I have been a lover of the Viking mowers for many years, even before I joined this site I was convinced of the pros of collecting wet and damp grass. As such I usually buy one a year, where they will last for three years before being retired. They do a lot of hours in residential gardens, so are not struggling on long grass or lumpy bumpy ground.
This year my purchase was a MB655. It broke within three days. The problem was the small sprocket roll pin that enables the drive. The local trader where I purchase many tools did repair it and has done since as it continued to break on many occasions. In total it went in repair for the same problem five times in the first four months. As my supplier told me that the warranty was only three months for trade it was now out of warranty, but didn't charge me as good will. When it failed again, the dealer decided to sent it to Stihl themselves.
The reply from Stihl surprised me. They have repaired the machine as they say as a good will gesture, replacing all roller components, but have stipulated that this is not a professional machine and therefore is not covered by warranty. As this is the largest roller mower that Stihl do I would expect that it would come with at least a 3 month warranty.
My question really is to ask if anyone else has had problems with Viking machines this year? And to ask if others thought that you would receive a 3 month warranty with Viking, as apparently you don't.
John S
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Replies
I love Vikings but our decent purchase has been somewhat disappointing. Usually we get 2/3 seasons out of the 6 series viking without any major problems. We purchased a new one in june and has been back 3 times so far. First was when we just used it on the first day, it was vibrating badly and the point and surrounding casing holding the blade in sheared off. Secondly it was almost like hunting for fuel, took it back and they said the fuel line was blocked. Next day it was leaking fuel out the front as they hadn't put it back together properly.
It may just be now that i have an employee using it but the machine looking 4 years old already, the plastic casing around the handles etc are all breaking apart. I love them for wet pick up but after this may consider something else, but they are also light compared with the competition
I had the MB650VR 2 seasons ago and only lasted two months before drive failed, and then failed within a week after both times I took it back for repair. Gave up after that.
Friend of mine bought an MB650VR at the end of June this year against my advice. The drive on that failed at the end of September. His dealer told him that it did come with a 3 month commercial warranty and so have just fixed it for him.
I have no experience with their 4 wheeled machines, but their roller mowers are nowhere near good enough for commercial use in my experience, which is a shame as it worked a treat in the wet. And it's worth noting that I am extremely OCD when it comes to being careful with my tools.
3 months speaks volumes of the product quality to me.
They dont have to offer a 1 year commmercial warranty on a machine aimed at domestic customers.
I used to sell Mercedes vans. Truly unlimited mileage warranty for three years! We’d have couriers doing 10,000 miles a month.
If a mower can’t cut for 8 hours a day (more likely 4 at most) for three months then it’s a pretty poor show isn’t it?!
Oh I agreee with you. And feel most of these issues could be fixed with stronger materials and a cost per machine of maybe £50?
Its worth bearing in mind though that 8 hours a day for 3 months is nearly 500 hours of use............... I would estimate domestic use at 30 weeks so 15 cuts x 30 minutes....... say 8 hours for the year. Give it 10 years of use and that's 80 hours for the lifetime. So in 3 months you've done about 5 times a lifetime of domestic use. That's really why "domestic" mowers aren't up to it.
First week the roll pin came out of the drive sprocket, never happened on the other machines. Put it back on the customers lawn assuming it hadn't been assembled properly, easy fix. Came out again in no time. Put it back again and splayed the ends on the roll pin with a punch. Been fine ever since.<br/><br/>
After a month the drive belt kept coming off. Although still supposedly under warranty I investigated and found the spring under the pulley just above the cutting blade had broken, the last coil had gone missing. Not easy to notice as the spring was still sitting where it should. Not worth sending it back to the dealer so purchased the new pulley assy complete with spring and fitted it £32 inc vat. Been fine ever since.<br/><br/>
This mower is used every day to cut 13 to 15 lawns and it does it realy realy well in all conditions.<br/><br/>
Yes the problems should not have occurred and cost me a few pounds and a little time. BUT would I swap it for any other Roller mower with the collection issues and very much heavier. No chance.<br/><br/>
Ok I can repair the machines my self which probably makes the difference but pound for pound this machine rips through the work in all conditions and makes me money like no other proffesional Roller mower I have owned. I contemplated getting a Weibang but our Harry assured me they are good but not a patch on the Viking in wet conditions, plus there is the weight to contend with.<br/><br/>
For me the Viking mb655vr Roller mower is king.
That's really interesting to hear Graham. I'd absolutely love to have a Viking again as it was my favourite mower when it worked. Unfortunately I cannot afford to gamble when it costs £900+. Maybe one day...
http://www.vikingmowers.co.uk/viking-warranty-periods.aspx
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