GMC mowers

Submitted: Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:24
ThreadID: 31624 Views:6675 Replies:8 FollowUps:11
This Thread has been Archived
Hello all.
Sorry, slightly off topic but would apprerciate any comments from people that may have one of these lawn mowers. Looking at the 3.75h.p for $278 at Bunnings. Seems cheap.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:46

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:46
mowing you camping spot will keep this in line with forum etiquite
AnswerID: 159750

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:53

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:53
ONLY if you run it from your generator with the TV, hair dryer, etc etc etc :))))
0
FollowupID: 414398

Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (QLD) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 20:52

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 20:52
Gee i was wondering if my post about Oversize Loads is in compliance, then the word tourist was used and tourists drive 4x4s

gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 414441

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:18

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:18
check post 31600 to see if it does.....
0
FollowupID: 414450

Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (QLD) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 23:14

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 23:14
Yeh i read that yesterday and I think it's fair enough, as for mine .???? well looks like i'll get the boot for sure..
Was just joking ,I thought it a good idea really because we do meet a lot of 4WDers out on the road and the interest it created shows 4X4ers do show an interest in road safety. Just for wow of it i should mention bull bar bans, ohh would that stir up a hornets nest, Psssst shh .
gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 414472

Reply By: Rod W - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 18:10

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 18:10
If they have a 2 year garantee then go for it
AnswerID: 159755

Reply By: Mike Harding - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 18:51

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 18:51
I think you'll find it's a Briggs and Stratton engine - if so I would buy it.

Mike Harding
AnswerID: 159763

Reply By: Footloose - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 19:04

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 19:04
Do they have any GMC riide on mowers ? :))
AnswerID: 159768

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 13:56

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 13:56
Just need a small 12v crane to get it on/off the roof racks :))))

12v + roof racks (as per MN1 - keeping on topic)
0
FollowupID: 414557

Reply By: bigcol - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 19:50

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 19:50
Sorry but you only get what you pay for.
Yes it has a Briggs engine, but it's a throw away. Anything goes wrong and you have to buy a complete engine and at 3.75 hp couldn't pull a sailor off your sister.
Buy a 196 Honda. It's not a commercial use mower but they are that good the commercial operators use them. 3 times the price, but you won't be buying another mower for 25 years.
I have a 215 Honda self propelled, i am a commercial operator and this mower is now 6 years old and on average mows over 40 lawns per week.
The only thing i ever replace on it are wheels, pullstart ropes and throttle cables and this is just from lot's of use rather than faulty design

Cheers
AnswerID: 159782

Follow Up By: Shaker - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 20:55

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 20:55
But you mow all day every day!
Most people only use their mower only about 20 times a year.
3.75hp is ample for the average home garden, & when did Briggs engines become irrepairable?
0
FollowupID: 414442

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:23

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:23
this reply is to staying within the guidlines of forum etiquete

bigcol...what sort of reel type mower for my couch do you recommend..
the kids like a very smooth surface to play on whilst inside the camper
around 18 inch ?
0
FollowupID: 414451

Follow Up By: bigcol - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 09:23

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 09:23
Scott bonner do a 17inch as do Rover fairly sure they're the same thing.
These are usually around the $1600 $1800 mark.
They're a lot better made than the cheap rotary type so they usually last a lot longer if maintained. These would be fine if your doing a normal house block.
0
FollowupID: 414515

Follow Up By: bigcol - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 09:37

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 09:37
Shaker if your mowing couch in sth east Queensland at the moment with the rainfall that we have of a summer time a 3.75hp engine on any half decent maintained lawn will struggle. 5.0hp isn't enough at times on lawns that are well kept (ei. mowed weekly) through summer. The engine isn't irrepairable but it would cost more than the mower to rebuld it. So it is a throw away. Ask any mower shop that repairs them what they think of the 3.75hp GMC.
Panel beater mate has had a 214 Honda self propelled for 24 years and still going strong. You will go through dozens of these cheap things to one Honda 196D.

Cheers
0
FollowupID: 414518

Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 15:42

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 15:42
The main component in a small engine rebuild is usually labour, sad but true, this really makes most small engine repairs unviable to be done professionally. How do I know? Because I used to have a small engine repair business with a backyard full of stripped down, & quoted on lawn mowers. It's not hard to put in 3 hours for a rebuild, at $50.00 an hour, is $150.00 plus parts, then usually the wheel bearings are stuffed, chassis cracked & etc etc.
Also most 'domestic' mowers are under 4hp, 3.5 & 3.75 being very common. Bynorm market a lot of non-genuine mower parts & accessories, which do help the overall price of a repair.
0
FollowupID: 414570

Reply By: fisho64 - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 02:55

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 02:55
dont think he was looking at muscelling in on your business with it col? Briggs and Stratton were making these engines when Honda were building machines to kill our parents and grandparents in WW2.
AnswerID: 159850

Follow Up By: bigcol - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 09:48

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 09:48
Don't get me wrong Fisho.
Briggs do make some good engines. The new generation of smaller engines with overhead valves are quite good. However if you're prepared to throw near twice the fuel at them for the same job thats fine.
Yes Briggs have been making these engines for years. Thats the problem. Honda has had overhead valves for over 25 years when Briggs have only done this recently.
The Briggs over head valve engines around 15 to 20hp aren't bad things at all when it comes to a price.
But if you want a good engine that size and bigger you can't go past a Kohler.
0
FollowupID: 414521

Reply By: Member - Fred - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 12:35

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 12:35
I looked at one of these - power not enough for jobs proposed BUT look at the noise level on the specification and compare with other makes
AnswerID: 159897

Reply By: blown4by - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 14:37

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 14:37
I wouldn't worry about being slightly off the topic as some of the replies seem "slightly off the planet". I looked at the GMC when my son wanted a cheapie to mow the lawn at his rental in Onslow. I didn't like the fact the blades are not attached to a circular plate but consisted of one long blade attached directly to the engine output shaft making the blade prone to bending. Also the extension housing to the cutting area from the top of the deck seemed pretty flimsy and exposed and I would be worried about the strength of his if the blade hit a rock or something solid such as a surface root. We purchased a Victa from Mitre10 on special at $329.00 and so far so good. If you have a small level lawn area with no solid obstructions the GMC might be allright but I wouldn't use it for "bush bashing". Get the best price you can somewhere else and then do the Bunnings extra 10% discount thing:-)
AnswerID: 159924

Sponsored Links