- Thread starter Phil_D
- Start date
They are good for the respective money you pay, yes the cheaper izy range isn't what the top line ones are but that would be impossible for the money you pay - they are sturdy enough though. But importantly you still get a very decent engine on them.
I think people may not know in relative terms the cheaper range Honda do now was never around 20+ years ago. Back then you had to pay big money for a Honda lawnmower there was no cheaper models. You can still pay big bucks if you want the equivalent standard today but obviously izy is the big seller due to the price point. I'm pretty sure the Honda my dad bought back in the mid 80s was £700-800 then!
Those were the days, cutting the long grass down on our small field. Bit of a drop of revs and picked up again, wondering that was tough grass. Looking down as it powered on and seeing what was left of a huge hedgehog namely the bottom half. The top half of it's body was cut clean off. I remember feeling a bit sick after that.
dobbslc
Member
- Messages
- 12,166
- Location
- Hertfordshire UK
It's good to know about the mulching feature on these mowers! I might need a new one when I move as the garden is mahoosive compared to what I have now, it will save lots of messing about emptying the grass box. I'm assuming that it will also help fertilize the lawn.
Maybe I should get a ride on one......
Maybe I should get a ride on one......
gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
- Messages
- 1,262
- Location
- Wirral UK
I bought a Flymo XL500 off the bay for £25. It has the OHC 5.5hp Honda engine. I had to strip the carb and sharpen the blade but now it's fabulous. Starts 1st pull and is effortless to use as it floats about. I think they are around £500 new so I got a bargain but there are usually plenty of secondhand ones about....I'd buy another tomorrow.
dobbslc
Member
- Messages
- 12,166
- Location
- Hertfordshire UK
5.5HP? That thing must do 70mph!
I bought an electric Flymo once and it was useless! I pulled my back out the first time I used it trying to sweep it side to side. It just didn't have enough power to actually hover! I took it back.
I then had/have an obsession with old knackered petrol mowers that I keep finding at the side of the road or at the dump.....
I now have a *****enease one with a Liggs & Strakkon engine from Homebase that does cut the grass but is a bit crap to say the least.
I bought an electric Flymo once and it was useless! I pulled my back out the first time I used it trying to sweep it side to side. It just didn't have enough power to actually hover! I took it back.
I then had/have an obsession with old knackered petrol mowers that I keep finding at the side of the road or at the dump.....
I now have a *****enease one with a Liggs & Strakkon engine from Homebase that does cut the grass but is a bit crap to say the least.
slim_boy_fat
Member
- Messages
- 29,540
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Up to a point, but it can encourage thatch given the right [or conversely] conditions. Your starter for 10.......
https://www.bayeradvanced.com/articles/how-to-tell-if-your-lawn-needs-dethatching
GW8IZR
Gone.
- Messages
- 2,323
- Location
- Anglesey
I bought a 'Rover' which is an aluminium deck and a Honda engine, I've had it 17 years now and it cuts well and works hard. The clutch is sticking a bit at the moment which I need to sort but that's just time not parts.
The cheaper pressed steel units with modern Briggs engines are ok for the money, I keep one as a spare and while its not worked much it always starts with fresh petrol after a few pulls. It cost 10% of the price of the Rover and is about 8 years or so old.
I have a ride on (Countax) which is fine and it has a Briggs engine.. so based on my direct experience I would have no worries buying either another Honda or Briggs if funds were tight.
The cheaper pressed steel units with modern Briggs engines are ok for the money, I keep one as a spare and while its not worked much it always starts with fresh petrol after a few pulls. It cost 10% of the price of the Rover and is about 8 years or so old.
I have a ride on (Countax) which is fine and it has a Briggs engine.. so based on my direct experience I would have no worries buying either another Honda or Briggs if funds were tight.
CompoSimmonite
Member
- Messages
- 5,801
- Location
- Werrington, Staffordshire Moorlands.
I've had 3 petrol and 3 electric Flymo's. First petrol was domestic garden type and gutless. Next two were industrial and amazing. So much power that nothing ever stopped them. Currently I've got a small electric (as well as a Honda) and not a patch on my previous small electric Flymo. Seems quality gets worse over time !
CompoSimmonite
Member
- Messages
- 5,801
- Location
- Werrington, Staffordshire Moorlands.
You have to ensure the grass is cleaned off the underside though as the alloy can corrode - I had one which was so bad there were holes in it ! My electric Honda has a composite deck and I can recommend them over aluminium.
outofthefire
Member
- Messages
- 2,876
waddycall
Member
- Messages
- 1,804
I waited ages for a two stroke flymo to come up on eBay for a reasonable price. We have flower beds in the garden and steep grass slopes. Nothing else will do it other than a flymo but I can't stand using electric mowers as the cable is always in the way. I'm too thick to work out a sensible route! The flymo is really easy to manoeuvre in any direction. The only down side is having to carry it to the lawn. Being two stroke I hang it on the garage wall with the deck vertical.
Thinking about it more I'm going to have to carry the mower up two sets of 4 or 5 steps just to the first tier.. looking at the weight of most of the mowers suggested (~35kg dry) this will become a Norse pretty quickly.
I take it flymos are only suited to keeping shortish grass short? I'm heading down the new place today to see what state the garden is but I'm expecting jungle..
waddycall
Member
- Messages
- 1,804
You can get wheel kits for the larger ones I believe
arther dailey
Member
- Messages
- 6,508
- Location
- England
well my old honda has ally deck, no idea what model it is,just fill ,pull cord ,mow ,put away...and repeat for twenty years
GW8IZR
Gone.
- Messages
- 2,323
- Location
- Anglesey
Same here.. I put oil and petrol in it and jet wash it in November.. even where the paint is off the deck the corrosion is minimal. By comparison the steel deck on my ride on needs patching now.
Just went to look at some mountfield mowers, going to be too heavy to carry up and down the steps.
Flymo is definitely a contender but the petrol engined models start at £420 which is too much for me so going to look out for a sale or a decent condition second hander
Flymo is definitely a contender but the petrol engined models start at £420 which is too much for me so going to look out for a sale or a decent condition second hander
WorkshopChris
Member
- Messages
- 5,049
- Location
- South East Essex
Do your self a favour and whatever you get splash out on shell super as this has the lowest ethanol content available at the moment. Will help stop the carburettor parts dissolving.
