OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Gardenline 21" Self Propelled Mower @ Aldi.

Hi. I came across this mower with a slight price reduction from $399 to $349. Seems like a good buy.
It's features are:
Large 196cc OHV engine (Likely Chonda)
21" cutting width.
Key start using Aldi's in house power tool battery (supplied).
Variable speed self propelled system
Twin cup holders on the handles!
Mulch, catch in hard catcher or side discharge.
Soft handlebar grips.
Four swing back blades.
Washing hose port.
I reckon this thing is amazing value and looks to be well constructed. My main reservations are where to obtain blades and the reliability of the self propelled system. Looks like a nice prospect for the domestic user who is observant on keeping the oils up to their mowers and who never uses E10 (like me!). See below.

I have a couple of the bigger Gardenline mowers here at the moment, have had a few over the time, hardly a mark on them so they have obviously done little work but they get thrown out because they are a mongrel to start obviously. Pretty false economy buying that sort of stuff, it is cheap for one reason. A quick squirt of aerostart will fire them up but most people can't be bothered with pulling the air filter cover off

No, no no, cheap and nasty!

Had a bloke bring a small one here a couple of days ago he bought it new and only got to use it once, next time he went to use it he couldn't get it started. My pile of Chonda motors is getting quite high, most have done little work, but the common denominator with these is rusty carbys

And another thing with the bigger Gardenline mowers, not sure about the self propelled but the ones I have had dealings with, the catcher is so flimsy and such a bizare attaching method that I have only seen one, obviously they float away in a stiff breeze. On a few I rivet on a Victa rear flap and then you can use a standard Victa catcher, works fine

You aren't mixing it up with the similar sounding Gardener's Choice NK? Can a Victa Powertorque be made to work on either, shaft length wise?

Hi MF you are right the bigger ones are Gardeners Choice, still just as much trouble. I just had another little Gardenline dropped off here, the pile of these hardly used machines is getting bigger by the day. As for fitting Powertorques to them you have the same issue, shaft is 20mm too short. Also had a little side throw Victa slasher left here to get back up into working condition again. Getting a little out of control, for every mower I get rid of 2 more arrive

Someone like the carby master should work on an aftermarket bolt on extender kit for the shaft. It would be a hit IMO if you advertised that it will allow you to bolt a Victa two stroke onto other bases with relative ease.
He seems to have solved the archilles heel of bad needles, now to expand the options for bases to mount them on.

I wouldn't go messing with the design on that part of the crank when it is spinning so hard with a lump of metal hanging on the end of it. I doubt too many people would bother swapping a powertorque onto other bases, I have done a few for various reasons but making up spacers for the 4 mounting hole under the carb is a real pain

You are right there. I just thought of whether you could do that, but yep, not a good idea to go there for the reasons you outlined.

MF, I was talking to a bloke I worked with today and he was saying he bought one of these Gardenline self propelled mowers and he is very happy with it. I guess time will tell and I'm sure I will be the one to find out very quickly if he has any problems with it. I didn't ask what sort of warranty it came with

Why not just buy a used SP toro recycler for the same money,easy to repair and has a simple SP transmission and it will last much longer

It's just so feature packed and versatile. It lets you catch, mulch or side throw. It had a wide cut and looks good IMO. Sorely tempted to break my new mower purchase virginity with one.
Yes someguy no doubt a Toro is a better proposition long term, but it's still an unknown quantity without a warranty and not knowing how it has been treated or how many hours use it has had.
Not likely to have the specs this offers.

You would buy a Toro any day instead of a self propelled Honda, fantastic motor,but a junk gearbox. A Toro with a Honda motor would be the best combo

The only reason us lawn care pro's don't buy something like the unknown brands is no spare parts available when needed
What i have cut using the Toro in one year takes the domestic house owner 60 years

Yes, rusty carbs are a curse on chondas. I have had quite a few. Ethanol fuel does'nt help as the ethanol can absorb water promoting rust. The good news is that carbs off ebay are around $15.

They certainly are cheap, no idea how they do it, I bought 3 last week, $10.80 each delivered

How do you tell if it's suits your particular Chondah? Do you need to buy more than one to get them that cheap? I probably need two.
Are old skool B&S diaphragm and gasket kits cheap this way as well?

I bought 5 Briggs gasket/diaphragm sets for $4.49 including delivery.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5-S...on-495770-795083-5083H-5083K/32833657354

The honda carb I got from the same place for GX160 for $10.95 incl delivery.

MF from what I have come across all the Chonda carbs are pretty much the same, and you can buy just one for that price, as for the B&S I assume you mean the top of tank with primer type, I usually just buy new carbs for about $14 delivered