Morning chaps!
just started work for a new customer, and I could do with a rough cut mower, for there orchids, and a few other rough areas, I used my Viking 655 yesterday, without the collecting box on, it did a good job to be fair, apart from half way through my drive cable snapped, so left me pushing up and down hills for half an hour, so it got me thinking, a rough cut mower would do me well for the job, can't seem to see much about apart from the hayter haterette, which doesn't seem to be self propelled, really need it self propelled as it's a awkward job with plenty of slopes on it, does such a mower exist? 21 inch and self propelled? Looking at buying something next year now and second hand, and budget about £300, don't need anything bigger than 21 inch, cheers
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Tight on budget! We use an old honda Pro, wheel version without box on. Plenty about on ebay but you'll need to up budget a bit!
Budgets small as I only need it for 1 job currently, does the Honda pro, chuck the grass out the back, or does it have a flap on the back so it drops it inside the deck?
Is this the normal way of dealing with rough cutting, with a standard mower, without the box on? If so I'll just crack on with the Viking mower once it's repaired.
does a rough cut mower usually drop the grass out the back or inside the deck?
thanks
Rear discharge cut acres of rough stuff with it
I use a Toro 21" recycler for jobs like that. Self propelled, Has a optional side discharge chute. Quite light and manoeuvrable for its size. Only in dry weather though, not very good in the wet. Or maybe a stiga mulcher would do but I don't know if they go up to 21".
I've seen plenty of Honda 21" mowers for sale on Facebook Marketplace that are well within your budget. I'm a big fan of the original, aluminium-decked Honda HR214/6 mowers - they're bombproof! The Lawnflite/KAAZ/Danarm versions are pretty much identical (although the gearboxes are slightly different and not as strong). There is a rear-discharge kit available for the Lawnflite and although I haven't tried it, it should fit the older Hondas.
I have 4 Honda HR194s and a Lawnflite.
The grass shouldn't be growing much now Andrew if you can get a final cut in using your repaired Viking it might suffice until next season and if you start cutting early enough then the viking could keep the grass down without the need to go out and buy a mower for rough cutting .
I had this problem with a rough lawn a couple of seasons ago which had gone wild which i was able to get down and mulch initially with a Toro recycler personal pace when the grass was dry .
The problem was customer wanting fortnightly cuts and grass getting long again making it hard labour to use my viking so i suggested weekly cuts to bring the grass under control using the viking and it worked giving a much better striped finish and the customers were blown away with the results the stripes added to their enjoyment of their garden .
Obviously an orchard it wont really matter about stripes unless its a prominent lawn but have found Toro's are good on dry tough grass but can leave tram lines if the lawn is moss infested , Honda izy also found to be good work horses within reason .
lots of no-go areas in orchards for mowers at moment due to current glut of fallen apples, unless a thick layer of apple puree under mower deck and around wheels is desirable
Honda Izy, every time. I have 2 just for those sort of jobs. Engine is bulletproof and little else ever goes wrong. Cut and drop or get a mulching blade, they mulch well. Nice and light too, You'll need to go 2nd hand with that budget but if you buy quality then you wont need to buy another one every season.
Have a search for as motor on ebay, they pop up every now and then. They are great for rough stuff. Don't be put off by their looks either.
thanks for the replies, a good few options to look into there, Honda looking like a favourite, I had it my head the Izy was only available in 17", didn't realise they went upto 21", always heard good things about them.
I have a stiga 21" mulcher, not overly impressed with it tbh, not a patch on my Viking mulching mower, but neither would cope with the orchid, need to be a rough cut job really.
I need something capable in the wet, so the toro I will give a miss, will also look at the as motors, hopefully my Viking will be up and running again, but having problems getting parts for it as it's an old mower now. Failing that, Honda is looking good, thanks