Mowing ..

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FASTXR

Been tossing up getting a ride on mower for a while and would appreciate any insights as to decent brands/models.

My block is about 900m2 but I have a grass reserve out the back and a neighbour and I normally take turns to keep it as under control as possible to reduce any fire hazards and to deter snakes. He has a ride-on and I've been doing what I can with my push mower but I'm starting to get a bit jack of that.

Budget will probably be reasonably restrained, around the $1500-$2500 mark if at all possible (but could be tempted to go up to $3k for a good machine) and yes I realise this is well and truly in second-hand territory.

Here are some current examples in that price range on Gumtree:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wodo...wer/1320794169

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/tugg...on-/1320827299

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sydn...wer/1320555801

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kill...wer/1320807350

Any particular brands/models to look out for (or avoid)?

There are brand new riders on sale here at the moment -

https://www.melbournesmowercentre.co...mower-specials


Me being me, I would stretch your budget to that $3000 mark for this -

https://www.melbournesmowercentre.co...-raider-439-38

Being brand new, you don't inherit someone else's trouble. The only thing is it has a "Rover" engine on it, as in a made-in-China no name engine. 38-inch cutting deck, and 5+5 year warranty.

Or -

https://www.mygyc.com.au/collections...-on-lawn-mower

The other thing to do would be to visit the local dealers and ask if they have trade-in stock.

[FASTXR]

Thanks DFB.

Quick question - are all Rover engines Chinese made or are some better quality made elsewhere?

Believe it or not there are not a lot of ride-on dealers in Canberra, with the exception of those that stock Toro, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna etc that are way out of my price range new. Rover is pretty much the only sub-$3500 brand available here. Having said that, it probably wouldn't hurt to see if they have any trade-ins.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by FASTXR

Been tossing up getting a ride on mower for a while and would appreciate any insights as to decent brands/models.

My block is about 900m2 but I have a grass reserve out the back and a neighbour and I normally take turns to keep it as under control as possible to reduce any fire hazards and to deter snakes. He has a ride-on and I've been doing what I can with my push mower but I'm starting to get a bit jack of that.

Budget will probably be reasonably restrained, around the $1500-$2500 mark if at all possible (but could be tempted to go up to $3k for a good machine) and yes I realise this is well and truly in second-hand territory.

Here are some current examples in that price range on Gumtree:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wodo...wer/1320794169

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/tugg...on-/1320827299

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sydn...wer/1320555801

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/kill...wer/1320807350

Any particular brands/models to look out for (or avoid)?

I think realistically there isn’t a lot of difference between different makes.Either Briggs or Honda engines.Peerless hydro drives.Usually twin blades on around 1 mtr or so cut.I have a nearly 20 year old Viking 17 hp Briggs Hydro drive Seems to have enough go for even overgrown “lawn”

[DFB FGXR6]

Something that I have had done a few times now, but never done by me, replacing the drive gears and pawls on my beloved Rover ProCut 560.

These are a wear item that need to be maintained, either by periodic cleaning and lubrication or via total replacement. The symptoms that something is not right include one wheel driving rather than two, excessive noise and the wheels locking up in forward or reverse. All present on my unit.

With nearly all Rover spare parts gone for the ProCut models, I was lucky to score two sets of cogs and pawls from an online retailer. Mine arrived loose rather than in the Rover packaging.

https://powermowers.com.au/products/...132d6cb6&_ss=r



The process for replacement is not all that hard, especially after you watch a video of someone else doing it, apparently in in under 3 minutes...............



I say "apparently" because I broke the tiny circlip that retains the cog assembly on the driveshaft. I should say, it came off easy enough, but putting it back on without the correct tool meant I snapped the 10 year old circlip. A trip down to the local bearing store had me sorted in no time, along with the CORRECT circlip pliers to get the job done properly.





Anyway, first you must remove the hub cap, then remove the press fit wheel retaining washer. The wheel then slides away from the axle.



You then remove that bloody circlip, slide the washer, cog and pawl away from the driveshaft. Each side has it's own cog, with L or R stamped on the reverse side.



After cleaning each component, in particular the groves on the wheel, I put a small amount of marine grade grease on the axle and driveshaft. The cog then slides back on, the pawl inserted in the driveshaft slot, washer and circlip reinstalled.

Before sliding the wheel back in place and securing with a new press fit washer, I applied graphite powder to the wheel and cog. You aren't supposed to use a liquid lubricant on these, over time the oil mixes with dust and debris and thus turns into liquid sandpaper. The graphite is the dry substitute.



Only the left-hand side was not driving, which is no wonder considering how much grass and dirt was in there, but I also replaced the right-hand side parts too.

With both sides done, a quick test revealed a successful result, no more single pegger! An oil change, and the Rover is back in action.

But, I have a problem. After 10 years of hard use, the pressed steel cover that limits the amount of debris entering the wheel assembly has worn through and is letting dust and grass to enter the drive cogs and wheel.



And of course, the part is NLA in Australia. I have found it in the UK as a POA part. Now waiting to see if I can get two replacements. Naturally, these parts don't affect the operation of the drive system, but they do prolong the working life of the parts in question.

https://www.powertoolspares.com/rove...ov00030/spares



Here's hoping I get lucky and score another set of covers. It does mean removing the wheel and drive cogs again though.

[Citroënbender]

Is this an actual SupaSwift?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...3228275328211/

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Is this an actual SupaSwift?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...3228275328211/

The frame looks just like one i had probably 30 or so years ago.Mine had a blue frame( I think) which ruated away after a few years.I got a new frame which was red,but it only lasted a few years too before it rusted away.Still have the 2stroke Briggs that it came with.

[John 13]

[QUOTE=FASTXR;6865860]Been tossing up getting a ride on mower for a while and would appreciate any insights as to decent brands/models.

My block is about 900m2 but I have a grass reserve out the back and a neighbour and I normally take turns to keep it as under control as possible to reduce any fire hazards and to deter snakes. He has a ride-on and I've been doing what I can with my push mower but I'm starting to get a bit jack of that.

O-boy! I can relate to your situation. I only have two adjoining neighbours, one is a fenced government reserve. Over the last 8 -10 years their maintenance program has been significantly cut back as well as using contractors. (not sure who is screwing who there) I tried using politicians, got thanked for my voluntary involvement but warned of the consequences of trespass.
Now I only work in there during normal working hours and always wear my hi-viz. Yes it's all about trying to reduce/control the fire fuel load and to a lesser extent frustrate the rats and snakes, fortunately the crows help me out there.

[DFB FGXR6]

After hours of trawling, I'm not sure what to do with these. The only vendor listing these for "possible" sale advised me they are NLA, and I bet they wont even bother changing the part listing to reflect that.



I have also sent emails to a couple of places selling used parts, but of course, no one has responded. How, in this day and age, can a business attempting to sell products NOT answer emails despite advertising an email address or having an enquiry portal on their own website. I just don't get it. I guess I could call, but frankly, I can type my question quicker and with more clarity than playing that game. It's not 1985 anymore!

Anyway, I'm wondering if I can hammer them back as best I can and use some sort of filler or have them brazed. Or keep an eye out for a donor unit to steal parts from.

[Citroënbender]

Are they only a dust shield? Nothing aligns precisely off them?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Are they only a dust shield? Nothing aligns precisely off them?

They are a dust shield, the fit inside and spin within one of the groves on the wheel. They are not completely sealed, but rather limit larger debris from entering the rotating assembly. There is some allowance for "tolerance".

[Citroënbender]

Think I’d try silver soldering a piece in where it’s worn away.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

After hours of trawling, I'm not sure what to do with these. The only vendor listing these for "possible" sale advised me they are NLA, and I bet they wont even bother changing the part listing to reflect that.

image

I have also sent emails to a couple of places selling used parts, but of course, no one has responded. How, in this day and age, can a business attempting to sell products NOT answer emails despite advertising an email address or having an enquiry portal on their own website. I just don't get it. I guess I could call, but frankly, I can type my question quicker and with more clarity than playing that game. It's not 1985 anymore!

Anyway, I'm wondering if I can hammer them back as best I can and use some sort of filler or have them brazed. Or keep an eye out for a donor unit to steal parts from.

Looks like I have found two of these!

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Looks like I have found two of these!

Happy days.
I was thinking about it today and was going to suggest an epoxy filler, I've use this stuff before and can vouch for its claims.
https://quiksteel.com/

I'm not a fan of bandaid fixes but it seems to be my world at the moment.
Our Vertidrain has been an example of this. Its basically a big crankshaft with punching tines attached, the bottom end bearings recently failed.



As you can see theres alot of bearings in there too.



It took half a day to strip it, another half a day to remove the old bearings, mostly with an oxy torch before we could replace them. The same amount of time to put it all back together.
It was suggested that while it was all apart the top end bearing should be done aswell, they've all done the same work as the bottom end and have probably all worn together. Nope, time is money, we need to get it back out and in service.
The test run went ok but 20 minutes into the main game the whole thing came to a grinding halt. I was lucky to catch it in time although the PTO clutch copped a hiding when the whole lot seized.
Another whole day of disassembly and assembly when we could have just done it while it was originally apart but what would we, the operators and people doing the repairs know?
I don't mind the adapt and overcome style of the place but the cutting of corners does my head in.

[DFB FGXR6]

Stihl MSA300 vs MS271

According to the video, the MSA300 is equivalent to the 2-stroke MS271 in cutting performance.



I think this displays that even the most potent battery chainsaws are not really capable of sustained heavy duty cutting.

That's not to disparage battery chainsaws, I love the convince of my MSA140 in dealing with light duty limbing and pruning. But I have found it just doesn't do well with larger cuts, bogging down and triggering the stall sensor too often.

Something I have noted with Stihl battery saws is how they have the battery installed in the same space used for a traditional 2-stroke engine. This keeps them balanced and more natural feeling to use.









I had the chance to sample an EGO chainsaw a couple of weeks ago and was less than impressed. Compared to the Stihl arrangement, EGO have the battery mounted sideways, creating an awkward imbalance to the left side. It just wasn't comfortable to hold, lacking the ergonomic feel and action offered by my MSA140. Which is shame as the EGO batteries are the best in the business.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Stihl MSA300 vs MS271

According to the video, the MSA300 is equivalent to the 2-stroke MS271 in cutting performance.



I think this displays that even the most potent battery chainsaws are not really capable of sustained heavy duty cutting.

That's not to disparage battery chainsaws, I love the convince of my MSA140 in dealing with light duty limbing and pruning. But I have found it just doesn't do well with larger cuts, bogging down and triggering the stall sensor too often.

Something I have noted with Stihl battery saws is how they have the battery installed in the same space used for a traditional 2-stroke engine. This keeps them balanced and more natural feeling to use.

image

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image

I had the chance to sample an EGO chainsaw a couple of weeks ago and was less than impressed. Compared to the Stihl arrangement, EGO have the battery mounted sideways, creating an awkward imbalance to the left side. It just wasn't comfortable to hold, lacking the ergonomic feel and action offered by my MSA140. Which is shame as the EGO batteries are the best in the business.

image

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Thanks for that it'll make for some interesting viewing tonight.
I haven't been lucky enough to use any of the electric hand saws yet but have used a couple of the polesaws.
We had a Husky as a demo, hands down the best polesaw I've used, powerful and beautifully balanced. With a few extra batteries for longevity I'd be happy to use it all day everyday.
The Stihl was horrible though but to be fair it was an early one. With the standard battery it had no grunt and would last 15 minutes. We had the adapter to plug it into the backpack battery we used for our blowers. It was then heavy and cumbersome. That and you were always connected to the saw via the cable. Down right dangerous when pruning overhead as you had no way of bailing the saw and making and escape if it turned pear shaped.

My case to buy a big log saw and do the large removals in house that I mentioned a while ago was knocked back.
Apparently it came down to OHS and insurance which I find hard to believe, this has got to be the most lawless site I have worked on.
Oh well I tried.

[danzvtil]

My problem with the ego stuff is it looks like a children’s plastic toy.
My huski pole chain is no less than stellar, the only thing that could improve it is to make the pole less than a meter long. This will replace a standard chainsaw but one that gives you extra reach into a tree, or cutting on the ground without bending or squatting. It’s the same reason I do a lot of ground level hedging with a pole, you can set the blade at an angle, and get a good sweep on the hedge face without standing too close.

[roKWiz]

Maybe a little mowing and a large branch to clean up awaits me when I get home.
Atleast get to try out the new Stihl.
There's a reason why I don't park under the trees when away.



Wanting to do some trimming out dead limbs after summer.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Maybe a little mowing and a large branch to clean up awaits me when I get home.
Atleast get to try out the new Stihl.
There's a reason why I don't park under the trees when away.

image

Wanting to do some trimming out dead limbs after summer.

There's been a lot of gums self pruning in recent times around this area. The two massive storms this month have produced plenty of firewood!

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

My problem with the ego stuff is it looks like a children’s plastic toy.
My huski pole chain is no less than stellar, the only thing that could improve it is to make the pole less than a meter long. This will replace a standard chainsaw but one that gives you extra reach into a tree, or cutting on the ground without bending or squatting. It’s the same reason I do a lot of ground level hedging with a pole, you can set the blade at an angle, and get a good sweep on the hedge face without standing too close.

That's one of the reasons I don't love their mowers. More effort should have been put into making it perform better than making it look like a space travel machine.

I guess its the same thing concept with electric cars vs a I.C.E car, they have to make them look "different" to capture attention.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

There's been a lot of gums self pruning in recent times around this area. The two massive storms this month have produced plenty of firewood!

Neighbours will be happy for the firewood.

Some of my lovely trees have a few dead limbs which sure need that trim which should have been done last year imo.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

That's one of the reasons I don't love their mowers. More effort should have been put into making it perform better than making it look like a space travel machine.

I guess its the same thing concept with electric cars vs a I.C.E car, they have to make them look "different" to capture attention.

Had to laugh at some dope on YT who decided to lift and hold his electric mover at 90 degs to cut his hedge straight.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

There's been a lot of gums self pruning in recent times around this area. The two massive storms this month have produced plenty of firewood!

Quite a bit of self-pruning blue gum up here, too. Mostly branches less than 75mm diameter.

[DFB FGXR6]

I'm getting itchy feet................

https://www.victa.com/au/en_au/produ...850-ic-sp.html



Back in 2020, I finally made the move to replace my well used Rover. I kept prolonging the purchase because no other self-propel mower offered a full width chute. There was the newer Rover ProCuts, but they didn't have the same quality as before. In the end, I decided to try the Bushranger 800SP and took the gamble on the rear chute.





I can't fault the Bushranger, save for its heft and it struggling on thick Kikuyu. I should say that attempting to deal with two weeks of Kikuyu growth in the middle of summer will challenge even the best mower. But the half chute tends to clog in such conditions. This is why I have kept the Rover for use at this time of the year.

Annoyingly, shortly after buying the Bushranger, Victa re-introduced their 21-inch commercial self-propel models. For some reason, Victa is not a constant player at this end of the market, and it seems each time I'm ready for a new mower like this, Victa is missing in action. As such, I've missed the boat a few times now.

The problem is, most dealers don't stock these mowers as they are pretty expensive and have a limited audience. So, seeing one in person is difficult. The other day I emailed an online retailer asking for images of the discharge chute. This is what I was sent..............

Victa Commercial 21-inch Self Propel -



The Bushranger for close comparison -



So, it would appear the Victa chute is slightly wider and lacks the obstructive dogleg at the lower right corner. The Victa is 48 kg vs 53 kg for the Bushranger, and even thought its only a single speed box, the Victa is faster at 5 kph compared to 3.06 to 4.6 kph of Bushranger.

But, I don't know if this Victa would be any different to the Bushranger in thick and heavy growth. It would be another $1700+ gamble.

[Interceptor]

And then theres this fool, who just picked up ANOTHER HRU216 in very good condition, complete with catcher and mulching plug for bugger all.... new spark plug, fires up but carby needs attention.
Best of all, it came with a HRU214 that sadly is that trashed the patches on the deck have their own patches.... but a free donor mower is a free donor mower!

[DFB FGXR6]

Listen to this thing sing!

[DFB FGXR6]

With a 40+ degree day predicted tomorrow, I decided to move my Sunday run forward to today. Mixing things up, I went with the Combat for today's weapon..........



Great mower, ploughs through almost anything. Having fixed the choke engagement yesterday, now I have a slipping throttle to sort out.

[FASTXR]

Anyone know anything about this particular Cub Cadet model?



Doesn't appear on the Cub Cadet website so perhaps a superceded model.

For the price I'm thinking it might be a reasonable deal?

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Listen to this thing sing!

I could almost smell it!

Gave away one of them 20 years ago, couldn’t get it to run.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FASTXR

Anyone know anything about this particular Cub Cadet model?

image

Doesn't appear on the Cub Cadet website so perhaps a superceded model.

For the price I'm thinking it might be a reasonable deal?

I think you are correct, the front-end styling looks quite old compared to the models represented on the Cub Cadet website.

[Interceptor]

I'm actually annoyed atm, the HRU216 I picked up the other day had been leftbsitting for that long, if any more gummy garbage had accumulated in the float bowl it would probably have been solid around the float.
Half a can of carby cleaner and some compressed air blown through various ports, and it runs like a dream.
The 214 that was trashed? Bolted on a starter and it runs like a dream! Bit of a shame really to part it out, but theres a 194 here somewhere that has a dead motor, so its time for a heart transplant.
Also picked up a HRU196 today, GXV motor, blade brake, motor locked solid, 3 smashed wheels and the handlebars are bent like you'd never believe, but I got it so cheap it was worth it just for the snorkel kit... pulled the air cleaner lid off and the filter was saturated in oil..... wtf? Pull the plug, yank the string and it spat a couple of tablespoons across the workshop floor..... great..... oh well, see how violently Honda want to violate me on monday, that'll decide if it gets to mow another day.
My gripe is that I've picked up two mowers in maybe a week that wouldve cost $3k to buy new, that have been neglected or abused and then dumped..
WTF is wrong with these people?