Which Lawn Mower Would You Choose

If the air filter makes a difference when it has been washed then it must be the air filter which is the problem not fuel starvation, the filter is altering the air fuel mixture and the engine cuts out from air starvation, it sounds like your filter is not coping with the job and gets clogged up.

I have had mowers with similar problematic filters, does the filter look anything like this.

 

The air filter was almost clean before I washed it so that made very little difference. The engine doesn't cut out but labours until it's back on level ground, which is why I think it's fuel starvation. When I'm mowing in the other direction so that the incline is on the other side it doesn't happen.

Air filter.

 

The filter is just a flimsy bit of sponge, not a proper filter per se as picture below, I have had mowers and strimmers with the same type of sponge filter which has always caused problems and usually disintegrate very quickly,

I wondered if the fuel pick-up pipe end inside the fuel tank was curved upwards just enough to cause fuel starvation until you turn the mower around the other way.

 

My last mower with a different engine had a sponge filter which didn't cause problems. So, you agree with me now that it's fuel starvation?

The mower is serviced regularly and has had the problem checked on a couple of occasions, there's nothing that can be done, it's down to bad design.

 

I am only assuming what the problem might be based on what you are saying the symptoms are without seeing your mower and the problems I have encountered with these machines myself.

If your mower is serviced regularly by a technician they would have a better idea of the problem.

 

I finally made a decision after considering many alternatives, I bought a Frisky Fox PLUS Self Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower with a 20" 4 Blade Quad-Cut.

I have only used it a few times so far but I am so impressed with it all my doubts have gone away, it cuts like nothing else I have ever used.

 

The price is quite remarkable for the quality based on other lawn mowers I have had in the past, it has been finished off properly in many ways and is quite substantial, plus it has this new 4 Blade Quad-Cut system.

I looked at mowers with electric start, having this facility on the same mowers than the one without it were all about £130 more.

Having an electric start is not just £130 more for the same mower it costs more to service, plus the cost of a new battery every year another £50 plus and there is no guarantee the motor will start just because it is an electric start so you will have to pull start anyway.

I am so impressed with this mower with the blade system it has, it mulches like never before, I think all mowers will go this way and become much more expensive in the future once they catch on.

 

Check out what the professional gardeners use and you will find mainly Hayter and Honda.
They have to be reliable as it is their livelihood.
When I started garden work I got a Hayter harrier 48 and its still going strong after all the use and abuse of the last 20 odd years.
I have used other machines belonging to customers but my Hayter did better imho.
ps I did add a couple of 'Go Faster' stripes on it so maybe that helped.

 

The Hayter harrier 48 is about four times the price as my Quad cut, it also appears to have the same engine and cutting width, I could not see any reason in paying so much more for a Hayter harrier.

 

Again the Harrier 56 is unnecessarily expensive at around £1,400 in comparison to the Fox I bought.
It has the same B&S engine, Self-propelled, variable speed mower, central height adjustment, mine also has Quad cut, mulch facility, side discharge, self clean water inlet and does not suffer from the problem of not having a pull start should the battery run flat for any reason.

The Harrier 56 has a rear roller giving a compulsory striped cut even it you don't want one and is a key start which means if you lose it you cant use it.

Sorry you wont convince me I need a Harrier, Have you tried the Fox Quad cut mower, its quite a mower to be reckoned with.

I think the problem is that it is too cheap.

 

@shiney you appear upset! it was not my intention to be confrontational, I merely put forward my opinion and personal findings of the Quad-cut lawn mower in the hope of it being of some use to others when considering the purchase of a new mower.

Your mower may not need a key to start it but being 26 years old could be the reason why, but the new ones which would be of consideration do.

I agree "Everyone to their own and it would be a poor world if we all liked the same thing."