Viking MB 545 roller lawn mower..reviews please

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Permalink Reply by Rob Glassborow on February 11, 2010 at 13:16

Ive never quite taken to them, they look unable to handle the use of pro use. However, they are a Sthil, and that says alot. Have you thought about a Honda 476 if your looking for that amount of use plus?

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Permalink Reply by Rob Glassborow on February 11, 2010 at 13:24

Have a look at the HONDA HRG465 SD, that will suit you better.

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Permalink Reply by alan mcmillan on February 11, 2010 at 13:26

Thanks Rob..just had a look at the honda..i feel that i would like to offer stripes..the honda is a little more than i would like to pay at the moment.. but looks a nice machine.

Rob Glassborow said:

Ive never quite taken to them, they look unable to handle the use of pro use. However, they are a Sthil, and that says alot. Have you thought about a Honda 476 if your looking for that amount of use plus?

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Permalink Reply by Rob Glassborow on February 11, 2010 at 13:32

I think the best thing you can do is get down to your local Trade garden machinery supplier, and talk to them with your budget. They will know exactley where you stand, and will sell you the best machine for your needs. It will also come with warranty, and somewhere for you to take it back to if it goes wrong. later on when you are ready to upgrade, they are more likely to part ex if it has come from them.

Stripes are good, however, dont get to attached to them at the start. It is highly likely you will be picking up the kind of lawns that just need cutting, rather than striping in the beginning. That is not a bad thing, but the premium lawns come a bit later, and then you will be ready to upgrade.

My advice would be Honda engine, cast alloy deck, self driven, and 18'' or 19''. Try to steer away from the resin plastic mowers, they will not last you very long, especially coming in and out of a van or vehicle. they are generally made to roll out of the garage on to the lawn once a week.

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Permalink Reply by alan mcmillan on February 11, 2010 at 13:43

Thanks Rob, you could have saved me there..it really is hard to make the right choises..get the basics right from the begining..So many differing opinions.

Rob Glassborow said:

I think the best thing you can do is get down to your local Trade garden machinery supplier, and talk to them with your budget. They will know exactley where you stand, and will sell you the best machine for your needs. It will also come with warranty, and somewhere for you to take it back to if it goes wrong. later on when you are ready to upgrade, they are more likely to part ex if it has come from them.

Stripes are good, however, dont get to attached to them at the start. It is highly likely you will be picking up the kind of lawns that just need cutting, rather than striping in the beginning. That is not a bad thing, but the premium lawns come a bit later, and then you will be ready to upgrade.

My advice would be Honda engine, cast alloy deck, self driven, and 18'' or 19''. Try to steer away from the resin plastic mowers, they will not last you very long, especially coming in and out of a van or vehicle. they are generally made to roll out of the garage on to the lawn once a week.

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Permalink Reply by GORDON on February 11, 2010 at 20:28

Hi Alan

It is obvious that we all have different advise based on our experience and expectations.

I would say that from the word go every job if an advert for your work. Even if the lawn is full of moss and perhaps not in the most salubrious of areas. if it is cut with a quality roller mower leaving a nice set of stripes it will stick out like a beacon. I have a load of lady OAPs and according to many of them there there is 2 things that they look forward too. One is having their hair done and the other is looking out at the lawn after it has been cut with a new set of stripes laid down.

So getting back to your question. If you plan to earn whatever it is that need from mowing lawns then you need to make life as easy as possible. Using a plastic mower with only a 17" cut purchased at what is a fairly high price in my opinion is not the way forward. Now, the 19" Viking roller mower is a different animal but it is ever more expensive. I have just paid £650 inc vat which is a good price. Colin who purchase a Viking 19" roller last year is no fool and has a good knowledge of thing mechanical so if he is giving it the thumbs then that is a good sign as far as I am concerned.

If I only had a few hundred to spend I would look hard for a used Hayter 48. A 10 year old machine that has only ever been used privately will have loads of life in it, ever for commercial use and although it may be scratched up the sides with paint flaking off dont be put off. You should not have to pay more than £200 and it can soon be tarted up to make it presentable. By next year you should be better placed to make a decision what to do next. and if you decided not to carry on you should still be able to sell the machine for the price you paid for it.

As I said, we all have different views but I would be very surprised if anyone uses a 17" mower for serious amounts of lawn mowing and although I cut 10 to 12 a day, 5 a day (100 a month) is still a lot of grass to cut and I would not look forward to it with the Viking mower you have mentioned.

I wouldn't like to be you at this moment in trying to disseminate all the advise that is coming your way.

Good Luck

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Permalink Reply by alan mcmillan on February 11, 2010 at 20:46

Thanks Gordon!!
Yes it's alot to take in will have to spend sometime to diggest all the info.. but like everything in life we all have to make mistakes down the road.. but!! with a little sense and deliberation, can reduce the mistakes
we make. just wanted to ask why a bent shaft strimmer..was told that a straight shaft one was best for domestic lawns?

GORDON said:

Hi Alan

It is obvious that we all have different advise based on our experience and expectations.

I would say that from the word go every job if an advert for your work. Even if the lawn is full of moss and perhaps not in the most salubrious of areas. if it is cut with a quality roller mower leaving a nice set of stripes it will stick out like a beacon. I have a load of lady OAPs and according to many of them there there is 2 things that they look forward too. One is having their hair done and the other is looking out at the lawn after it has been cut with a new set of stripes laid down.

So getting back to your question. If you plan to earn whatever it is that need from mowing lawns then you need to make life as easy as possible. Using a plastic mower with only a 17" cut purchased at what is a fairly high price in my opinion is not the way forward. Now, the 19" Viking roller mower is a different animal but it is ever more expensive. I have just paid £650 inc vat which is a good price. Colin who purchase a Viking 19" roller last year is no fool and has a good knowledge of thing mechanical so if he is giving it the thumbs then that is a good sign as far as I am concerned.

If I only had a few hundred to spend I would look hard for a used Hayter 48. A 10 year old machine that has only ever been used privately will have loads of life in it, ever for commercial use and although it may be scratched up the sides with paint flaking off dont be put off. You should not have to pay more than £200 and it can soon be tarted up to make it presentable. By next year you should be better placed to make a decision what to do next. and if you decided not to carry on you should still be able to sell the machine for the price you paid for it.

As I said, we all have different views but I would be very surprised if anyone uses a 17" mower for serious amounts of lawn mowing and although I cut 10 to 12 a day, 5 a day (100 a month) is still a lot of grass to cut and I would not look forward to it with the Viking mower you have mentioned.

I wouldn't like to be you at this moment in trying to disseminate all the advise that is coming your way.

Good Luck

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Permalink Reply by GORDON on February 11, 2010 at 22:13

Hi Alan

with regard to strimmers.

I use a bent shaft strimmer as it is easy to invert to 90deg to trim the edges of a lawn also the shaft is shorter and it is easier to control. Making a good job of using a strimmer to cut the edges requires a bit of practice so you would also require a set of long handled edging shears. I expect you have a set anyway. If you haven't used a strimmer before then please be aware the nylon line can send a stone crashing through a window or take someones eye out, no problem. So think Insurance.

As far as I am concerned the straight shaft strimmer is not really suitable for inverting. But if you look on Youtube there is a chap doing just that. I guess with enough practice it can be done but not as easy plus generally the straight shaft machines would be heavier. Strimming can take longer than mowing on an ornate lawn with lots of cut outs and curves so remember to price according.

alan mcmillan said:

Thanks Gordon!!
Yes it's alot to take in will have to spend sometime to diggest all the info.. but like everything in life we all have to make mistakes down the road.. but!! with a little sense and deliberation, can reduce the mistakes we make. just wanted to ask why a bent shaft strimmer..was told that a straight shaft one was best for domestic lawns?
GORDON said:

Hi Alan

It is obvious that we all have different advise based on our experience and expectations.

I would say that from the word go every job if an advert for your work. Even if the lawn is full of moss and perhaps not in the most salubrious of areas. if it is cut with a quality roller mower leaving a nice set of stripes it will stick out like a beacon. I have a load of lady OAPs and according to many of them there there is 2 things that they look forward too. One is having their hair done and the other is looking out at the lawn after it has been cut with a new set of stripes laid down.

So getting back to your question. If you plan to earn whatever it is that need from mowing lawns then you need to make life as easy as possible. Using a plastic mower with only a 17" cut purchased at what is a fairly high price in my opinion is not the way forward. Now, the 19" Viking roller mower is a different animal but it is ever more expensive. I have just paid £650 inc vat which is a good price. Colin who purchase a Viking 19" roller last year is no fool and has a good knowledge of thing mechanical so if he is giving it the thumbs then that is a good sign as far as I am concerned.

If I only had a few hundred to spend I would look hard for a used Hayter 48. A 10 year old machine that has only ever been used privately will have loads of life in it, ever for commercial use and although it may be scratched up the sides with paint flaking off dont be put off. You should not have to pay more than £200 and it can soon be tarted up to make it presentable. By next year you should be better placed to make a decision what to do next. and if you decided not to carry on you should still be able to sell the machine for the price you paid for it.

As I said, we all have different views but I would be very surprised if anyone uses a 17" mower for serious amounts of lawn mowing and although I cut 10 to 12 a day, 5 a day (100 a month) is still a lot of grass to cut and I would not look forward to it with the Viking mower you have mentioned.

I wouldn't like to be you at this moment in trying to disseminate all the advise that is coming your way.

Good Luck

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