i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never … i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never been serviced, only ever changed oil and sharpened blade bullet proof engines, if i was after another mower id look for that engine. dont know what's on this mower advertised ?
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.
I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends).
The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.
If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say:
*make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones,
*fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine
*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.
*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.
*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb.
*Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.
*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.
*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.
Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:
*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about).
*If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running, BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that.
*use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free.
*Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same.
Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is.
Anyway, happy mowing
53 Comments
That's a great price, thank you
Look like the Tesco one I bought a few years ago. Excellent for the money but spares are likely to be hard to get. Great price. Hot
went to buy yesterday on the last deal but hot refused at this price
How heavy are these to mow around as compared to self propelled ones? The cheapest self propelled i see from mountfield at around £180.
Amazing price, but you'll probably regret not getting a self-propelled if you have an uneven or large lawn.
thankyou
dhanepud
How heavy are these to mow around as compared to self propelled ones? The … How heavy are these to mow around as compared to self propelled ones? The cheapest self propelled i see from mountfield at around £180.
i have a similar plastic body one from b and q, as long as the grass isnt too long they are easy to push. if you try and push it through long grass the body flex's alot. had mine 6 years so this is a bargain
moneybag
Amazing price, but you'll probably regret not getting a self-propelled if … Amazing price, but you'll probably regret not getting a self-propelled if you have an uneven or large lawn.
Have to agree with this comment, if large or uneven self-propelled much better. However please bear in mind that self-propelled uses the back wheels to drive and I have found with my mountfield mower that the knobbly wheels (hard plastic) do wear out giving less traction especially if grass is slightly damp, would probably say after a couple of years. Also remember that this or other petrol lawnmowers really could do with being serviced every couple of years, last service cost me £108 but this included a new carburettor (5 years old mower) - you could do yourself for less if you are bit handy with mechanics. Hope helps
wstrainer
Have to agree with this comment, if large or uneven self-propelled much … Have to agree with this comment, if large or uneven self-propelled much better. However please bear in mind that self-propelled uses the back wheels to drive and I have found with my mountfield mower that the knobbly wheels (hard plastic) do wear out giving less traction especially if grass is slightly damp, would probably say after a couple of years. Also remember that this or other petrol lawnmowers really could do with being serviced every couple of years, last service cost me £108 but this included a new carburettor (5 years old mower) - you could do yourself for less if you are bit handy with mechanics. Hope helps
I second this comment. I've got a Mountfield mower and the self drive function isn't working. It's a struggle to push round my uneven and large lawn. Coupled with the fact it's almost like meadow grass than proper lawn it's hard going. Last service cost £58 and it will cost again to get the self propel pit working. When it does though, you get a bit of wheelspin on damp grass. Still a good mower though.
Hand-propelled!? Haha... is this a posh way to say you have to push it!
honestly if you're going to get a push mower get an electric one, much lighter, cheaper to run, no **** about trying to get it started or messing with petrol and oil, no spark plug to clean, no servicing at all actually. obviously if you have dozens of trees and stuff to mow around you'll want a cordless. got mine 3 or 4 years ago and haven't looked back. also if you have a solar installation like me it's not just cheaper to mow the lawn it's free most of the time lol
Edited by: "jumpinoffthbed" 19th May
thanks
i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never been serviced, only ever changed oil and sharpened blade bullet proof engines, if i was after another mower id look for that engine. dont know what's on this mower advertised ?
£70 petrol mower - two seasons - bargain! thanks OP one ordered
Editor
Great price, thanks for the heads up
Edited by: "millarcat" 19th May
jumpinoffthbed
honestly if you're going to get a push mower get an electric one, much … honestly if you're going to get a push mower get an electric one, much lighter, cheaper to run, no **** about trying to get it started or messing with petrol and oil, no spark plug to clean, no servicing at all actually. obviously if you have dozens of trees and stuff to mow around you'll want a cordless. got mine 3 or 4 years ago and haven't looked back.also if you have a solar installation like me it's not just cheaper to mow the lawn it's free most of the time lol
After killing one electric mower every 18 months in my medium to large garden i eventually bought a Flymo Petrol mower 15 years ago for about £150, I still use that same mower now and in the 15 years I have only bought one recoil pull starter for £12 and changed the oil every few years costing about 90p each time. I was paying about £80 a year replacing electric mowers that just could not handle large gardens with longish grass. I usually buy 10 litres or £13 of petrol each year to run the mower.
fender62
i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never … i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never been serviced, only ever changed oil and sharpened blade bullet proof engines, if i was after another mower id look for that engine. dont know what's on this mower advertised ?
I was thinking the same. Mine is over 10 years old now, and it's only now that I'm thinking a service might benefit it. I was nearly put off from buying a petrol mower because of all the maintenance that I was told that they need. On the self-propelled front, mine was self-propelled but the wire that controlled the throttle snapped. It was horrendous to get to for replacing, plus when I got the spare part I found that the part had changed since my model. At this point I gave up, but I've managed just fine pushing it around for the past 8 years. This was on a 150ft garden, where an electric mower just wasn't practical.
Edited by: "turnma" 19th May
Can anyone who has bought this mower confirm how the wheel height is adjusted, whether its a lever (I can't see one in the photo) or you have to unscrew each wheel and fit it to the new position. I'm thinking of buying this as a spare for when my 15 year old mower dies but if the height adjustment is a ball ache I'll give it a miss. Also what make is the engine? THANKS
Damn! Paid £160 for a Qualcast 125cc self-propelled petrol lawnmower yesterday in homebase! Will take it back and get this I think?.. Thanks Op
fender62
i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never … i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never been serviced, only ever changed oil and sharpened blade bullet proof engines, if i was after another mower id look for that engine. dont know what's on this mower advertised ?
Mines 17 years old, had one oil change, one spark plug and one diaphragm. Still starts and runs perfect but the body's rusted badly and has holes. So +1 on b&s if you can get a deal.
paulandpam1
Can anyone who has bought this mower confirm how the wheel height is … Can anyone who has bought this mower confirm how the wheel height is adjusted, whether its a lever (I can't see one in the photo) or you have to unscrew each wheel and fit it to the new position.I'm thinking of buying this as a spare for when my 15 year old mower dies but if the height adjustment is a ball ache I'll give it a miss.Also what make is the engine? THANKS
You have to unscrew each wheel
what is the screwfix return policy on reduced price item like this ?
what is the screwfix return policy on reduced price item like this ?
wassupjg
These petrol mowers are lighter then I thought.
dhanepud
How heavy are these to mow around as compared to self propelled ones? The … How heavy are these to mow around as compared to self propelled ones? The cheapest self propelled i see from mountfield at around £180.
They are heavy but if you have a fairly straight forward shaped & flat lawn that it isn't too bad a problem. If you have awkward shaped lawns or have to mow around bedding plants/trees etc then I would say it's best to save up for a self-propelled one.
great price
My Briggs and Stratton has been running for 16 years with no trouble. It's manual and easy to push. I've only ever serviced it once (myself) after buying the £11 maintenance kit and following a YouTube video and I'm no mechanic by any means.
dhanepud
what is the screwfix return policy on reduced price item like this ?
Standard returns policy.
30 days if unused and boxed, 12 months if faulty.
Looks to be the same as this one at B&Q. Reviews have put me off, even at this price... diy.com/dep…prd
lightchop
Looks to be the same as this one at B&Q. Reviews have put me off, even at … Looks to be the same as this one at B&Q. Reviews have put me off, even at this price... http://www.diy.com/departments/value-lm40-hand-pushed-petrol-lawnmower/1234821_BQ.prd
Think screwfix and b&q are the same company. Looking at the reviews this is cheap for a reason.
paulandpam1
After killing one electric mower every 18 months in my medium to large … After killing one electric mower every 18 months in my medium to large garden i eventually bought a Flymo Petrol mower 15 years ago for about £150, I still use that same mower now and in the 15 years I have only bought one recoil pull starter for £12 and changed the oil every few years costing about 90p each time.I was paying about £80 a year replacing electric mowers that just could not handle large gardens with longish grass.I usually buy 10 litres or £13 of petrol each year to run the mower.
maybe electric mowers have improved from 15 years ago, I only paid 35quid for a non branded one from tesco and thought it would last maybe 2 years the amount I have to cut so I bought a bosch on offer at some point but it's still in the box. I've just checked and it was 3 years 8 months ago. now i don't have time to cut once a week so it's cutting ankle length grass every fortnight and I would definitely have spent the cost of the mower every year in petrol alone so I'm happy. I think the only advantage of a petrol is you could have 10cm bigger blade but I'm not too fussed.
fender62
i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never … i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never been serviced, only ever changed oil and sharpened blade bullet proof engines, if i was after another mower id look for that engine. dont know what's on this mower advertised ?
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.
I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends).
The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.
If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say:
*make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones,
*fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine
*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.
*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.
*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb.
*Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.
*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.
*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.
Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:
*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about).
*If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running, BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that.
*use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free.
*Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same.
Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is.
Anyway, happy mowing
thabiz
[quote=fender62] i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts … [quote=fender62] i have an old briggs&stratton engine on my mower, starts everytime never been serviced, only ever changed oil and sharpened blade bullet proof engines, if i was after another mower id look for that engine. dont know what's on this mower advertised ?
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC. I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends). The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer. If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say: *make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones, *fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine *Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok. *Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low. *Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb. *Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down. *Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap. *When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying. Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE: *wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about). *If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running, BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that. *use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free. *Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same. Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is. Anyway, happy mowing [/quote
That's one of the longest comments I've ever seen on HUKD and I'd have read the lot except I nodded off half way through X)
pennyfarthing88
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs … Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends). The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say: *make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones, *fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb. *Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about). *If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running, BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that. *use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free. *Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same. Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is. Anyway, happy mowing [/quoteThat's one of the longest comments I've ever seen on HUKD and I'd have read the lot except I nodded off half way through X)
Fair enuff, I am bored on a Friday evening I guess... But hopefully there are some snippets of wisdom in that lot that people will take on board.... I hope :P
You deserve a like just for taking the time and effort to write that up, thabiz - nice one.
thabiz
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs … Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends). The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say: *make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones, *fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb. *Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about). *If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running, BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that. *use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free. *Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same. Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is. Anyway, happy mowing
Excellent advice. Thank you for posting.
Avoid like the plague I had one that packed up after 3 months I'd used it 5 times for the back garden the pull cord snapped and the carbareter went on it good price but you might aswell set fire to £70 tbh awful product
I have noticed these mowers have their Sparkplug/Cylinder at the front of the mower in a central location, therefore my advice of only tipping the mower so the sparkplug faces skyward is not applicable in this instance. The correct side to tip the mower should be the opposite side to the oil filler/dipstick and exhaust.
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Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.
I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends).
The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.
If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say:
*make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones,
*fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine
*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.
*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.
*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb.
*Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.
*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.
*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.
Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:
*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about).
*If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running,
BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that.
*use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free.
*Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same.
Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is.
Anyway, happy mowing
screwfix.com/p/m…442
i have a similar plastic body one from b and q, as long as the grass isnt too long they are easy to push.
if you try and push it through long grass the body flex's alot.
had mine 6 years so this is a bargain
Have to agree with this comment, if large or uneven self-propelled much better. However please bear in mind that self-propelled uses the back wheels to drive and I have found with my mountfield mower that the knobbly wheels (hard plastic) do wear out giving less traction especially if grass is slightly damp, would probably say after a couple of years. Also remember that this or other petrol lawnmowers really could do with being serviced every couple of years, last service cost me £108 but this included a new carburettor (5 years old mower) - you could do yourself for less if you are bit handy with mechanics. Hope helps
I second this comment. I've got a Mountfield mower and the self drive function isn't working. It's a struggle to push round my uneven and large lawn. Coupled with the fact it's almost like meadow grass than proper lawn it's hard going. Last service cost £58 and it will cost again to get the self propel pit working. When it does though, you get a bit of wheelspin on damp grass.
Still a good mower though.
also if you have a solar installation like me it's not just cheaper to mow the lawn it's free most of the time lol
thanks OP one ordered
Editor
After killing one electric mower every 18 months in my medium to large garden i eventually bought a Flymo Petrol mower 15 years ago for about £150, I still use that same mower now and in the 15 years I have only bought one recoil pull starter for £12 and changed the oil every few years costing about 90p each time.
I was paying about £80 a year replacing electric mowers that just could not handle large gardens with longish grass.
I usually buy 10 litres or £13 of petrol each year to run the mower.
I was thinking the same. Mine is over 10 years old now, and it's only now that I'm thinking a service might benefit it. I was nearly put off from buying a petrol mower because of all the maintenance that I was told that they need. On the self-propelled front, mine was self-propelled but the wire that controlled the throttle snapped. It was horrendous to get to for replacing, plus when I got the spare part I found that the part had changed since my model. At this point I gave up, but I've managed just fine pushing it around for the past 8 years. This was on a 150ft garden, where an electric mower just wasn't practical.
I'm thinking of buying this as a spare for when my 15 year old mower dies but if the height adjustment is a ball ache I'll give it a miss.
Also what make is the engine? THANKS
Mines 17 years old, had one oil change, one spark plug and one diaphragm. Still starts and runs perfect but the body's rusted badly and has holes. So +1 on b&s if you can get a deal.
You have to unscrew each wheel
These petrol mowers are lighter then I thought.
They are heavy but if you have a fairly straight forward shaped & flat lawn that it isn't too bad a problem. If you have awkward shaped lawns or have to mow around bedding plants/trees etc then I would say it's best to save up for a self-propelled one.
Standard returns policy.
30 days if unused and boxed, 12 months if faulty.
Think screwfix and b&q are the same company. Looking at the reviews this is cheap for a reason.
maybe electric mowers have improved from 15 years ago, I only paid 35quid for a non branded one from tesco and thought it would last maybe 2 years the amount I have to cut so I bought a bosch on offer at some point but it's still in the box. I've just checked and it was 3 years 8 months ago. now i don't have time to cut once a week so it's cutting ankle length grass every fortnight and I would definitely have spent the cost of the mower every year in petrol alone so I'm happy. I think the only advantage of a petrol is you could have 10cm bigger blade but I'm not too fussed.
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.
I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends).
The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.
If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say:
*make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones,
*fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine
*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.
*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.
*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb.
*Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.
*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.
*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.
Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:
*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about).
*If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running,
BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that.
*use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free.
*Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same.
Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is.
Anyway, happy mowing
Hot deal, these chinese engines are probably ripoffs of Honda or Briggs and Stratton designs and can provide a long life with abit of TLC.
I have an entry level Qualcast with the briggs and stratton 148cc engine, got it new off ebay for about £70-£80 3 years ago, only use it maybe 4 times a year but it always starts after a few pulls (I find that it needs a good 10-15 pumps on the primer button, not the inadequate 3 or so that it recommends).
The whole thing about old petrol, carbs and spark plugs needing servicing etc is quite exaggerated. Trust me, local authorities and grounds maintenance companies generally do not properly service their mowers, if atall. They are often left in lockups over the winter and then given afew pulls til they start come summer.
If you want good easy service out of one of these I would say:
*make sure all the bolts are tight (esp the blade!) or change some bolts for better ones,
*fit a quality brand sparkplug that is the correct type for the engine
*Put decent oil to the correct level in as soon as you get it (I doubt the factory Chinese oil is upto much), briggs and stratton suggest SAE 30, and that is what I have used with no issue, but any 10W 40, 5w40 or 5w 30 would also be ok.
*Use a ZDDP oil and fuel additive such as Extra lube ZX1, this will create a 1 molecule thick coating of Zinc to the internals of the engine, this makes for smooth running and protects it if your oil gets old/low.
*Use a product like Redex in your petrol every now and then to help clean the carb.
*Clean the deck and air filter abit after use using you hands or maybe a brush. Not necessarily great for it to hose it down.
*Loosen the fuel cap a little sometimes when starting to allow oxygen through, don't over tighten the cap.
*When tipping the mower on it's side, be sure to only tip it so that the spark plug is facing skyward. Otherwise engine oil will run into the cylinder and make it hard to start and incredibly smokey when it does eventually start. Eventually the oil will burn off with little harm done, but it is annoying.
Naughty tricks of the trade, of course there are elements of risk but you can do these safely IF YOU ARE SENSIBLE:
*wedge open the grass shoot a little bit, not too much as stones and sticks will fly out, just enough to allow the grass to disperse easier, (I don't bother with the grass box, too much messing about).
*If possible use a stick, small shovel or other tool to remove stuck grass from the shoot when it is running,
BUT ONLY IF THE MODEL OF MOWER IN QUESTION IS CAPABLE OF HAVING THE BLADE REMAIN STILL AT IDLE, EVEN THEN USE EXTREME CAUTION. If in doubt, just turn it off and fully remove all grass by hand. Officially you should also remove the sparkplug every time you remove stuck grass when it is off, but in reality no one does that.
*use a toe strap to tie down the "dead mans handle" (the bar you have to press in order for the mower to run). This will allow the mower to run/idle hands free.
*Although the blades are made from hardened steel, you can still sharpen them, but the edge won't last as long as it did originally. I would imagine spares for these generic Chinese mowers are on ebay if you measure up your respective parts and look around abit, even if they are not exactly the same.
Definitely always wear some eye protection (proper EN166 specs are on ebay for a couple of quid), stout grippy foot wear and hearing protection. Don't mow near unprotected humans or animals. Stones and sticks, and possibly bits of metal flying through the air is always a risk using any mower, hedge cutter or strimmer, even electric ones. And the constant drone of motors is not good for the ears, regardless of how quiet you think your mower is.
Anyway, happy mowing [/quote
That's one of the longest comments I've ever seen on HUKD and I'd have read the lot except I nodded off half way through X)
Fair enuff, I am bored on a Friday evening I guess... But hopefully there are some snippets of wisdom in that lot that people will take on board.... I hope :P
Excellent advice. Thank you for posting.