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So my mowers may cost £200-£300 to service properly but this will last a year. Cost of a new hayter, £1000?
Just my opinion.
Maybe have a word with the operators and get them to treat them a little better.
People I see with the big Hayters are always moaning about the down-time when they break, which can be worse than the cost of the repair, and the poor wet cutting.
What's the issue with the Hondas? The Kaaz are the same for a lot less, as a start. I find the rollers need the bearings changing once a year, but otherwise they're fine. I tend to change after two years, when there's some money left in it and the gearbox is still ok. I've had one cable go over about ten years, and otherwise it's just oil, filter and blades.
One thing would be to have a lesson in looking after them, if you're getting too many breakages. Key is not to drop them out of the van, of bump them down steps, but that's the same with any machine. With the Honda type mowers you should be pushing them to speed before engaging drive, as that protects the clutch, and never run them downhill in drive (you'll hear it clicking away).
I have also run Hayters but although they are simpler machines their performance is not as great as the Hondas.
Haters seem to last longer for me, i had 2 Honda pro mowers before and they keep breaking down. Weird.
Hater Pro for me..
How did they break down, David?
David Harris said:
Thanks for all the input. I should have explained the problems we are getting now. As I've said we have always run Honda and we too have had machines last for seven years one even for ten! What we're finding with the last batch is the numerous backend problems after just a couple of years. Gearbox, roller bearings and clutch issues.
The boys are taught how to look after them and as we've retained pretty much the same staff for the last ten years I know its not the way the machines are treated. It would appear, much like Stihl, the quality of build is just not the same. That's why we're thinking of the move to Hayter. If you have a gearbox go on a Honda you are looking at £250 just for the parts. On a Hayter our local supplier tells me its £65. Big difference.
Having approached Honda regarding the roller issues, they refuse to budge. Our suggestion is to add an external grease point to preserve the life of the bearings. They don't want to spend on R&D as apparently its only us Brits that like striped lawns!!! Yeah right!
Regards,
Rick
That's really interesting. I've run the Hondas, then Kaaz, for about ten years or so. Whilst I can understand the lack of development, I've not seen any changes to the machines and wonder why they'd spend money developing a cheaper spec?
My issues with the rollers have been worse over the last couple of seasons, but that's down to wet conditions, causing mud to get in to the rollers and wearing them. There's no avoiding that with a roller machine when it's wet and muddy, but my attitude is that a heavy wheeled mower would have been leaving a poorer finish in the same conditions (even my lightweight Etesia leaves ruts on wet soil), so for a day-to-day roller mower they are still the best.
A £400 repair once a year is better than 2 or 3 small faults that cost a day's work each time, IMO.
I think this is a good case for doing the servicing yourself in those quieter winter months when there's snow on the ground and not much else to do other than watch the Jeremy Kyle show!!.......My Kaaz has been going for about 8 years now and thats with quite heavy use............. I've replaced the worn gearbox/clutch components a couple of times for about £80 in parts, still on the original roller bearings..... just take them out once a year and pump a load of fresh grease into them...... people shouldn't be so wary of carrying out their own maintenance as it really is pretty straightforward if you're a reasonably practical person as most gardeners tend to be.,
It's be great for someone who is cleverer than me if they could do a "how to", with some pics, on how to strip the rollers down. And, more importantly, put them back together properly.
I tried once.......
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