Mowing ..

[LG17]

I ended up buying a 46" Husky zero turn with a 21.5hp Kwaka.
I'll give it a run later.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by LG17

I ended up buying a 46" Husky zero turn with a 21.5hp Kwaka.
I'll give it a run later.

Nice one!

I like that engine too, we had one on a Toro and it had some grunt to it.

You'll have to get one of these for it.........................(kidding of course)

https://tarylfixesall.bigcartel.com/...sucki-stickers

[LG17]

Gave it a run for an hour or so yesterday more to get the feel of it than actual mowing the grass. It's gotta be nearly 20 years since I used one. You forget how finicky they are to use at first but I guess it's just a case of muscle memory. I nearly got it stuck in a wire fence so I will mow a little further out until I'm a bit smoother.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by LG17

Gave it a run for an hour or so yesterday more to get the feel of it than actual mowing the grass. It's gotta be nearly 20 years since I used one. You forget how finicky they are to use at first but I guess it's just a case of muscle memory. I nearly got it stuck in a wire fence so I will mow a little further out until I'm a bit smoother.

Ha, the first time I used a zero turn (circa age 17 or so), I backed it down a dry creek bed. You know when you are falling, your instinct is to grab and pull yourself up, well that's reverse on a zero turn. I actually caught it quick enough, slammed on the handbrake before sheepishly getting the boss to drive it out. Not one of my best moments.

But..................I haven't landed it in the lake like one of the boss's did last year.......................I found that rather amusing................

[genebaby]

After waiting and missing out on stock, I put a deposit down and ordered the mower I was after, Masport Contractor AL S19! Picked her up today, ready for next season.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by genebaby

After waiting and missing out on stock, I put a deposit down and ordered the mower I was after, Masport Contractor AL S19! Picked her up today, ready for next season.

image

Nice!

Masport's best chassis (19-inch aluminum) and Briggs and Stratton's best engine (190cc 850-Series).

Depending on what you are coming from, you may find the engine lacking a little "pep". From the factory, these engines are set to a relatively low 2800 rpm, which is noticeably slower than engines pre-2000.



In most cases, you will easily get through most grass, the 190cc "Big Block" has good torque out of the box and can slug through thicker stuff without stalling. For me, I found the engine was bogging down a bit, which also slows the self-propel on my unit. Upping the revs within a safe margin gives the engine more momentum when hitting thicker grass, keeps the groundspeed up, and overall makes the engine unstoppable. I find I end up running at 3/4 throttle in most situations, but I have the headroom to go up when needed.

I'm not talking about a 7000 rpm screamer, about 3500 - 3600 is a safe sweet spot.



Previous Briggs and Stratton engines were relatively easy to adjust for rpm. However, Briggs have hidden the governor spring tabs under and behind the air filter housing.

Lifted from the below thread -
https://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11500195

Briggs & Stratton 190cc OHV 850-Series Engines

Late 850 models – This design mimics the domestic OHV engines, with the spring tab hidden behind the air filter housing. Move the lever towards the cylinder head to increase, move towards the rear of the engine to decrease.

Ideally, you would run the engine for a few hours before doing this modification, say the end of spring or after the first oil change (5 hours, stick with the SAE30 mineral oil till about 10 hours though, you can then swap to synthetic, Penrite 10w-30 Semi-Syn is my preference, qty 600ml). And it would best be done with a digital tacho, otherwise, be careful.

https://www.chainsawspares.com.au/di...CABEgKzq_D_BwE
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/23317315...iABEgKuXfD_BwE
https://www.repco.com.au/oils-fluids...SABEgK9BPD_BwE

Although on a Victa, the engine is the same and should sound like this, notice how it just digs in and powers through when under load. My favorite mower engine after the Victa 2-stroke.

[genebaby]

Thank you for the advice! I like this mower already, just from moving into the shed. Looking forward to using it soonish. I'm sure spring and summer will give me good reasons to do so!

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by genebaby

Thank you for the advice! I like this mower already, just from moving into the shed. Looking forward to using it soonish. I'm sure spring and summer will give me good reasons to do so!

Have had a chance to use it yet?

[genebaby]

Sadly no, time poor and not liking the weather and short days. Canberra winter, not the best, but also not the worst.

I do look forward to trying it out, knowing that it's in the shed, waiting.

[DFB FGXR6]

I don't watch a lot of his stuff, but the tool he was using caught my attention -







A co-worker of mine went and bought one of these Stihl RMA 510's a couple of years ago without consulting me. Like any new purchase, you tend to overlook a quirk or two, but as that newness wears off, those quirks become a nuisance.

As mentioned multiple times in the video, these mowers don't go low enough for Aussie tastes. The lowest setting for the RMA 510 is 35mm, the highest 90mm. No one is going to ever to mow a lawn at 90mm, so its shame they couldn't have gone for additional lower settings and delete some of those higher pegs. My co-worker put washers on the output shaft to space the blade lower, but you can only go so far before running out of threads. Even after this modification, it still won't cut low enough.

Also mentioned in the video, the lack of bagging/catching performance. This is a result of a bar blade, the high ramp up into the discharge chute, and of course that narrow opening of the chute itself.

The chassis Stihl uses on these mowers is shared among other mower brands, including the dreadful John Deere JS38 and JS48. And just like the Stihl, it didn't go low enough and didn't like catching.



The lack of height adjustment and catching ability ruins what could have been a great mower.

[whitelion65]

I mow an over 55s village with one of these.
I don’t mow on the lowest level!

The main gripes would be the uncomfortable dead-man’s lever
The lack of grunt
The narrow chute

The combination of the latter two making it next to useless on long, damp grass.

[DFB FGXR6]

Taryl's new Toro Time-waster Time-cutter................



We had the same older Toro Time-waster Time-cutter featured in the video, with the same oil burning Krohler single cylinder. Every time the blades were engaged, the Krohler would squawk loudly and puff out a plume of oil smoke.

That machine was also replaced by another Toro, this time a Titan with the 23-hp Kindasucki. When it was new, the Kindasucki was actually Notsucki, plenty of grunt and no oil smoking either. As time went on, the Titan actually became a Time-waster. It was always throwing belts, would cut uneven, had out of sync drive bales so it would drive even, broken choke lever, hard starting when hot (not choke related)..............................

The Titan Time-waster eventually made way for a Ferris IS 2600. While I love how comfortable it is, the problem with the Ferris is that it's just too heavy, exaggerated by the 904 cc Yanmar 3-cyclinder diesel engine (I tried talking them out of the diesel as the petrol version with the Breaks and Scrappem was considerably lighter). Now they want to go back to Toro because of how hefty it is on the grass and a variety of manufacturing problems and reliability niggles; the automatic engine safety cut switch on the seat failed within the first 30 minutes, two leaking radiators due to poor design of supporting systems, exorbitant servicing costs.

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter if it's at the homeowner models or at the pro-grade machines, they are all American-made junk.

[swamp]

Toro 597D 60n inch [Briggs Vangard diesel] actually a Toyota diesel
Walker MT25 with 42 inch GHS
Walker MD 21hp diesel GHS with 52inch SD
Honda Buffalo 19 inch pusher

Walkers $$$
Toro managed by domestic division Doh
Briggs have absolutely NO idea about diesel in Australia

Sold out after 15 years

Now I just mow 1/4 acre in 15mins ............

[onemanempire]

Found this today when I was out and about delivering stuff..

I can't quite put my finger on what the base is.
It's not the Victor 18 I remember. Maybe it's a different model that I've never seen. Bit like the Victor twin cylinder jobby. Never seen one of those either. To be honest, I didn't know there was such a beast until reading this thread..



Pics of the "18" I saw today:

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by onemanempire

Found this today when I was out and about delivering stuff..

I can't quite put my finger on what the base is.
It's not the Victor 18 I remember. Maybe it's a different model that I've never seen. Bit like the Victor twin cylinder jobby. Never seen one of those either. To be honest, I didn't know there was such a beast until reading this thread..

image

Pics of the "18" I saw today:

image

image

image

I'd dare say that it cuts better than most of garbage sold on the market these days.

[DFB FGXR6]

Not that I'm a drinker, I reckon there's great drinking game potential with this guys videos. As in, take a shot every time he says "folks", "let's", "let's get" or "so there we go folks"....................

https://www.youtube.com/@DrewFixIt

[danzvtil]

Suns shining, almonds starting to flower, grass growing thru frost damage, my phone has started ringing. Springs here, game on!

[Tonz]

soursobs starting to bloom.

[Citroënbender]

Did a lawn in my shirtsleeves today, first time the sweaters have been off for a while. Clover and lucerne are really popping up now - potential for a cracking year of sweet clover honey.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Did a lawn in my shirtsleeves today, first time the sweaters have been off for a while. Clover and lucerne are really popping up now - potential for a cracking year of sweet clover honey.

Yep, jumper off for me as well today.

[DFB FGXR6]

After leaving it for a bit longer than ideal, I mowed the back lawn this afternoon. Because the grass was tall and thick, it was a job for one of the two strokes.

My first choice was the Commando, but she was being cranky today. These Victa's either start on the first pull, or take multiple attempts at priming, choking, full throttle, back to choke, more priming, more choking...................you get the picture. In the end, I dumped more fuel in the tank, removed the fuel line from the primer cap to ensure it was flowing, then primmed the sh.t out of it before it finally fired.



This particular machine I have been having speed control issues with, as in over revving. Today, the extra engine speed came in handy for slashing through the thick grass. Well, halfway through, she decided to have another tantrum and wouldn't rev out, like it wasn't getting enough fuel. In the end I gave up in frustration and put it away to diagnose another day............I was tired and grumpy.

So, it was out with the Mustang instead. I haven't used this one for a while, so it too didn't want to fire up either, no doubt from stale fuel. Again, I ended up dumping fresh fuel in the tank, primed the sh.t out of it until it finally fired in a cloud of blue two stoke smoke. The Mustang powered through the remainder of the job.



When these engines are running, they just knuckle down and power through just about anything. But they are also cranky diva's that require patience and a delft touch. I don't rely on the two strokes for money making purposes, but I do keep them in the fleet for sh.ts and giggles.

[onemanempire]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

After leaving it for a bit longer than ideal, I mowed the back lawn this afternoon. Because the grass was tall and thick, it was a job for one of the two strokes. My first choice was the Commando, but she was being cranky today. These Victa's either start on the first pull, Edited for conservation...

I laughed when you said that.. (These Victa's either start on the first pull...)

Reminds me of my dad using the Black and Decker drill to start our grumpy
little princess Victa. Never failed. No cordless drills back then. Just good ol 240 volts that never quits.
Can't remember the model name of that mower.. It was very similar to this one:



It had the "steel carby" with the red topped tickler / primer. The fuel tank across the front, with the red tap to turn fuel on / off. Had a dip stick type fuel gauge.

You could see how much fuel was left by looking directly down at the fuel filler cap.
Was a good thing. Used to cain it to death when I was a young fella. Dad rebuilt it many times with me watching on, trying to learn. Guess that's why I am a petrol head now..
Blame the TWO STROKE FUMES... ha ha ha

Love it!

One Man.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by onemanempire

I laughed when you said that.. (These Victa's either start on the first pull...)

Reminds me of my dad using the Black and Decker drill to start our grumpy
little princess Victa. Never failed. No cordless drills back then. Just good ol 240 volts that never quits.
Can't remember the model name of that mower.. It was very similar to this one:

image

It had the "steel carby" with the red topped tickler / primer. The fuel tank across the front, with the red tap to turn fuel on / off. Had a dip stick type fuel gauge.

You could see how much fuel was left by looking directly down at the fuel filler cap.
Was a good thing. Used to cain it to death when I was a young fella. Dad rebuilt it many times with me watching on, trying to learn. Guess that's why I am a petrol head now..
Blame the TWO STROKE FUMES... ha ha ha

Love it!

One Man.

My grandfathers Mustang had the same fuel dipstick.

[onemanempire]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

My grandfathers Mustang had the same fuel dipstick. image

Yeppers. That's the one.

Cheers.One Man.

[DFB FGXR6]

Behind the scenes video featuring Roy Gripske & Sons, the company behind many garden care brands such as Bushranger, SuperSwift, ProKut, GA Spares, Gravely, Kawasaki, Stiga and countless others.

https://www.rgs.com.au/rgs-brands.php

So great to see stuff still being made in Australia.

[danzvtil]

A client wanted to buy her son a new mower for his birthday, I’d waxed lyrical about GXV Hondas in the past and the perfect one for him was the Honda buffalo with blade brake, the same as my last mower.
Felt like mower Yoda when I dropped it off and ran thru how to use it
“Ahh, low revving and quiet it is….”

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

A client wanted to buy her son a new mower for his birthday, I’d waxed lyrical about GXV Hondas in the past and the perfect one for him was the Honda buffalo with blade brake, the same as my last mower.
Felt like mower Yoda when I dropped it off and ran thru how to use it
“Ahh, low revving and quiet it is….”

Hmmm, I know how to fix that!

[cs123]

I fixed an annoyance with the ride on mower. During winter months the mower battery would go flat with the 3-4 weeks between usage. No power in the shed meant that you would need a jump pack.

So got a small 40W solar panel and 12v charger. The challenge was to make something "wife proof". So the solution was to use a ciggy socket and plug. Just plug the mower in after usage and it was nice and charged next time. The charger auto starts meaning no buttons to push.

[LG17]

Wife proof!
Love it and how true it is.

[Interceptor]

Was thinking this post would be more appropriate for the "why is it that" thread, but I thought you guys might get a better laugh out of it.

Most of us here are pretty good at maintaining our gear, as well as resurrecting dead equipment, right? I mean, its paid for a couple of my toys....

But.... occasionally something just doesnt want to behave, and we all have that guru we take our bigger headaches to before we lose whats left of our minds....

So..... WHY is it that so ******* often, when I get something thats being difficult (especially to start) I take it to my guru and he makes me look like an idiot?

I mean, this mornings conversation:
Guru: What did you do to this thing trying to get it to start?
Me: flushed the tank, new plug, pulled the muffler to check the bore & burn off the spark arrester, new air filter, turned it upside down and turned it over to clear the crankcase, etc?
Guru: did you actually *try* to start it? how long did you try for?
Me: long enough to break the pull cord and start getting annoyed with it?
Guru: well it runs just fine.... blew a little smoke at first but yeah....
Me: wha?
Guru: Yeah.... I only had to pull it twi....
Me: *****