Mowing ..

[DFB FGXR6]

I think I got my moneys worth out of these..........



Ideally, these would have been replaced a bit earlier than this but, well, I have been busy.

[.:4:.]

It was garden bin night tonight. I did my lawn last week so the bin was almost full so i decided to just run over my driveway even though it didnt need doing. My whipper snipper was fine but needed some love. The tank was loose and it was missing 1 screw for the plastics. Id been putting this off, but i had the rubber thing to secure the tank and spare body screws. So under 5 minutes to fix what i had been putting off.
Dunno if it was something in the fuel or something in the 2 stroke oil, or if ****ty 2 stroke things have emotions (this one was free), its never started this easy, and it typically starts pretty easy. And nothing i did to it was remotely mechanical.
Not for any greater reason then i had never done it before, last time i used my mower i cleaned the air filter element out for the first time. Its always been the one pull wonder. Maintenance wise the briggsy has had an oil change or 2 and a set of blades in the 9 years ive had it. Its still a 1 pull wonder, but it must also like being able to breathe better. It loves it. It treats cold starts the same as a warm start.

[Rallye Sport]

Digging through the back shed this arvo looking for a long lost throttle link clip for the Cortina I dug this one out. The sprinkler tractor that kicked off my interest in all things mechanical.

One of my childhood pocket money jobs was watering the lawn. Frankly it had knobs on it, standing there with the hose so by accident I found out about the agricultural revolution with this old machine Dad had laying around.

My productivity went up in leaps and bounds and each payday came much easier.

I also learned maintenance. Under the top cover is a set of gears that need greasing and the rear axle also has an oil hole. I experimented with many different grades and viscosities over the years.

Then there was performance, the nozzles needed constant cleaning and the angles changing for maximum throw and coverage.

It tracks the hose so I'd carefully plot a circuit of the yard and take into consideration corner apex. Occasionally a stick would be put in its path for a turf shredding burnout.

Distracted, I never did find that throttle clip but I gave it a quick service and cleared a spot in the main garage for my old sprinkler tractor to remind me what started all of this...

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Digging through the back shed this arvo looking for a long lost throttle link clip for the Cortina I dug this one out. The sprinkler tractor that kicked off my interest in all things mechanical.
image
One of my childhood pocket money jobs was watering the lawn. Frankly it had knobs on it, standing there with the hose so by accident I found out about the agricultural revolution with this old machine Dad had laying around.

My productivity went up in leaps and bounds and each payday came much easier.

I also learned maintenance. Under the top cover is a set of gears that need greasing and the rear axle also has an oil hole. I experimented with many different grades and viscosities over the years.

Then there was performance, the nozzles needed constant cleaning and the angles changing for maximum throw and coverage.

It tracks the hose so I'd carefully plot a circuit of the yard and take into consideration corner apex. Occasionally a stick would be put in its path for a turf shredding burnout.

Distracted, I never did find that throttle clip but I gave it a quick service and cleared a spot in the main garage for my old sprinkler tractor to remind me what started all of this...

Love stuff like that. Did you plug the hose in and give it a run?

[DFB FGXR6]

Mowing with a face mask whilst wearing eye protection isn't particularly fun. So do I compromise by lowering the mask to avoid fogging up or risk an eye injury but keep my mask on properly?

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Mowing with a face mask whilst wearing eye protection isn't particularly fun. So do I compromise by lowering the mask to avoid fogging up or risk an eye injury but keep my mask on properly?

Not sure if its 'regulation' in the current situation but I use one of these, works well and doesn't fog up.

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Love stuff like that. Did you plug the hose in and give it a run?

Not yet, I gave the body a spray of lanolin today and stuck it in the garage with the Escort. Good to hear it made you smile, brings back good memories for me.
The other thing this machine taught me was respect, once that spray booms moving it stops for no shin, I only did that once

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Digging through the back shed this arvo looking for a long lost throttle link clip for the Cortina I dug this one out. The sprinkler tractor that kicked off my interest in all things mechanical.
image
One of my childhood pocket money jobs was watering the lawn. Frankly it had knobs on it, standing there with the hose so by accident I found out about the agricultural revolution with this old machine Dad had laying around.

My productivity went up in leaps and bounds and each payday came much easier.

I also learned maintenance. Under the top cover is a set of gears that need greasing and the rear axle also has an oil hole. I experimented with many different grades and viscosities over the years.

Then there was performance, the nozzles needed constant cleaning and the angles changing for maximum throw and coverage.

It tracks the hose so I'd carefully plot a circuit of the yard and take into consideration corner apex. Occasionally a stick would be put in its path for a turf shredding burnout.

Distracted, I never did find that throttle clip but I gave it a quick service and cleared a spot in the main garage for my old sprinkler tractor to remind me what started all of this...

I had a fascination with watering, I had a pope tractor sprinkler, and was such a weirdo, every birthday I wanted a new sprinkler. I had them all lined up in the shed to show visitors.
I then had this thing that I had to find the underground sprinkler system where ever we were, more than once at someone’s house or park I switched on the pop ups. People hate that when they’re sitting around having a bbq.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

I had a fascination with watering, I had a pope tractor sprinkler, and was such a weirdo, every birthday I wanted a new sprinkler. I had them all lined up in the shed to show visitors.
I then had this thing that I had to find the underground sprinkler system where ever we were, more than once at someone’s house or park I switched on the pop ups. People hate that when they’re sitting around having a bbq.

I'm feeling slightly less weird after reading that, I can relate to a lot of similarities there.

[DFB FGXR6]

The Rover's drive system wasn't happy the last few times I have used it, binding and grinding sounded like an expensive repair was on the cards. I decided I would try some graphite lube on the gears inside the wheels before sending it to the shop. Success! Not sure how long it will last but it has bought me some more time.

[.:4:.]

Class it as excersize. Just keep a mask in your back pocket. Or go face sheild. I dont think many people will walk up to have a conversation when you are mowing or most things that involve gardening equipment. Proper respirator mask things with the filters dont fog up safety glasses or goggles, but how far do you go? I did have one of those respirators for asbestos removal, but for good reason it got disposed of.

[Tonz]

as an 8 year old I started mowing lawns and getting paid. with some old hand push thing, (we are going back to late 50's more people wanted me to do theirs and so it grew.
By the time I turned 15 and ready to shaft school, I owned a 6x4 trailer, 5 push movers, an old Masport roller cut mower and paid other kids to mow the lawns, I didnt do any, I must have been paying well as I had a waiting list of future employees,
Dad would drop the trailer and gear off on a street, we would do the whole street and grass between footpath and road. Dad also got paid for his work,

Turned 15 sold it in 24 hours to another school kid and bought a '56 Ford V8 Pilot car Then went into corner grocery full time and sold cars part time.

[arronm]

I scored a mower at a curb collection. Wouldnt start and broken starter handle. Cleaned the plug and away it went first pull. New blades and service then Gumtree $100

Someone should get the many years of service this mower can still provide. What a shame to go on the dump...

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by arronm

I scored a mower at a curb collection. Wouldnt start and broken starter handle. Cleaned the plug and away it went first pull. New blades and service then Gumtree $100

A lot of people give up on gardening equipment due to lack of maintenace/knowledge. My most reliable thing was gifted because it was a piece of ****. But fuel system, that was cheap enough, and a spark plug. Its apples. Its been apples for a few years now.

[MITCHAY]

Well I put down some weed and feed a couple of weeks ago. I also used the manual aerator too.

I have heaps of green shoots coming through strong now but I did not remove the thatch

So do I cut it low with the mower and rake the **** out of the thatch or not? Is it worth doing with couch grass?

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Well I put down some weed and feed a couple of weeks ago. I also used the manual aerator too.

I have heaps of green shoots coming through strong now but I did not remove the thatch

So do I cut it low with the mower and rake the **** out of the thatch or not? Is it worth doing with couch grass?

If you're going to do it nows the time. You've gone about it the right way, feed it and get it growing first before doing anything drastic, it'll recover much quicker.

A long term solution to thatch is to keep going with the aeration to get the soil bacteria working and let them compost it and turn it into fertilizer as a bi-product.

[DFB FGXR6]

I tried out the mulching function of the Bushranger for the first time today.





The finish was very good with no clumps left behind. I like that you can mulch with the catcher attached so the customer is none the wiser.

And I LOVE this Honda GXV160 engine. Along with it being smoother and quieter than Kohler it replaces, hitting some thick grass today, the Honda just grunted through it. I reckon Honda under quotes the power of these engines as it seems to have more power than the higher rated engines I have used in the past.

[GasoLane]

At the risk of being ridiculed by the purists I'm think of getting a cordless mower.

Why? Well we have a thick (not long) spongy front lawn and a fair sized back lawn, it needs to be mowed weekly, summers coming and mowing in +35c is no fun.

Not to mention that I'm lazy and self propelled sounds like a good idea.

Does anyone use a battery mower and what are they like?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by GasoLane

At the risk of being ridiculed by the purists I'm think of getting a cordless mower.

Why? Well we have a thick (not long) spongy front lawn and a fair sized back lawn, it needs to be mowed weekly, summers coming and mowing in +35c is no fun.

Not to mention that I'm lazy and self propelled sounds like a good idea.

Does anyone use a battery mower and what are they like?

Choose wisely.

One of my work colleagues bought a Stihl RMA 510.
https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...Skin-Only.aspx
Being a mower aimed at the American market, it has a limited amount of cutting height adjustment, mainly on the lower end of the scale.

From a technical point of view, it is better to mower on a higher setting for turf health. Certain grass species, such as couch, look better cut on a lower setting. Even on the lowest setting, he was disappointed. In terms of power, battery life and the quiet operation, he was impressed.

So having said that, choose a mower with the appropriate power level to suit your lawn species (Kikuyu and couch need more power, fescue and rye less power) and make sure you are happy with the cutting heights offered (most mowers will state their cutting range in the spec sheet).

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Choose wisely.

One of my work colleagues bought a Stihl RMA 510.
https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...Skin-Only.aspx
Being a mower aimed at the American market, it has a limited amount of cutting height adjustment, mainly on the lower end of the scale.

From a technical point of view, it is better to mower on a higher setting for turf health. Certain grass species, such as couch, look better cut on a lower setting. Even on the lowest setting, he was disappointed. In terms of power, battery life and the quiet operation, he was impressed.

So having said that, choose a mower with the appropriate power level to suit your lawn species (Kikuyu and couch need more power, fescue and rye less power) and make sure you are happy with the cutting heights offered (most mowers will state their cutting range in the spec sheet).

Yeah we've got Kike front and back. So far I'm looking at Ryobi (good reviews in Choice mag) and our neighbour over the road just bought a Makita, so I might take his for a test drive

[danzvtil]

Opened the gear box on the HSA56 today, there wasn’t much grease in it. Pulled it apart, it had some grit on the bearings, so cleaned it out and reapplied stihl multi lube (been looking for it all week, but they’re waiting on new stock).
All smooth and quiet now.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Opened the gear box on the HSA56 today, there wasn’t much grease in it. Pulled it apart, it had some grit on the bearings, so cleaned it out and reapplied stihl multi lube (been looking for it all week, but they’re waiting on new stock).
All smooth and quiet now.

Interesting, will definitely be doing the same. Thanks for the feedback.

[DFB FGXR6]

Made a small modification to the Bushranger today, the result not as I expected though.

This mower doesn't have a raised pull starter on the handle, something that is a handy feature.



I picked up a used Masport attachment from my local mower shop.





Pulling the cord out to install, I instantly knew why this isn't a standard feature.



These Honda engines have quite a short pull cord meaning, when installed in the handle's allocated hole, it leaves only a limited amount of cranking ability. Enough to start the engine, but not enough for my liking. Looking at Honda mowers, this feature is fitted lower on the handle mitigating the problem I have encountered. I don't really want to be drilling holes in my brand new mower so I will see how it works on the job. At the end of the day, it didn't cost me anything so no big loss if I choose to punt it.

[DFB FGXR6]

I have had this for a while, and it's use is somewhat limited, but this little tool is helpful when finessing a hedge.

https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...en-Shears.aspx



I find this useful trimming along the bottom of a Buxus hedge, getting into corners or cutting where a larger tool would be cumbersome. The battery run time is more than sufficient for this type of work. I have also used it to shape topiary's and standard Lilly Pillies. The blade speed is pretty slow and it's use is limited to fine material but it's a handy addition to my arsenal.

[DFB FGXR6]

New addition today.

https://ecoorganicgarden.com.au/prod...4aAloKEALw_wcB



I have used this before but not in my own business. Made from plant oils, Slasher is a Registered Organic weed killer. Slasher is one of the few products that will kill Fleabane, a weed that takes off at this time of the year. It will also control moss and algae. I have seen this product take a weed out within hours.

Two drawbacks though. Slasher acts by burning the foliage, leaving the root system behind. On annual weeds this isn't a problem, other weeds are best treated with Glyphosate. And the smell of the products tends to linger for a couple of days in my experience.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Made a small modification to the Bushranger today, the result not as I expected though.

This mower doesn't have a raised pull starter on the handle, something that is a handy feature.

image

I picked up a used Masport attachment from my local mower shop.

image

image

Pulling the cord out to install, I instantly knew why this isn't a standard feature.

image

These Honda engines have quite a short pull cord meaning, when installed in the handle's allocated hole, it leaves only a limited amount of cranking ability. Enough to start the engine, but not enough for my liking. Looking at Honda mowers, this feature is fitted lower on the handle mitigating the problem I have encountered. I don't really want to be drilling holes in my brand new mower so I will see how it works on the job. At the end of the day, it didn't cost me anything so no big loss if I choose to punt it.

Wouldn’t be too hard to add 1/2 mtr extra to the existing rope???

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Wouldn’t be too hard to add 1/2 mtr extra to the existing rope???

Possibly, although replacing the entire rope would be better. I don't like the idea of an un-startable mower mid job because my patch job on the rope failed.

[FTE217]

Well it’s back to full on mowing down the quick growth times.
As usual I fed my grass early spring, I reall like shelleys no17, it work well and gives the grass a good boost and strength to suffocate weeds.
Yesterday decided to get it done before the rain appeared for the weekend.
First few cut view And the mighty briggsy.
Love 4strokers yes I won’t clean it DFB

Love seeing the first few cuts

And whallah - good work briggsy



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[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Well it’s back to full on mowing down the quick growth times.
As usual I fed my grass early spring, I reall like shelleys no17, it work well and gives the grass a good boost and strength to suffocate weeds.
Yesterday decided to get it done before the rain appeared for the weekend.
First few cut view And the mighty briggsy.
Love 4strokers yes I won’t clean it DFB
image
Love seeing the first few cuts
image
And whallah - good work briggsy
image


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Ahh come on, that bottle of Collinite would work wonders on the mower too.

[FTE217]

Oh forgot due to a previous thread mention
The mighty comfortable crocs
Only work shoe I’ve used for years



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[FTE217]

Stop influencing me lol.....