First time owner of newly laid lawn (400 sqm). Looking to purchase first lawn mower.
Looking at either the Victa 20 Thunder SP or the Ryobi/Subaru 190cc.
Notes:
- both priced $499 at the moment at Bunnings
- both are not alloy deck
- like the comments of the Ryobi on Whirlpool but some did mention the engine is good, everything else crap
- also like the replacement warranty for Ryobi which is hassle free
Any comments, thoughts, other recommendations etc?
With that much lawn i would buy a 2nd hand ride on mower
400sqm isn't even that big of an area? I hardly think a ride on is necessary. Each to their own though.
It's about the size of a 20m x 20m square or a circle with a diameter of 22 metres. If it's a rectangle it could even be 10m x 40m or 15m x 26.66m.
What if it was a triangle?
OK, so you mean equilateral triangle?
If your garden is in the shape of an equilateral triangle, 400m square would mean the triangles sides are all 30.3933m
You know the funny thing is, no matter what shape, triangle, circle, rectangle, square… the OP still has 400m squared to mow so it should all be the4 same…
My question is, how do you get the criss-cross pattern on the grass like the cricket-grounds have?
Small. 80 sqm front (access issue for ride on), the rest are relatively straight rectangles and squares.
Ride on is (in my opinion) a luxury and definitely out of budget. It's cheaper to spend an hour or two on the push mower and end it with an ice cold beer, than spend good money on something that's only going to be used once every 5-6 weeks.
Personal preference to buy new. Car or house, I can pay for as many inspections to be comfortable with the purchase. A ride on is neither mega bucks or penny buys, easier to buy new (if budget allows) and have a peace of mind.
IMO the beer after mowing is the best one, sitting down and looking at the freshly mowed lawn.
I don't know where you live but….I have to mow at least every two weeks from Spring through to Winter. At the height of Summer with a few storms, it needs mowing at least once a week.
I cut it on a fairly high setting to get good growth and coverage to eliminate any weeds.
Let it go any longer and the weeds take over, the grass gets too wet and it looks really bad.
Plus monsters move in and the cat disappears.
I wasted 15 years of my life with a Honda self-propelled before I bought a ride-on. The mower was brilliant and highly recommended, but it just took too long and there were many other more important things to do that got neglected.
Get a small ride-on and enjoy life, not hard work.
"monsters move in …"
=)
—— PS ——
if a ride-on, i would still need a mower as the front 8- sqm does not permit access for even the smallest ride-on (height and width restrictions).
@LurvinOZB:
I also have a 21" self-propelled from eBay and a 21" MTD utility mower.
Although it took "Stupid Me" an inordinately long time, I now realise that the time I wasted mowing the lawn could have been better spent with my wife and kids.
And now I cannot get that time back.
Enjoy your family.
impressive and very scary…..
Have mercy on my aging back
They should put a blade on the backside and do it twice as fast.
what about these with a 3yr warranty?
https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/special-buys-sat-7-o…
https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/special-buys-sat-7-o…
I haven't tried a warranty claim with Aldi's product before. any experience?
you take the item back with the receipt and get it replaced or repaired or refunded very quickly
stores are very easy to deal with
If your a true Australian, you only get a Victa.
And a 2-stroke at that.
I had Jims mowing do my lawn while I was out… I came back and a window was broken where the whipper snipper must have knocked a rock into the window etc… And I called them and they said they didn't notice anything amiss but gave me a 20% discount. I was younger and stupider then I am now… That was my last mow and the funny thing was they asked if they could do my new place.. I said no thanks.
Also. How do you feel about electric mowers? They are quiet, smoke-free, very powerful and less hassle… Also folds up/very light at 12kg so I can take it around to help some elderly friends with their lawn and its no hassle… I love using it.
https://www.bosch-garden.com/au/en/garden-tools/garden-tools…
I am a big fan and love mine.
Am a big fan of grunt, hence the Subaru driven Ryobi as the preferred choice but the neg comments on WP had me consider others
bunnings also have this on promo
https://www.bunnings.com.au/yardking-self-propelled-push-but… $388
i have the ryobi with subaru does the job for me would say its a little loud if anything.
reviews and opinions formed from owners imply the mower sans the engine is crap and falls apart due to poor design and quality. How true is it?
the motor seems solid but components seem very average cheaply built but is still in one piece for now.
ok thanks
END OF TWO STROKES
Just thought you would excuse me taking this slightly off target. A Law was passed 11th September that will introduce emissions standards for small engines - from mowers to outboards and generators to chainsaws. The law will only affect new imports and only after 1 July 2018. ( dealers will have 12 months to clear old stocks)
Modelled on the US/ EU standards it means that for ground supported equipment (Mowers, generators) only 4 strokes will meet the standard. For handheld (chainsaws, blowers) there is a more relaxed standard and the better quality two strokes will pass. For marine only Direct Injection 2-S and four strokes pass.
The Victa two stroke, which had around 40 times the emission of a car per hour, ceased production last December.
SO - if you cant live without the smell of 2 stroke in the morning - buy one now before stocks run out. No idea how long parts will actually be available for…
Given all petrol powered whipper snippers, blowers, chainsaws etc are 2 stroke - that will present a huge problem. Also lots of farm machinery and outboard motors. Somehow this hasnt been thought out very well. I think it will be reversed once they figure this out.
Dear Amazingone
Please read what I wrote more carefully. vis: "For handheld (chainsaws, blowers) there is a more relaxed standard and the better quality two strokes will pass."
And you are incorrect, they are not all 2 strokes: Honda wipper snippers and blowers are 4 stroke, as are some other brands.
Not thought out well? 11 years in the work, accepting USA and EU and Canadian certified products. Worlds most flexible, yet highest standard.
You are correct it will be the end of carby two stroke outboards. Only four stroke and Direct Injection ( ETEC, TLDI and Optimax) will pass standards.
Yes. I did read this!
That means we will be forced to pay $300 for a whipper snipper or blower instead of $89. Same for anything else 2 stroke. People will not find this acceptable.
I'm amused how much you like to make up facts.
The certification standards costs and levy are still being worked out: but best estimate I can suggest at this time is that for a mower it will cost between 80 cents and $4 extra.
Cheap (and nasty) products still exist in the USA and EU - and will here too.
Electric are also growing in Share. STIHL have a big range of electric / battery garden tools. Honda will too soon and there are plenty in the Ozito and similar price brackets.
@garyfbne: Certification is not the issue. Its the cost of manufacturing a complying product. Sure enough all the cheapies wont comply. Its always the case. Wait and see.
400sqm is a fair bit of lawn. You will definitely need a petrol mower. Go for the cheapest. I would consider a good used mower as these are better made and have parts available. You can get them for around $50. Look for the established brands such as Victa, Masport, Rover etc
If you must buy new then go for an el-cheapo at Bunnings as they will always back up thier product. They have a yardking for $199. Yes as per above comment its 4 stroke.
Definitely stay away from anything Aldi because there have no spare parts.
Also stay away from battery as they lose charge very quickly so you will need to buy a hugely expensive battery every 2 or 3 years (if they are even available). It may not last the entire 400sqm either. Very inconvenient.
Enjoy your new lawn
I can do my 355m2 of lawn with a battery mower. Ryobi 36volt, 5ah battery. It does take a 2nd smaller capacity battery if I've been slack and the lawn is a bit thick though. If it is long I'll use the smaller battery on the front where it doesn't grow so thick, then save the bigger battery for the back - it seems more powerful.
I think the battery mower is much better than the petrol one I used to have, and I though the corded electric was better than the petrol one too, but battery beats corded hands down.
Has anyone warned you about all the weeding you will have to do every Spring. OMG. Mowing the lawn is nothing.
hahaha … either a forest backyard with creepy crawlies everywhere (the previous form) or a lawn with the scary weeds
i choose the latter … haha
Have the same need for a mower, but just a standard 'back yards' worth of grass to mow, so not 400m2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5c7YAo-h0