Hello all,
I'm now starting up self employed whilst working part time. I've worked as a gardener and grounds maintenance operative now for a few years and am now getting the equipment together to get started.
The one piece I'm struggling to decide on is which mower to go with. Having worked in grounds maintenance I've been using the Honda hrx537 mowers so have been used to using the best of the best really.
Does anyone have any advice about what mowers are out there that are ideally minimum 18 inch deck, built for daily use, capable of cutting in damp/wet and ideally up to £600 pound second hand.
I have been looking around but there is so much out there I'm finding it hard to really home in on one or two mowers I'd like to look at in more detail. I was very happy with the Honda hrx models I've used at work and am tempted to splash out and go that way still but would like to hear others opinions and experiences to.
Thanks,
Aaron.
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Replies
Welcome to LJN Aaron.
This is a much ongoing discussion on here!
Depends what you are cutting, how often and the space available in your vehicle to transport it!
Some people use/like four wheeler mower's - personally I don't for most sites - unless they are roughground/commercial sites - and as such am still running one of the older (and much liked by many contractors) Hayter 56's roller mowers for all domestic gardens.
This however is due for retirement at the end of this season and will likely be replaced by either another 'old style' 56 assuming I can find a decent one - OR one of the various Honda PRO 'clones' (KAAZ, lawnflite, Danarm, Cobra, Kubota etc).
One of the theories for going this route is the useful blade brake clutch and the Honda engine which is more fuel efficent than the Brigg and Stratton's on the Hayter's.
However all of the Honda Pro types are heavier and have longer handles than the Hayters, so I am waiting to borrow one and see if it works with my crewcab truck set up.
I have long since decided there is no one 'perfect mower' for all jobs - hence I have several different ones depending what I am cutting and where I am working!
Adam Pilgrim said:
I would recommend the Etesia Pro 46
I picked one after advice given here, great little mower. Mine is a PBE with no drive.
Cuts in weather you wouldn't send a dog out in (Very wet with no mess).
I also own a hyter 48, nice cut in the dry terrible in the wet, but if your starting out you need a mower that does both. As mine has no drive it's faster than using the hayter.
Keep an eye out for picking them up second hand, loads of the councils use them and then sell them off...
Cheers guys.
I've just found a locally Hayter harrier 56 2006 for £250 pounds which I am going to have a look at later today, looks a good deal as has only been used for domestic use.
Thinking into the possibility of getting a smaller 4 wheeled honda mower for a similar price as well so that I can start up with 2 mowers in case ones goes tits up at any point.
We now run 7 Hondas - 1 x 18" izy, and 6 x hrx537's. The fleet of 537's are favoured by all the boys and I feel they tick most of the boxes with regards being very easy to use, robust enough(they have their weaknesses after intensive commercial use), parts and service from local dealer, price is right, nice weight, rubber strip leaves a tidy enough stripe - nobody has ever asked for anything more!
I'd recommend them, well worth the £1049 inc vat I pay for them.
Personally I run Etesia PRO46's and a 21" snapper Mulcher for large work - You can modify the 46 to stripe witha rubber mat attached either to the axel on push mowers or the grass box on self propelled. They will cut sopping wety grass without leaving a trace, which makes them priceless to me, But Id echo adam above, once your up and running you will need 2-3 different mowers, as for large lawns I use the snapper, Mulch where possible etc etc - no one size fits all.
If you can Id seriously consider the Etesias as they are as close as I've copme to a "jack" of all trades mowers... they do everything you want, reasonably well and are the only mower Ive found thats excellent in the wet.
My personal favourite is etesia though, a very hard wearing machine that cuts fantastically well in any weather
Some days i need all of them in my van :( i only have a swb transit.
Izys for carrying up steps, 21" Honda Pros and Lawnflite 553 for bigger stuff and 448s for most jobs..
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