furbacchione

I brought my mower with me when I moved here. It has lasted me about 10 years so far with little maintenance - which reminds me I need to change the oil... It wasn't an expensive brand but the only thing I was determined to get was a 4 stroke briggs and stratton engine. That brand of engine, made in the USA, has always had a fairly reliable reputation. Or! Save up a bit and buy a honda or husky.

moneypenny20

The husband says Honda engine and Honda mower if poss. He says (and he knows) the others aren't worth it but if you can't go the Honda mower then at least get one with a Honda engine.

BadgeIsBack

Stuffed up...of course, my engine is Briggs and Stratton, (as is the one on the rideon). And it is a Victa, not a Masport.

But I can't criticise Honda either.

DadAgain

Change of heart here. I just spent 3 hours trying to get my vi ta 2 stroke started.

That's the 3rd lawnmower I'm about to give up on in 10 years.

Perhaps it's time to consider the ROI on AstroTurf?

BadgeIsBack

My wife took a while to get her motor going this morning...

I reckon the ring gear on my wife's Ford is on the way out...and this is the family car...it gets going sooner or later...

Alfresco

2 year warranty too.

The cheapie I bought at B&Q for £89 lasted 5+ years and was still working when I left last year.

DeadVim

Hehehe! I have had the same thought many times

Our whipper snipper has never started. Can't say I miss it ...

I'll certainly take a look, we don't have big house yards so a cheapy should do it, maybe I'm just too rough on em

BadgeIsBack

I hate whipper snippers. But the 4 stroke is a beauty and I get it out once every few months and it hums away.

4 stroke all the way. He he.

DeadVim

I'm thinking Victa Tornado (19in) but the $560 tag is $60 too much, going to have a drive around the local dealers and see if I can trade in some of my frankenmowers.

Burbage

Offer them $500 cash.

Kim67

Are you or your wife (or a mate) in a Union? Get Union Shopper to find you the best price.

DeadVim

I did just that, we are now the proud parents of a Victa Tornado.

That would have been a good idea, the union fees are eye-watering and could be put to some use.

DadAgain

I took a look at Bunnings and eyed the Victa Hurricane ($450) but decided the Masport of the same size looked a better deal ($400 and it had a newer version of the same 158cc B&S-500 Engine)... [Is it really worth an extra $100 for that extra 1 inch DV?]

In the end however I chickened out and decided to go back to plan A: repair the old one....

I know I have spark....
I know I have compression....
so its all about the air/fuel mix.

When I spray "start ya bastard" into the air pipe - the damn thing fires up and burns it ok - but fails to draw more fuel through the carby.... Endless YouTube clips tell me this problem is 100% fixable EVERY SINGLE time and theres plenty of people who seem to be able to do a stripdown and rebuild of the carby in under 10 minutes... so how hard can it be?

I have succesfully removed, stripped and cleaned the carby - its all in little plasticy bits in a tin on the patio - now all I have to do is work out how to put it back together again and SURELY I will have revived the beast?!

....If all else fails then theres a probably functional mower available in Bunnings for a mere $400 and I can get $20-50 for mine as "need repair/spare parts" on eBay! ... I am NOT ready to give up yet!

DeadVim

Keep going, I like someone who makes the most of existing materials

I've fiddled with the carbs on the MG, suffice to say I didn't make them run any better, I leave it to a man who can

It wasn't the extra inch that swung it soley (although ever inch is helpful ...) it was that coupled with a more powerful engine, 190cc and a slug more torque. Our place can get pretty thick in some places so for something on-budget it seem like a decent option.

Time will tell ...

lesleys

I was going to tell you that Masters have a mower with a Honda engine for $498, but I won't bother now.