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• PRO

  Adam Pilgrim August 9, 2011 at 6:44pm

  I can assure you that Honda engines are vastly more fuel efficient than Briggs and often start easier.
  Indeed several of my machines now have 'non standard' Honda engines with a GV100 on the 16" Mountfield that uses hardly any fuel at all.
  
  Personally, much as though it pains me to say it, I think Hayter have lost the plot a bit in recent years. Feedback from many people that I know that have new Hayters speak of gearbox issues and other problems.
  
  A customer of mine has a 2005 Hayter 48, it feels flimsy, the grass box is too small and the discharge chute blocks up all the time. I much prefer my old 48's of which I have 2....
  
  Have you considered other manufacturers options such as the Honda HRS 536 SD?
  
  Quick link to Ebay item Item number: 160600164153
• PRO

  Geoffrey King August 10, 2011 at 8:19am

  Thanks for your reply Adam, will look at the Honda.
  
  Adam Pilgrim said:

  I can assure you that Honda engines are vastly more fuel efficient than Briggs and often start easier.
  Indeed several of my machines now have 'non standard' Honda engines with a GV100 on the 16" Mountfield that uses hardly any fuel at all.
  
  Personally, much as though it pains me to say it, I think Hayter have lost the plot a bit in recent years. Feedback from many people that I know that have new Hayters speak of gearbox issues and other problems.
  
  A customer of mine has a 2005 Hayter 48, it feels flimsy, the grass box is too small and the discharge chute blocks up all the time. I much prefer my old 48's of which I have 2....
  
  Have you considered other manufacturers options such as the Honda HRS 536 SD?
  
  Quick link to Ebay item Item number: 160600164153
• PRO

  Geoffrey King August 14, 2011 at 10:06am

  Has anyone got anything to add?
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  briggsandscrapem August 14, 2011 at 10:14am

  Go for second hand with that budget.
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  briggsandscrapem August 14, 2011 at 10:32am

  not much on the bay at moment but this could be worth a punt

  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-HRH536HX-Pro-Lawnmower-/13056022139...
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  briggsandscrapem August 14, 2011 at 10:48am

  or

  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JS-61-John-Deere-Briggs-Stratton-mulch-co...

  hope you don't live round our way though, the jd dealers are impossible
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  Richard Thornton August 14, 2011 at 11:41am

  Honda every time for me! Gradually repalcing the B&S engines on my machines when I can. Would echo the comments re Hayter, grass collection is poor, can only manage two passes of my customers lawn before it starts dropping clippings, my masport with a smaller grass box does eight before ts full!
• PRO

  Adam Pilgrim August 14, 2011 at 12:44pm

  Is this to be a 'main mower'? I am guessing that it will be due to the varying area that you state.
  If it going to be the only mower you have then obviously you will need collection ability as well as it is not always appropriate or possible to mulch and side discharge in a domestic situation is obviously not suitable.
  
  I also note the budget of £500 - in my opinion, a new pro standard mower may be twice that.
  
  If i need to mulch I use my Hayter Double 3 (a model replaced by the R53 ES i believe). It does a respectable job mulching and was mainly used on one pub garden grass cutting contract. I have used the bag with it a few times, but as it runs a mulching blade, collection isn't that great, however was necessary in autumn time due to leaves on the lawn. It can side discharge in theory but I never had the fitting so use either my Honda HR216 with modified chute or the Hayterette depending on if self propulsion is required.
  
  A Honda engine can be fitted to Hayter Double 3's - I have seen it done....
  
  Another point as raised above is spares availability for whichever brand you choose in YOUR area - if its your only mower and it breaks down, you need somewhere local and efficient that can fix it!
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  Michael Bates August 14, 2011 at 5:29pm

  http://www.gardenmachinerydirect.co.uk/alko_petrol_lawn_mowers_5250...

   

  Honda engine every time, We bought an AL KO mower like this at work a couple of years ago and overall its a good machine but i woulkd say the one draw back is the forward speed is not great. It does allow you to either collect/mulch or side discharge without having to change the blade which is a bonus.

   

  If your budget was higher I would be looking to go for either an Etesia or the Honda pro range mowers.
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  Simon Smith August 14, 2011 at 10:37pm

  You could get a rover for around that money but it won't side discharge. The pick up however is great even in the wet and the mulch function (no blade change needed, just a plug) is pretty good. Handles folds down neatly It has a B&G engine but really for that sort of budget it's one of the best you'll get imho.

   

  I nearly bought the husky you mentioned at the start of the year but then decided to go with the rover as the local husky dealer was very honest and said that for contractor use the rover would be much better, and the extra features on the r53sv were really not worth it and more for the home owner market.