Time for a new mower?

[YZ250]

And we have a secret B&S saddo on the site, isn't that right Mr YZ250

This only came about when Mrs YZ got herself an allotment a few years back (given it up now). I have no interest in growing stuff and my knowledge of such things is zero, but because I'm a thoughtful hubby I mowed the large plot that she had for her. On one occasion the mower started playing up, so I stripped it apart, whacked a carb kit on it for less than a tenner and away it went.    The chap on the next plot had seen me working on it and asked if I'd look at his broken Hayter Harrier, so I fixed that. Somehow word spread that I was the Go To man for fixing/servicing mowers, rotavators, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers. I had them lined up in my garage. It then progressed to servicing/repairing the school ride on mower, the Toro general mower and the cricket pitch cylinder mower. I eventually had to call a stop to it. 

Atco have been around for a million years so you should be ok with it. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I have a Qualcast petrol mower and it is utter shit.

Won't pull the skin off a race pudding. Add in flimsy build quality and a  plastic carb. I may look at a used 'old school' ATCO type mower suggested by Mark DTM.

[Viral_Jim]

And we have a secret B&S saddo on the site, isn't that right Mr YZ250

This only came about...

Ah don't be so modest, you sound like a well credentialled expert to me. You can expect my call shortly 

[Andy B]

And we have a secret B&S saddo on the site, isn't that right Mr YZ250

This only came about when Mrs YZ got herself an allotment a few years back (given it up now). I have no interest in growing stuff and my knowledge of such things is zero, but because I'm a thoughtful hubby I mowed the large plot that she had for her. On one occasion the mower started playing up, so I stripped it apart, whacked a carb kit on it for less than a tenner and away it went.    The chap on the next plot had seen me working on it and asked if I'd look at his broken Hayter Harrier, so I fixed that. Somehow word spread that I was the Go To man for fixing/servicing mowers, rotavators, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers. I had them lined up in my garage. It then progressed to servicing/repairing the school ride on mower, the Toro general mower and the cricket pitch cylinder mower. I eventually had to call a stop to it. 

Atco have been around for a million years so you should be ok with it. 

when can I bring you my Atco?  It'll run of a fashion .... 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I recently bought a second hand Mac Allister (B&Q own brand) petrol lawnmower which has a 125cc Briggs and Stratton engine, after my trusty old Bosch Rotak electric mower fell apart. 

I've only used it once so far, but once I got going after faffing about filling it with petrol and getting it started, it mowed my lawn nicely and quicker with the wider deck. 

Much heavier than the leccy mower though, and as it's not self propelled, mowing the lawn will be good exercise in future! 

Hence the advice on the Atco, self propelled and the ES  model has electric start   

Yes this Mac Allister I have is pretty basic. No throttle or choke so runs at preset revs and has a little primer bulb to pump fuel into the carb. It retails new at about £230 so you get what you pay for I guess.

I'll see how I get on with it. 

[TheBoy]

Well, I suppose we'll find out, I've bought it now...

I had a look and whole new carbs can be had for £20-35 depending on how authentic you want them to be, and service kits for half that amount. I figure less than £50 I should have a very usable mower.   

Good tip on the E5 Mr TB, I honestly wouldn't have thought of that. .

Genuine carb refurb kits are around a tenner delivered.  Probably worth always having a spark plug and a clean air filter in stock - both should cost around £2-3 delivered each.  It'll most likely have a metal blade, so hop that off at use a grander to put a good edge back on it.  Change the oil (I use GM semi synth in mine, just because I had some).  Nothing else to do really.

I change the oil in mine every couple of years, if I remember, and the plug when it stops working, and might remember to check the air filter every 5 years...   ...just dont tell Al how much I abuse mine

[TheBoy]

And we have a secret B&S saddo on the site, isn't that right Mr YZ250

This only came about when Mrs YZ got herself an allotment a few years back (given it up now). I have no interest in growing stuff and my knowledge of such things is zero, but because I'm a thoughtful hubby I mowed the large plot that she had for her. On one occasion the mower started playing up, so I stripped it apart, whacked a carb kit on it for less than a tenner and away it went.    The chap on the next plot had seen me working on it and asked if I'd look at his broken Hayter Harrier, so I fixed that. Somehow word spread that I was the Go To man for fixing/servicing mowers, rotavators, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers. I had them lined up in my garage. It then progressed to servicing/repairing the school ride on mower, the Toro general mower and the cricket pitch cylinder mower. I eventually had to call a stop to it. 

Atco have been around for a million years so you should be ok with it. 

when can I bring you my Atco?  It'll run of a fashion .... 

Oi! There's a queue...

[Andy B]

And we have a secret B&S saddo on the site, isn't that right Mr YZ250

This only came about when Mrs YZ got herself an allotment a few years back (given it up now). I have no interest in growing stuff and my knowledge of such things is zero, but because I'm a thoughtful hubby I mowed the large plot that she had for her. On one occasion the mower started playing up, so I stripped it apart, whacked a carb kit on it for less than a tenner and away it went.    The chap on the next plot had seen me working on it and asked if I'd look at his broken Hayter Harrier, so I fixed that. Somehow word spread that I was the Go To man for fixing/servicing mowers, rotavators, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers. I had them lined up in my garage. It then progressed to servicing/repairing the school ride on mower, the Toro general mower and the cricket pitch cylinder mower. I eventually had to call a stop to it. 

Atco have been around for a million years so you should be ok with it. 

when can I bring you my Atco?  It'll run of a fashion .... 

Oi! There's a queue...

[ronnyd]

Well, I suppose we'll find out, I've bought it now...

I had a look and whole new carbs can be had for £20-35 depending on how authentic you want them to be, and service kits for half that amount. I figure less than £50 I should have a very usable mower.   

Good tip on the E5 Mr TB, I honestly wouldn't have thought of that. .

Genuine carb refurb kits are around a tenner delivered.  Probably worth always having a spark plug and a clean air filter in stock - both should cost around £2-3 delivered each.  It'll most likely have a metal blade, so hop that off at use a grander to put a good edge back on it.  Change the oil (I use GM semi synth in mine, just because I had some).  Nothing else to do really.

I change the oil in mine every couple of years, if I remember, and the plug when it stops working, and might remember to check the air filter every 5 years...   ...just dont tell Al how much I abuse mine

Is a grander a very posh grinder? 

[YZ250]

And we have a secret B&S saddo on the site, isn't that right Mr YZ250

This only came about when Mrs YZ got herself an allotment a few years back (given it up now). I have no interest in growing stuff and my knowledge of such things is zero, but because I'm a thoughtful hubby I mowed the large plot that she had for her. On one occasion the mower started playing up, so I stripped it apart, whacked a carb kit on it for less than a tenner and away it went.    The chap on the next plot had seen me working on it and asked if I'd look at his broken Hayter Harrier, so I fixed that. Somehow word spread that I was the Go To man for fixing/servicing mowers, rotavators, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers. I had them lined up in my garage. It then progressed to servicing/repairing the school ride on mower, the Toro general mower and the cricket pitch cylinder mower. I eventually had to call a stop to it. 

Atco have been around for a million years so you should be ok with it. 

when can I bring you my Atco?  It'll run of a fashion .... 

Oi! There's a queue...

See how the jobs can soon add up. 

[Doctor Gollum]

It's not called the neverending list for nowt

[Viral_Jim]

I assume there's no oil filter on these? I had a look on B&S but as far as I can tell the only ones they sell are for tractor mowers.

[YZ250]

I assume there's no oil filter on these? I had a look on B&S but as far as I can tell the only ones they sell are for tractor mowers.

Not to my knowledge. I just lift all four wheels on to bricks and undo the square drive plug in the blade well to dump the oil. 

[YZ250]

.....................
It'll most likely have a metal blade, so hop that off at use a grinder to put a good edge back on it ..........

And remember to sharpen it equally both sides so that the blade doesn't go out of balance, otherwise you end up with a vibrating mower. 

[STEMO]

.....................
It'll most likely have a metal blade, so hop that off at use a grinder to put a good edge back on it ..........

And remember to sharpen it equally both sides so that the blade doesn't go out of balance, otherwise you end up with a vibrating mower. 

Big Vera would be chasing you around the garden asking for a ride