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Replies

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  Dan Frazer Gardening August 29, 2010 at 8:50pm

  I have a JG JS63V for mulching and it's crap. Drive failed within 3 months of use, engine sounds like a bag of spanners already and everything wobbles as if it's going to fall off in no time.
  
  Can't say it would be the same for the model you mention but likely.
  
  No idea about viking. Has it got a commercial warranty?
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  David Grimes August 29, 2010 at 8:51pm

  we use John Deere been a good machine but is heavy
  
  looked at viking just did not like the look told they are part of sthil range
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  Gordon Easson August 29, 2010 at 9:25pm

  Had a look at the Viking range a fortnight ago but was put off, as i said before, with the way they empty.
  Tried to visualize doing this hundreds of times as grass grows like hell here and thought noo
  Maybe,like anything else,fear of change i suppose.
  As for looks they are a bit scary .....but then again Vikings raped and pillaged up here centuries ago....looked scary then too ha ha
  john pugh grass roots said:

  got 2 vikings mb 505 never broken down in the 2 years ive had them only downside is they lok like a childrens toy but a damn reliable machine
• PRO

  mark thomas August 30, 2010 at 1:42pm

  colin said:

  is the jd a ribbed rear roller or smooth?
• PRO

  mark thomas August 30, 2010 at 1:49pm

  hi colin the jd has smooth roller and its not a split type, do you use vk mb650vr.
  
  mark thomas said:

  colin said:

  is the jd a ribbed rear roller or smooth?
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  Classic Gardens August 30, 2010 at 4:58pm

  Hi Mark
  
  What type of work would you be using them for commercial or domestic  
  
  We tried both a couple of years ago
  
  The Viking was great on the small lawns but could not manage tall grass it kept clogging and cutting out. The lads hated using it and it took us nearly twice as long as larger mowers would. With the plastic body I don't think it would have lasted a month. Yet it was on the small well cared for lawns that it worked well on. 
  
  The John deer was great on the larger lawns yet to heavy and cumbersome to use round the more intricate areas. 
  
  Both were used in dry conditions and we had them for only a day so can't comment on reliability issues. 
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  Dan Frazer Gardening August 30, 2010 at 7:11pm

  Apart from an etesia you mean?
  
  My pro56 does this easily, but is in a different category as it's not a roller mower I guess.
  
  THE GARDEN COMPANY said:

  cutting rye grass patchy 1ft high is no problem but if you are cutting meadow grass closely grown at 1ft above no mower will cut it , simply the reason the grass is to long and when under the deck its lying flat the blade suction will not lift it etc , im not sure what you guys mean when you say it will or have cut grass 1ft tall and above ! not even my victa will manage it , simply due to these reasons also the exit hole would not cope on dispersal of the clippings on any mower !
  
  colin said:

  how much were you trying to mow to clog the viking up ??? ive been taking grass down by 1ft and gone thru it
  
  martin said:

  Hi Mark
  
  What type of work would you be using them for commercial or domestic  
  
  We tried both a couple of years ago
  
  The Viking was great on the small lawns but could not manage tall grass it kept clogging and cutting out. The lads hated using it and it took us nearly twice as long as larger mowers would. With the plastic body I don't think it would have lasted a month. Yet it was on the small well cared for lawns that it worked well on. 
  
  The John deer was great on the larger lawns yet to heavy and cumbersome to use round the more intricate areas. 
  
  Both were used in dry conditions and we had them for only a day so can't comment on reliability issues. 
• PRO

  mark thomas August 30, 2010 at 7:52pm

  hi martin need for cutting say 300 sqm lawns on a semi commercial has ive only been in the game for 4 months so not got many custermers at the moment being using hayter 48 but it is about 15 yrs old 4 hp seems slow and keeps clogging up plus no bbc cutting lawns weekly so no long grass at mo !! at mo going for the viking plus points ribbed split roller ???
  
  martin said:

  Hi Mark
  
  What type of work would you be using them for commercial or domestic  
  
  We tried both a couple of years ago
  
  The Viking was great on the small lawns but could not manage tall grass it kept clogging and cutting out. The lads hated using it and it took us nearly twice as long as larger mowers would. With the plastic body I don't think it would have lasted a month. Yet it was on the small well cared for lawns that it worked well on. 
  
  The John deer was great on the larger lawns yet to heavy and cumbersome to use round the more intricate areas. 
  
  Both were used in dry conditions and we had them for only a day so can't comment on reliability issues. 
• 

  Gordon Easson August 30, 2010 at 9:18pm

  Would be sillier wasting everyones time by taking one home when i could plainly see that the system of emptying is not for me.
  Even the dealer who has both the Viking and Rover advised me to stick with the Rover for my grass cutting operations...who am i to argue....enough said
  
  
  colin said:

  you havent even tried them? and you criticise them, little silly, go get one out on demo if you can then talk from experience pls
  
  Gordon Easson said:

  Had a look at the Viking range a fortnight ago but was put off, as i said before, with the way they empty.
  Tried to visualize doing this hundreds of times as grass grows like hell here and thought noo
  Maybe,like anything else,fear of change i suppose.
  As for looks they are a bit scary .....but then again Vikings raped and pillaged up here centuries ago....looked scary then too ha ha
  john pugh grass roots said:

  got 2 vikings mb 505 never broken down in the 2 years ive had them only downside is they lok like a childrens toy but a damn reliable machine
• 

  Dan Frazer Gardening August 30, 2010 at 9:36pm

  You could just take my word for it :) Rather than me spending time making a video recording in the rain!
  
  Last time I used it for this type of work the grass was 24-28 inches long. It's a beast.
  
  
  THE GARDEN COMPANY said:

  dan can you post a little video etc of heavy wet 12 inch above , being cut by your 56 pro , im not saying it carnt but in principle i carnt see how it can , with out glogging and not having to go over it twice etc ! as not even my victa with a better torgue can do this etc ! when i say it carnt cut i meen stalky finish which to me anymower can handle to a degree , but please prove me wrong , one cut quality finish
  
  Dan Frazer Gardening said:

  Apart from an etesia you mean?
  
  My pro56 does this easily, but is in a different category as it's not a roller mower I guess.
  
  /DIV>