Mowing ..

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by PG2

Thanks Roddy.

I read this and felt a very strong urge to mow the lawn to the point where I went and mowed it for the first time in weeks.

My wife wants to know how you did it.

Oops , but glad your better half will be looking at a freshly cut spread . Got to stay in the good books ..REALLY IMPORTANT...

[Ghiaman]

Love a good mower! Great thread Rod.
Got a collection of reel mowers.
A couple of Scott bonnar 45's, a Qualcast and a Rover 45 which is the daily driver or every 2nd day driver at the moment.
Also have 2 Honda rotary mowers which are previously used commercially and still go strong on the odd occasion they are used.
Very fond memories of mum and dads Victa. It was a tiger I think? I just remember it having orange highlights. Also remember my uncles Rover Barron.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[Tommie]

My regular mower is a Victa Commando, 94 model. Installed a new carby kit last year, still runs like new. Must say though, it uses heaps more fuel than the older 71 Cortina but feels like it has heaps more hp

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Tommie

My regular mower is a Victa Commando, 94 model. Installed a new carby kit last year, still runs like new. Must say though, it uses heaps more fuel than the older 71 Cortina but feels like it has heaps more hp

Oh yes , the Commando ..They were a popular Victa if ever there was ..

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Ghiaman

Love a good mower! Great thread Rod.
Got a collection of reel mowers.
A couple of Scott bonnar 45's, a Qualcast and a Rover 45 which is the daily driver or every 2nd day driver at the moment.
Also have 2 Honda rotary mowers which are previously used commercially and still go strong on the odd occasion they are used.
Very fond memories of mum and dads Victa. It was a tiger I think? I just remember it having orange highlights. Also remember my uncles Rover Barron.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

At work we use Honda 4 strokes . Using one today actually , really nice , start well , well made .

My Rover only has the nylon bush wheels , is 23 years old or so and is pretty good in that regard . Mine is a base model ..Better ones had ballrace wheels even then . She's 50 to 1 fuel mix too . Does smoke a bit now but still cuts like the 4 stroke won't in heavy wet going . Four strokes are okay though ..

[.:4:.]

Why is the family dog investigating a toaster?

[FTE217]

Good thread !
I love my lawns and used to do them for the ol man loved it.
Must be motors.
Had a victa commando for around 25yrs, rippa ol girl but it did finally die.
I do like 2strokes as well but I always did admire Briggsys.
So I finally got one about 2yrs ago.
Starts first pull, is a beast and does cut through long grass as good as 2's imo.
Trouble though GUD Holding sold out Victa long ago and Briggs is on any chassis nowadays.
I don't rate the Victas as they once were.
Hondas, top shelf product imo today for surburbia I'm talking.
They ask good coin for them thats for sure.
Fed the lawns about 3 1/2 wks ago, that Sydney rain was perfect timing, my lawn is brilliant right now and gave it first spring cut Saturday.

[.:4:.]

Battery powered no. Electric, sort of. My dad bought an electric in the 2000s and it was crap. Trailing a lead around creates its own issues. But battery power is not what it was back then. Brushless motors and stuff from my experience with the power tools i have is worlds ahead of what it was. I took the advice from my grandpa on mowers when i bought mine in 2010. I dont remember what chassis his was, it wasnt a victa but it was powered by a Briggs and stratton. The advice from my father in law was a bit sketchy. He had 2 victa v60s and neither would start first attempt. He'd waste an hour on 1, flood that, waste an hour on the other, flood that then the first would start. So i went 4 stroke on my grandpas advice and the 158cc briggs powered victa vantage i still have starts first pull. 3 pumps of the primer bulb and give it a minute to get into its happy place and shes apples. So the argument they dont make em like they used to is kind of false.

[FTE217]

Bro inlaw bought whatever mega electric brand with back up batteries as you would and whippa and blowa.
Loves it - I'd seen the mower running has mega powa and the blower really strong.

[something wrong]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Bro inlaw bought whatever mega electric brand with back up batteries as you would and whippa and blowa.
Loves it - I'd seen the mower running has mega powa and the blower really strong.

Two of my Neighbours have electric Mowers and the rest of us have a laugh at the BBqs and ask when they are going to Vacuum their lawns again.


Once my Masport dies, I will switch to a Battery operated mower as I only have about 230sqm of lawn.

[whitelion65]

I’ve gone with an electric blower. Doesn’t perform as well as the old two-stroke, but that could be down the the different noxxle design.
The two stroke was getting to be a b to start, and keep running. I don’t like “small engine” work, so off loaded it. 144 is the smallest I’ll go ;-)

[290GTP]

Pffft..to hell with pushing mowers around.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by 290GTP

Pffft..to hell with pushing mowers around.



image

100%

Still need a hand mower for fiddly bits.

So got myself a Victa "easy walker"

Powered wheels ftw.
If there's an easier way I'll find it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Behold Hercules. Three speeds of self-propelled mulching power.



In top gear, be prepared to run!

No emptying the catcher with this bad boy. Can also side discharge if needed.

[roddy1960]

G'day all again ..Loving the thoughts on all things mowing . What a classic is the VC Mustang DFB , she's a beaut . What's taking over big ride on's these days or lawn tractors as they used to be called is the Zero turn ones .

we have a Toro at work , I don't use it much but it's bloody fun when I do . The groundsman who hogs it like nobody's business can make it talk . Me , not so much yet .

Been brush cutting/trimming today with a Stihl FS 80 , an old bugger but it's just been done up as the back up brushcutter and it's now got a new fangled self feeding head on it. Pretty nice .
From a while back when Australian owned (rarity these days) Cox were getting into zero turn ride on's ..Pretty tough too. Got an idea they use Honda powerplants now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTCLB-ODdWI...

[FTE217]

Ride on waste of time in surburbia unless your on acreage.
My bro is on 5acres, its lovely but you know what, as much as I enjoy working in my gardens/lawns feck that being a slave to the land.

[290GTP]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Ride on waste of time in surburbia unless your on acreage.
My bro is on 5acres, its lovely but you know what, as much as I enjoy working in my gardens/lawns feck that being a slave to the land.

I'm in suburbia, but I'm on 1466 sq mtrs.

With the ride-on I can mow in less than an hour, edges included.

[Fed]

I'm banning batteries from my life but what I'm using now is Ozito 240V mains powered lawnmower, edger and whipper snipper on a Buffalo lawn.
So far so good after 12 Months, nice and quiet, very light and no hassles with the lead at all. Also got a ryobi 240V blower that packs a lot of punch.

[DFB FGXR6]

Here is Grandpa's mighty VC Mustang.







Go the Zoom 25!



She is very well used and, to be honest, I wouldn't feel very safe using it these days. Like most of his generation, Old Pa would mend everything rather than throw it away. Hence the patched up catcher.




And the little primer button would always lubricate your finger for a cold start.

[Pepscobra]

Are the little Victor 16" Ultralite mowers you get from Bunnings (exclusive to Bunnings only I think) any good?
I want one as I only have a small lawn.
They have a US made B&S motor... is that good?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Are the little Victor 16" Ultralite mowers you get from Bunnings (exclusive to Bunnings only I think) any good?
I want one as I only have a small lawn.
They have a US made B&S motor... is that good?

B&S motors are still brilliant, just get one on a good chassis..

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Are the little Victor 16" Ultralite mowers you get from Bunnings (exclusive to Bunnings only I think) any good?
I want one as I only have a small lawn.
They have a US made B&S motor... is that good?

I would actually spend just a little bit extra on this...

https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-cl...mower_p3380770

It's an 18'' Victa deck but these are still very light. And it has a bigger 140cc engine (the Ultralite is only 125cc)

Those Ultralite's are not really a true Victa deck and were introduced to give Bunnings something to sell at a lower price point. Nothing wrong with Briggs and Stratton engines, but the 125cc is pretty small for a mower.

[DFB FGXR6]

And I'm not a mower salesman by the way although I get the feeling I missed my calling

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

And I'm not a mower salesman by the way although I get the feeling I missed my calling

And a collector of some extremely nice Fords and other quality cars too may I say .

[pottery beige]

circa 03 victa 'quattro' big block mower - its had a set of blades and an oil top up

newish echo 2 stroke snipper + blower



#mylyfe

[roddy1960]

The Briggs and Stratton I/C engines are bloody good and do a power of work. Even the home use Briggsy's are pretty good nowadays . Wouldn't hesitate buying a B&S powered mower.. No issues I've ever had with my own or the ones I used as a greenkeeper for eight and a half years or so .

[FTE217]

Hey PB, great lawn and cut.
Whilst on lawns what are peoples fav spring grass feed ?

I was a Victa owner for some 25yrs but I always admired Briggsy's and bought one as quoted earlier post.
I do love 4stroke simpleness.

DFB XR6, re Hondas sorry I can't agree.
More and more councils are buying them I notice over the years, Lawn Mowing Service guys are buying them.
My brother is a Honda motorcross devotee for 30 odd years on 5acres, obviously Johhny Deer ride on but Honda mowers.
My neighbours have sworn by them from years ago - I don't see any of them stopping unblocking the shute ever.
Quality product and damn reliable - I'm just a tight **** not to spend that much but I wish.

On another thing mowers, how does everyone like these full plastic rim/wheels ?

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Hey PB, great lawn and cut.
Whilst on lawns what are peoples fav spring grass feed ?

I was a Victa owner for some 25yrs but I always admired Briggsy's and bought one as quoted earlier post.
I do love 4stroke simpleness.

DFB XR6, re Hondas sorry I can't agree.
More and more councils are buying them I notice over the years, Lawn Mowing Service guys are buying them.
My brother is a Honda motorcross devotee for 30 odd years on 5acres, obviously Johhny Deer ride on but Honda mowers.
My neighbours have sworn by them from years ago - I don't see any of them stopping unblocking the shute ever.
Quality product and damn reliable - I'm just a tight **** not to spend that much but I wish.

On another thing mowers, how does everyone like these full plastic rim/wheels ?

Alot of the mowing contractors are buying them ex-council, they turn them over yearly every, two at the most. I picked up a self propelled one, 3 speed for my elderly father in law for about half the price of a new one. He loves it.
Blocked chute comes from the wing tips on the blades being worn out.

RE feeding, what do you want to do, make it grow or just green it up?
General lawn feed to make it grow and give a little colour, apply a little at regular intervals is best.
If you just want to green it up use 1 part manganese, 2 parts iron. We use this to colour fairways without the growth spurt. Just be sparing, black comes after green on the colour spectrum, lol.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Alot of the mowing contractors are buying them ex-council, they turn them over yearly every, two at the most. I picked up a self propelled one, 3 speed for my elderly father in law for about half the price of a new one. He loves it.
Blocked chute comes from the wing tips on the blades being worn out.

RE feeding, what do you want to do, make it grow or just green it up?
General lawn feed to make it grow and give a little colour, apply a little at regular intervals is best.
If you just want to green it up use 1 part manganese, 2 parts iron. We use this to colour fairways without the growth spurt. Just be sparing, black comes after green on the colour spectrum, lol.

When I wanted to boost the greens quickly while I worked as a country golf course greenkeeper I used Sulphate of Ammonia for nitrogen and potash for potassium in equal parts and mixed in sulphate of iron to control moss. Once or twice a year a good dose of dolomite lime to help balance your pH. Later on I tried liquid fertilisers like Seasol but still gave the greens a periodical feed of Ammonia/Potash/Iron. I had to keep weed control and ground grubs in check and the fertiliser program aided the greens coping with the stress of such sprays and close mowing but also of course with consistent asthetic appeal .

Ideal pH for grass is slightly acidic 6 to 6.5 so anybody keen on maintaining a healthy lawn it's not a bad idea to buy a soil analysis kit or a decent quality pH reader from a garden shop or hardware store just to take the guesswork out of it a bit .

A tip for Ammonia based fertilizers too . Best time to do it is when it's raining or when rain is imminent . Otherwise ensure you give it a quick watering via hose or sprinkler because left dry the ammonia will leave burn marks . Even a quick wash in will prevent that . Normally the deep colour change and boost of growth is extremely quick indeed.

[roddy1960]

The Great Honda Debate ..

Never yet owned one ..but I've used a couple over the years . Engines especially seem pretty good but as stated through the thread they do have issues .

Found this interesting ..

http://www.mowersgalore.com.au/lawnm...a-lawn-mowers/ .