Hi everyone.
First post, long time lurker, lol.
Bit of background if ya want it. Live in the west sub’s of Brisbane. Have been mowing full time for 2 yrs now. Have a Walker MB 48” Side disch. , Honda 216 SP, stihl fs 130, shindy T230, stihl blower, stihl chainsaw, shindy pole saw/hedger. Nissan Patrol 4.2 TD and 8 x 5 galv. dual axle trailer. I like my good stuff.
But, anyway, I am sick of “pushing” the Honda, well, it’s the emptying the grass that buggers me up. I can easily get 2 to 3 cubic meters per shift, 8 to 10 times a week in summer. That’s a lot of catchers to empty. And I could do more jobs if it didn’t kill me. I was very interested in your guys’ comments on the pros and cons of an offsider compared to a good collection mower.
So I have “nearly” convinced the finance manager (wife) of the necessity of going for a Walker GHS.
Could I please get some help choosing which way to go.
I am leaning towards a MC 20 HP , with the 36 “ GHS deck. I hope to get away with just that deck for a while. But would consider a second SD deck for rough or big jobs.
Since I am replacing the MB with this machine it not only needs to collect on normal residential lawns, but be able to cut a couple of really rough places that I mow, one of which is my own place lol.
I quite often cut five foot high heavy thick grass here at home. so my first question is will the 36 “ GHS deck cut heavy grass, or will I spend all day lifting the deck up to clear the sucker? So I would then need another deck for the beastie jobs?
Also , is the MC /MT’s as stable as the MB that I have over rough slopes? ( understood, I wouldn’t be CATCHING in that environment, so the catcher wouldn’t have any weight in it)
and how hard IS IT to change a deck over? I’ve never had my deck off. those springs scare me.
what advantages if any does a MT have over the MC “except raw power”.
of course they COST a heap more too.
Does the bigger MT egines (eg 26 HP ) cut long thich grass better (thru a GHS deck, remember) , or is it a case of the deck just clogging up with it, so the extra power is wasted on the small deck/s ?
do I NEED that power?
also, are the air ride seats worth the $1500 price tag? (“free” on the MT 26 and the MDD, lol)
btw, the first rough prices I have are :
MC 20 HP $17,500
MT 23 HP $20,000
MT 26 HP $ 23,000
MT 31 HP EFI $ 27,000
MDD 20.9 HP DIESEL $30,000 ++
well, thanks for any and all help you guys can give.
this forum absolutely rocks.