Mower recommendations -

[tweak'e]

Four Blade Disc System vs 2 blades system.

Pros and cons?

usually cuts finer. better for mulching.
also usually its the bigger machines that have 4 blades, probably due to cutting more grass.

the things i look for is size. wider mower means less walking. but watch the weight, the bigger mowers need more power and have a bigger engine.

cost of replacing blades is minor, its not an issue.
as long as its a decent brand with quality blades it takes a long time before they need sharpening.

one feature i struggled to find was a side chute. i think its now standard on masports, but its not a great chute. it gets clogged easily as its on the small side.

[kahawai chaser]

Changing the small blades from the disc can be cumbersome, had to mess about with gas torch, file, and vice grips. Also the disc /carrier centre hole for crank bolt can crack making the hole bigger. Had to weld a large washer to fix it. Bought all my mowers, mainly Masports with Briggs engines, on Trademe from West Auckland, Westies seem to sell heaps. Have six working from 1970's rota-cut, 3.5 classics, quantums, etc and 8 or so laying about for parts. With Briggs parts are plentiful and relatively cheap online in NZ and eBay.

[piroska]

My son got a new mower recently, nothing special, he was slightly annoyed as it was insurance (old one was stolen), and shop didn't have the like for like and he had to pay extra for the upgrade.
However he then discovered what the thing on handle was for....pull it and mower is automatic drive...LOL.

He likes it now. Well you still need to steer at the end of the straight line but he said it's fast....


Ours is old and Briggs and Stratton, bought second hand about 16 years ago, no idea how old at the time.

Took it for a service before we moved, compression fine apparently....I like it cause it has a chipper. That's rare now, you can still on a few mowers, but they're expensive...

LOve that chipper...

[rumpty]

Get an electric mower. I bought a Stihl RMA 410 C a year or two ago, (on special, they are a bit expensive!) It has plenty of power, long grass doesn't stop it, the battery charger is quick. Plastic body etc, but it looks strong.

[tweak'e]

Get an electric mower. I bought a Stihl RMA 410 C a year or two ago, (on special, they are a bit expensive!) It has plenty of power, long grass doesn't stop it, the battery charger is quick. Plastic body etc, but it looks strong.

i think your idea of long grass is somewhat different to mine.
most electric lawn mowers are not recommended for long grass.

biggest issue is most are under powered. ie 36v. ok for light stuff.
https://www.stihlshop.co.nz/default/...mower-kit.html
doesn't look to bad for a light lawn. has a side chute which is nice.

https://www.stihlshop.co.nz/default/...lawnmower.html
now we are talking. some decent boggy and uses stock masport parts.

[gary67]

I sit on my mower but then my lawns are a bit bigger than most, some sheep would probably be a better idea for us.

[kenj]

I sit on my mower but then my lawns are a bit bigger than most, some sheep would probably be a better idea for us.

Would you need a saddle for them Gary?

Ken.

[gary67]

Would you need a saddle for them Gary?

Ken.

Well the grass cutters outside come with their own saddles, so I would need to buy one to use sheep. At least my feet would reach the ground me being short.

[piroska]

I sit on my mower but then my lawns are a bit bigger than most, some sheep would probably be a better idea for us.

Oh yes!!! And when they get old, they're so tasty too. I'm jealous...

[Neil F]

I always go to a specialist (I end to that with most things) . I have been dealing with the same Mower firm (3 different owners in that time) for 40 years.
I can talk directly to them about my problem . It is repaired on their premises and they can show me what they had to do.
Agree about size of lawn being a factor. Ours is quite coarse grass in places I always buy Masport with a 4 stroke Briggs and Stratton engine. (I once had a Tecumseh 2 stroke -disastrous-repairers could never agree on the oil/petrol ration)
One tip from that store from 40 years ago which i have stringently followed -always buy a good oil. Its is cheap insurance.