On Thu, 31 May 2018 18:23:49 +0100, Martin Brown wrote:

Mine is a Mountfield 18" petrol with 135cc Honda engine.

Briggs & Stratten on my 18" self propelled Mountfield. 20 odd years
old, Steel deck that is corroding but no holes or seriously thin bits
yet.
Replaced the propulsion drive cover, which had cracked and had holes
punched in it from stones (moles and snow blower deposits). Which
makes me wonder if a plastic deck would last long, steel just shrugs
off a stone...

Have a new clutch cable for when the old one that I bodged to make
work last year finally breaks. It had almost snapped and the free
ends of wire where jaming in the cover. trimed them back wrapped in a
thin layer of self amalgamting tape to control them, well greased,
works a charm on the remaining 3 strands. B-)

It has only stalled on me when I tried to cut a flagstone or edging with
it and even then it sometimes cut a piece off.

Ah reminds me caught something imoveable, stalled and bent the crank
shaft at the point it exited the bottom of the engine. New crankshaft
required, the vibration from the imbalance was intolerable.

The 18" is my choice for a moderately large set of lawns with one of
them on a fairly aggressive slope where the self propelled feature is
helpful. On the flat I don't find it all that important. YMMV

Self propelled is essential here, flat doesn't exist and we cut at
the highest setting so there is always a fair bit of grass to push
through.

It only has one speed - sort of slow walking.

Mine had a vari-speed but as I only ever use it flat out when the
throttle cable end broke off I just removed it.

I guess I ought to change the oil some time, I've done it once in 20
years...
--
Cheers
Dave.