OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Show and Tell Any thoughts on new Mower Purchase

Hello all
Im about to make the jump to gardening for a living - any suggestions on a new mower? I have a mulching one Im restoring, but will need something reliable in a push mower with a catcher for general lawn cutting jobs. Im just starting so not looking for anything high end at this stage (maybe later). Im told the $400 Bunnings Masport with the briggs&sratton motor isnt bad. Any thoughts or suggestions?

G'day Tony,

My advice is to hit up a reputable local mower shop. If you're looking to get started, you'll need engineering support along your way. A good rapport from day one could be priceless.

If you're set on Bunnings, Masport isn't a bad bet. I can't speak for their longevity in a commercial environment. But still check out the mower shop down the road. You might be surprised.

Hi Tony,
If you don't want to go the Honda $1000 job and I understand why then as a start out point think about a couple of 2 stroke Victa Powertorques. Bit noisy and smelly, but won't break the bank till you get some idea of how much work you come up with. About $100 each for a good running Powertorque will get you up and running and then later if things go ok then you can think about upgrading to a push Honda, avoid the self propelled the gearbox is a problem

That Masport will not last commercially unfortunately

Quickcut 2 blade carrier with no reciprocating mass, relatively gutless engine if you have unkept yards

Mate bought one and it was spewing oil into the filter and making smokescreens after 3 uses. He takes care of stuff as well.


Go back a year and they were a better deal - bigger double ball bearing wheels, 4 blades on plate (helps gutless motor), pull start on handle

Bunnings talked them down on price and they cut costs

Go to a small bunnings and you may be lucky to still find one left - same barcode, but slightly different box. look for 4 blade plate shown on side of box and bigger wheels.

I am with Norm - get a 4 blade PT, do carby mod & kill switch, get a bottle of this
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/gulf-western-gulf-western-air-cooled-two-stroke-oil---4-litre /545139.html?cgid=SCA50 and off you go

Hi Tyler,
I did reply initially about what I thought of the EX Briggs motors but that post went into the never never so I didn't bother about it the second time around.

Hi TonyH,
I was at my local mower shop a few weeks ago and had a gander at their Husqvarna range and they had a range of B&S powered steel and alloy deck models that looked alright to me. There were self propelled a week as push only models. The engines came in various power ratings and I think I recall the upper end models had iron sleeve motors.
I recall a nice non self propelled alloy base model for not much above the $800 mark with a metal scrape guard on the left side.

Last I heard the huskys were great for mulching but hopeless catchers MF, but I think that is a bad rumour. All of them from $650 upwards use a dov briggs (which I sort of think of like the old corolla "hi-cam' - makes it sound hightech but its just another variety of pushrod ohv)

Their cheap one uses the same 140cc s*iter briggs everyone else uses

MF,
why would you pay $800 for something with a Briggs on it when you can get the non self propelled Honda for around the $1000 mark

Something besides an insipid Honda perhaps NormK?

Masport Contractors come in a push version with Kawasaki engines. Was eyeing one off, but got a Greenfield instead.

I'd still say you made the better choice Mystyler - you can always change a useless engine off of a good deck relatively easily.
Just looked on masport website - they've dropped the kwaka and put briggs on all the non SP contractors - dopey buggers

Edit - there is a "SP K" model but no push "K" anymore

I couldn't believe it Tyler, so I had to check it out for myself. Unreal, they have indeed dropped the Kawa powered push version. I reckon it was cheaper than the Briggs versions currently advertised as well.

I do love the Greenie. It is by far the nicest mower to push around I've ever been behind. You're 100% right about the engine swap. I've thought about flogging the Briggs on Gumtree or trading it in and replacing with Kawa or Honda power.

That is a great way back to your question, Tony. If you go to a mower shop, you can push around and fiddle with all the mowers on display. If you're going to be behind it pushing it around, you might as well get one that is enjoyable to be behind. Simple things like being able to walk naturally without kicking the catcher can't be checked when they're in a box on a shelf. And well designed mowers have well engineered balanced. The Greenie isn't light, but sure feels lighter to maneuver than anything else I have.

[quote=Mystyler]The Greenie isn't light, but sure feels lighter to maneuver than anything else I have.[/quote]

I feel the same about my Honda hru19 with v40 chonda motor. Good cut, vacuum and well balanced - except for the chunk of grass falls out when you empty the catcher.

Will be behind it for around 2 hours tomorrow so I should know haha