.

Then there was performance, the nozzles needed constant cleaning and the angles changing for maximum throw and coverage.

It tracks the hose so I'd carefully plot a circuit of the yard and take into consideration corner apex. Occasionally a stick would be put in its path for a turf shredding burnout.

Distracted, I never did find that throttle clip but I gave it a quick service and cleared a spot in the main garage for my old sprinkler tractor to remind me what started all of this...

I had a fascination with watering, I had a pope tractor sprinkler, and was such a weirdo, every birthday I wanted a new sprinkler. I had them all lined up in the shed to show visitors.
I then had this thing that I had to find the underground sprinkler system where ever we were, more than once at someone’s house or park I switched on the pop ups. People hate that when they’re sitting around having a bbq.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

I had a fascination with watering, I had a pope tractor sprinkler, and was such a weirdo, every birthday I wanted a new sprinkler. I had them all lined up in the shed to show visitors.
I then had this thing that I had to find the underground sprinkler system where ever we were, more than once at someone’s house or park I switched on the pop ups. People hate that when they’re sitting around having a bbq.

I'm feeling slightly less weird after reading that, I can relate to a lot of similarities there.

[DFB FGXR6]

The Rover's drive system wasn't happy the last few times I have used it, binding and grinding sounded like an expensive repair was on the cards. I decided I would try some graphite lube on the gears inside the wheels before sending it to the shop. Success! Not sure how long it will last but it has bought me some more time.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I ended up compromising by lowering the mask below my nose to prevent fogging but kept my mouth covered. The reality is, I am in an open space and not conveying with people, hardly risking others or myself.

I was into sprinklers and anything related at the same age too. I learnt that if the lawn was watered it meant that I could mow the lawn more. And now its my job ha ha.

Down here in country Victoria you are not required to wear a mask on a jobsite if you have a medical condition like Asthma or are doing strenuous work ie digging, using push mower, lifting heavy objects etc.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Down here in country Victoria you are not required to wear a mask on a jobsite if you have a medical condition like Asthma or are doing strenuous work ie digging, using push mower, lifting heavy objects etc.

Down here in Melbourne I'm not allowed to work! Lord knows what my gardens/lawns are going to look like after 6 weeks of no attention.

Lucky we are not coming into spring, no wait.....

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Down here in Melbourne I'm not allowed to work! Lord knows what my gardens/lawns are going to look like after 6 weeks of no attention.

Lucky we are not coming into spring, no wait.....

That would be my biggest fear, apart from actually catching the virus, to be told to not work. Gardens are hardly going to stop growing or needing attention.

[Tonz]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Down here in Melbourne I'm not allowed to work! Lord knows what my gardens/lawns are going to look like after 6 weeks of no attention.

Lucky we are not coming into spring, no wait.....

can you 'help' out your mother in law? how many do you have now, not working as such, just helping out.....

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by Tonz

can you 'help' out your mother in law? how many do you have now, not working as such, just helping out.....

I got a bobcat in at my place the day before lock down and riped out the driveway.
I have over 1002m of brick paving to keep me busy!

[roKWiz]

Man, Left the grass grow a week to long, imo.
Cutting an acre of long wet grass with a push mower can be a pain but it looks good again now.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Man, Left the grass grow a week to long, imo.
Cutting an acre of long wet grass with a push mower can be a pain but it looks good again now.

image

image

That looks like paradise mate

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

That looks like paradise mate

Xanadu you reckon. The neighbours enjoy it more than I do.

[Rallye Sport]

I had a funny one on the golf course this morning...
We get the odd car in there, usually the driving range, a bit of circle work in the middle of the night, followed by the repair job by yours truly.

So its 8am and I've just about finished my chores when I'm waved down by some golfers and told theres a car on the course. Fearing a day of repairs I soon found him on the 8th, not interested in the circle work this guy was quite happy just going for a sunday drive at 15km in his Mitsi Mirage. I easily pulled up along side him in the electric buggy and shouted "what the **** do you think you're doing mate? you can't be in here" He's politely given me the thumbs up, changed direction by 90 degrees, slipped though an impossible gap in the bollard line, indicated back onto the side street and driven off

Never a boring day working in public open space.

[DFB FGXR6]

Happy new Mower Day to me!!





Spring growth is upon us and the Rover ProCut that I have been using for the last 6 years is starting to protest. I would normally have updated this mower before now but have been procrastinating it's replacement for at least 18 months now.

Rover changed the deck design of the ProCut series, along with adding additional features like blade brake. Rover kept the full width chute that is important for efficient catching. Talking to my dealers mechanic, he warned me that there had been problems with the new model and Rover's chopping and changing of engines ruled it out for me.

I wasn't drawn to the Honda mowers for one reason or another although I did pop into to have another look at my local dealer. They had none in stock, none on the floor. Honda ruled out again.

Which is where this Bushranger comes into the picture.



Snappily named the 53AH6IMSP 800SP, this is a 3 Speed self-propelled Honda GXV160 powered mower with a 21 inch alloy deck. This thing is built like a tank, feeling really solid and stiff. I love the hefty height adjuster, alloy wheels and strong handle adjusters.













This mower has a shaft drive meaning a half chute, something that I was worried wouldn't live up to the Rovers wet catching ability. I will just have to see how it go's, I will be keeping the ProCut as a backup if it struggles with these conditions.



Interesting to note that despite the Honda badge, these engines are made in China.



Trying it out on a couple of lawns today gave me confidence in its abilities. The first lawn was full of thick clover, it sucked it up no problem at all.



The second lawn was covered in fallen Camphor Laurel leaves. The catcher was packed solid.





The fabric mesh bag also empties much easier than a solid plastic catcher.



Side by side, the Rover shows its age.


That Kohler engine I never really liked. It's muffler is too small, meaning it's a noisy companion. It has always burnt oil, not in a smokey way but needed top ups regularly. I have always been a Briggs man so taking on a Honda is like a Ford man crossing the line into Holden land.

A new machine also means learning to use it too. I need to learn which height adjustments to make for each lawn. Very keen to see how it performs, hopefully I get 6 years out of it like I did with the Rover.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Happy new Mower Day to me!!

image

image

Spring growth is upon us and the Rover ProCut that I have been using for the last 6 years is starting to protest. I would normally have updated this mower before now but have been procrastinating it's replacement for at least 18 months now.

Rover changed the deck design of the ProCut series, along with adding additional features like blade brake. Rover kept the full width chute that is important for efficient catching. Talking to my dealers mechanic, he warned me that there had been problems with the new model and Rover's chopping and changing of engines ruled it out for me.

I wasn't drawn to the Honda mowers for one reason or another although I did pop into to have another look at my local dealer. They had none in stock, none on the floor. Honda ruled out again.

Which is where this Bushranger comes into the picture.

image

Snappily named the 53AH6IMSP 800SP, this is a 3 Speed self-propelled Honda GXV160 powered mower with a 21 inch alloy deck. This thing is built like a tank, feeling really solid and stiff. I love the hefty height adjuster, alloy wheels and strong handle adjusters.

image

image

image

image

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This mower has a shaft drive meaning a half chute, something that I was worried wouldn't live up to the Rovers wet catching ability. I will just have to see how it go's, I will be keeping the ProCut as a backup if it struggles with these conditions.

image

Interesting to note that despite the Honda badge, these engines are made in China.

image

Trying it out on a couple of lawns today gave me confidence in its abilities. The first lawn was full of thick clover, it sucked it up no problem at all.

image

The second lawn was covered in fallen Camphor Laurel leaves. The catcher was packed solid.

image

image

The fabric mesh bag also empties much easier than a solid plastic catcher.

image

Side by side, the Rover shows its age.
image

That Kohler engine I never really liked. It's muffler is too small, meaning it's a noisy companion. It has always burnt oil, not in a smokey way but needed top ups regularly. I have always been a Briggs man so taking on a Honda is like a Ford man crossing the line into Holden land.

A new machine also means learning to use it too. I need to learn which height adjustments to make for each lawn. Very keen to see how it performs, hopefully I get 6 years out of it like I did with the Rover.

Nice mate, the body and fittings look solid. My HRU196 has a sticker “Assembled in Australia by Honda from imported and local components”.
2 things I love about it
-fuel tank is large (1.5lt I think) interesting to how it compares to your Kohler for fuel economy. Mine goes for weeks before filling.
-solid air filter like you’d find on a car.

Let us know how you get on with it ;)

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Nice mate, the body and fittings look solid. My HRU196 has a sticker “Assembled in Australia by Honda from imported and local components”.
2 things I love about it
-fuel tank is large (1.5lt I think) interesting to how it compares to your Kohler for fuel economy. Mine goes for weeks before filling.
-solid air filter like you’d find on a car.

Let us know how you get on with it ;)

Yes, 1.5lt fuel tank on GXV engines. I do like the Kohler's wider fuel cap opening better though. The Kohler is a slightly larger engine at 173 cc compared to the 163cc Honda, will be interesting to see what the fuel use is like. And yes, the air filter is a nice unit.

Have you upped the revs on the HRU? Also, out of interest, does your engine have the same build location sticker on the back of the fuel tank?

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Yes, 1.5lt fuel tank on GXV engines. I do like the Kohler's wider fuel cap opening better though. The Kohler is a slightly larger engine at 173 cc compared to the 163cc Honda, will be interesting to see what the fuel use is like. And yes, the air filter is a nice unit.

Have you upped the revs on the HRU? Also, out of interest, does your engine have the same build location sticker on the back of the fuel tank?

I haven’t had to increase the revs as it never bogs down, the build sticker on mine is on the chassis just in front of the flap.
Mine didn’t come with quick release handle levers, and I CBF unscrewing each side before putting it in the van, so I built a ply and timber cradle to stop it rolling back and smashing the window.

[DFB FGXR6]

I gave the Bushranger it's first big workout today. Five extra large lawns with extensive, wide nature strips. Three were at three-week growth, the other two were at two weeks.











There is never a perfect mower, which is why I have so many, but this Bushranger performed very well today. I spent most of my time in third gear for those extra big areas, second gear for tighter and more intricate spots. Fuel economy seems similar to the Kohler, although it is still a very young engine. It was also nice to not have the smell of burnt oil in the air, something that was getting worse and worse with my old Rover. Speaking of oil, after today, it won't be long before I need to change the initial fill oil, the manual recommending a change at 5 hours then 25 hours thereafter. I love the soft catcher too, much easier to empty. I like this Honda engine more than the Kohler, it's smoother and quieter and seems to just purr along without fuss.

End of the day at the tip, I don't think I could have fitted more onto the ute if I tried. The man who took the money was impressed with the new mower too.



An aching back and a sore neck, I'm going to sleep well tonight!

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I gave the Bushranger it's first big workout today. Five extra large lawns with extensive, wide nature strips. Three were at three-week growth, the other two were at two weeks.

image

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image

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There is never a perfect mower, which is why I have so many, but this Bushranger performed very well today. I spent most of my time in third gear for those extra big areas, second gear for tighter and more intricate spots. Fuel economy seems similar to the Kohler, although it is still a very young engine. It was also nice to not have the smell of burnt oil in the air, something that was getting worse and worse with my old Rover. Speaking of oil, after today, it won't be long before I need to change the initial fill oil, the manual recommending a change at 5 hours then 25 hours thereafter. I love the soft catcher too, much easier to empty. I like this Honda engine more than the Kohler, it's smoother and quieter and seems to just purr along without fuss.

End of the day at the tip, I don't think I could have fitted more onto the ute if I tried. The man who took the money was impressed with the new mower too.

image

An aching back and a sore neck, I'm going to sleep well tonight!

That's a serious mower ...I've always been a fan of Honda equipment...Never owned any of their gear yet but I know a few who have or do ..That Honda liking is basically on the back of their very very good engines ..Bushranger have done good by offering a Honda power plant option I reckon on their mower range..How are Bushy's priced these days especially the ones aimed to the professional customers ..Just curious .

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

That's a serious mower ...I've always been a fan of Honda equipment...Never owned any of their gear yet but I know a few who have or do ..That Honda liking is basically on the back of their very very good engines ..Bushranger have done good by offering a Honda power plant option I reckon on their mower range..How are Bushy's priced these days especially the ones aimed to the professional customers ..Just curious .

Bushranger prices seem to be in the ball park of comparable Victa's and Masports. Not sure I would choose a non-commercial Bushranger over a Victa to be honest.

https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-products/lawn-mowers

The model I chose just seemed to tick most of the boxes for me. The 53AH6IMSP 800SP is expensive, but then so are Honda's. I got a bit of a regular customer discount

https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...er-pu53ah6imsp

[DFB FGXR6]

First oil change today.

Early? A little bit but as they say, oil is cheap.............



I also inspected the air filter, it's amazing how quickly they accumulate debris.

The Bushranger faced the ultimate test today. Damp/wet tall grass, bagged with ease. The Honda GXV doesn't seem to bog down either, just hunkers down and gets on with it.

[MITCHAY]

Well I put down some weed and feed a couple of weeks ago. I also used the manual aerator too.

I have heaps of green shoots coming through strong now but I did not remove the thatch

So do I cut it low with the mower and rake the **** out of the thatch or not? Is it worth doing with couch grass?