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18-02-2023, 05:35 PM | #2161 | ||
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Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Northern Victoria, 2 hours from Melbourne.
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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18-02-2023, 05:46 PM | #2162 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,675
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So the way my place works. I live in my house, there is grass beside that and behind, then there is an upper yard section thats fenced off beside the granny flat i rent out. So my mate rents the granny flat and the upper fenced off section is his area to look after, the rest i look after. So nothing unusual about that agreement, i am the landlord.
He has a mower, but not a whipper snipper. I gave him a key to my car hold so if he needs to borrow my whipper snipper, ask first but yeah. Thing is, i have a quick reload spool. Its heaps easy, line up the arrows on the bump knob to the spool, line goes through one side out the other, even it up and wind it in. Yes it is that simple, however, my mates eyes arent good. But as blokes do, before i knew that fact, i was on his rear about being a spaz as its not hard. Then he told me and standard man response was 'you should have told me'. So i was out and about today. My mate asked me earlier this week if he could borrow the whipper snipper which was all good. Today i was out and about, my mate had done his area and whipper snippered my yard as a thanks which i do appreciate. Now all i have to do is take the 10 minutes to run my mower over the rest. But, the whipper snipper had no line in the spool. So not annoyed at my mate, but reminded me of something i forgot about. So the part # of my whippersnipper/multi tool is pmt-004. It was a promotional tool. So when i bought it the whippersnipper spool was a crappy plastic thing that took 2.4mm line and the plastic bump knob was just crap. So what i dones was order 2 larger spools with metal bump knobs that took 3mm line. I had completely forgotten that i had a second quick feed spool. So i put 3mm line on that, spoke to my mate and asked him if he knows swap'n'go, yes he did but thats gas bottles. So a quick demonstration of lining up the holes on the shaft and shoving a screwdriver in to lock it, then the spool is reverse thread to remove it, simples. Works well for me too, swapping the spool takes no time flat. Re lining the spool is also slightly easier off the tool. |
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19-02-2023, 03:52 PM | #2163 | ||
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Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Diving into my spare parts "department" today for oil changes on the Mulchmaster, Rover and Atom. The Rover also got a new snorkel air filter.
Blades, chains, spark plugs, air filters, oil filers, belts and chassis components................all ready to go when needed. While I do keep a spreadsheet log of machine maintenance, I find the visual of the last service date written on the machine a better way to remind me when it needs to be done again. For the Briggs 850, I put this on the oil filter, the Kohler and Honda on the dipstick boss, the Atom on the fuel tank. That tiny 850 oil filter at $20 is double the price of a Motorcraft filter for an FG Falcon! Both the Atom and Rover have been running hard this season, fresh oil is their reward. The Mulchmaster was last done in May last year, with the season ideal for mulching, I have been using this machine more recently. An oil change was probably overdue then. All three now running fresh Penrite 10W-30 Semi-Syn.
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19-02-2023, 04:04 PM | #2164 | ||
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Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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I have been using three main websites for spares, with occasional purchases from Ebay and Amazon. I was doing this occasionally before the "unpleasantness" with the local shop, now it's all online.
- Green Acres have most of what I need, most of which is aftermarket parts. https://www.greenacresmowers.com.au/ - All Mower Spare are also good, but their website is terribly slow to respond. https://www.allmowerspares.com.au/?g...SAAEgKa-_D_BwE - Outdoor King are good for more obscure parts, I recently got belts and chassis components from them for the Rover and Mulchmaster. https://www.outdoorking.com/ - BW Machinery supplied me my latest order with fantastic delivery time frame. https://bwmachinery.com.au/ AVOID AVOID AVOID Mower Center, extremely shonky service. https://www.hamptonmowerpower.com.au/
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19-02-2023, 05:24 PM | #2165 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 22,353
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A ”Junkyard Wars” type question. Customer has the following mowers as pictured, all run.
Quest is to reduce the collection to one “optimal” Frankenmower. Outgoings in this exercise to be no more than regular service items. The Masport has extremely wobbly wheels. Rover is much better. Gardenline, it’s low mileage but a half-width chute type. Would that be the Rover chassis with Gardenline motor, or Masport chassis with Rover wheels and Gardenline (Briggs) motor? Or some other iteration? |
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19-02-2023, 06:05 PM | #2166 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Quote:
Those Rover bases were very good, provided the Sprint 375 is in good health, that's the one to keep. If you are happy to piece one together, I would put the newer OHV Briggs on the Rover chassis. Or, swap the newer carb and fuel tank from the Sprint 375 onto the Masport engine and then fit that to the Rover. Save for the engine if its running properly, junk the Gardenline. If you want to keep the engine, if it has a bar blade, make sure to check the crankshaft hasn't been bent.
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19-02-2023, 06:24 PM | #2167 | |||
RS The Faster Fords
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Westralia
Posts: 1,694
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Quote:
We've had a shaky start to the year with the irrigation pumps going down on boxing day. We had no choice but to wait on contractors with specialized equipment to pull and service the pumps. Lots of long hours bringing in water then watering by hand. Lucky the weather was mild. Mild weather has not always been our friend though with cool temperatures, morning dews and fogs we had a fungal outbreak in the greens called fairy ring. With no registered fungicides available to treat this one we set up an IPM plan. Infected greens were mowed last to stop spread and machines sterilized after use. As the fungus matures it releases nitrogen that causes abnormal, patchy growth and colour. This was masked by topping up the unaffected areas with a tailored fertilizer. The fungus also causes the soil to become water repellant so a retaining style wetter was applied by hand to affected areas followed by targeted hand watering. Greens have recovered now with little to no scarring. With a Pro-am event scheduled for April theres more long hours to be done. We've been doing minor, targeted renovations on weak areas and conditions favouring it looks like we'll put on a good show. It's been quite a turnaround from a neglected club that was facing bankruptcy not so long ago.
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19-02-2023, 06:32 PM | #2168 | |||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,554
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Quote:
Pumps seem to know exactly when to fail don't they. Great turnaround by the way.
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19-02-2023, 09:27 PM | #2169 | |||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 22,353
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Quote:
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20-02-2023, 11:04 AM | #2170 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 11,270
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I have a Pope which had a half width chute, took to it with the grinder and now its full width and works great. Never use the catcher, I like my grass ?? clipping to run free.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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20-02-2023, 12:36 PM | #2171 | ||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,546
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Alot of hard work there Rallye Sport, well done to date.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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24-02-2023, 12:41 AM | #2172 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,614
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I’ve been thinking about getting a self propelled push mower as I’ve picked up a couple of larger mow jobs, my baller property will drop from 1000sqm down to 400sqm in the next 12 months meaning the huski ride on will get sold.
Which leads me to my dilemma, am I ready for a battery powered mower? The 52cm steel chassis ego has crap reviews, husqvarna does a twin battery domestic mower that uses the same Bli battery that my hedgers use. I’ve seen a couple of lawnies pull out battery pushies on their lawns, so we must be near a tipping point. I was looking at the Honda commercial self propelled stuff last week, and had this sense of them being outdated dinosaurs considering I don’t mow for 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. Opinions?
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24-02-2023, 08:28 AM | #2173 | |||
Former BTIKD
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
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Quote:
I Emailed EGO with serial number and purchase receipt and got a reply the next day telling me to take it to xxxxxx as that is their warranty place here. Ego aren't cheap but they have a 5 year warranty on the mower and 3 years on battery and charger.
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Dying at your job is natures way of saying that you're in the wrong line of work.
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24-02-2023, 01:15 PM | #2174 | |||
T3/Sprint8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,546
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Quote:
I'm on 1200sqm but obviously house/granny flat/studio take up a far bit but with trimming then mowing probably around 2hrs or so of work with inclines a couple of sections. History in here will show my posts and questions and feedback from the DFB guru and others not that long ago.. Having been dis heartenned by battery performance for my hedging I came to the conclusion nothing beats horse power better still getting self propelled. Wish I had bought this type of mower 10yrs ago, its a pleasure to use and dinausor or not in 10yrs it won't let me down thats for sure. https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-ea...mower_p0080736
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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24-02-2023, 03:16 PM | #2175 | ||
HSV - I just ate one!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 3,170
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So.... my mower at home is a Honda HRU19.
A friend has recently had a bad run with her Makita cordless mowers (her third one pooped the bed halfway through its first lawn!) and she's succumbing to my pressure to just get a Honda. Speaking with my local dealer, they have the next model up, HRU21, for only $50 more than my HRU19, but they're telling me it comes with a straight blade not a cutting disc and fold back blades, so not so great for rougher blocks but according to the dealer the straight blades give a better end finish on a good lawn? What do you all think? cutting disc with fold back blades vs straight blade?
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I dont care if some prius driving eco-hippy thinks its politically incorrect for me to drive a V8..... I'm paying for the fuel! |
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24-02-2023, 04:25 PM | #2176 | ||
The Destroyer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 2,253
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I prefer the straight/bar blade, I cut alot of thick grass and weeds but also don't cut unknow areas with any regularity so hitting a stump or rock isn't a concern. heres a video from masport who sell both kinds and a combo setup ive never seen before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21NPiPxjkU8
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24-02-2023, 05:41 PM | #2177 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Quote:
https://powerequipment.honda.com.au/.../mowers/hrn216 https://powerequipment.honda.com.au/.../mowers/hrx217 Honda's best mower by far is the HRU19 (OHC engine) and the HRU196 (OHV engine with cast-iron bore). Both have the best deck design and 4-blade disk. And yes, the disk setup is better for catching and safer on the engine should you hit something. https://powerequipment.honda.com.au/...n/mowers/hru19 https://powerequipment.honda.com.au/.../mowers/hru196
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24-02-2023, 06:09 PM | #2178 | |||
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Quote:
-Bar blade and small discharge chute means cutting anything but completely dry grass on the mid to highest setting, then it's going to struggle. I have been there, it's very very inefficient stopping to unclog the catcher chute every 3 meters. -On the lowest setting, which isn't that low, the axle bar will drag on the ground, ruining your baller clients lawn. Again, I have been there and done that, as has my boss with his Stihl. He has actually spaced the blade to attempt to get a lower cut with limited success. -Many American mowers have pointless separate height levers on each wheel. If you are doing multiple properties with this machine, changing each wheel will be pain. If you are dealing with tall fescue, cutting nice and tall, then these mowers will be fine. But that is a very specific use case, and most customers want to see the lawn has been mowed. I will absolutely recommend getting a self-propelled mower, it will improve your efficiency and make it easier on your body. Having said that, a heavy duty self-propelled mower can be pretty heavy to maneuver, however the energy you save by not pushing the thing is well worth the compromise. Here are my recommendation, and like detailing products, I have tried them all! - Avoid the Masport commercial models, from what I have been told by a well-seasoned lawnie, they really are not built very well. I also trashed one in less than 12 months...............the only mower I have ever had to just throw away. - I don't like the Honda 21-inch self-propelled mowers. They do offer a blade brake though, which could be useful but something else to service. Half chute is a negative. - The Bushranger 21-inch is what I have at the moment, it's built like a TANK! Even has alloy wheels and cross-bolted axles. These are driveshaft driven rather than a belt, 3 speeds. These are available in three powertrains, but the Honda one, the others hand the Chinese knockoff Loncin engines. It's only failing is the half chute, the catcher is massive though. 21 inch cut. https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...led-lawn-mower (Loncin 196cc) https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...spb-lawn-mower (Loncin 196cc with cast-iron bore) https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...er-pu53ah6imsp (Honda 163cc) - While Victa offers the steel base with self-propelled, as a commercial operator, you definably want their alloy chassis durability. There are two ways to go about this, via the domestic model or the Professional line. Both are single speed, belt driven boxes. - Mustang SP 725 EXi (Domestic model with 163cc engine, 19inch alloy chassis) - https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...sp-725exi.html - Commercial 19-inch 850 SP (The big 190cc engine will go through anything) https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...850-ic-sp.html Commercial 21-inch 850 SP (The same as the 19-inch version, just a bigger cut.) https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...850-ic-sp.html All three Victa's you will probably have to order in, although my (ex) dealer did have them as floor stock from time to time. Buying a self-propelled mower was one of the best decisions I made in my business, it greatly improves your efficiency, especially if you opt for the larger cut models. I wish I did it sooner! Yes, you pay big $$$'s for a machine like this, but think of it long term and the amount of work it will do, and the improved efficiency it will bring, not to mention the break on your body pushing all day. If I was buying tomorrow, I would be looking again at the Bushranger with the Honda engine or the Victa Commercial 21 inch.
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24-02-2023, 10:06 PM | #2179 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,614
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Quote:
Going forward, I am even considering running 2 machines daily, petrol self propelled and battery pushie. Some days I wouldn’t even take the petrol unit. Now my next issue, why TF is there so many choices?? Masport website, why do they have like 4 different battery powered ranges?? Apart from basic differences like built in battery vs removable battery, they don’t seem to differentiate the entry units from the heavier duty ones. Anyway,too much thinking for one night, my scotch and coke is kicking in 😀
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24-02-2023, 10:26 PM | #2180 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Quote:
The best advice I can give regarding a battery powered mower is to stick to the ones with a traditional chassis. That way you maintain the cutting and catching performance. Again, be wary of steel base Masport's for commercial work. Victa have a number of battery mowers, the one to look at closer is this one - https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...200w-skin.html This is the standard steel Victa base with the oval blade disk and full width chute. Avoid these, they are price point models with bar blades - https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...-900w-kit.html https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...1200w-kit.html https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...900w-skin.html And I agree, Masport's range is needlessly complicated. I would probably lean towards this one - https://masport.com.au/outdoor-garde...mbo-58v-0-75kw
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24-02-2023, 11:34 PM | #2181 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,614
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Quote:
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25-02-2023, 07:29 AM | #2182 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 11,270
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Excellent information from the guys who use the stuff. Thank DFB and danzvtil.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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25-02-2023, 01:46 PM | #2183 | ||||||
HSV - I just ate one!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 3,170
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Quote:
Quote:
Her concern is that she has 5 kids, 3 of them under 10, and they have a habit of getting into *everything* and she considers petrol storage a risk. Quote:
The only times I've seen Honda engines fail is through sheer age or catastrophic damage/failure. Quote:
Thanks for your advice :-) I guess now I'd better go back to resurrecting Stihl FS38's and investigate what needs to be done to the train wreck of a older SP Honda mower I've just had dumped in my lap.....
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I dont care if some prius driving eco-hippy thinks its politically incorrect for me to drive a V8..... I'm paying for the fuel! |
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25-02-2023, 05:51 PM | #2184 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Quote:
With the OHC GC engines, those are very long-lived engines, smooth, quite and very fuel efficient. I had the older version of the HRU19, this one was fitted with the GSV190 engine, which blew me away for with its power and economy, and the ultra quite idle. The engine was the best thing about that mower, the rest let it down for me personally, it just didn't suit my body frame and I had catcher issues. Where the older and smaller OHV GXV160 comes into its own is the serviceability compared to the OHC engines. That is important when you are using them commercially and beating on them all day. And even then, they are extremely well built and just run for ever. I have the GXV on my Bushranger and love it. Circling back to your post, I would still look at the Honda HRU19 and HRU196, the 19 inch alloy base is their best mower by far. For residential use, stick with the OHC engine and save some money over the overpriced GXV. Also, have a look at Bushranger 19inch alloy base mower, these come with the GXV160 engine too. The chassis is very well built on these. At least have a look at them, I think you will be surprised................ https://bushrangerpe.com.au/browse-p...ower-pu48ah6im
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25-02-2023, 06:24 PM | #2185 | ||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,554
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Considering I am now my own small engine mechanic, I decided to look the part.........................
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26-02-2023, 08:30 PM | #2186 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,675
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With the recent weather, my place fared well.
My neighbors place had a couple big branches come down. So she asked if i still had a chainsaw. Yes i do, but for what she was asking i was willing to do but not on my own. She is like a second mum to me. Her son is a good mate of mine, so me mate is the second set of hands. Me mate was all up for clearing the downed branches. They were thicker then an easy job for say a brush saw. My crappy homelite chainsaw. I bought it for a few small things about my place, which it did easily. But this thing has put in the actual work helping out others. So its a 37cc. Starts easy even after sitting for a year. 16 inch bar with a powerfit chain, i also keep a spare. So today before starting the thing i checked the chain, chain tension, and bar lube. Thing went good. It wasnt down on power as it has not a huge amount anyways. But it does do more then what it was purchased for. Yeah a stihl or the likes is a way better sword. Thing is, i bought the cheapo thing for 1 small tree and a few branches in my yard. Years later, its helped out after weather events that have left neighbors concerned and such. Safety wise, chain brake works good. Never needed to use the chain brake for emergency purposes, chainsaws still scare me, so the second a cut is done i bump the chain brake. Normally my mate jumps on any opportunity when a chainsaw is involved. It was at his mums house, so my attitude is you do the work. Dunno why, but he asked me to do the work and be the helping hand. Crappy chainsaw did the job perfectly fine. |
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26-02-2023, 08:52 PM | #2187 | |||
Donating Member
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Quote:
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26-02-2023, 09:11 PM | #2188 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,675
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Grinders, ive been on site when a disk on a 9 inch has popped and taken a chunk out of the users thigh. Yes the user had proper ppe on, yes the grinder had the guard on. I dont like grinders either.
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26-02-2023, 10:23 PM | #2189 | |||
HSV - I just ate one!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 3,170
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Quote:
Back to mowers, I'm a little fed up with the grab handle style controls on my HRU19, its a PITA having to keep hanging onto it, do you know if much is involved in converting it to the old style throttle lever setup?
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I dont care if some prius driving eco-hippy thinks its politically incorrect for me to drive a V8..... I'm paying for the fuel! |
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26-02-2023, 10:43 PM | #2190 | |||
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,554
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Quote:
My Rover has an engine brake/kill bale but maintains a separate throttle lever. I get around this feature, allowing me to have the engine idle while I empty the catcher, by using a small spring-loaded clamp to keep the bale depressed. You can see the clamp on the handle in this pic - Retrofitting a throttle lever would probably necessitate changes to the carby and throttle plate, so it can probably be done but would be pricy.
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