chineese/homier finish and brush mower review

Soundguy · Apr 29, 2004

I stopped by one of those tool show/sales today while on the way into town. The had tractors.. which was why I stopped inthe first place... hard to pass a tractor ont he sid eof the road and not stop.

I looked at their 4' rotary cutter.. for 299.00 Looks a little lighter duty than a howse.. worse welds, etc. Sheet metal is about the same. A-fream supports are a little onthe wimpy side, and the 3pt links are not hardened metal.. no biggy.. they are threaded not welded.. so easy to replace.

Stump jumper looked a tad lighter than american.. however blades looked just like an american counterpart. Also.. gear box looked good.. not chinsey.. castings looked much smoother than the tractor castings..

I'm guessing they put a little work in the gear box, and I was figuring it was the weak link.. but actually looks OK. For 299 hard to beat I guess.

SAw the 5' finish mowers. Except for the ugly welds on the wheel spindles.. looks exactly like a kk 'red' finish mower. Again.. gearbox looked fine.. and the main drive pulley that I could see under the shroud looked machined.. not cast... fairly decent... 599 for a 5' finish mower ... makes you look at it twice.

Better than I expected... in fact.. the body/frame doesn't bother me at all... I can weld sheet metal.. etc.. the gearbox was all that concerned me.. and it looked just as good as the ones we see on the light duty domestic models...

I realize metalurgy and innards could be differend.. etc.. but most of the time.. 'quality' shows.. like in the overall appearance of a casting.. like on the tractors.. the casting look rough and more crude... the castings on these gearboxes looked good. Also appeared the same gearbox was used on the 4' rotary and 5' finish mowers.. just different lower hub configurations...

Soundguy

chucko · Apr 29, 2004

Did they have any of the tillers out there? what did you think of them?

Soundguy · Apr 30, 2004

Tillers looke dlight.. not much space on those sides for chain drives... I wouldn't want to tackle clay or rock gardens. Sand or farm/topsoil looks like it would do well in.

Again for the price.. hard to beat for an occasional use.. 'feed plot' tiller.

Soundguy

chucko · Apr 30, 2004

I too was thinking they were a little light based on others but then I thought "how heavy do I need here in fl to till mostly sand"

MMILLER · Apr 30, 2004

Thanks for your review soundguy. I was a little curious about those 5 ft finish mowers. May have to have a serious look next time homier is in area.

tc18ny · May 2, 2004

I bought the 4' rotary cutter last summer for $299. I used it last summer to knock down about 3 acres. My father used it on his 1 1/2 acres. As far as the operation of it, I am happy with it. The finish is definitley not even up to KK. The assembly and assoc instructions are not very good/easy. I have had no problem with the gearbox even after hitting a truck tire. Broke the shear pin just as it should. The welds do not look very good but I haven't broke one yet. I guess for $299 I am happy with it. Although I have never used another rotary cutter.

Soundguy · May 2, 2004

The welds almost look like they were migged with no gas shield, as there are bubbles and lotsa slag in the welds.. course..

Again.. for 299. if it works?

Soundguy