where to buy a self propelled lawnmower?

Post by **kubotatim** » July 18, 2014, 7:15 am

What do you call selfpropelled, they were all self propelled, but not ride on, the ones they had you squeeze a lever and they go along with the power of the engine, you do not have to push them, loads there. including Husquvana.

Post by **fdimike** » July 18, 2014, 7:39 am

I sure could be wrong but I was there a few days ago and yes there were a lot of mowers but none of them were self propelled including the Husky. I don't think I've ever seen more than 1 or 2 self-propelled mowers there at any one time and I'm a regular shopper at Tool Pro. Yes self-propelled mowers move under their own power normally by squeezing a lever which puts tension on a drive belt which in turn drives either the front or rear wheels.

Post by **merchant seaman** » July 18, 2014, 7:50 am

I too had been looking for a self propelled mower and couldn't find one either. Had to settle for a wife propelled mower. Since I bought it she has stopped asking for an excercise bike.

Post by **NongKhaiLee** » July 18, 2014, 9:07 am

kubotatim wrote:What do you call selfpropelled, they were all self propelled, but not ride on, the ones they had you squeeze a lever and they go along with the power of the engine, you do not have to push them, loads there. including Husquvana.

The handles you are talking about are "engine kill" handles. You must squeeze them in order to keep the lawnmower running, it's a safety feature so that people don't leave the lawnmower running while emptying the bag and accidentally become injured by the blade. You still have to push them. If they were truly self propelled they would either have two squeeze handles or else two moveable levers such as the throttle lever. (one for the throttle and one for the gears)

Post by **kubotatim** » July 18, 2014, 12:44 pm

No you are wrong I have one, you squeeze the handle and off it goes, it has a totally separate throttle control, when you release the handle it stops moving but the engine keeps going

Post by **fdimike** » July 18, 2014, 7:01 pm

Nong Khai

For the most part you're correct. However, the self-propelled mower I have (bought at Home Pro a couple of years ago) uses the large wire handle to actually engage the belt drive. Release the handle and the mower stops but the engine continues to run as does the blade. This is an old design in the US which has since been replaced with the "engine kill" handles you abptly describe. All the mowers I saw at Tool Pro have the single wire handle but they are NOT self propelled.

Post by **fdimike** » July 18, 2014, 7:09 pm

It's pretty easy to identify a self-propelled mower. There will be a plastic cover (this is the one I have) on top of the deck at the rear which houses the drive belt and pulley. However, some mowers like the one Parrot described have the drive mechanism under the deck so you'll need to lift the mower to see for sure. You also easily see the price difference between a self-propelled mower and the push type with the self-propelled one more expensive.

Post by **NongKhaiLee** » July 19, 2014, 9:27 am

Thanks Mike,

Correct about the price, but there are a few exceptions. Global house at NongKhai has a Rover for sale for 25,000 baht that is not self propelled, this is the same price range as most self propelled mowers, and the Sakura self propelled that tool pro sells is 17,000 baht, which is the upper end of the price range for most non-self propelled mowers.

When I go into a store and head to their lawn mower section, a quick look at the prices usually tells me if they have a self propelled mower or not.

Post by **fdimike** » July 19, 2014, 4:41 pm

I'm not familiar with Rover. That's really expensive for a push type rotary mower. Mine cost me 13,550THB about 3 years ago from Home Pro.

Post by **NongKhaiLee** » July 20, 2014, 9:25 am

Yes it is really expensive for a push type mower, I had to look at it a long time because it was so expensive that I just couldn't believe it wasn't self-propelled. They told me it was from the U.K.

Post by **GARYZX6R** » July 20, 2014, 9:44 am

NongKhaiLee wrote:Yes it is really expensive for a push type mower, I had to look at it a long time because it was so expensive that I just couldn't believe it wasn't self-propelled. They told me it was from the U.K.

They are an Aussie brand .

Post by **parrot** » July 20, 2014, 12:52 pm

I seem to recall the Rover is an 18" or 19" model. Okay for a small sub-division yard......but I wouldn't want to be using it on something large.

Post by **parrot** » July 21, 2014, 1:39 pm

I was at Toolpro today....they have a 21" auto drive (rear wheel) Sakari lawnmower with a Honda GXV160 engine on display. Just shy of 18,000 baht. The self-propelled model has two bars on the upper handle.....one to engage the blade, one to engage the rear wheels.

Again, my take on the Sakari lawnmower. The Honda engine on it is very good quality. Starts first time. Parts available in Udon. Quiet. Sips gas. Excellent power.
The Sakari body is probably galvanized.....as mine has not a smidgen of rust after 3.5 years of heavy use.
The auto drive may work fine for a year or so......and you might be able to keep the auto drive working for 2. But once it goes, you're out of luck. No parts and no one has just the transmission.
Overall a good lawnmower......just a shame they couldn't put on a better transmission.

Post by **BossHogg69** » July 21, 2014, 4:23 pm

Who would ever buy a lawn mower with an engine that cannot propel itself? seems really strange to me a bit like a chocolate fireguard, totally useless!

Post by **NongKhaiLee** » July 22, 2014, 11:48 am

Thanks Parrot

I was at ToolPro last week (Monday to be exact) and they did not have that lawnmower. I asked them how long it would take if I did order the Sakura and they told me two weeks. I am leaving for America next week and besides am undecided about the Sakura so didn't order one.
I guess my point is that ToolPro sure doesn't seem to be on the ball, evidently they had one already coming, or there but not on display...but when a customer (Me) asks they say it would take two weeks to get one!

Post by **NongKhaiLee** » July 22, 2014, 12:01 pm

Thanks for the pictures Parrot,

I have been researching the Honda gxv160 and the Sakura. It appears that the transmission is belt driven, is that correct? If so then the engine must have a pulley on the crankshaft just above the blade?

Post by **parrot** » July 22, 2014, 12:45 pm

Just for clarity......it's Sakari. Yes, it's belt driven with a pulley just above the blade. I didn't have a problem with the pulley or the belt, but did with the transmission........I was able to use it for over 2 years.....with occasional maintenance. But when it finally crapped out, I tried to buy a replacement......could not find one locally or in Bangkok. I finally removed the transmission and use the lawnmower as a push mower. The engine is a fine engine....lots of power for 3 rai of land. The difference in price for a real McCoy Honda mower body with the same engine as the Sakari is between 8,000-12,000 more.

As for Toolpro or any of the other shops around town, I've never been able to figure out their way of doing business. Sometimes, just when you think you do, you find out you don't. Sometimes you have to know the manager to break through the levels of incompetence or lack of concern by staff.....and if the manager isn't in, well, you're out of luck. To me, it's one of the greater trials of living here.......bearable, but often makes you wonder how they stay in business.

Post by **BossHogg69** » July 22, 2014, 12:52 pm

Have you tried the mower shop next to the old ford dealer in the centre of town, went there at the weekend for a new blade and alloy spacer for my mower and he was extremely helpful and had everything I needed, spoke reasonable english as well, excellent service.

Post by **BossHogg69** » July 22, 2014, 12:54 pm

Also went to toolpro first, but as usual they had nothing and not willing to order, totally useless, how do they survive?

Post by **NongKhaiLee** » July 22, 2014, 3:51 pm

I just came back from ToolPro for the third time. I figured I would buy the mower Parrot saw there. They did have the self propelled lawnmower Parrot took pics of, so I asked, "why didn't you tell me you had it when I was here a few days ago?" and they replied "because we can't sell it to you!"
Evidently whoever shipped it to them from Bangkok sent it with the wrong grass catcher basket,so they can't sell it until the correct one comes.

I went back to Global House also, had to buy new wheels for my old mower for the fourth time. I asked them once again about self-propelled mowers, and this time they said they could order me one! They asked if I wanted a Makita or a Honda, and I asked them to give me prices on both. They said the price of the Makita was "somewhere over 20,000" and the Honda "around 25,000" but they would check availability and call me with the exact amount.

Does anyone have any experience with the Makita Self-Propelled Mower? This is the first I have heard of that option.