hi all. From 30 minutes of research the good brands seem to be Masport, victra, lawnmaster and rover? and is it important to get a aluminium base? Ive just bought my first home yay! so wouldn't like to pay more than $500. thanks
sooby,
Mar 5, 2:27am
Congrats on buying your new place!
From my experience you want to get one with:
-Alloy body, as this won't rust! -ball bearing wheels, makes it easier to push. -plastic catcher, cloth ones let stones fly thru & hit your shins. -4 stroke, so no mixing fuel + oil, like there is with 2 stroke. (As long as your section is flat because 4 stroke don't like slopes.)
You might be lucky to get one with all of the above features second hand for about $100-200, depending on where you live. Might pay to check your local mower shops for trade ins too. No idea what a new one would retail for, sorry!
I've always had good runs from Masports, and Morrison is same company just different badge, Victor & Honda are meant to be quite good but I don't have any experience with them.
How big is your new yard?
zeilberg,
Mar 5, 2:38am
Thanks! quite big section, total is 1700sqm but grass would be maybe 400 sqm. Thanks sooby!
nzmax,
Mar 5, 2:41am
I owned a budget Morrison model, with B & S motor and steel base, for around 7years. Never had any rust issues with the body, but I did clean the underside regularly. 2-3 times a year and wiped over the top occasionally. It was also kept it in the garage rather than the garden shed too so didn't get damp over winter. On the other hand, I have seen some 2-3 year old steel bodied mowers that have no paint left on them and are orange with rust. Guess its how you look after them. Agree with the plastic catcher. Mine came with a cloth one, but a workmate had a dead mower with a plastic catcher that fitted mine so ended up with that.
Ring your local dealer for a price of one of these or Mitre10
mrfxit,
Mar 6, 12:14am
If the budget is tight then get a Briggs powered mower. If you want a better motor then get a 4 stroke Victor or Honda powered mower. Both motors are very easy starting/ reliable & grunty.
There are some pretty cheap deals going from time to time of those mowers
Alloy body for longevity & ball bearing wheels for easy pushing. MUCH prefer a bag catcher for light weight, easy fill & empty compared to a plastic catcher. Have used a lot of different mowers over the years & have never found a plastic catcher that is as easy to use as a bag catcher.
When a plastic catcher splits, it's buggered. When a bag catcher rips, you can sew it up again with almost any cord/string & even wire thats available.
Bag catchers also allow you to lift the front of the mower a lot higher then a plastic catcher will allow before falling off, which is really handy for high grass & lumpy ground
mrfxit,
Mar 6, 12:18am
Plastic catchers best suit perfectly flat small sections that are mowed often on a dry lawn. Anything else & a nylon bag catcher far out performs the plastic.
ira78,
Mar 7, 4:28pm
I'd suggest don't use a catcher at all. Buy a mulching mower.
rpvr,
Apr 14, 4:35pm
Agree. But I can't figure out why mulching mowers usually cost more than those with a catcher!
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