Neat! It looks like the "off road" version.


Tomorrows headlines;- "Police have reported a sudden big increase in theft of children's bicycle wheels".

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Harrow said..

Reflex Films said..
i am going for the upgrade!

Here's the big boy. I was trying to figure out how to get an extra couple of cm's on the cut height, when my neighbour put out an old kiddies bicycle for the council cleanup. Couldn't believe my luck - the solid foam rubber tyres were a perfect fit!

This is the best thing ever posted on Seabreeze!

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Reflex Films said..
Another advantage is the no noise factor- much nicer for the neighbours.

Some say its better not to use a catcher as the grass cuttings act as a nice mulch- as long as you don't leave too long between cuts.

Must say I am rather pleased to see so many lawn enthusiasts and push mower fans coming out of the woodwork. Is the push mower revolution upon us?

There are 5 or 6 flymo's on gumtree. Starting at $30neg and a nice one for $50neg that looks new. How often do the blades need sharpening?

Looking forward to seeing the first cut!

Are you wearing Blue espadrilles with black socks in the lounge room scene Matt?

Wow.

I might be wrong but due to the cutting action the blades are self sharpening. The scissor action of the blade passing over the lower cutting plate cuts the grass and keeps the blades sharp. I guess pebibles etc could cause nicks to the blades but I haven't noticed this.
The reason the one I picked up cheap wouldn't cut was the barrel had lost contact with the lower plate, just needed adjusting so you get a light touch between the two. Too much pressure and the barrel won't spin freely, too little and it won't cut. Only adjusted it the once when I pick it up, all good since.
Not a good mower if you have trees dropping twigs etc above your lawn, these immediatly jam the barrel.

Great thread!
A favourite quote from the video.... "Ozito was the gateway drug...... "

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AUS1111 said...
Are you wearing Blue espadrilles with black socks in the lounge room scene Matt?

Wow.

Wardrobe and continuity departments both let me down
on that one

Fiskars Momentum (Made in China) @ $380 in the the long run you may save if you keep it lubed and don't mind performing the adjustment/cutting paste sharpening procedure every so often. Looks like most push/reel mowers need to have this performed every so often to keep that scissor cut finish and healthier cut lawn. The cheaper smaller types may be fine for a final cut after a mower or regular cuts on smaller lawns.

www.rockaroundtheblock.com.au/garden-tools/push-reel-mowers/fiskars-staysharp-max-reel-mower-460mm-push-cylindrical-reel-mower-113880.html





Had to be done...

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MDSXR6T said..There are 5 or 6 flymo's on gumtree. Starting at $30neg and a nice one for $50neg that looks new. How often do the blades need sharpening?

Looking forward to seeing the first cut!

As far as I can tell, never. The blades seem to self-sharpen faster than the grass can dull them. I've had mine for about 20 years and it still cuts as clean and sharp as the day I got it. I've got just over 200m2 of lawn, so it's done a reasonable amount of work over the years.

The only thing you need to do is adjust the blade clearance as they wear, but that is dead easy and literally takes about 5 seconds once or twice a year. There is a thumb screw adjustment on each end of the blade and I give it an eighth to quarter turn to close the gap whenever the cut is not sharp and clean. You know if you have turned it too far as the blades jam, too loose and the grass does not cut well. When it's right you hear that beautiful slinky metallic sound like a samurai sword being unsheathed. Makes you feel like a lawn mowing Ninja!!

Okay, time to post the downside.

About 1/3rd of my block is natural bush with a lot of large gum trees. That means a LOT of gum leaves and twigs on the lawn. The twigs jam in the blades and the leaves get chopped up smaller and smaller until they choke the lawn. That means that I need to rake my lawn before I mow it, although I think the regular raking actually has an unintended beneficial effect by removing the thatch.

Otherwise, without the raking, I'd say the push mower doesn't really take much longer and is actually easier to push than my petrol mower. If I didn't have the gum trees, it would be an absolute no-brainer for me - I really don't see a single benefit for a petrol mower, except for chewing through really long grass when we've been away for a few weeks holiday.

I pick up James' kindly offered pusher and it's a ripper...on the buffalo. Cheers James!

It doesn't do so well on the couch though.
Any tips?

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Harrow said..

MDSXR6T said... How often do the blades need sharpening?

As far as I can tell, never. The blades seem to self-sharpen faster than the grass can dull them. I've had mine for about 20 years and it still cuts as clean and sharp as the day I got it. I've got just over 200m2 of lawn, so it's done a reasonable amount of work over the years.

The only thing you need to do is adjust the blade clearance as they wear, but that is dead easy and literally takes about 5 seconds once or twice a year. There is a thumb screw adjustment on each end of the blade and I give it an eighth to quarter turn to close the gap whenever the cut is not sharp and clean. You know if you have turned it too far as the blades jam, too loose and the grass does not cut well. When it's right you hear that beautiful slinky metallic sound like a samurai sword being unsheathed. Makes you feel like a lawn mowing Ninja!!

Ours was the same, kept adjusted and it was great.

I did have to resharpen twice though, once after running over a porsche, and later a bike tyre lever.

I put the blade drum in my drill press and used a belt sander to polish out the damage and all was good.


stephen

snake belly treads too!

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airsail said..
I might be wrong but due to the cutting action the blades are self sharpening. The scissor action of the blade passing over the lower cutting plate cuts the grass and keeps the blades sharp. I guess pebibles etc could cause nicks to the blades but I haven't noticed this.
The reason the one I picked up cheap wouldn't cut was the barrel had lost contact with the lower plate, just needed adjusting so you get a light touch between the two. Too much pressure and the barrel won't spin freely, too little and it won't cut. Only adjusted it the once when I pick it up, all good since.
Not a good mower if you have trees dropping twigs etc above your lawn, these immediatly jam the barrel.

Yes I agree, spot on in every aspect.
This is why I love the Pushy.
Also they are just so light weight that it surprises all that it's so easy to push.
It is also good for the environment.
The compost you collect it is not compromised in anyway at all.
I guess you feed it to cows or horses as well.

I have always thought "burn fat not oil !!
Maybe some day this retro idea might catch on.

Does anyone here not really love the noise created by petrol powered mowers ?

What a great birthday gift idea !
Especially for someone who's got all the toys...boards/sails/guitars etc....

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Reflex Films said..
Does anyone here not really love the noise created by petrol powered mowers ?

Don't really like the noise, especially when i'm trying to have an afternoon nana-nap and the neighbour fire the mower up.

But nothing beats the smell of fresh cut lawn.

I'm gunna grab a 2nd handy flymo and see how it goes.

after a particulary noisy saturday night after party at my mates batchelor pad we awoke to the dolciet tones of a unmanned and stationary 2 stroke mower at WOT right up against the boundry fence and not far from the bedrooms. Seemed we might have annoyed the neighbor the night before

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Reflex Films said..
I like Push mowers ! So much that I made a video about why they are cool - and its a review too.

If you have a small lawn and are thinking about buying one - then this might help you out.

Nice ad.

I hope Flymo is rewarding you for your fine efforts.

Comparative advertising is a clever strategy but is it ethical ?

It seems to me Flymo won't be making that much at all from this "review".
From what I've read most are waiting for a second hand Flymo.

Actually I now own 3 flymo's all of which were given to me.
Jaime do you want one for free for your front lawn?

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dmitri said..
What a great birthday gift idea !
Especially for someone who's got all the toys...boards/sails/guitars etc....

Yea! my wife will enjoy it............. she keeps asking me to cut the grass! She could do it and no need to worry about starting the mower!

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felixdcat said..

dmitri said..
What a great birthday gift idea !
Especially for someone who's got all the toys...boards/sails/guitars etc....

Yea! my wife will enjoy it............. she keeps asking me to cut the grass! She could do it and no need to worry about starting the mower!

Let us know how that idea works out for you

Not mower related but has anyone had any issues with portugese millipedes eating lawns? The past 24hrs i've completely lost 100sqm out the back and tonight i could see thousands of the ****ers munching away on the remaing 100sqm. The back lawn i'm ok with as i was planning on replacing it next springut if they hit the front velveteen lawns i'll be devo. The mower would get rid of them easily but that wont go down so well at midnight

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MDSXR6T said..
Not mower related but has anyone had any issues with portugese millipedes eating lawns? The past 24hrs i've completely lost 100sqm out the back and tonight i could see thousands of the ****ers munching away on the remaing 100sqm. The back lawn i'm ok with as i was planning on replacing it next springut if they hit the front velveteen lawns i'll be devo. The mower would get rid of them easily but that wont go down so well at midnight

I have millions of these, but they don't appear to be damaging the lawn. I don't see any reference on Google to them damaging lawn. Is it possible that it is something different doing the damage? Supposedly the millipedes eat decaying matter, so maybe they are cleaning up after something else kills the lawn?

Are you able to lift sections of the damaged lawn off the ground, ie. it no longer has roots attaching it to the ground? Possibly you have army grub or lawn beetle.

A good way to help find out what is eating your lawn is to mix up a scoop of laundry washing powder in 20 litres of water, and then dump it it all in in one spot where you suspect the pests are located. Come back 5 minutes later, and any grubs will have come to the surface. In fact everything comes to the surface. It is amazing to see all the critters that are normally lurking just a few centimeters below the ground. Couldn't believe the number of earth worms that came up for air.

So my wife says “Hey i want one, i can do that” …..”Ah sure” i say. Hmm hello gumtree. So i start looking and found one for $25 once used by an old lady, that great old cliche. For $25 if it needs some TLC still a bargain. Well it works a treat and best of all my wife likes it. I like it and my lawn likes it. We all like it. Thanks Reflex Films, Gumtree and old lady.

OK reflex, you've converted some readers to near silent push mowers

Can you pleeeeeeaase now produce a video on push powered leaf blowers?

P.s. and whipper snippers?

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Haircut said..
OK reflex, you've converted some readers to near silent push mowers

Can you pleeeeeeaase now produce a video on push powered leaf blowers?

This is the one. Li-Ion battery, and most importantly it has a variable speed trigger. It just so happens that using only 20% power is almost as effective as full power, so not only does it end up being very quiet, but you also use much less battery than the other models that are 'on' or 'off', so even using it every day it can last a couple of weeks between charges.

www.bunnings.com.au/our-range

Wifey doesn't have to muck around with petrol motor, it's very light, and the neighbours can't hear it.

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Harrow said..

MDSXR6T said..
Not mower related but has anyone had any issues with portugese millipedes eating lawns? The past 24hrs i've completely lost 100sqm out the back and tonight i could see thousands of the ****ers munching away on the remaing 100sqm. The back lawn i'm ok with as i was planning on replacing it next springut if they hit the front velveteen lawns i'll be devo. The mower would get rid of them easily but that wont go down so well at midnight

I have millions of these, but they don't appear to be damaging the lawn. I don't see any reference on Google to them damaging lawn. Is it possible that it is something different doing the damage? Supposedly the millipedes eat decaying matter, so maybe they are cleaning up after something else kills the lawn?

Are you able to lift sections of the damaged lawn off the ground, ie. it no longer has roots attaching it to the ground? Possibly you have army grub or lawn beetle.

A good way to help find out what is eating your lawn is to mix up a scoop of laundry washing powder in 20 litres of water, and then dump it it all in in one spot where you suspect the pests are located. Come back 5 minutes later, and any grubs will have come to the surface. In fact everything comes to the surface. It is amazing to see all the critters that are normally lurking just a few centimeters below the ground. Couldn't believe the number of earth worms that came up for air.

I had a much closer look at one of the thousands currently on my back lawn and they are definitely army worms. The lawn still feels healthy but its like its been mowed short and gone brown.

My shepherd woke up this morning with a fever of 41 and unable to walk due to an incredibly swollen leg. $350 later and a visit to 24hr Emergency Vet Hospital in Wangara (the vet and staff were fantastic and a great option for 24hr vets in the northern suburbs of Perth) but google suggests army worms can be bad news for dogs.

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Harrow said..

Haircut said..
OK reflex, you've converted some readers to near silent push mowers

Can you pleeeeeeaase now produce a video on push powered leaf blowers?

This is the one. Li-Ion battery, and most importantly it has a variable speed trigger. It just so happens that using only 20% power is almost as effective as full power, so not only does it end up being very quiet, but you also use much less battery than the other models that are 'on' or 'off', so even using it every day it can last a couple of weeks between charges.

www.bunnings.com.au/our-range

Wifey doesn't have to muck around with petrol motor, it's very light, and the neighbours can't hear it.

I've got a way better idea than those annoying blowers, it's called a broom!!
Why are we sooo addicted to gadgets?
OK if you are a pro you might think you need one to blow crap around the neighbourhood but for the
average Joe do you really think we need one??