OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Victa Lawn Mower Frames Victa Mulchmaster 560

So there you go not a lot of happy customers there, looks like any with these small gearboxes are to be avoided as MF says the Snapper might be the go

Yes. There are videos on how to change the belts on the self propelled Toros and the gearbox looks quite flimsy too. Toro how to change drive belt video

I contacted the person selling the Snapper on eBay and he's only importing the 3 in 1 model and not the Commercial series. He's also in the process of importing Active mowers from Italy. I don't know what model though.

The gearbox in the Active 5300 looks ok: Active 5300 SB

I'll wait and see what response my grandson gets from Ariens in the States he has emailed them to see if they will send one out

I can't understand why manufacturers can't build something with a decent drive system for the contractor, they will pay for a robust machine that is strong and won't give them trouble. The Deutschers are good but too cumbersome for general contracting work. My mate has one but it is murder on the garden beds

Yes it's odd. Snapper offer tough commercial mowers in USA but all we get is consumer models in Australia. Maybe they think nothing grows out here�

Greenfield offer a competitor to the Deutscher, but both are too big.

Greenfield Industrial Power Drive

The other problem is the price of a Deutscher is comparable to a good ride on. For $5,000 most people would like to sit down and mow.

Still, in rough and hilly terrain Deutscher mowers come out on top.

I repowered an FH model Deutscher for a customer a few years ago and it's still doing a great job.

I'm also making up a new gearbox shaft for another FH that I'm restoring. Although the 1961 Massey Ferguson 35 restoration is taking up most of my time at the moment, so I haven't done much to the Deutscher in a while.

Snapper has a ready niche on a platter here. They are crazy!! With so many mowing contractors here nowadays, they would sell up a storm!!

Maybe someone should try importing them privately? I'd buy one!

I presume they're not selling them here so they don't compete with Victa, since both Snapper & Victa are owned by Briggs & Stratton.