In this category, we cover everything about lawnmowers, which includes, walk behind mowers, petrol mowers, electric lawnmowers, zero turn mowers, ride on mowers and more!
Here we have a video of the Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower. This is a compact tracked pedestrian machine is powered by a Honda 10 hp engine. It’s a great machine for clearing overgrown areas, coping with slopes and banks and long grass etc.
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The video shows the operator working on a steep bank, unfortunately, the weather was wet making the bank very slippery. However, the week before the flail mower had literally cut down all the overgrown brambles leaving it finely mulched. You can see a few brambles that have been left uncut where the machine couldn’t reach. Literally, the whole site was covered in these brambles.
The Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower made an excellent job of mulching the brambles and literally clearing the area. The long-term plan of this overgrown area is to keep flailing the area and to keep it under control. Then in early spring broadcast, some grass seed, then with the regular mowing or flailing the grass should be the dominant plant.
Advantages Of A Flail Mower
I have always liked the idea of a flail mower, several years ago I used to own a Turner hydrostatic pedestrian flail mower. Once again, the principal was great for overgrown areas, something that a flail mower does extremely well. It amazes me how you can have an overgrown area, covered in brambles and nettles. Very quickly this area can be transformed into something fairly decent with very little cost and minimum effort.
One of the many advantages of a flail mower is the fact that it can withstand many more knocks than a traditional rotary mower. Although rotary mowers can be great for cutting down long grass, the problem arises when you hit a hidden obstacle like a tree stump. With a flail mower the flails will kind of bounce off the tree stump and not do any damage apart from possibly blunting the flails slightly. Whereas a rotary mower could end up with a bent blade or damaged disc depending on what type of rotary mower it is.
Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower
If you’re looking for a machine to cut long grass and overgrown areas on banks and on flat areas. Then the Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower could be your answer!
This pedestrian Flail mower is powered by Honda 393cc GX340 engine, which develops over 10 hp. The machine has a gear drive with a three forward and one reverse speed. Having a low centre of gravity makes it very agile and easy to manoeuvre through tough terrain.
One of the great features of this machine is the ability to be able to control each track which gives excellent control when working on the flat. This feature is exceptionally useful when trying to keep the machine in a straight line on a steep bank.
To Conclude
If you have rough areas or overgrown areas and need a manoeuvrable rough-cut mower the Orec HRC802B Tracked Pedestrian Flail Mower could be your answer. The flail mower comes with a 10-year crankcase warranty which shows the company trust the product. This is an ideal machine for contractors, estate owners, smallholders and local authorities.
Today we are looking at the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower, this is our cheapest ride on at £999! In other words, you get a lot of mower for your money!
As you know, I always like to buy the best machinery that I can afford, however, I know full well that we all have budgets. The Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower is a budget machine, which offers value for money. The great thing is that the customer reviews average 4.4/5 which is very good indeed.
So let’s take a look at the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower. This is a very compact machine that has a 61 cm (approximately 25 inch) width cut, which makes it a highly compact machine in a smaller garden. Often with ride-on mowers, gateways and pathways can cause access problems, however, the Racing mower should be capable of going into most places.
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Engine
A 196 cc 6.5 hp four stroke overhead valve engine powers the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower. The electric start helps to make life easy and the fuel-efficient engine keeps fuel costs to a minimum. As with all engines make sure and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, keep the oil clean and change at the period stated in the manual. It’s far better to keep the oil clean and to wear an engine out.
Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower Height Adjuster
Variable Cutting Height
The Racing mower has a five-step height adjustment, the heights range from 30 – 70 mm, with this height range you have a cutting height for all seasons. One thing that I would recommend is to cut your lawn regularly. I see far too many people leaving the grass to grow far too long and then cutting the lawn too short.
In an ideal world, you only want to take a maximum of one-third of your grass at one time. So in other words, take no more than 33% of grass height of your lawn. This helps to keep your lawn looking healthy and helps keep your lawn looking good all year round. Within reason, the more regularly you can cut your lawn, the better.
Generous Grass Collector
Something that’s always an important factor is that the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower has a generous 150 L collection bag. This is always an important feature on any mower, the larger the bag, the less time we lose when emptying the bag. Emptying the bag can be carried out from the operator’s seat.
Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower Underside
Steel Deck
The 61 cm cutting deck is made from durable steel that should give long life. It’s always good to keep your deck clean for optimum cutting and collection efficiency. At the end of the season, it is not a bad practice to paint or spray your cutting deck with oil to preserve it.
Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower Gearbox
Transmission
The majority of ride-on mowers today come with hydrostatic transmission, this type of transmission gives instant forward and reverse speeds. The hydrostatic transmission also gives you variable speeds, there is no need for a clutch. Normally you just have one lever for forward or reverse, or 2-foot pedals that offer forward and reverse. It really is the most efficient way to power a ride-on lawnmower. The great thing is if you come to a thick patch of grass you can quickly slow the machine down, no gear changing or patchwork, just instant forward and reverse!
Unfortunately, the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower does not offer this hydrostatic drive feature. It has a gearbox with four forward and one reverse gear. Once again, we have two remember that this is a budget lawnmower, so we can’t have every single feature. However, the reviews really are excellent for a machine that costs under £1000!
Quick Delivery
Delivery can be the following working day, providing you order before 2 PM on a working day.
There’s also an assembly service available for £100. This is a service that I would probably seriously think about. The manufacturer claims it takes 30 minutes to an hour to assemble yourself.
Features
A very compact ride on mower, ideal for the smaller garden.
There are not many ride-on lawnmowers as cheap as the Racing 62PR Ride-On Mower. For a ride on mower which is under £1000, the reviews are excellent.
This Ride On Mower Comes With A Two-Year Warranty
For me, the biggest downside is the fact that the machine does not have hydrostatic transmission. It would be good if Racing made a hydrostatic version, maybe this will happen in the future.
If you are looking for a budget hydrostatic ride-on lawnmower it may be worth taking a look at our ride on mower category here.
I recently came across, what looks to be a great piece of machinery, the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand on Power Unit. This is basically a stander zero turn mower which can take various attachments. According to Toro there are up to 10 different attachments available, I will go through the various attachments further on in this post.
As we know quality machinery isn’t cheap to purchase, we need to make the most out of our investment and purchase wisely. Over the years I’ve owned many different machines and I’ve often thought it’s a shame we can’t have one versatile power unit to power all of our machines. I know this is easier said than done, however, I believe that Toro may have partly fulfilled this dream.
About 12 years ago I purchased a Ferris 5061 inch zero turn lawnmower, it was great machine a friend of mine still using this zero turn commercially. If I remember correctly I paid £10,000 for this machine, it was an ex-demonstration model with about 80 hours on the clock. I think the list price at the time was about £20,000 for a brand-new machine, they are not cheap!
I always thought it would be a great idea if I could use this zero turn lawnmower to power other machinery. It seems like Toro have the answer, so let’s have a look at this machine.
Kohler EFI Engine
Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit
The Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit is powered by a Kohler Command 26.5 hp 747cc EFI petrol engine. It is basically a stand on zero turn mower that takes a 60 inch cutting width deck. A smaller cutting deck is available. I’ve never actually owned a stander lawnmower, however, I have owned a walk-behind and ride-on zero-turn mowers. I really like the idea of the stander lawnmower for easy access. They certainly seem to be very popular at the moment.
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It is great that the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit is able to do so many tasks. If you have not used a zero-turn lawnmower before, they are, in my opinion the most manoeuvrable and versatile machines on the market.
The Zero Turn Advantage
A zero turn lawn mower is powered by two hydraulic motors, the two individual motors are attached to the rear wheels individually. The two hydraulic motors are powered by a hydraulic pump which gives you instant forward and reverse on each rear wheel.
At the front of the machine there are two heavy duty caster wheels that can turn 360° which helps with the superb manoeuvrability.
Most zero turn lawnmowers are controlled by two levers, although there are a few zero terms that now offer a steering wheel. I haven’t actually used a zero-turn lawnmower with a steering wheel, however, I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has used this type of machine.
With the lever -type zero turn mowers, you simply have instant forward and reverse on each wheel. This means that the lawnmower can literally turn around on a sixpence. In my view, zero turn lawn mowers are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market. They are perfect for negotiating around shrubs, flower borders and trees, you are literally cutting continually with a zero-turn.
Just one thing with a zero turn mower, care needs to be taken when turning sharply as you can tear the turf if you’re not careful. With care practice, damaged the turf can almost be eliminated.
Grandstand-Pro-Force-Blower
Removing The 60 Inch Cutter Deck
I wondered how straightforward it would be to remove the cutter deck and to add various accessories. However, from watching the video, it looks like Toro have made removing the cutter deck, really quite straightforward.
To remove the cutting deck, simply place to pieces of wood 2 x 4 underneath the cutting deck, this just helps to take the weight of the cutting deck. Then remove the pin from the deck adjustment lever simply low the lever so that the cutting deck rests on the two pieces of wood. Then you need to replace the pin to stop the deck lever springing back. After this there are eight bolts to remove and your cutting deck is removed.
Accessories For The Toro Pro Force Series Debris Blower
One of the best things about the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit is that you can literally use this machine all year round for multiple tasking.
Grandstand-Pro-Force-Blower
Blower Attachment
The blower attachment looks like a great piece of machinery. I wrote a blog post a few days ago about the Toro Pro Force Series Debris Blower. This really is a great piece of kit.
Once you have removed the cutting deck you can now attach the Turbine Pro Force Blower. The blower fits on a kickstand which helps to attach the blower in a straightforward way. There are two small wheels on the kickstand. Simply loosely attach the belt to the pulley and then lift the blower up and it will lock in position. The belt will then automatically be tensioned and ready for use. Then remove the two pins and flipped the guard over for the working position.
The Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit has a quick attach hydraulic hose system which enables attachments to be fitted quickly. It literally takes a couple of minutes to attach the Turbine Pro Force Blower. Once the blower is fitted you are ready to put the wind up those autumn leaves!
The blower develops 7800 CFM at full throttle, that’s quite a bit of air. The air chute can be moved hydraulically 360° this will enable you to move the debris where you want it to go and give you total control over the airflow.
Now let’s move on to winter……
The Boss Dozer Blade
Moving on to winter the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit has a boss dozer blade that can be used to clear snow. The blade is 5 foot wide and made of poly with no rusting and no scratches!
Toro Grandstand Multiforce All Season Plow
Attaching The Blade
The boss dozer blade or plough is easily attached to the power unit, it comes with a stand which makes for easy fitting. The machine has an easy fit system that has one hydraulic ram for up-and-down. And two more hydraulic rams for left and right control. Once again you have the quick attach hydraulic pipes to control the hydraulic rams.
LED Light Kit
There is an optional LED light kit that goes together with the blade or clearing plough. So when the days are short you aren’t restricted by daylight. There is a flashing light that can be fitted to this machine.
Tyres
Snow tyres are available for this machine or if you prefer to stick with the regular grass tyres all year round. Then there is an optional weight box to give you that extra traction in the winter.
With speeds of up to 10 mph, you will be clearing snow, cutting grass and blowing leaves very quickly and efficiently.
Grandstand Multiforce Broom
Power Broom
The power broom is used to move snow, clear leaves and debris and dethatch lawns. There is a hydraulic kit that gives greater speeds to the power broom. This can pump up to 15 gallons of oil a minute. This gives speeds of up to 250 rpm on the actual broom. If you need to slow the broom down slightly, just reduce the revs on the throttle.
The low-flow hydraulic system powers the three hydraulic rams, very similar to the dozer blade. The hydraulic rams give you a up and down movement and left-to-right movement for maximum versatility.
Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand on Power Unit
Bagging Kit
There is a bagging kit that fits on the side of the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit. The bagging kit offers good manoeuvrability and 10 ft³ collection capacity.
Scarifier And Aerator Attachment
There is also a scarifier and aerator attachment, another great plus point for looking after your lawn.
To Conclude
Good commercial machinery is not cheap. I really like the idea of having one power unit that can do multiple tasks. One thing is for sure that the zero turn concept makes this machine exceptionally manoeuvrable. I think this is an ideal machine for contractors and large gardens, a machine that can work all year round.
Today we are looking at something a little bit different, which is the RV602 Ventrac vacuum collection system which is an attachment for the Ventrac 4500 series power units.
As you know I like to make life easier in the garden and I like to look at all types of machines for landscapers, gardeners and horticulturalists etc! I know that this machine isn’t suitable for every garden, but I have to say that it fascinates me how the right machine can make life so much easier.
The RV602 Ventrac vacuum collection system is an attachment that fits onto the Ventrac 4500 series articulated tractor power unit. It is attached via the traditional three-point linkage that is fitted to most agricultural tractors and compact tractors. I’m not sure if this vacuum collection system can be fitted to other power units or not. Certainly, when fitted on the Ventrac 4500 it looks like the perfect match.
When I first watched the video on the Ventrac vacuum collection system I thought that it looked rather cumbersome. However, with the articulated steering and the dual wheels fitted, it becomes a very lightweight and much more compact machine. Traditionally ride-on mowers and compact tractors can lead to tram lining, especially if you are mowing the same way each time. With the dual wheels, I’m sure that this must reduce the pounds per square inch on the soil considerably.
Clear Lawns Quickly And Efficiently
A Good Collection System
Looking at the video, it seems like the Ventrac vacuum is making an excellent job vacuuming up the grass and leaves. I didn’t realise to start with that the actual vacuum is powered by an independent 10 hp electric start Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine. In an ideal world this would be better if the vacuum could be powered from the tractors power take-off or hydraulic system. However, realistically and practically the property is not enough power to carry out both jobs at once.
I appreciate that for many people this system may not be suitable for your garden, however, we have a range of blowers and vacuums and leaf collectors that can help you in your garden.
Of course, the only downside of this is that you have two engines to maintain and to start and stop. However, if this was giving me good results and collecting efficiently, I would not be too concerned about having two engines.
High Lift RV602 Ventrac vacuum Collection System
Straightforward Emptying
One of the great things about the RV 602 Ventrac vacuum collection system is that you don’t have to leave the driver seat to empty the collection system. This obviously, increases efficiently considerably and is much more pleasant for the operator, there’s nothing worse to keep jumping off a tractor seat!
Another great feature of the RV 602 Ventrac vacuum collection system, is the ability to be able to load a truck or trailer from the driver’s seat. Traditionally with the majority of ride-on mowers do not have the high lift capacity which is a real benefit with the Ventrac. I have owned an Iseki SXG ride on tractor with a high lift collection system, it’s a good machine. This really is a great system for loading trucks or even just making a heap in your garden for composting, no more forking up, totally effortless!
I can never understand why some manufacturers make a nice ride on lawnmower, but then they will have three bags in the back of the machine that you will have to empty individually. This is very time consuming and in most cases totally unnecessary. I appreciate that there may be some instances where you’re tipping the grass and you can’t actually get to the compost heap or something similar. However, if this is your situation, I will try my hardest to keep things simple so you can empty from the driver’s seat. I have never purchased a ride-on machine where I cannot empty the bag or collection system from the driver’s seat. I don’t like handling materials twice when potentially when I only need to do the job once!
Easy Disconnect Vacuum Pipe
Vacuum Cleaner
Another great feature of this machine is the fact that you can disconnect the vacuum pipe from the cutter deck and literary use as a giant vacuum cleaner. Apparently there is a hose clamp that quickly releases the vacuum hose, so there is no need for any tools to release the hose.
This is perfect for cleaning up in areas where your lawnmower cannot enter into. Or for example, in places like flowerbeds, shrub borders and under hedges, this really can save loads of time and make clearing up leaves very easy.
Storage Stand
The RV 602 Ventrac vacuum collection system comes complete with a storage stand on castor wheels. This enables easy fitting and removal of the vacuum to your tractor.
You can see more features and reviews in the video below.
In this particular video, I would like to show you how to make a Hayter Harrier drive properly!
I have probably owned around 10 to 12 of these particular Hayter Harrier 56 models over the years; unfortunately, this particular model as shown in the video has a very poor and inadequate drive system. I believe that this Hayter Harrier has been superseded by a newer model this year. However, I believe this model is still available, although I wouldn’t recommend it. I would go for the latest Hayter Harrier model or a Weibang which is a slightly heavier mower.
You Can See The Video below On How To Make Your Hayter Harrier Drive Properly!
Weibang has a much stronger drive system on their machine and a better collection system. Weibang also offers five years warranty for domestic use and three years warranty for commercial use, which is pretty good. More to come on this subject in a future post!
This Hayter Harrier does not have the best drive system in the world; the previous models had a much better drive system. I believe that Briggs & Stratton stopped making an engine with a power takeoff on, so Hayter had to design a completely new drive system, but in my mind, they have failed miserably.
The grass collection is also very poor. I live in a fairly dry part of the UK in East Anglia, and even with our dry conditions, the grass chute can very easily block even when the grass is dry. I appreciate that it is of great importance to keep the grass bag clean and to either power wash it regularly or to blow the bag out with an airline. If the grass bag is not kept clean then the air cannot flow through the back, which in turn, will not make the collection process effective. This process needs to be carried out regularly to keep the collection process running efficiently. However, even with a very clean bag, it is very unusual to be able to fill the grass box to brimming full as the airflow doesn’t have the power to throw the grass to the back of the box.
On this particular machine, the belts had been replaced just six weeks ago, and already the Hayter Harrier is struggling to pull itself along. It actually starts off driving quite well but almost after half an hour, sometimes more, sometimes less, it will not drive efficiently, and I end up having to push the machine slightly to keep it going, this is not good! I would expect a machine of this size to be able to drive itself for long periods. I don’t know if the belts heat up and then become less effective in their driving capacity, all I know is that Hayter should be able to produce a much better drive system than on this particular model of Hayter Harrier.
Let’s Make The Hayter Harrier Drive!
So now I am going to turn the mower on its side making sure that exhaust is on the bottom side and that the fuel tank and air filter are at the highest point as shown in the video. In turning the lawnmower this way up it stops any fuel and oil running into the air filter. I normally blow the machine down with a leaf blower which gets all the dead grass and debris out from underneath. I do this process every time I use the lawnmower as I don’t want rotting grass and other debris laying inside the lawnmower.
Anti-Slip Belt Dressing
I use an anti-slip belt dressing, as shown in the video to lubricate the belt underneath the machine. It is slightly difficult to see the drive belt and even more difficult to see the drive belt on the video as I’m trying to hold the camera and spray the drive belt at the same time!
I normally turn the blade a fraction of a turn and spray the drive belt covering a few inches or centimetres at a time, after repeating this process approximately five times, the drive belt should be completely lubricated with the anti-slip belt dressing.
Wear And Tear
While the Hayter Harrier is on its side, I would like to show you some of the wear and tear under the cutting deck. As you can see there is like a plastic-type of insert that is broken and ideally needs replacing to stop grass and debris getting into the gearbox et cetera. I would expect something a bit better them this from a manufacturer like Hayter.
Hayter Harrier 56 Autodrive VS Rear Roller Lawnmower
Hayter Products
I believe it was in the 60s when Hayter was making many mowers, and they actually couldn’t sell enough machines as they had been manufactured to a very high standard so that people were not replacing them! Maybe that’s not too good for Hayter, but great for the customer.
I have owned many Hayter products over the years, and I have really liked them. The Hayter Harrier 56 and the other rear roller models do leave a very British striped finish to your lawn, which we all like to see.
I’m hoping the latest models of Hayter Harrier will be much improved, and I am told that the drive system is much better and also the collection system, I will write about this in a future blog post.
Stiga Park Pro 740 IOX 4WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawn mower
My question today is are Stiga out front deck lawnmowers the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market?
I think we all like the idea of having a ride on lawnmower to cut our lawns, but for the majority of us can’t really justify a ride-on lawnmower. Not only because our lawns are not large enough but often a ride-on lawnmower can be very cumbersome, and not very efficient to use in small areas. The good news is that the range of Stiga articulated mulching mowers are exceptionally manoeuvrable and can go around flower beds and trees and obstacles at total ease!
In many cases, it is much easier to use a quality walk-behind mower than to have a cumbersome ride-on lawnmower as you can spend most of your time when manoeuvring around obstacles. However, the Stiga range of articulated mulching mowers changes this totally as the video shows.
Out Front Deck Or Zero Turn Mower?
Another type of lawnmower, which is highly manoeuvrable and probably my favourite is the zero-turn range of lawnmowers, however, care needs to be taken with these machines when turning as you can tear the turf. The Stiga eradicates this problem totally, however, I could probably achieve slightly more with a zero-turn mower, but it would be a very fine line. I actually think for most home users an articulated lawnmower is a very good option.
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No Grass Clippings To Collect!
One of the many benefits of an articulated out front deck lawnmower is the fact that they do not collect the grass they actually mulch the grass, so in other words, they chop the grass so that it almost disappears. One thing I would like to mention when mulching is that it works much more effectively when you cut the grass on a regular basis. It is unfair to leave your grass for three or four weeks and then to expect a perfect mulch.
One of the most time-consuming jobs when cutting the lawn is having to empty the grass collection box, it’s a very time-consuming business, especially if you’re compost heap is some distance away from the main lawn. With a mulching mower, this puts an end to the time-consuming job of emptying a grass box. I appreciate that some of the ride on mowers can be emptied from the driver’s seat, however, you are still losing time from carrying out this process.
Another benefit from mulching is that it is almost adding natural fertiliser to your lawn, this is especially beneficial in dry weather, it definitely helps to keep your lawn looking green and healthy throughout the year.
Some people say that when you mulch and don’t collect the grass that you can get a build-up of moss, I would say that this can happen but at the end of the day if you’re looking after your lawn properly this can be taken out with lawn feed and moss killer or scarifying your lawn once a year. Incidentally, scarifying and feeding your lawn on a regular basis is highly recommended if you want a healthy lawn.
So How Much Does An Out Front Mulching Lawnmower Cost?
The Stiga range of lawnmowers starts at £2330 for the smallest model which has an 85 cm deck (approximately 3 feet) and go up to £8999 for the largest model which has 120 cm deck (approximately 4 feet) and comes with four-wheel-drive. These models come with a three-year warranty.
Engine Sizes
Just remember that with a mulching mower it takes a little bit more power to cut the grass as traditionally with a lawnmower you are trying to remove the grass out of the deck to reserve power and fuel efficiency. However, with a mulching mower it actually tries to keep the grass inside the deck for as long as possible as this is where the mulching process takes place, it obviously takes power to do this process.
Once again, I would always go for the most powerful machine that you can afford as it speeds up the cutting process and if the grass is long you have the extra power to keep going.
This is the smallest model of the Stiga out front deck rider mowers, having said this, there is the option for a 85 cm or 95 cm deck which with this size deck you can actually soon cover the ground. Also, remember that there is no box to empty so you are literally cutting grass continuously!
This machine is powered by a Briggs & Stratton 344 cc engine which develops 10.5 hp. There are 10 different cutting heights which vary from 25 to 85 mm and the transmission is hydrostatic transmission which gives you instant forward and reverse speeds on a foot pedal, a very efficient way of powering a lawnmower.
Stiga Park 520 P 2WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawnmower
Stiga Park 520 P 2WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawnmower
If you’re looking for a mid-range lawnmower the Stiga Park 520 2WD could be a good option, it comes with a selection of cutting deck options which range from 95 cm to 105 cm with an option of two or three-bladed decks. There’s also an option for an electric lift, in other words, the cutting height is adjusted electronically, which is great for the operator. My personal choice would be to go for the three-blade deck with electronic lift, the three blades will help to make the mulching process much more efficient.
The Stiga Park 520 is powered by a Briggs & Stratton single-cylinder engine which develops just over 13 hp. The cutting height is from 25 mm to 95 mm, this can be adjusted manually or electronically depending on deck choice.
Stiga Park Pro 740 IOX 4WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawn mower
Stiga Park Pro 740 IOX 4WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawn mower
Now we are moving up to the top of the range machine, the Stiga Park Pro 740 IOX 4WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawnmower is priced at £8999 which offers a saving of £1380 currently. You could say this is the singing and dancing model which has everything on it including four-wheel-drive which is a great asset.
This machine will comfortably cut a 4 to 5-acre lawn which is more than enough for most gardens. This machine is ideal for the keen garden or contractor who has a large lawn to manage and wants a machine that will cover the ground quickly.
The Stiga Park Pro it’s powered by a Briggs & Stratton two-cylinder 724cc engine which develops 18.7 hp, I have had experience with this engine as it has been fitted to various machines that I have owned. It is a very efficient two-cylinder petrol engine that takes work in its stride.
The cutting deck comes in five different sizes ranging from 95 cm to 125 cm, once again there is a two or three-bladed option, I would personally go for the three-bladed version for more efficient mulching.
The cutting height is controlled electronically and ranges from 25 mm to 95 mm cutting height, which offers plenty of flexibility. Just a quick tip, never cut your lawn too short, for a healthy lawn regular cutting pays off, nothing looks worse than a lawn that has been scalped and cut too short, regular cutting is the key.
Like all Stiga out front mowers, this machine is powered with hydrostatic transmission which offers instant forward and reverse and variable speed, a very efficient way to power a lawnmower.
To conclude
A Stiga out front deck mower is one of the most efficient ways, if not the most efficient way to cut your lawn. Combined with its mulching abilities and the need of no grass collection can make your lawn cutting extremely pleasurable. I think it’s a much less daunting task to jump on a ride on lawnmower knowing that all you have to do is is to sit on your mower and let the machine do the work, no grass collector to empty just mowing!
Please feel free to comment below, it’s always good to hear feedback and questions and comments.
Mountfield 2248H Rear Collection (Hydrostatic) Ride On Lawnmower
Mountfield is offering up to £400 discount on their large range of ride-on lawnmowers. Already we are halfway through August and the summer is rushing by, it may seem a bit late to buy a lawnmower, but with these discounts, this may be an excellent time to purchase a new Mountfield ride on mower. Incidentally, there have been many times when I’m cutting lawns on Christmas Eve, however, the conditions do have to be right! It’s always good to have a well-manicured lawn for Christmas day!
Mountfield has been making lawnmowers for over 50 years and has built up a good reputation for good machines that are reliable and will be good workhorses for many years especially if you are prepared to take care of your machine and service it regularly.
Not every garden is suitable for a ride on mower if you have lots of obstacles and trees and shrubs etc to go round you may be better off with a good roller rotary lawnmower or even a wheeled mower. However, if your garden is half an acre plus, then in normal terms I would recommend purchasing a ride-on mower.
Mountfield 827M Compact Ride On Lawnmower
Mountfield 827M Compact Ride On Lawnmower
The Mountfield range of lawnmowers starts with the Mountfield 827M compact lawn rider which is just 26 inches (66 cm) wide, this is very narrow indeed, perfect for getting into a small tight space. I would like to add that this machine is an entry-level ride on mower and comes with manual transmission, so, in other words, a gearbox. I would recommend in most cases if your budget allows going for a machine with hydrostatic transmission as these machines are far quicker and easier to use than a manual gearbox.
You can find out more about the Mountfield 827M compact lawn rider here, the price for this machine is just £1299 it is actually very good value for a ride-on lawnmower, it comes with two years warranty.
Mountfield 1328H Compact Ride On Lawnmower
Mountfield 1328H Compact Ride On Lawnmower
The Mountfield 1328H compact ride-on lawnmower is a slightly larger mower than the above machine, although still very compact at 28 inches (71 cm) and still large enough to fit through most garden gates. Although this machine is slightly more expensive at £1599 it does come with hydrostatic transmission which to me is a huge benefit and much better than a manual gearbox model. You can find out more about the Mountfield 1328H compact ride on lawn mower here. This ride-on lawnmower comes with two years warranty
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Hydrostatic Transmission
Hydrostatic transmission is the most common way to power a modern lawnmower, it is more expensive than a manual gearbox, however, it really does make your lawnmower much more versatile and efficient and the whole mowing experience much more pleasurable, I would always choose hydrostatic transmission over a manual gearbox providing your budget allows. Hydrostatic transmission enables you to have instant variable forward and reverse speeds either through a foot pedal or lever.
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Mountfield 2248H Rear Collection (Hydrostatic) Ride On Lawnmower
Now we come to the other end of the scale, if you’re looking for a large ride-on we have the Mountfield 2248H Rear Collection (Hydrostatic) Ride On Lawnmower this machine can cut up to 5 acres. It is currently selling for £3999 with a £400 discount while stocks last. Mountfield also give a five-year warranty, so they are obviously confident that there machine is built to last!
Mountfield 2248H Rear Collection (Hydrostatic) Ride On Lawnmower
This particular machine is powered by a 656 cc twin cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine I have actually had personal experience with these engines and they really are very good. The transmission is hydrostatic which means you have total control over the machine whether you are cutting lush spring grass or collecting leaves. The machine has seven different height settings and a mulch plug should you require to mulch the grass, this is a great option to have especially in dry weather.
The cutting deck width is 48 inches (122 cm) which with a deck this size will produce excellent work rates. This particular model comes with a 320 L capacity grass collection box which is released from the driver’s seat. There is also a towbar which is a great asset for those jobs in the garden.
Mountfield 1636H Rear Collection Ride on Lawnmower
Mountfield 1636H Rear Collection Ride on Lawnmower
If you’re looking for a mid-range ride-on lawnmower, maybe the Mountfield 1636H Rear Collection Ride on Lawnmower could be a good option for you. This machine is priced at £2199 and currently has a £300 discount on the price.
The machine is powered by a Mountfield 452 cc engine and has a cutting width of 92 cm which I believe is around 36 inches which makes this machine reasonably compact but at the same time, you can cut reasonably sized areas of lawn.
As always, I would try and purchase the best machine that you can afford, a ride on lawnmower can last you many years if you respect them and service it regularly.
This compact and highly-manoeuvrable entry-level ride-on from esteemed British manufacturers Hayter Heritage M10/30 Ride-On Lawn Mower is the perfect choice for those with larger lawns who are looking to step-up from their old walk-behind mower.
At the heart of the machine is a very high-performance commercial-grade Briggs & Stratton engine with an impressive power-output of 10.5hp. The engine drives a hand-controlled infinitely-variable hydrostatic transmission for smooth, intuitive speed control; flexibility-of-use; and effortless manoeuvrability. Also, there is no need to stop to change gear with a hydro drive, so you’ll be able to get the job done far more quickly than you would with a manual ride-on.
The cutter-deck on the Hayter Heritage M10/30 Ride-On Lawn Mower is fully floating for a consistent cut on undulating ground and has been offset so you can cut right up to lawn edges and therefore consign your strimmer to the shed. The deck can be raised and lowered through six-stages (38 – 101mm) to suit the grass-type and the nature of the terrain you are working on.
The Hayter Heritage M10/30 has three cutting-modes (collect; mulch; rear-discharge), so you can choose the one that will be most effective for any given grass conditions, for example, mulching comes into its own on short, dry grass; while direct discharge is ideal if you’ve let the grass get a bit too long for bagging. Thanks to its super-tight turning-circle of just 60cm and reverse-gear, the Heritage M10/30 will cope easily with tight-spots and awkward corners. The hugely capacious grass-collector can be emptied from the driverâs seat; and the engine is fully enclosed for greatly reduced noise.
In this review, we are going to review the Robomow range of robotic lawnmowers and find out if they really do work, in fact, I know they do work as I have used them and installed Robomow for various customers.
You can take a look at my video review below if you prefer or both!
What Is A Robomow Robotic Lawnmower?
To put it briefly, a Robomow robotic lawnmower is a lawnmower that will cut your grass automatically, once Robomow is fully set up, it will literally mow your grass with no input from yourself, it can be a huge time-saving machine.
The Robomow range of robotic lawnmowers can actually cut your lawn whenever you want it to, you can even cut the grass in the middle of the night! It also has a rain sensor which will send it back to its home, in other words, it’s base station which acts as a charging port.
There are various Robomow models starting from £499 and going up to £2799, however, please don’t be put off by the price as these mowers can save you huge amounts of time. The smallest model cuts up to 150 m² and the largest model can cut lawns up to an acre and 1/4 which is really quite incredible, all done robotically!
What Are The Pros And The Cons?
The Pros
Three-year warranty
Fantastic lawn finish
Your lawn always has that freshly cut finish
Exceptionally low maintenance
Almost silent operation
No more walking or sitting on a lawnmower
Very low running costs
It’s a mulching mower, so no need to collect grass
Your grass stays greener for longer due to mulching
It’s a boy’s toy
Two decades in the robotic mowing business
Cons
Robomow can’t mow banks over 36%
Not suitable for every garden if you have lots of paths and obstacles
It takes time to set up, probably worth paying for a professional one-off set up
Don’t Be Put Off By The Cost
Don’t be put off by the cost of purchasing a Robomow robotic lawnmower and yes, I agree that the top of the range Robomow isn’t cheap, but it’s also good to remember there are many benefits.
With Robomow you will never need to spend time cutting your lawn, Robomow does this for you.
Once you have installed Robomow the running costs are exceptionally low, there is no petrol or diesel to buy and no real annual costs. A ride on lawnmower can quite easily cost around £400 a year to run and service.
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Robomow Features
As I mentioned in a previous paragraph Robomow’s are not cheap, especially if you’re buying the top of the range model however ride on lawnmowers and quality walk behind mowers are not cheap either. One of the best things with a robotic lawnmower is that you have not spent half the weekend cutting the grass, Robomow mows for you.
Obviously, the larger machine that you purchase the quicker it will cut your lawn, however, the fact that you are not doing it yourself means that you buy the right machine that fits your size of lawn. The smallest machine will cut up to approximately 150 m² and the largest machine up to around 5000 m² which is absolutely amazing!
Apparently, Robomow likes one day off a week, which is a bit like me or preferably two days off a week! There is actually a genuine reason for this and apparently, by resting the batteries for one day a week it helps to give the batteries a much longer life.
The great thing is with Robomow is that Robomow can come out and cut the lawn whenever you program it to, so potentially it can cut the lawn every day, although realistically I would set it for 2 to 3 times per week depending on the growing season. It also gives you that continuous fresh manicured look.
Robomow is also covered by a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, which obviously means that the manufacturers have confidence in their products.
One thing that I would definitely do on an annual basis is to replace the blades as sharp blades make for a better-manicured lawn and they also cut more efficiently, putting less strain on the machine and taking less battery power.
Your Robomow will never run out of power, if it’s getting low on power, it will return to the base station, recharge and then once fully charged continue the cutting process.
Cutting Pattern
The first time that I used Robomow I was very surprised by the cutting pattern, I imagine it a go around the perimeter of the garden, which it does and then to go up and down. However, once it is gone around the perimeter of the garden it cuts randomly, but at the end of its cycle, all the lawn is perfectly cut.
Perimeter Wire And Installation
Although the technology on robotic lawnmowers is increasing all the time Robomow it still needs a perimeter wire all around your garden, it is important to take time carrying out the installation process. It may be worth employing a professional to set up your Robomow apparently there is such a service available, it depends how keen and patient you are to confidently set up Robomow.
The perimeter wire can be used to mark off flower borders and trees and any other obstacles etc.
It’s important to place the perimeter wire in the right place, Robomow comes complete with everything you need to set up, including pegs and the perimeter wire, extra cable and pegs are available if needed.
The perimeter wire is actually pegged down on top of the lawn, within a few weeks the grass will have totally grown over this cable and it will not be visible, Robomow will be the only person who can see it! The Robomow is cleverly designed so that it runs over this cable which enables it to get close to lawn edges and flower borders. Once again, it’s very important to spend time setting the perimeter wire up correctly as long term this can save you lots of time.
So How Does Robomow Perform?
I have actually seen lawns transformed by Robomow due to the fact of regular mowing and mulching that acts like a lawn feed which will also help keep your lawn much greener especially in dry periods.
One thing you need to be careful of is leaving obstacles on the lawn, I have seen customers with dogs will call me to say that there Robomow has stopped working only to discover that there is a dogs bone wedged underneath Robomow, it sounds silly, but it’s happened several times too. It is of utmost importance to keep your lawn clear of any obstacles.
If Robomow does hit something, it has the technology to back off and go in another direction, if it is something like a dog’s toy or bone it can get caught up in the machine which is not advisable.
If you like lawn stripes, I am afraid that this is something that Robomow cannot do, however, it can make your lawn look beautifully manicured. I have actually run a roller lawnmower over a lawn a few times a year which actually will stripe your lawn and leave the stripes in for a few weeks. It’s not a perfect solution but it does work if you really want stripes and I know it’s not quite the goal to use two lawnmowers!
Is A Robomow For You?
Providing your lawn is not full of obstacles then a Robomow can be a huge benefit to you. Not only in how your lawn looks but also in the amount of time it can save you at the weekend. It’s also quite a talking point when friends and family visit when they see your Robomow cutting the lawn by itself, it’s definitely a head turner.
Finally, we have our largest model which is the Robomow RS635 Pro SX Robotic Mower, this Robomow is designed to cut areas of approximately 5000 m² or 1.25 acres, it is priced at £2799.
In this blog post, I’m going to be writing about mulching lawn mowers and are they worth buying? With so many lawnmowers on the market sometimes it is difficult to know what to choose, I hope that this article will help to answer some of your questions.
You can see a short video that I have created on mulching lawnmowers below. Please feel free to comment on this video and to subscribe to our channel.
Why Have a Mulching Lawnmower?
I think there are many of us who really enjoy cutting the lawn, however, many of us don’t enjoy having to continually empty the grass box. We all know what it’s like when the weather is unsettled and we have been away for a couple of weeks and the grass has become very long, we seem to have never-ending boxes of grass to empty, especially if it is the peak growing season.
The great thing with a mulching mower is that there are no grass clippings to collect, they are just mulched and allegedly disappear, which in principle is a great idea. Just remember that for a mulching mower to work really effectively grass really needs to be cut at least once a week.
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How Does A Mulching Lawnmower Work?
With most lawnmowers the grass clippings are given an exit point where they can leave the mower quickly and efficiently if clippings can’t escape from the cutting deck, the engine will quickly lose power.
However, with a mulching mower, the idea is to keep the grass within the cutting deck for the longest period possible, in this way the clippings should be broken down into mulch. Something to remember with a mulching mower is that they do take considerably more power than a traditional mower with a collection system due to the fact that they are keeping the clippings within the mower deck. It is also of great importance to try and cut your lawn on a regular basis for maximum efficiency. You can still use a mulching mower on slightly longer grass, for example, if you have been away for a couple of weeks. But just remember the finish won’t be so good and to mulch grass efficiently it needs to be carried out on a regular basis.
What Type Of Mulching Mower Do I Purchase?
There are many different types of mulching lawnmower, from push models to powered models and to ride on machines. I particularly like the articulated ride on mulching mowers as they are exceptionally manoeuvrable and very efficient at mulching your grass clippings.
There are also machines that are actually designed for mulching and there are other manufacturers that have converted their machines to mulch. In general and in my experience I have found that the best mulching mowers are the ones that are actually designed to mulch rather than an afterthought.
Here Are A Few Examples of Mulching Mowers
Our very cheapest mulching mower starts at £189 and is an electric mower that includes a mulch plug. I have to say that I don’t know if a mower like this really has enough power to mulch efficiently, I would personally go for a petrol machine as I’m fully aware that mulching does take power.
If you would like more details on the AL-KO 40E Comfort Electric Lawn mower (incl. mulch plug) please go here for more information.
AL-KO 40E Comfort Electric Lawn mower (incl. mulch plug)
Our cheapest petrol mulching lawnmower is a Stiga 18 inch (45 cm) machine which comes with a five year manufacturer’s warranty and sells for just £249. Just remember that you need to have this machine serviced annually for warranty purposes. Having a five year warranty gives me great confidence in this mulching lawnmower.
Stiga Multiclip 47 Blue Push Mulching Lawn mower
On the other end of the scale, we have our most expensive walk behind mulching mower which sells for £899. You can see the Weibang Virtue 53 SMP Self-Propelled Mulching Mower here.
This is a machine that I have had experience with and a machine that I strongly recommend, it comes with a three year commercial warranty and five year domestic warranty which to me brings great peace of mind.
Now we come onto our out front ride on mulching lawn mowers, these machines are obviously in a different league, but the articulated steering system makes some of the most manoeuvrable ride on mowers on the market and no grass to collect either.
AL-KO Solo FC 13-90.5 HD 2WD Front Deck Ride on Lawnmower
Our top of the range out front four-wheel-drive ride on mulching mower is the Stiga Park Pro 740 IOX 4WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawn mower, this is a great machine if you want something that’s going to last. It comes with a 10 year warranty which means the manufacturers have a huge confidence in their product.
Stiga Park Pro 740 IOX 4WD Out Front Deck Ride On Lawn mower
