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  • #1

    Cheap but reliable lawn mower?

    Hi. Has anyone seen/bought anything fitting the description? Not wanting to fit in with the stereo-typical Scot, but the only bit of lawn that I've left my poor suffering o/h in our garden is about 4 square meters and it doesn't warrant an expensive mower!
    I think I saw a cheap mini- in b&q last year that was under £50. Anyone had one?
    Clay soil is just the big yins way of letting you know nothing good comes easy.
    Tags: cheap, lawn mower, reliable
  • #2
    I've had some cheap mowers in my time and I've always been disappointed with them. My biggest bug bear with mowers these days is the length of grass they cut. 13mm is not cut grass!!, that is grass wiating to be cut.

    Now everytime my father visits he brings his mower with him so I can get a decent cut lawn length.

    Personally I'd buy a second hand older model, they are much better build quality than the rubbish out there these days.
    Last edited by Mikey; 18-04-2011, 09:32 AM.
    I'm only here cos I got on the wrong bus.

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    • #3
      I'm very pleased with the one I got from eBay for £20 (it was £50 in Argos). It feels light & flimsy, but does the job. Lightweight is good for me, I'm not that strong
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        AS per Two sheds post, aI got mine off ebay from a local person who was moving, It cost about £30 but would have been £100 new. Its now in its second year and has been a bargain.

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        • #5
          Just echoing TS and PW's posts. I have bought two lightweight cheapo mowers on eBay in the last few years. Do a local search, and be prepared to wait a while unless you are prepared to travel to collect. Most will need a new blade and spark plug after a few cuts, as they're never as good as the seller says, but they do the job.

          If you were nearer, I actually have a spare...
          All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
          Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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          • #6
            This is the one we used in the UK...was perfect in a small garden- and quiet too.
            Several of our neighbours bought the same one after seeing how quiet/light/cheap ours was!!

            Qualcast Easitrak320
            "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

            Location....Normandy France

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            • #7
              I work with garden machinery (sales,spares, workshop) so couldnt help putting my two penneth in!!

              If I had £30 - £50 to spend I would probably also look around for a secondhand petrol mower, something like a mountfield/champion/sovereign/castel garden - all made by the same company but re-badged. Preferably with either a briggs and stratton or honda engine.These mowers would be in the £150 - £250 price range when new.

              I'd probably look to avoid anything with a 'non branded engine' for reliabilty and obtaining parts.

              If your going to go electric Bosch/Qualcast would be a safe bet.
              I have a flymo as one of my 'back up mowers' - they all break eventually but parts are cheap enough (except the motor!!)
              If your really lucky a cheap Hayter envoy, or even a harrier 41 electric would be a bargain for less than £75.

              If buying a secondhand rechargable mower, just bear in mind that if you get one with a duff battery, a replacement battery may cost you more than the mower.

              If I can be of any help to you, or anyone feel free to ask!!
              i dont claim to be an expert!
              <*}}}>< Jonathan ><{{{*>

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              • #8
                Originally posted by cptncrackoff View Post
                I work with garden machinery (sales,spares, workshop) so couldnt help putting my two penneth in!!

                If I had £30 - £50 to spend I would probably also look around for a secondhand petrol mower, something like a mountfield/champion/sovereign/castel garden - all made by the same company but re-badged. Preferably with either a briggs and stratton or honda engine.These mowers would be in the £150 - £250 price range when new....
                Glad to know I made the right choice! I have a Sovereign, and an Alco - both with Briggs & Stratton engines - paid about £40 each - very easy to get spares!
                All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Glutton4... View Post
                  Glad to know I made the right choice! I have a Sovereign, and an Alco - both with Briggs & Stratton engines - paid about £40 each - very easy to get spares!
                  hmmmm.... Alko??

                  You generally cant go wrong with secondhand top brands, there are a few to watch out for, Tecumseh engine spares are no longer imported, even though bosch/atco/suffolk mowers still fitted them up til around 2006.

                  Allen machinery went bust several years ago but some parts are still able to be sourced.

                  a good general rule is to avoid anything with the word power in the title! lol

                  A good buy would be a suffolk/atco cylinder mower, bosch arnt going to be making them anymore future collectors item in the making.

                  Also if you like your hayters green get in quick.. our friends across the pond are planning on turning them red!!

                  If anyone needs any partslists/diagrams for mowers,strimmers,chainsaws etc etc etc i would be pleased to be of any help. I would not take any payment for this service or look to sell anyone anything.
                  <*}}}>< Jonathan ><{{{*>

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                  • #10
                    Ooops, I meant Alko (sorry, wrong spelling! ) as in Caravan Chassis...
                    All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                    Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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                    • #11
                      Thanks all. Some sound advice. Amazingly, I've never bought anything off eBay before. Now might bf the time to break my duck.
                      Cheers.
                      Clay soil is just the big yins way of letting you know nothing good comes easy.

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                      • #12
                        O

                        M

                        G


                        An eBay Virgin!!!!!!!





                        Well, I guess there had to be one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                        All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                        Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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                        • #13
                          When I saw this thread I thought it was a description of G4 We bought a new/second hand petrol jobbie a couple of years ago from a chap in Barnsley for £50. Himself says it was worth three times that much and the lovely young man delivered it to us and gave us a demo. He'd only used it once. Can't remember the name of it without looking in the shed. We gave our old petrol one to an elderly lady who had hers stolen.
                          Last edited by Florence Fennel; 20-04-2011, 07:20 AM. Reason: needed more chat
                          Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                          • #14
                            We have a qualcast which compacts the grass as you mow inside the machine, mum gave it to me so not sure how much it was new. You could try Freecycle if you have one in your area as people may be trading in their old models especially with all the offers on at the moment. I recently got a really good quality garden shredder off freecycle as an old couple couldn't lug it out the shed anymore and it is brilliant. Homebase have 20% off gardening things at the moment so that would reduce costs too. Hope you find one soon.
                            When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. ~Author Unknown

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                            • #15
                              Got one at Lidl's yesterday-50£.Haven't tried it yet.An electric one but a light weight-our old one is petrol and a b***er to push.

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