Bought a new Etesia Duocut 46 on Wednesday, broke down today. Lost all drive after squealing noises from blade brake control activation. It may just be a cable needing adjusting. Pretty shocking though on a new £1200 machine.
The Duocut collects very well in pouring rain, and mulches well too.
But I hate the spindly handlebars that vibrate loose, and are difficult to keep tightened up with a knob and a tiny machined part that has no grip.
The plastic levers for the speed and on/off/choke inspire as much confidence as a Fisher Price price toy, and are about as positive in their actions. Difficult to believe that these machines last for years.
There are no handles to lift the mower single handed in to the van which is particularly dangerous when the handles are folded down.
The height adjustment lever is a thin bendy piece of steel. Not really cutting edge and pretty rubbish for the price.
In contrast, our Viking MB4RT mulcher is infinitely more sturdily built, has an excellent positive height adjuster, rock solid handles, and also big handles for lifting. Also massively quieter, and auto choke - the Etesia is a manual choke (Honda engine).
I'm now having second thoughts about an Etesia ride on although I am sure it will do the job.
Ironically the Viking also has a wheel bearing problem that developed today. I year old and a 'professional' mower....
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Can't comment on the lost drive (but would query the PDI - sounds like a belt issue), but when we demo'd one I did 'question' the handle design after being used to the old style - See here
One of the benifts of the Pro46 and old style handles was the ability to single crew with them (as they are robust when loading/unloading). It's a pain when they mess with old, tried and tested designs :-(
Keep us all posted ?
sounds shit - etesia pro51k is great. (did u dry it out / unblock etc as im guessing bunged up & wet??)
viking mb 855? i used today is even more solid.
lifting handles is a personal issue - i would never lift a mower anymore, just a no-brainer at 40yrs old.