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The old mower has given up the ghost. Any recommendations for a petrol, self propelled mower under £350? Would like a honda obviously but bit out of my price range. The ones in b&q etc seem to get terrible reviews. Thanks for any suggestions.
It must be something in the air (or grass) Was just searching for just this earlier.
I’m after a 21” (ideally 53cm) self propelled mower. Was looking at a cordless but they mostly have a low run time (some are 14 mins), could be low due to the s/propelled.
You can get a mountfield which has a Honda engine for 350 or so.
I was also looking at stiga as they are made by the same group as mountfield.
My Aldi Ferrex has been bomb proof.
Second hand Izy!
Welcome to STW, where we don’t answer your question but tell you that your question is wrong. 🙂
Have you considered a cordless mower? So much less to go wrong and maintain, less local air pollution and noise. Does it really need to be self propelled when it doesn’t have a petrol motor to lug around?
Also, welcome to STW where we always recommend what we’ve got. I recommend makita. There’s a nice 21” metal decked one around your budget.
Fair enough if you’ve considered this and made up your mind.
@goldfish24 you got a link to a 21” metal decked makita ? It can’t be cordless at 350 or so.
Walowiz, I was just heading here to correct myself. Just had a look on powertoolworld and they’re a lot more spendy than I remember!
For reference, I have a dlm380 that I got for £150 as a bare tool. It mows my 75m^2 of lawn in a flash and could do it 4 times over on 2x4ah batteries.
New: Cobra 18" with B&S engine or 20" with Cobra engine (promo deals) https://www.cobragarden.co.uk/Original_Lawnmower_Menu_Page.html
Used: PX or demo from local horti supplier
I bought a cheap Mountfield (with the chinese Briggs & Stratton engine) from screwfix when we moved into this house nearly 8 years ago, it’s still working fine. Only serviced it once a couple of years ago, and give the blade a quick grind each spring.
I’d quite like a battery one but just can’t justify it while this one keeps ticking on.
I bought a decent Flymo on mktplace 40 quid, just bought a grinding stone for the blade. Loads avail locally.
I had this exact thread a year ago when my mountfield after 10years decided to crack and die (dramatically).
Ended up getting a Husqvarna LC247S for £340 delivered. It's been excellent since.
Thanks all. A second hand izy has crossed my mind. The cobras look interesting but never heard of them, wheels look a little slippery, have you personally got/used one? Ive seen stiga get mentioned quite a lot. hmm decisions..
Ended up getting a Husqvarna LC247S for £340 delivered. It’s been excellent since.
They are £500+ now
I’ve got a mountfield self propelled, which after 4 yrs I’d falling apart. Even that today is £350
The cobras look interesting but never heard of them, wheels look a little slippery, have you personally got/used one?
When a part broke on my mount field I took it to a local repair bloke. He recommended Cobra. Apparently a uk company. He did recommend Cobra with Honda engine though which are slightly more spendy
The cobras look interesting but never heard of them, wheels look a little slippery, have you personally got/used one?
I don't need an SP mower. The company's in Nottingham but you should be able to arrange a demo or at least look at one https://www.cobragarden.co.uk/newest_where_to_buy_.aspx
I’ve been happy with my Lawnflite mower - think I’ve had it since 2016 and it still works the same now as when new. It’s got a Briggs and Stratton 500 or 550e motor I think it is. Done a few oil / filter / spark plug changes myself but nothing else.
I paid about £350 for it but costs have gone up now. The one below seems to be the current equivalent and on offer it’s close to your budget:
I’d quite like a battery one but just can’t justify it while this one keeps ticking on.
+1
I've got a mountfield with the RV150 engine. Realistically the engine will never die, but every other part will. At the moment it pretty much needs a new back axle as the drive system is temperamental and the height adjuster is completely knackered. It's 2nd hand though and I've had it 7 years, so it's still good value even if I do need to spend a bit of money fixing all the niggling faults. All the engines had in that time is clean and gap of the plug and an oil change when it begins to resemble tar and/or disappears off the dipstick.
Before that I used to borrow a proper Honda one which was just built so much more substantially, I don't know how the consumer ones compare though.
Before I pull the pin on a boring Honda powered mountfield replacement (as mine is only a 41cm cut and to speed up mowing I’m after a 51-53cm), google threw up some Hyundai powered sp mowers that are within my budget - tbh never knew Hyundai did garden power tools, anyone ever used Hyundai tools ? (Only a Slim chance anyone here has)
This is the one I’ve looked at Sp lawnmower
Asked a similar questions OP;
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/what-petrol-lawnmower/
I didn't have Honda Izy money and our local engineer said they struggled too get parts for Hyundai.
Ended up with a Cobra with a Honda engine;
Only used it a few times but seem solid.
It is like when boilers all fail in the Autumn.
My petrol mower died after 17 years of service a few weeks ago. It just got going last year after a good strip down but it wasn't having it this year.
I bought a battery mower, it is a downgrade in build quality but it is a delight to use in comparison. I bought a 44cm one though.
EDIT @walowiz the battery mower I got was Hyundai from their Ebay webstore. It is grade A, seems new to me and 20% discount. Not directly related to your question but quality seems good for this type of machine. Just checked it is 45cm and was about £360. When dry battery runs for 45 mins
Hyundai are a MASSIVE industrial company (think Mitsubishi, Samsung and other engineering giants) they build/own/operate everything from two car companies, shipping, industrial machinery, , alsorts. It's just we only ever see the cars as they're the publicly accessible bit.
So on the upside, yes it probably is Hyundai making them, not like someone slapping a JCB badge on some cheap powertools.
On the other hand I've no idea what their lawnmowers are like. But I'd not be surprised if they're on a par with Honda.
These look awesome https://allett.co.uk/products/allett-kensington-20b-20h-petrol-cylinder-mower
"For enhanced lawn care, a range of optional additional cartridges can be fitted in place of the standard cutting unit. These include; the 10 bladed cutting cylinder, Aerator, Lawn Brush, Dethatcher, Scarifier and a Verticut cartridge. "
but by god are they expensive!
sorry - another electric recommendation. have a look at mowermarket on ebay. They sell lots of electric cordless mowers and other garden tools
I got a Powerworks 60V, 51cm self-propelled mower with a massive battery for £290. Sold as "used" but it was just a return. Box hadn't even been opened.
They do bigger and smaller variations too. Got a strimmer that uses the same battery and they've got lots of other tools with the same system. Had it a year and both tools have been faultless.
I've got the same Cobra as @sandwicheater (well the 21" version) which replaced an Izzy that had done many years of service before the deck rusted through.
The front wheel did fall off after a couple of months but (despite buying online) Cobra were good at putting me in contact with a local guy who fixed it under warranty and it's been fine for the year or so since.
Engine (Honda) is easier to start than the old Izzy but probably just because it is newer. Whether it proves to be as bombproof only time will tell. No real complaints so far. It's a fair bit bigger than the old Izzy and the high speed option is a proper jog, so gets the job done much quicker 🙂
Spotted in Costco if you have a membership (or know someone who has - I can help if you're near Bromley) - Mountfield 51cm one with the Honda engine at £360.
sorry – another electric recommendation. have a look at mowermarket on ebay. They sell lots of electric cordless mowers and other garden tools, I got a Powerworks 60V, 51cm self-propelled mower with a massive battery for £290
that sounds ideal, quick search and unable to actually source one, never mind at £290.
I’m tempted to spring for a 21” SP cordless, but they’re all at fairly big prices at the moment! The cobra MX51S80V is £590 ! The eigo is bonkers money. How long would you expect the batteries to last 3-5 years max ?
@roverpig would that be the cobra MX534SPH ? Can get that for £450 Gets good reviews and you’d expect the Honda engine to go on for ages. The non Honda engined variants are much cheaper, for some reason :).
When I bought my mower in 2016 two dealers warned me off Cobra own brand motors, even the Cobra dealer said that the branded engine variants were better.
I bought an AlKo 46cm in the end. It works fine. Never done more than annual oil change and blade sharpen plus add fuel.
Check the engine power. Mine is a nominal 2.1 kw and is OK. Some of the other mowers at the time (own brand Mountfield and Cobra engines) we're under 2 kw (possibly 1.7 on one of them). For the 46cm petrol mower I'd be reluctant to go less powerful (assuming they all consistently use similar engine power measurements which is impossible to know for certain).
Sandwicheater: I didn’t have Honda Izy money and our local engineer said they struggled too get parts for Hyundai.
Ended up with a Cobra with a Honda engine;
Cobra MX460SPH Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
Only used it a few times but seem solid.
This is what I think I've settled on. Bonus that it mulches too. I'm going to look after this one.. thanks for all the suggestions.