Mowing ..

[.:4:.]

The rain held off for a bit so i did give the edger attachment a proper go. Got 40m done before it rained again. Dunno why i didnt buy one sooner, i grossely underestimated how far the grass had grown over my driveway. Clean up was easy, 7 inches wide and it rolled up like turf from a grass farm.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

The rain held off for a bit so i did give the edger attachment a proper go. Got 40m done before it rained again. Dunno why i didnt buy one sooner, i grossely underestimated how far the grass had grown over my driveway. Clean up was easy, 7 inches wide and it rolled up like turf from a grass farm.

Will be much easier to maintain from this point onwards now that you have made a groove with the blade.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Will be much easier to maintain from this point onwards now that you have made a groove with the blade.

Thats the plan. Still got another 120m of edges to go on the pads of my driveway alone. Its 55m long but theres 2 pads with the grass in the middle that are 42m long. So thats the pain in the hole area. For reasons unbeknown to me (maybe the fact the sewer main runs beside my driveway) the grass there grows like its on a coctail of steroids and viagra. But im of the opinion that crap grass with crisp edges looks better then good grass with ragity edges.

[.:4:.]

Oh, and for the 1 other person who has an ozito pmt-004 and reckons an edger power head (i think thats the term used) is a good idea. Ebay stuff that claims the world. The spines fit, the shaft fits, but they take about 3 minutes to modify to make them actually work. So where the thread for the locking screw to screw into is 90° off. And too far down the shaft to enguage the splines.
I had the tools on hand so for me it was a 3 minute job to make the edger head fit mint. Tools required. Spirit level (optional) drill, drill bit, tap and a t handle. So get the right orientation and spline engagement, drill and tap the shaft. Bolt it up then happy days it.

[PG2]

What a day...

I think my Toro ride-on has become jealous of the new mower!!!

It threw a drive belt the other day. What should be a 45 minute job turned into a 2 hour job as the belt got caught up in the engine area and I had to pull half of the mower apart to get the belt out.

I started mowing and noticed it was cutting unevenly and was leaving ruts in the lawn. I mucked around with it for another 2 hours before looking more closely and found one of the torsion bars had popped out of it's socket - next time I will make sure I am wearing my glasses.

Mind you, to pop the torsion bar back in you have to be a man of steel. I ended up getting it in using a ratchet strap.

By the time I finished mowing with the ride-on it was completely dark. You would think that would stop me from using my new mower wouldn't you? Nup, there I was, in the complete darkness, with a torch mowing some of the lawn!!!

A couple of good and bad things along with a couple of first world problems with it;

• It is certainly heavier to push than my old toy mower from bunnings.
• The push handles where you sit your hands are a tad low, however, I am sure that I will get used to this.
• Easy to start - well it is once you realise that you have turned the petrol off instead of on.
• It cut through the long and think grass like butter.
• With the old mower I would have had to unclog it at least once and emptied the catcher at least twice. This one I emptied the catcher once.

The big test will be tomorrow when I do around the orchard pushing it around trees and mowing a larger area. So far though, I am very happy with it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by PG2

What a day...

I think my Toro ride-on has become jealous of the new mower!!!

It threw a drive belt the other day. What should be a 45 minute job turned into a 2 hour job as the belt got caught up in the engine area and I had to pull half of the mower apart to get the belt out.

I started mowing and noticed it was cutting unevenly and was leaving ruts in the lawn. I mucked around with it for another 2 hours before looking more closely and found one of the torsion bars had popped out of it's socket - next time I will make sure I am wearing my glasses.

Mind you, to pop the torsion bar back in you have to be a man of steel. I ended up getting it in using a ratchet strap.

By the time I finished mowing with the ride-on it was completely dark. You would think that would stop me from using my new mower wouldn't you? Nup, there I was, in the complete darkness, with a torch mowing some of the lawn!!!

A couple of good and bad things along with a couple of first world problems with it;

• It is certainly heavier to push than my old toy mower from bunnings.
• The push handles where you sit your hands are a tad low, however, I am sure that I will get used to this.
• Easy to start - well it is once you realise that you have turned the petrol off instead of on.
• It cut through the long and think grass like butter.
• With the old mower I would have had to unclog it at least once and emptied the catcher at least twice. This one I emptied the catcher once.

The big test will be tomorrow when I do around the orchard pushing it around trees and mowing a larger area. So far though, I am very happy with it.

I leave the fuel taps open on my mower, even when transporting. I think the only reason why you would turn the tap off would be when servicing the carb. I would also get a spare air filter if you do a lot of dusty mowing, it makes it an easy task to swap/clean/swap each inspection. The lack of a high mount snorkel style air filter is a strange omission on these engines. I tap/blow out the air filter weekly on mine, you would/should only need to do this monthly depending on use.

You will get used to the added weight, and with the extra few inches of cutting width, you will reduce your mowing time overall. The handle angle I struggled with on my Honda, again you will adapt.

Nothing cuts like a brand new mower. Did it pack the catcher tight. If it did you will most likely have the high-lift blades fitted. And how did you like the engine?

[PG2]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I leave the fuel taps open on my mower, even when transporting. I think the only reason why you would turn the tap off would be when servicing the carb. I would also get a spare air filter if you do a lot of dusty mowing, it makes it an easy task to swap/clean/swap each inspection. The lack of a high mount snorkel style air filter is a strange omission on these engines. I tap/blow out the air filter weekly on mine, you would/should only need to do this monthly depending on use.

You will get used to the added weight, and with the extra few inches of cutting width, you will reduce your mowing time overall. The handle angle I struggled with on my Honda, again you will adapt.

Nothing cuts like a brand new mower. Did it pack the catcher tight. If it did you will most likely have the high-lift blades fitted. And how did you like the engine?

Not that I noticed at the time, but yeah, it did pack the catcher tightly. The engine was reasonably quiet but as you say it is new.

[anobserver]

Hey all,

I have two older Victas, a 20yo four and an even older 2 stroke. Both look pretty beaten up but start easily and cut well. Have just put new blades on each and they're running ok, but won't last forever.

I was looking over the row of new mowers at my local store. Its an old school affair run by an older couple, and they're always flat out.

Anyway, I was looking for a four-blader that also mulches for our suburban patch. Its a reasonably sized yard, and was wondering everyone thinks of the Masport brand. They suggested masport because they believe parts are easier to get and that the build quality is better than the current Chinese made Victas.

I was directed to this option:
https://masport.com.au/outdoor-garde...bo-mow-n-stow-

I have an elderly parent who occasionally asks me what i'll do with an inheritance. Maybe he expects me to talk about cars or holidays. Instead I regularly respond about lashing out on a new mower. He loves it!

Thanks in advance,


NB for you DFB, my much used 2 stroke.

[.:4:.]

Finished off my edging. The bit i did today was way thicker then yesterdays effort. Cutting the edges was the easy bit. The tool does all the work. Rolling up all the strips of turf. That was the labourious part.
But very pleased with edger attachment.

[five 7]

Picked this up a couple of months ago probably half to two thirds off mowing time faster than the old Husky ride on, plus cuts superb, grass feels like walking on really thick shagpille carpet.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by anobserver

Hey all,

I have two older Victas, a 20yo four and an even older 2 stroke. Both look pretty beaten up but start easily and cut well. Have just put new blades on each and they're running ok, but won't last forever.

I was looking over the row of new mowers at my local store. Its an old school affair run by an older couple, and they're always flat out.

Anyway, I was looking for a four-blader that also mulches for our suburban patch. Its a reasonably sized yard, and was wondering everyone thinks of the Masport brand. They suggested masport because they believe parts are easier to get and that the build quality is better than the current Chinese made Victas.

I was directed to this option:
https://masport.com.au/outdoor-garde...bo-mow-n-stow-

I have an elderly parent who occasionally asks me what i'll do with an inheritance. Maybe he expects me to talk about cars or holidays. Instead I regularly respond about lashing out on a new mower. He loves it!

Thanks in advance,


NB for you DFB, my much used 2 stroke.

image

I had one of those 19inch steel based Masport's, mine had the larger 190cc Briggs and Stratton 850 on it.

https://masport.com.au/outdoor-garde...st-s19-2-n1-ic

I had that thing for less than 3 months before the axle ground into the chassis, it was basically scrap after that and couldn't be repaired. Now, my usage case is more than most homeowners, but nowhere as much as a full time lawn contractor. However, that's not something I have had happen with any of the countless other mowers I have had over the years. And for that reason I just can't recommend them.

Considering how you mention having a larger yard, I would be aiming for a 19 inch base, preferably alloy and with a larger engine than the 150cc on the Masport you linked above.

Victa Corvette 400 with the 163cc engine. The base is steel on this one -
https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...vette-400.html

Victa Mustang with the 190cc engine. I have had a number of these over the years, this is an alloy base that is very high quality, a step above the cheaper steal bases. You pay more for this one, but it will last a LOT longer than a steel base mower. The engine also has a cast iron bore for longevity.
https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...stang-850.html

Bushranger 48AL7M with a 196cc engine with a cast iron bore. Alloy base and built like a tank.
https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...loy-base-mower

I can vouch for both the Victa Mustang and Bushranger, both very good machines.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I had one of those 19inch steel based Masport's, mine had the larger 190cc Briggs and Stratton 850 on it.

https://masport.com.au/outdoor-garde...st-s19-2-n1-ic

I had that thing for less than 3 months before the axle ground into the chassis, it was basically scrap after that and couldn't be repaired. Now, my usage case is more than most homeowners, but nowhere as much as a full time lawn contractor. However, that's not something I have had happen with any of the countless other mowers I have had over the years. And for that reason I just can't recommend them.

Considering how you mention having a larger yard, I would be aiming for a 19 inch base, preferably alloy and with a larger engine than the 150cc on the Masport you linked above.

Victa Corvette 400 with the 163cc engine. The base is steel on this one -
https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...vette-400.html

Victa Mustang with the 190cc engine. I have had a number of these over the years, this is an alloy base that is very high quality, a step above the cheaper steal bases. You pay more for this one, but it will last a LOT longer than a steel base mower. The engine also has a cast iron bore for longevity.
https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...stang-850.html

Bushranger 48AL7M with a 196cc engine with a cast iron bore. Alloy base and built like a tank.
https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...loy-base-mower

I can vouch for both the Victa Mustang and Bushranger, both very good machines.

Thanks DFB, much appreciated. I like the look of the Victa Mustang, might check that one out. The bushranger looks to be a nice bit of kit too, but that added weight does put me off.

The yard has a mild slope to it and the added weight might mean more effort required, even when mowing sideways along the slope.

Thanks muchly for the advice!

[.:4:.]

So ill start by saying, this one area of my yard is useless, no one goes there. Its an odd triangle bordered by my house, fence and garage. Only things in that area are my hot water unit, ac unit and meter panel. So that area doesnt get much sun. It was over run by weeds, 2 months or so back i scalped it hard with the whipper snipper and its just remained as a dirt patch. Well, with the consistent rains a mud patch. I thought about seeding it for all of about 5 seconds.
I turfed it. Man i appreciate buying an edger. The amount of overgrowth i cut back from the concrete pads of my driveway was enough to turf that area. Its going to take a bit to re establish. But still. So it emptied my garden waste bin. That was full of turf, no grass clippings. Works out well for me as if it remains non raining i need to mow the other sections of grass i have as its green bin week.

[GasoLane]

My Brothers is in Thailand at the moment and the people he's staying with had a visit from 'Jims Mowing'

[.:4:.]

Im a tad bummed out. So the ozito pmt-004 i bought i have learnt to really like. The pros outweigh the cons.
I wasted a fair amount of time trying to find another to give to my brother. So he lives in a town house with a tiny yet overgrown yard with a tree in it. Perfect tool to slash, tidy and trim the tree. After that every month it would be a 5 minute job to maintain.
So for $170, cant go wrong really.
Well, in my searches i looked up the ozito website. The pmt-004 was a promotional item. They made X amount, sent them to bunnings's, if you got one you got one but that was it. So that sucks sort of.
As for parts for this thing? Im not concerned in the slightest. Ive already put a more robust line spool on it (the stock plastic one was fine but flimsy), none of the wear items like say the chain for the polesaw, slasher blade, line for the whipper snipper spool, spark plug, fuel cap, fuel line, fuel filter or primer bulb are specific to this model. If anything major craps out, well its bin worthy. It was only $170.
The better spool was $29 and has a metal bump knob. The edger power head, that was $86 and required a hole to be drilled and tapped, but works flawlessly.
So dunno, maybe they'll bring them out proper in the future with say a revised ripcord and spool. If they do i doubt theyd be as cheap as the promotional ones.

[.:4:.]

Happy but kind of not in the same way.
So the shaded area i turfed with the rolls i cut off my driveway with the edger, its growing great. Needs a mow. Nice and green, but the roots havent taken to the dirt underneath yet. So its all effectively still like a carpet rug. Hit that with the mower it'll just chomp it up defeating the whole purpose.

[Citroënbender]

Utility mowers, for heavy cutting/slashing…

Thinking a second-hand one might be good to have for my block. I’d chain it up there, under cover. Still some reasonable chance it will be stolen or vandalised, so nothing high-end. Something that can survive on realistic maintenance intervals of 12-18 months.

What might be found second-hand, which approaches this working brief?

[mad2]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Utility mowers, for heavy cutting/slashing…

Thinking a second-hand one might be good to have for my block. I’d chain it up there, under cover. Still some reasonable chance it will be stolen or vandalised, so nothing high-end. Something that can survive on realistic maintenance intervals of 12-18 months.

What might be found second-hand, which approaches this working brief?

personally i wouldn't leave it there even chained up as your only there 'sometimes'. & yes .... pain dragging back home.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Im a tad bummed out. So the ozito pmt-004 i bought i have learnt to really like. The pros outweigh the cons.
I wasted a fair amount of time trying to find another to give to my brother. So he lives in a town house with a tiny yet overgrown yard with a tree in it. Perfect tool to slash, tidy and trim the tree. After that every month it would be a 5 minute job to maintain.
So for $170, cant go wrong really.
Well, in my searches i looked up the ozito website. The pmt-004 was a promotional item. They made X amount, sent them to bunnings's, if you got one you got one but that was it. So that sucks sort of.
As for parts for this thing? Im not concerned in the slightest. Ive already put a more robust line spool on it (the stock plastic one was fine but flimsy), none of the wear items like say the chain for the polesaw, slasher blade, line for the whipper snipper spool, spark plug, fuel cap, fuel line, fuel filter or primer bulb are specific to this model. If anything major craps out, well its bin worthy. It was only $170.
The better spool was $29 and has a metal bump knob. The edger power head, that was $86 and required a hole to be drilled and tapped, but works flawlessly.
So dunno, maybe they'll bring them out proper in the future with say a revised ripcord and spool. If they do i doubt theyd be as cheap as the promotional ones.

Pretty much covered it with Ozito, a throw away product for the price you pay once its broken down.
I did have a blower once upon a time long ago, did ok then bined it.
For the very casual gardener I get it, suitable for them.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Pretty much covered it with Ozito, a throw away product for the price you pay once its broken down.
I did have a blower once upon a time long ago, did ok then bined it.
For the very casual gardener I get it, suitable for them.

So more for the cheapy electric power tools, i know a few of the occasional diy'ers who will but the cheap ozito rubbish grinder/sander/jiggy/circ saw or whatever for 1 off projects and keep the receipt for the 1 year replacement warrenty. Kill it, if they still need to use it take it back, if they dont, wait out the remainder of the warrenty then take it back then. Ive never done that, but apparently the warrenty restarts after every replacement.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

So more for the cheapy electric power tools, i know a few of the occasional diy'ers who will but the cheap ozito rubbish grinder/sander/jiggy/circ saw or whatever for 1 off projects and keep the receipt for the 1 year replacement warrenty. Kill it, if they still need to use it take it back, if they dont, wait out the remainder of the warrenty then take it back then. Ive never done that, but apparently the warrenty restarts after every replacement.

Can’t really have any respect for people who deliberately overwork something just to get a new no cost replacement.That is why power tools cost so much

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

So more for the cheapy electric power tools, i know a few of the occasional diy'ers who will but the cheap ozito rubbish grinder/sander/jiggy/circ saw or whatever for 1 off projects and keep the receipt for the 1 year replacement warrenty. Kill it, if they still need to use it take it back, if they dont, wait out the remainder of the warrenty then take it back then. Ive never done that, but apparently the warrenty restarts after every replacement.

can't stand shonksters, smug b astrads and why life gets harder for the honest person.

[.:4:.]

Power tools, cheap or expensive, they arent hard. If it gets hot, do something else for 5 or 10 and let it cool down. Common sense.
So at my last job, work supplied power tools. The way it wprked was every tradesman had the plant equipment and apprentices used it.
There started to be a lot of finger pointing on a few sites when Milwaukees, dewalts, makitas or whatever would crap out when only a few months old. So nobody would own up. So what the boss did was buy (not me, my **** was all still good) all the other tradesmen and all the apprenti their own drill/driver kits. Rules were, if it dies due to misuse within 12 months, the replacement is their expense.
So that was for the project monkeys.
So when my makita crapped out i called it in. It was a brushed one and the brushes had worn out. So it was 11 years old and i said to the office if you can get me new brushes I'll solder those in.
So, in 6 or so weeks the boss bought all the persons on the project teams their own stuff, all but 1 drill survived.
I copped a bit of flack about this, but it was more the boss making a statement. I didn't get the new brushes i asked for. I got the top of the line makita brushless drill driver kit.
So when my boss handed me the new units, he remarked, if those guys had to pay for their own, they'd deffinately treat them better.
So that being said, i dont work there anymore so their tools were returned, but i do have powertools. Stuff i tend to use i dont cheap out on. Stuff i use on the rare occasion i do cheap out on. Regardless its all the same formula. Hot = let it cool down. If it labours = gets hot.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Power tools, cheap or expensive, they arent hard. If it gets hot, do something else for 5 or 10 and let it cool down. Common sense.
So at my last job, work supplied power tools. The way it wprked was every tradesman had the plant equipment and apprentices used it.
There started to be a lot of finger pointing on a few sites when Milwaukees, dewalts, makitas or whatever would crap out when only a few months old. So nobody would own up. So what the boss did was buy (not me, my **** was all still good) all the other tradesmen and all the apprenti their own drill/driver kits. Rules were, if it dies due to misuse within 12 months, the replacement is their expense.
So that was for the project monkeys.
So when my makita crapped out i called it in. It was a brushed one and the brushes had worn out. So it was 11 years old and i said to the office if you can get me new brushes I'll solder those in.
So, in 6 or so weeks the boss bought all the persons on the project teams their own stuff, all but 1 drill survived.
I copped a bit of flack about this, but it was more the boss making a statement. I didn't get the new brushes i asked for. I got the top of the line makita brushless drill driver kit.
So when my boss handed me the new units, he remarked, if those guys had to pay for their own, they'd deffinately treat them better.
So that being said, i dont work there anymore so their tools were returned, but i do have powertools. Stuff i tend to use i dont cheap out on. Stuff i use on the rare occasion i do cheap out on. Regardless its all the same formula. Hot = let it cool down. If it labours = gets hot.

And the brushes aren’t soldered so about a 5-10 min job to fit new Makita brushes

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Utility mowers, for heavy cutting/slashing…

Thinking a second-hand one might be good to have for my block. I’d chain it up there, under cover. Still some reasonable chance it will be stolen or vandalised, so nothing high-end. Something that can survive on realistic maintenance intervals of 12-18 months.

What might be found second-hand, which approaches this working brief?

Are you talking about a Utility mower or Slasher mower.

I have had a Masport 530 21 inch Utility, it was a trouper. They also make a smaller 460 18 inch version.



The Superswift Big Bob and Bushranger T-Series are offered in the same 18 and 21 inch sizes. Just don't get the Kohler engines.



I also really like the little Victa Mastercut 460. These have been made for decades, I have the 2-stroke but they have been fitted with a variety of Briggs engines too.



If you can find one, a Victa Mulchmaster 560 or the earlier 550 are brilliant. Very stoutly build. I occasionally see 550's offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace, they don't last long because they are pretty well regarded. The newer ones have been fitted with 2-strokes as well as Honda and Briggs engines. I'm pretty sure the 550's were 2-stroke only. With the plug removed, these will both side discharge.

560 -



550 -



If you want something at the next level, you will be looking at a slasher type. Victa made the below up until recently.



Also search Billy Goat or Deutscher.

The trouble with Utility type mowers is they are generally worked till death, so finding a good second hand one will take some time or will need some form of mechanical work.

[Citroënbender]

Comprehensive advice - thanks.

It’s probably more slasher territory but a 21” utility mower might be my practical compromise. Are the Kohler engines really that bad? :o

Definitely feeling my lack of social media classifieds, as there’s very little on Dumbtree that’s even close.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Comprehensive advice - thanks.

It’s probably more slasher territory but a 21” utility mower might be my practical compromise. Are the Kohler engines really that bad? :o

Definitely feeling my lack of social media classifieds, as there’s very little on Dumbtree that’s even close.

The Kohler I had was on a Rover. It copped a beating but I never liked that engine. From new it burnt oil, was often harder to start than it should have been and was a noisy engine (the muffler on them is too small). The 173cc Kohler was also weaker than the smaller 163cc Honda that replaced it and just always seemed to lack the grunt/torque to get through the rougher stuff.

As much as it pains me to say this, I would also avoid the two-stroke machines. They have a lot of grunt but are finicky bastards to keep running over time.



In terms of finding one, put the feelers out to a variety of machinery shops, used utilities are pretty hard to find but they sometimes take them in as trades. They are pretty sought after so it's worth their while to refurbish and on-sell them.

[Citroënbender]

The other option is a 21” Bushranger with the cheapest (Loncin) motor. For intermittent use it would probably suffice. But it’s still $650 RRP, twice my ideal spend on a used item needing minor fettling.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The other option is a 21” Bushranger with the cheapest (Loncin) motor. For intermittent use it would probably suffice. But it’s still $650 RRP, twice my ideal spend on a used item needing minor fettling.

Check out Facebook market place,often see cheap mowers that owners cab’t be bothered spending a few bucks fixing

[Citroënbender]

I’m not on Faceache. The only social media I do is a couple of car forums.

Happy to hear of any “spots” per the units suggested by DFB.