Cylinder mowers

[andrewinsa]

Hi everyone

First post, so first order of business is to say HI to everyone.

I am looking at getting a new mower to replace my little rotary electric. I want to go petrol to get rid of the cable hassle. I also want a self propelled because I have a couple of hills and I think self propelled will make my mowing easier.

Here in South Africa, I have done some shopping and a lot of the dealers are steering me towards a cylinder mower. Can I get your views on cylinder mowers vs rotary. There is a really good one going for less than half the price of a new one at one of my local dealers and I am really tempted. I think my biggest concern is how much services are going to cost on this cylinder vs a petrol rotary.

Thanks
Andrew

 

[GoToGuy]

You are correct Andrew. The Cylinder, or Power Reel, as many here in the U.S. call it, is a bit more complicated to service. = Engine + chain drive system + 8,10 or 12 blades to sharpen.
The Rotary mower has just an engine and a blade.
You will get a cleaner,more precise cut with a cylinder mower. There is your trade off.
if I were paying for the services of a technician on a regular basis, I would choose the rotary mower due to long term cost savings!
_Go-TO GUY

 

[jmurray01]

You are correct Andrew. The Cylinder, or Power Reel, as many here in the U.S. call it, is a bit more complicated to service. = Engine + chain drive system + 8,10 or 12 blades to sharpen.
The Rotary mower has just an engine and a blade.
You will get a cleaner,more precise cut with a cylinder mower. There is your trade off.
if I were paying for the services of a technician on a regular basis, I would choose the rotary mower due to long term cost savings!
_Go-TO GUY

I agree :thumbsup:

 

[KennyV]

Re: Cylinder mowerssharpening...

WELCOME to LMF...
Choice of better mower Depends a Lot on the type of grass you are mowing...
If your grass is fairly uniform And you generally cut short, the reel mower will do a Great job...
There are very economical priced self sharpening attachments that quickly and automatically take care of that... Leaving only a slight adjustment of the bed knife, needed maybe once every couple years ...
If the 'cylinder' is designed for quick & easy removal, the periodic truing on a lathe, will be a fast and inexpensive once every 4 or 5 year deal...

But if you cut much above 2 inch grass or a big mix of grass types, you will wish you had a rotary type mower... plus a self propelled rotary will generally cut a wider path, so it should be Faster Plus it will easily cut almost anything that gets under it... any length & type grass or weed.... :smile:KennyV

 

[andrewinsa]

Re: Cylinder mowerssharpening...

WELCOME to LMF...
, you will wish you had a rotary type mower... .... :smile:KennyV

I think this is exactly what is worrying me. The cylinder has a couple of things going for it. Self propelled, better cut, wider than the rotaries that I am looking at, but I am worried that I will regret the strength/durability of the rotary. (remember I am considering a second hand cylinder that will be roughly the same price to buy as a good rotary, but not self propelled. One of the main reasons I want a new mower is to make my cutting quicker and easier, will I achieve this with the cylinder?

 

[LandN]

Kenny's answer is right on target. things that i have learned with my MANUAL powered cylinder mower is that i mow more often so that i DON'T get long grass and have to push harder,and in the fall time it is not as good as a rotary for mulching leaves or bagging leaves.if i keep the grass at a consistant low height 2"-2 1/2" i can walk as fast as i want or as slow as i want.i also enjoy the early morning hours cutting with no engine sound. i prefer the cylinder scissor cut, unless the rotary blade is sharp enough to equal the shear cut of a cylinder mower. what i have now is 8" narrower than my other cylinder mower and when pushing manually you can feel the extra 8" OF drag .maintenance now and in the past(60's self propelled briggs and stratton cylinder mower) is pretty minimal.