Ride-on mower lifts

[Polarengineer]

It would seem, Quicksilver, that french grass is greener and sticks well to the deck.

[hughnique]

oil and fuel spills when tilting the mower do not happen

I am afraid I beg to differ on that as I have had personal experience of fuel exiting from the filler cap, when tilted as high as possible and of course the diluted oil in the sump, and the obligatory plumes of smoke exiting the exhaust when you finally fire it up again. I do agree that the MTD is utter crap, I replaced my old Mr Bricolage badged Husqvarna / Electrolux mower with MTD, not impressed, constant blocking of the chute to the collection bag. I now have a new set of blades to see if that helps with collection.

[niemeyjt]

Sadly my French Carroy deck rusted through in 10 years - and that was a pro deck with only domestic use.

[Bayleaf]

We've always used a side-lifter, with a manual wind. Didn't realise they existed for using a drill to do the hard work - that's pretty cool! There's never been a problem with any leaks - if the fuel tank was full, maybe that could be a problem. Any other leaks would imply a problem with the mower, not the lifter. Similarly, a chassis on any decent mower would not be affected. Only knowing Kubota or Honda ride-ons, we've thankfully not suffered any of the above (plenty of other problems though, but that's usualy rider-error! )

As for blocking/clogging problems - the rear chute mower could be prone to blocking (with long, damp grass). Side chute - pretty much never.

[Hotrodder]

Yes, damp grass. encountered about 90% of the time here in soggy Bretagne, and after a 2 to 3 hour mowing session the grass is so hard packed inside the deck you would need a pressure washer to make any progress removing it. Simply spraying with a garden hose makes little impression. Nothing but a steel garden trowel will remove it. Granted, a lifting front deck would ease the process somewhat but mowers with that configuration cost more than I have ever spent on a car so is not an option. I don't see how people are getting oil and fuel spillages when tilting maybe 45 degrees unless the sump is over-filled or the fuel tank has just been topped up. Mine is always near empty at the end of the session, having been refilled at the halfway point.

[Quiksilver]

The grass is quite lush once or twice a year, but never cut when wet! I'm sure you're right, Bayleaf, and it's to do with the design of the rear grass-collecting mowers. Can't remember which make advertises specially-shaped blades to create a better system of suction into the bac, but that's probably publicity (i.e. lies) too . Side-ejection is a non-starter here.
I'm really, really tempted by the electrically-powered one. Can just imagine that being helpful when I'm pottering about in my 80's

[L Austin France]

Yes, damp grass. encountered about 90% of the time here in soggy Bretagne, and after a 2 to 3 hour mowing session the grass is so hard packed inside the deck you would need a pressure washer to make any progress removing it. Simply spraying with a garden hose makes little impression. Nothing but a steel garden trowel will remove it. Granted, a lifting front deck would ease the process somewhat but mowers with that configuration cost more than I have ever spent on a car so is not an option. I don't see how people are getting oil and fuel spillages when tilting maybe 45 degrees unless the sump is over-filled or the fuel tank has just been topped up. Mine is always near empty at the end of the session, having been refilled at the halfway point.

I used to clean the deck using a jet of water from our well pump but this job was obviously done outside the barn.
I came back to clean the deck one day after finishing the cut in the rain & wasn't going to stay outside cleaning so abandoned the idea.
The next day it 'hit me' I had my air compressor just inside the barn door so attacked things with a jet of air.
It worked perfectly & not only shot off the grass cuttings but dried the deck as well.
Never used water jets again since that epiphany.

[Quiksilver]

Now there's an idea...Absolutely no possibility that OH hasn't got what is required stashed away somewhere. He's got more 'stuff' than Leroy Merlin and Bricomarché put together Might have to take care not to blow the whole lot over, though?

[Hotrodder]

Happiness is a high capacity (two-stage) compressor that doesn't run out of breath halfway down the side of a car.

[Quiksilver]

I believe you, I really do