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I was reliably informed that Mountfield petrol mowers were among the best.  I’ve tried two now and managed to break both of them.

The first was the Multichip 50SP, a 150cc self-propelled mulcher mower.  The engine was never really very happy.  It sprayed and burned oil from day one.  I contacted the help line and they said this can be normal.  When the engine eventually gave up and died at the grand old age of about three weeks I took it back to B&Q.

That brings me to another story!  B&Q aren’t exactly the most helpful people in the world.  Not the ideal reception that you want having gone to all the trouble of carting a dirty mower all the way there.  They can’t do an exchange… have to send it back to Mountfield for repair… wait ten days… blah blah blah.  We got a call back within a few days to say that the mower had been written off and we could come in for a new one.  It appears to have had very leaky seals.

We had decided to go for the next model up.  The SP534ES, a 200cc electric start (woo woo!) with grass box and mulcher attachment.  Trouble was, when we got to B&Q that particular mower was not in stock.  We agreed again to wait until they called us and we sat at home watching the grass grow longer.

Eventually we got the call.  We treked back to B&Q and fought for the only model that had been delivered.  Turned out there was a big mix up in the names.  It was reserved in my name and it was my partner who was trying to collect it!

I had no complaints with the engine on this one; it started and ran fine. It was on its second outing that the bits began to drop off.  The plastic bit above the blade (that I now know as the belt guard) fell from it’s mountings.  This meant that it sat atop the blade and caught all the time.  I continued mowing regardless;  well until the damn thing stopped self-propelling.  Turns out the drive belt had fallen off due, no doubt, to the initial problem.  I kicked it around for a while but after a few more minutes and with only half the lawn done, I decided the blasted thing was going back.

I rang Mountfield for a refund code.  They said that was not possible and it would have to come back for repair.  I thanked them for their help and put the phone down.  I rang straight back in the hope I would find someone helpful.  I was in luck.  The next guy gave me the required number and back to B&Q we went.  We got a cash refund (woo hoo again).

So… where do I go from here?  The grass is getting longer and I have no mower.  I have been looking at the Toro in B&Q although I did promise myself that they would no longer enjoy my custom.  B&Q helpfully explained that they use Toro for places as high profile as Wimbledon.  Ha!  If only he knew that our garden is no tennis court.  I need a machine that can cope with the odd bump and gradient.  My Uncle Des tells me that Mountfield are good, but in the end he wouldn’t settle for less than a Hayter.  I’m looking but they seem to be more than twice the price!