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  Steve Sonic Grounds Maintenance October 23, 2011 at 11:38am

  Thats a strange one.
  I use lawnflites and have two, one 2007 and another 2008. Both still going strong although ive had drive problems on both due to barings wearing out on the roller. Costs about £100 to repair. The problem i had was everytime i engaged the blade i could hear a clicking sound and the drive would eventually kick in about 5 seconds later.
  Is this what problem you get?

  I cant see how a new machine has a gear box problem? Surely this is under warrenty?

  If you are mowing downhill, dont have the drive engaged. As this wears the barings out. (you would hear a clicking on the drive if this is the case. If you hear a clicking sound while mowing, turn the drive off)

   

  I doubt the muck inside the roller is the problem, i often get muck in them.
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  Classic Gardens October 23, 2011 at 1:11pm

  Hi Paul
  
  Two years ago we bought three new lawnflight pros all within approx 6 months had gear box problems. To repair each one cost us around £250. Last year we got rid of them all and went back to Hayters.
  
  Some members on here and also friends near me i have never had problems. I to this day dont understand why.
  
  All i can say is put them on ebay in March otherwise it will keep hapening.
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  Paul McNulty October 23, 2011 at 2:06pm

  Thanks, Steve, that advice about going downhill is good.

   

  I used to use Hayters, but they weren't anywhere near as good as the Hondas (or the Kaaz equivalent for a few hundred less), and I was forever having to get little things fixed. I don't mind an annual rebuild on the drive system so much, as getting 20+ hours per week use certainly pays for it. Just wondered as there seem to be people with them lasting years, perhaps that's not as heavy use?

   

  I must post a picture, but if you look at the left-hand shorter roller, the outside edge has worn either the roller or shaft so there's about 10mm play in it, flopping about loose. The two inside ends of the rollers were packed with gritty muck, either side of the gearbox, and the insides with the geared teeth are a rusty, worn mess. :-(

   

  It will be under warranty (only a year for commercial use of course), so I'll see how I get on!
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  Roy Parker October 23, 2011 at 2:31pm

  bearing went in the roller on my lawnflite pro was quoted £250 to £

  300 to repair came home stripped it down in 15 mins ordered 2 bearing offf the internet for £3.00 for the pair delivered 30 mins to rebuild and is going great again local garden machery dealor wanted £10 per bearing for the them
  
  Paul McNulty said:

  Thanks, Steve, that advice about going downhill is good.

   

  I used to use Hayters, but they weren't anywhere near as good as the Hondas (or the Kaaz equivalent for a few hundred less), and I was forever having to get little things fixed. I don't mind an annual rebuild on the drive system so much, as getting 20+ hours per week use certainly pays for it. Just wondered as there seem to be people with them lasting years, perhaps that's not as heavy use?

   

  I must post a picture, but if you look at the left-hand shorter roller, the outside edge has worn either the roller or shaft so there's about 10mm play in it, flopping about loose. The two inside ends of the rollers were packed with gritty muck, either side of the gearbox, and the insides with the geared teeth are a rusty, worn mess. :-(

   

  It will be under warranty (only a year for commercial use of course), so I'll see how I get on!
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  briggsandscrapem October 23, 2011 at 9:22pm

   Chocolate gearboxes. We used to get six months out of them, they are a load of shite. Don't know whats more frustrating, the boxes themselves or trying to get dealers to actually honour the warranties.

  If its only rental property then why not just cut with a four wheeler ? 
• PRO

  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd October 24, 2011 at 7:24am

  Give the mower a gently push then engage the drive. I managed 5 years with my Honda Pro 21" before the back end needed to be replaced.
  
  Nick
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  Paul McNulty October 25, 2011 at 8:48pm

  Nick, how much use is your Honda getting to last 5 years on one gearbox! My supplier considers on rebuild per season normal for heavy commercial use.

   

  Brigg, just because they're rentals doesn't mean they're not fussy, in fact usually the opposite. Most of what I do are rentals where the owner goes abroad for a couple of years, and wants the garden maintained to a high standard for their return. Average rents are £3K-plus per month, so I can argue for a decent budget for looking after them. The tenants are mostly from the US, and expect a very high standard of service from the "Yard Man", including stripes!
• PRO

  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd October 25, 2011 at 9:27pm

  
  Daily use, around 300 hours per year.
  Paul McNulty said:

  Nick, how much use is your Honda getting to last 5 years on one gearbox! My supplier considers on rebuild per season normal for heavy commercial use.

   

  Brigg, just because they're rentals doesn't mean they're not fussy, in fact usually the opposite. Most of what I do are rentals where the owner goes abroad for a couple of years, and wants the garden maintained to a high standard for their return. Average rents are £3K-plus per month, so I can argue for a decent budget for looking after them. The tenants are mostly from the US, and expect a very high standard of service from the "Yard Man", including stripes!
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  Paul McNulty October 26, 2011 at 8:16am

   

  That is a lot less than mine, I'm realistically using it at least 20 hours a week on average, so 1000 hours a year or more.

  Jez, I do increase the engine speed after a running-in period and a couple of oil changes. The factory setting is very low for this reason, and my retailer is happy to speed them up. I drop the srping on the governer one notch, it's impossible to get it up to full power without doing this, even with the engine speed screw fully "out". From memory, peak power is about 3800 RPM, way higher than they come set at.

  
  Nick @ NM Garden Services (NMGS) said:

  
  Daily use, around 300 hours per year.
  
• PRO

  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance October 26, 2011 at 10:31am

  My dealer/repairer told me to check the drive engagement cable every so often and tighten up when necessary. The cable does stretch over time and only partially engaging the cogs together in the gearbox is not good for them. Ensure you engage the drive fully and quickly.

  Also not cutting in the wet and emptying the grass bag a little more often means the weight of the machine is slightly less - can only be good for the gearbox