The Honda four stroke is two heavy the old flymo two stroke was the only one's you could go side to side with and use with one hand because it hovers I had a flymo domestic l400 great but obsolete now it's a shame
I have used the two stroke version of this mower many times. I found that cutting high banks was easier using a rope and walking along the top of the bank lowering and raising the mower as I went along. I am hoping to buy a four stroke version tomorrow. I intend to convert it to run on propane like my other mowers so four stroke is essential as there is no way to add oil to the propane of course. Nice review thank you..
@@RussellPlatten I picked up my new mower yesterday (sunday). Took it the house I am moving into which has not been cared for for a couple of years. Brilliant results. Absolutely chuffed to bits with it.
First time i saw a Flymo was in the middle of the 60's, a relative of mine cut a steep slope by moving the flymover from side to side like a pendulum, it was amazing to see.
not so! had one for many years and hate wheeled mowers now. Stay on the upside of a slope and let it hang down. Not dangerous at all. Where can I get a new Flymo?
Flymos are extremely easy to use. They are way better on wet grass and hilly lawns than lawn mowers with wheels are. Wheeled lawn mowers kind of do feel a bit restricted once you have owned a Flymo.
I agree but when you have a drainage issue that the county won't fix......FLYMOW is the way to go or you will have black muddy lines all in your low lying areas.
Where do I begin, well firstly I should read the instruction book if I were you! I reckon they should supply a booklet on "how to mow with a hover" so the uninitiated could understand the advantages of using a hover mower. When these things came about, they were a contractors mower due to their versatility. We used them to mow the grass over the fuel dumps on the RAF bases, yeah, no less than 45 degrees. The sliding down the slope is because you're not letting the mower work for you - you've already noticed that it cuts in any direction, well stand top of slope and trail the mower sideways along it, simples. I don't know why you spent money on wheels, drop handle, turn on side, (air filter up) and carry by side of handle, like a suitcase. By the by, I have the husky badged one.
in the good old days these were two stroke , and could cut anywhere ,,, as mebtioned above , the dodge was to use half the handle , tied to a rope , stand at the top of a bank , and mow from side to side ,,, best bit ,,, no grass box to empty , and no sweeping up ,,, just mow the path last
yep we had one in the 60s. I would have been 8 and volunteered, was paid 2 bob. it was floating off the ground cut the right height ,the cut grass just went back into the lawn. rope tied to each side of the handle I could get a pendulum effect on the hill. i was designing a ride on one. was forbidden because I might kill myself. killjoys
LMFAO when he nearly flung it over, starting it up, mowing uphill dragging the extra weight of wheel set. I was in tears. Had mine over 15yrs and it looks it por thing. But still starts easy cuts and most importantly floats .. No wheels.
Thanks for the review Russell. I had the 2stoke model Flymo for 20 years - it was light and easy to use. If you kept it serviced it started easily and you could drop it down banks with a rope on the handle. 12 months ago I bought this new model with the Honda engine. My view is that it is a great disappointment. It is very heavy (and in NZ you cannot get the wheels) On slopes I think it is dangerous because trying to go across the slope it is almost impossible to keep it going in straight lines. After about 20 hours of use (whilst it was still under warranty), an inlet or exhaust valve stuck and Husqvarna didn't want to know, they put all the blame on Honda and my dealer had to talk to them. It took 10 weeks to fix then after another 2 hours of use the con rod came through the side of the block and the oil went all over my lawn. They have now fitted an complete new motor, and today will be the first day of use. I wish Flymo had never stopped making the 2 stroke version, it was fantastic. I could never recommend this new version to anyone
+Richard Finlay Yes, the 2 Stroke was lighter and better than the big heavy 4-stroke & wheel kit attached. Its not even 'flying' in this video, its sliding on the ground...the original version you could let the handle go and it would fly & mow randomly around the yard. This one doesn't move unless someone's pushing...
Richard Finlay interesting review, I've also used a two stroke version many times but am concerned a lot of people do say this Honda engine is heavy. Do you still have yours?
I've had an earlier version (two-stroke engine) for 23years and it has been serviced just twice, yet this morning it roared into life and did my flat lawn of about 500sq yards in fifteen minutes. Where I used to live it had a far greater area of rougher grass and terrain to cut, including steep bankings where I tied a rope to the handle to let it down the banking and then pulled it back etc. It's done many miles of hard work and has been totally reliable. No wheels with mine, and it will have to be changed soon because the body is, not surprisingly, developing a significant crack. However it has been a wonderful investment and I looked in to this demo to see about buying another - I will! Thanks for the demo, Russell.
they where made as a greens mower for around ponds they came with snorkels back in the 70's and early 80's mine is a 79 with a tecumseh engine just love that there is no wheel marks left on the lawn
Thanks for your video! Well done! I remember here in the States in the 70's the JC Penney stores carried a "hover mower" but it didn't sell as they hoped. Best of luck!
I remember this mower from the 80's. It was built like a hover craft. The only bad thing is when it bogged down it dropped down and scalped your yard. I think I will stay with my Snapper 42" Yard Cruiser.
I have virtually the same model. But a husqavana model. Great video and back up everything you say. My only tip is keep cleaning the grass away from the bottom of the engine as it needs to suck air in to float. If you keep cutting grass it gets very hard to push when it gets covered. Enjoy
nick coaten Good advice regarding the grass clearance Nick, it certainly does make a difference. My wife was the one to suss this out in our house and she keeps telling me off for not removing it! Thank you for your comment.
Great review Russel, I had a GL47 with the 2 stroke engine for 10 years. It was used on a lightly sloping back yard and and extreme sloping front yard. The trick for the extreme slope (and was as per the instructions) was to stand at the top of the slope above the mower and swing it from side to side. In any case it is unwise to stand below it and push it up hill. Electrolux stopped selling the petrol Flymo in OZ and I was greatly disappointed not to be able to replace my Flymo with another.
Cheers Dean, give my regards to the guys! Tell jim that GT5 is still going strong and was put to good use over Christmas during the power cuts! PPE - Aye, you've got me there. Must do better! Thanks for watching.
i would say hardly the finest mower out there and difficult to control but does do a nice job when you come to be familiar with it, seeing you cut on that slope was hilarious!
is the mower fixed speed ?I noticed that it has a choke and throttle cable but if it hovers it must be a fixed speed , does the control lever on the left hand side do anything ?
Does it really hover?? I used to own the 2 stoke version and it was a beast. Saw this had come out and wondered or it was good enough to a bee apiary? Is it any good on ruff ground?
It does hover Christopher and I much prefer it to the self propelled mower I had before it. It is great on rough ground, I posted another video showing it in action if you are interested. It is still hard work, but the mower is so much easier to manoeuvre than wheeled mowers. We use it regularly. :-)
i never even knew such a thing existed. I am so frustrated with the lawn mowers I've purchased over the last 3 yrs. They all break after a few months it seems. Anyone have a suggestions for a Self propelled mower under $400 that will last 3-4 yrs perhaps. Thanks
"Wolf Garden" Red and yellow they seliger for Sure :-) Mine gasoline one is 1992 and still running ...prepare for a price Shock or buy a Honda mower, the do complete units not Engine only
A lot of the time it has to do with the ethanol in the fuel that comes out of the pump now days. If possible buy 100% gasoline for your small engines. Its usually labeled Marine fuel at the gas station.
Yes. it is much easier on the flat. I prefer it on the slopes to the self propelled mower I had before it, but it has to be used vertically up and down. My wife finds it way too heavy for normal use and she is not one to complain. Personally I think it is a good mower.
Yes, great Concept. I use Flymo since the eighties (know it since the seventies when my father bought it's first one) and wouldn't use another one. For the slopes, it's just a question of practice: once aquired, you'll find it more easy then a mower with weels. If you want to go horizontal, don't follow the mower but walk higher then it , with the handle at about 90 degrees of the direction you walk (sorry if my english is not perfect, hope you understand). I'm from belgium, and don't find Petrol Hover Flymo more, even no 47cm electric ones... No more than 40 cm. Is it possible to find it in England?
MarcMac04 I answer to myself: it seems that, if we want a petrol Flymo in Belgium, we must bought a Husqvarna GX 560, witch is a Flymo with the badge or Husqvarna, from the same commercial group. I'm happy having finding that, because I prefer this option vs the one witch consists of buying a similar model from another manufacturer (yes it exists) because I prefer buying the original vs the copy :)
Your English is very good Marc! I have found it easier the more I use it. I tried tying a rope onto the handle for the steep bits, but this leads to other problems and I made the decision that mowing them the way I showed in the video was best for me.
I had a look at the Husqvarna GX 560 and it certainly looks like the same machine. I did a bit more digging around and Husqvarna own Flymo. so it probably is exactly the same mower! You learn something every day! Thank you for your comments Marc.
I remember in the late 70's my dad had a Flymo and when he start cutting the grass the neighbors would swarm around. Problem with the Flymo was that it would cut the grass too short and my dad quit cutting the grass with it and just use it for blowing the grass off the sidewalk and driveway.
It seems obvious that as the mower "floats" on an air cushion, any attempt to push it across a slope will result in it falling down the slope due to gravity, just swing the mower from the highest point of the bank, on a rope if the bank is long/high. The 4 stroke version does look very heavy compared to the 2 stroke version ! I might have to think about this one.
I agree, it is obvious that it will float downwards, but after handling an electric machine which is easy to traverse slopes with, this is a bit of a shock. it is because of the weight. There is way more leverage on the handle and it takes a lot of strength to hold it level.
I am a lady gardener, and I manage it. The two stroke would be lighter and better for real steep slopes [where the fuel might cut out] but I find the 4 stroke with wheels does for me as a jobbing gardener, I have a 4 wheeler as well.
Once you've got a lawn in order frequent use with a flymo yeids great results with virtually no clumping of cuttings. Best done on very dry grass if possible.
how much do they cost? american? what if it flips over does it shut off if flipped while running? is this supposed to be a self propelled mower without the transmission? can you mow tall grass with it?
Brian Lee Hello Brian. I could not find the Flymo for sale in the USA, however Husqvarna own Flymo and they sell the GX 560 in the States. I found one listed at $849 www.husqvarna.com/au/products/lawn-mowers/husqvarna-lawn-mowers-for-homeowners/ The mower will not flip over. It floats on a cushion of air and is in fact a minature hovercraft. As soon as it is spinning, air is pushed down through the top of the orange case via a fan on engine, this is forced out from under the casing and effectively lifts it off the ground slightly. The mower then floats on this air cushion and is very easy to push around. The air flow is nowhere near enough to allow the mower to lift any higher off the ground and the mower is too heavy to flip over. There is no auto cut off. You can see the mower dealing with longer stuff here ruclips.net/video/XyTOBEDAkFM/видео.html I reckon you need the wheels to deal with this sort of a problem though Brian, because the hover function will not lift it enough to get over the longer stuff. You can see how I have to pivot it over using the wheel set. So because it floats a few millimeters off the ground it is not self propelled, but it is remarkably easy to use. I hope this helps.
yes you helped alot, if anybody knows how i can order one in the U.S ,please tell me, i looked at the website and it will not give me a dealer in my country, would it cost alot to have it shipped to U.S from your country? I want to thank you for making this video and sharing this you do a great job showing the operation of this mower.
I owned a later model that used a lighter more powerful 2 stroke motor, and even then there were issues with not enough lift, and side slip on inclines. Honestly the device would have a hope if they could find a way to shed 15 pounds.
It's made to do just that, slip side to side. Golf courses still use a version of this for cutting extreme banks. You can hold in one hand and swing side to side almost as a sling blade.
Thanks for your comment. I thought long and hard about where to stand on the slope and tried it both ways on another section of the garden with a steeper incline; I came to the conclusion that it is harder to fall uphill that it is down. I reckon I need to do what Georgey1012 said and tie a rope to it. I hope you manage to find another petrol hover mower down under! All the very best, Russell.
I don't understand how it can forcefully blow the grass down hard enough to levitate but still effectively cut it at the same time. Mulchers pull the grass up straight for the clean cut. I never would have thought this would work. Thanks for boggling my mind.
Liked it yes thank you. I'm not in the market for a mower that size, though I can see the advantage of petrol rather than electric straight away. Again thank you for your time and effort all the best.
Excellent review Sir. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Thank you so much for going to the effort of making this vid and sharing it😎👍🏻 Do you find that you get any lumbar discomfort from extended use of your petrol flymo? I'm considering one, but have a prolapsed disc in my lumbar spine, so conventional mowing is very painful very quickly, owing to the inherent loading of the lower back, especially when tall, like myself.
I have a slipped disc and find it easier than a self propelled mower as I use mine for rougher ground. I do not use it for prolonged lengths of time though, so I cannot say whether it would cause issues if I used it for longer periods. The good thing about this mower is that it goes wherever you push it and you are not constantly fighting the wheels to turn it. :-)
Good review. I'm no expert but I think you should have faced the drive when mowing down the hill and used the mower in a side to side motion in order to stop it hovering off the edge
Thomas Andersen There is a fan connected to the shaft above the blade and housing. The fan pushes air through the orange casing and blows it down to the ground. This turns the mower into a mini hovercraft and it literally floats on a cushion of air. It is very easy to move when it is running and wheels are not required.
Thomas Andersen It is mass produced because sensible people could see a need for it, and bought them by the thousand, it is still a very useful machine for many garden requirements where access is a problem, and it does not leave wheel marks on your lawn, try one!
hey were are you from ? me from Oregon and i would recommend you get a commercial Honda mower model HRC 216 if they have them i work in landscaping for a living cut at a number 5 and your lawn will look great maintenance is easy and prise is $1,350.00 dollars
Hi Alonso, unfortunately I live in the UK. I have a Saxon Baroness lawnmower for the main part of the garden. Roughly how long is a number 5? Thank you for your comment.
These are amazing, always started well, built like a tank. Big engine chomps through anything. Didn’t bother with the carriage thingy waste of time, just carry it around (engine OFF obviously).
Well I finally bought a brand new one of these, same as yours, last month. I'm incredibly disappointed with it - worst mower I've ever had. I bought it for a reasonable sized, flat, garden, similar to the one at the start of your vid. The reason for my disappointment is not that it's heavy or difficult to manoeuvre (I was expecting that) but it sprays grass EVERYWHERE. All over your legs, flowerbeds, foot paths, everywhere. Twenty minutes or so to cut the grass and another ten to clear up the mess. I also have a husqvarna wb53 mulching mower which is an outstanding piece of kit and mulches the grass so beautifully you can hardly even see the clippings. This was an itch that I had to scratch, but I wish I hadn't bothered.
I am sorry that you are disappointed with yours. We were using ours today and still love it. We are not worried about clippings, the areas we cut tend to be rough anyway and for that it is perfect.
good review i am using a 20v Dewalt electric trimmer and blower , just switched from gas 2 stroke trimmer lawnmowers is Lawnboy 22271 brand also have a older 2 stroke 10601 lawnboy very lite
Anyone using a flymo....or any mower come to that Please wear steel toe capped boots especially if gradients are involved. The is a condition called 'Flymo Foot' at uk A&Es .
mrannen1958 There are spacers between the mower cover and the blade. The mower is set at it's lowest cut. To raise the cut, you have to remove the blade. Remove a spacer or both if required and replace the blade. This is quite easy to do in reality.
LOL. I had self propelled mowers before this and this mower is much better than those. It is so easy to handle whilst mowing. Not having wheels to transport it is a pain though and that is why I bought the wheel set. The wheel set made mowing even easier as you can pivot the Flymo on them for brush cutting. :-)
This is the strangest mower I have ever seen. I have never heard of a mower without four wheels. You must have a different type of grass in the UK than we do in America. If my landscaper used something like this my grass would be totally scalped and would never recover. I would have to have them replace it. Very interesting to see, though.
Hello Blanca, hover mowers are fairly common here in the UK. They are usually electric and much lighter. Petrol hover mowers are pretty rare. Hover mowers are a real pleasure to use on level surfaces as they float on a cushion of air and are very easy to handle.
MarcMac04 I found a pretty old video witch presents the first flymo in the year 1967 ;) www.ina.fr/video/AFE04002111/tondeuses-a-gazon-flymo-video.html English version begins at 9min 32 sec
They was a big thing here in the US in the 70s and 80s. I bought mine in 1978 it has a 2 stroke engine, it's light and easy to use you can go any direction with it. I still have it and use it to trim with once in awhile but I have just over three acres of land and it is easier to us the string trimmer to do the trimming.
It will NOT scalp your lawn. I'm in the US (Texas) and used one for years. The entire deck floats over the turf...no way it can scalp. I even used it over water on a golf course pond to cut down some reeds and lilies that were not wanted.
I think the lack of oil and tools is their way of hinting that you shouldn't buy it unless you're mechanically inclined. There's nothing companies hate more than mechanically incompetent people buying their product and then giving them bad reviews when they mess something up. At least with this mower, stupid people will either run it out of oil or just send it back when they can't figure out how to put it together - 2 things that won't make the company look bad.
I had a friend once who's mom bought a new mower and didn't put any oil in it and the engine seized. I don't she was the complaining type but, if she were, I could see her giving the company a bad review. A big problem with lots of people is that they don't admit their own mistakes with products and instead lie about the causes of engine problems. I'm sure mechanics deal with it all the time when someone comes in with a thrown rod and claims that the engine just started making a knocking sound the day before.
I should mention I am here because I was watching Bizarre ER on TV and an English bloke cut his fingers off while using his new hover mower............. I was like WHAT THE FUCK IS A HOVER MOWER AND WHY WOULD YOU TEST IT WITH YOUR FINGERS.................. so searched for hover mower to see what all the fuss was about
+c3h8O I don't know what you're doing but I've never found a hill steep enough to flip a push mower that I would actually be able to mow with this bad invention.... Hills that would flip a riding mower for sure... but a push mower?
Some people use a long cord as for a kite, standing securely on the upper side of the slope and it works fine, as it can move laterally without problems
+Ben & With LOL, you guys never saw what it was like with my self propelled mower! It used to get stuck halfway up the bank and the wheels were useless most of the time! I love this mower!
It has a fan action that blows air down into the blade housing through vents at the top. The mower then floats on a cushion of air just like a hovercraft. These mowers are brilliant, very light when the engine is running, but heavy when it is not so transporting it to and from the work area is a little difficult. Fitting wheels gives you the best of both worlds. :-)
This guy is a total amateur, he doesn't know how to start it properly, you have to put your leg on the marked spot, he turns it over on the WRONG side and when you're moving it it has to run, if it doesn't it will scrape of course.. read the manual for gods sake
I don't see any reason or benefit to this. A regular mower with 4 wheels is cheaper, lighter, easier to use etc etc etc.... I guess for sloped lawns it will give a more uniform cut height, BUT for all that effort manhandling the monster around it just doesn't seem worth it. 94 POUNDS for two wheels that don't even really achieve much???? WOW even in Australia where everything costs at least double the rest of the world you can buy a complete lawn mower for $150, it won't be powered by Honda sure, gotta spend $400ish+ to get a Honda engine. But ultimately my Victa is about 20 years old and still starts first pull every time, blows a little smoke, uses a little oil, but it works.
+tapper88 The hover mower is much easier to use than a wheeled mower and requires much less effort. I have used both many times over the years and prefer the hover. If you ever get the chance, give one a try! Thank you for your comments.
+Russell Platten Pass, there is no way it is easier to use, also not having a catcher makes it absolutely useless to me. All it will do is make a mess. The only benefit I can see is the uniform cut height on slopes.......... but it appears to be a nightmare trying to manhandle the thing on a slope anyway, I was genuinely concerned for your safety when you tried to mow along the slope and ended up on the road.
Their are ways to handle the hover mower on slopes that makes it easy. With some experience I can say you may enjoy it. I plan to make some didactic videos, but I just have to find the time to do it... I Uses Flymo hover mowers since a long time (petrol and electric), and i can say i wouldn't change. I enjoy it particularly when there are obstacles and curves in the garden
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
I had one for years. The coolest is to mow side to side like a floor polisher. Freaks people out.
swiftjustice44 Yes, they are fun to use!!
That's something I'd probably do lol
The Honda four stroke is two heavy the old flymo two stroke was the only one's you could go side to side with and use with one hand because it hovers I had a flymo domestic l400 great but obsolete now it's a shame
I have used the two stroke version of this mower many times. I found that cutting high banks was easier using a rope and walking along the top of the bank lowering and raising the mower as I went along. I am hoping to buy a four stroke version tomorrow. I intend to convert it to run on propane like my other mowers so four stroke is essential as there is no way to add oil to the propane of course. Nice review thank you..
You can't beat a four stroke! :-)
@@RussellPlatten I picked up my new mower yesterday (sunday). Took it the house I am moving into which has not been cared for for a couple of years. Brilliant results. Absolutely chuffed to bits with it.
Yes, it is a good mower! :-)
First time i saw a Flymo was in the middle of the 60's, a relative of mine cut a steep slope by moving the flymover from side to side like a pendulum, it was amazing to see.
So it has 2 height settings? Scalp your lawn and scalp it a little less?
+Jacob Sorensen The grass starts off long and ends up short, perfect result!
Yep, dumbass mower. No one that cares about their lawn is going to use this contraption.
@@frankmc5112 I guess every gulf course doesn't care about the grass
@@joshharris9093 Post a link to a single golf course that uses one of these.
@@eriklarson9137 The Conservatory Course im Palm Coast Florida uses on because I just watch the last week while there using it
Here in the states we put wheels on each corner, it seems to make it easier to use. Cheers.
It just seems to, but at the use, you could see that this is more practical with an air cushion ;)
not so! had one for many years and hate wheeled mowers now. Stay on the upside of a slope and let it hang down.
Not dangerous at all. Where can I get a new Flymo?
Flymos are extremely easy to use. They are way better on wet grass and hilly lawns than lawn mowers with wheels are. Wheeled lawn mowers kind of do feel a bit restricted once you have owned a Flymo.
I agree but when you have a drainage issue that the county won't fix......FLYMOW is the way to go or you will have black muddy lines all in your low lying areas.
@@photographylover1238 from my experience you have to man handle flymos which makes cutting the grass a choir.
A lawn service I worked for had one of these for banked terrain; best results when you stand at the highest point and mow down.
Until you slip on wet grass. Dangerous!
Where do I begin, well firstly I should read the instruction book if I were you! I reckon they should supply a booklet on "how to mow with a hover" so the uninitiated could understand the advantages of using a hover mower. When these things came about, they were a contractors mower due to their versatility. We used them to mow the grass over the fuel dumps on the RAF bases, yeah, no less than 45 degrees. The sliding down the slope is because you're not letting the mower work for you - you've already noticed that it cuts in any direction, well stand top of slope and trail the mower sideways along it, simples. I don't know why you spent money on wheels, drop handle, turn on side, (air filter up) and carry by side of handle, like a suitcase. By the by, I have the husky badged one.
holzwolf seems to me after watching other videos, he needs to flip the handle over so the "bill" on the deck is forward not bsckward.
Thanks for this buddy 👍 Do you find it mulches the Grass well?
in the good old days these were two stroke , and could cut anywhere ,,, as mebtioned above , the dodge was to use half the handle , tied to a rope , stand at the top of a bank , and mow from side to side ,,, best bit ,,, no grass box to empty , and no sweeping up ,,, just mow the path last
yep we had one in the 60s. I would have been 8 and volunteered, was paid 2 bob. it was floating off the ground cut the right height ,the cut grass just went back into the lawn. rope tied to each side of the handle I could get a pendulum effect on the hill. i was designing a ride on one. was forbidden because I might kill myself. killjoys
LMFAO when he nearly flung it over, starting it up, mowing uphill dragging the extra weight of wheel set.
I was in tears.
Had mine over 15yrs and it looks it por thing. But still starts easy cuts and most importantly floats .. No wheels.
Thanks for the review Russell. I had the 2stoke model Flymo for 20 years - it was light and easy to use. If you kept it serviced it started easily and you could drop it down banks with a rope on the handle.
12 months ago I bought this new model with the Honda engine. My view is that it is a great disappointment. It is very heavy (and in NZ you cannot get the wheels) On slopes I think it is dangerous because trying to go across the slope it is almost impossible to keep it going in straight lines.
After about 20 hours of use (whilst it was still under warranty), an inlet or exhaust valve stuck and Husqvarna didn't want to know, they put all the blame on Honda and my dealer had to talk to them. It took 10 weeks to fix then after another 2 hours of use the con rod came through the side of the block and the oil went all over my lawn.
They have now fitted an complete new motor, and today will be the first day of use.
I wish Flymo had never stopped making the 2 stroke version, it was fantastic.
I could never recommend this new version to anyone
+Richard Finlay Yes, the 2 Stroke was lighter and better than the big heavy 4-stroke & wheel kit attached. Its not even 'flying' in this video, its sliding on the ground...the original version you could let the handle go and it would fly & mow randomly around the yard. This one doesn't move unless someone's pushing...
Richard Finlay interesting review, I've also used a two stroke version many times but am concerned a lot of people do say this Honda engine is heavy. Do you still have yours?
Still got my 2stroke , still going strong, love it.
You are correct, it does say which way it should be tilted for servicing the blade, however you tilted it the wrong way!
+Graham Blake Thanks Graham, I know. Someone else also pointed out my school boy error!
...... and did you end up with oil all over your air filter like I did ?
I've had an earlier version (two-stroke engine) for 23years and it has been serviced just twice, yet this morning it roared into life and did my flat lawn of about 500sq yards in fifteen minutes. Where I used to live it had a far greater area of rougher grass and terrain to cut, including steep bankings where I tied a rope to the handle to let it down the banking and then pulled it back etc. It's done many miles of hard work and has been totally reliable. No wheels with mine, and it will have to be changed soon because the body is, not surprisingly, developing a significant crack. However it has been a wonderful investment and I looked in to this demo to see about buying another - I will!
Thanks for the demo, Russell.
Thank you for your comment David. I am still very happy with my Flymo!
they where made as a greens mower for around ponds they came with snorkels back in the 70's and early 80's mine is a 79 with a tecumseh engine just love that there is no wheel marks left on the lawn
Thank you for this informative video. I will avoid the Flymo like the plague.
Thanks for your video! Well done! I remember here in the States in the 70's the JC Penney stores carried a "hover mower" but it didn't sell as they hoped. Best of luck!
I remember this mower from the 80's. It was built like a hover craft.
The only bad thing is when it bogged down it dropped down and scalped
your yard.
I think I will stay with my Snapper 42" Yard Cruiser.
I have virtually the same model. But a husqavana model. Great video and back up everything you say. My only tip is keep cleaning the grass away from the bottom of the engine as it needs to suck air in to float. If you keep cutting grass it gets very hard to push when it gets covered. Enjoy
nick coaten Good advice regarding the grass clearance Nick, it certainly does make a difference. My wife was the one to suss this out in our house and she keeps telling me off for not removing it! Thank you for your comment.
Great review Russel, I had a GL47 with the 2 stroke engine for 10 years. It was used on a lightly sloping back yard and and extreme sloping front yard. The trick for the extreme slope (and was as per the instructions) was to stand at the top of the slope above the mower and swing it from side to side. In any case it is unwise to stand below it and push it up hill. Electrolux stopped selling the petrol Flymo in OZ and I was greatly disappointed not to be able to replace my Flymo with another.
isnt that just a torx heaD? very common
+MaYbYl8eR Yes I think it is a Torx head, but most people will not have a suitable driver in the garage.
They might not be quite as common across the big pond, here in the states they are very, very common.
It's the little pond. The Pacific is considered the big pond.
Hi Russ,from all your buddies in the Forties field including Jimmy Faulds.What about the PPE?
Cheers Dean, give my regards to the guys! Tell jim that GT5 is still going strong and was put to good use over Christmas during the power cuts! PPE - Aye, you've got me there. Must do better! Thanks for watching.
How was cleaning the oil out of your air filter after you flipped it on the wrong side?
Luckily I never had an issue. :-)
i would say hardly the finest mower out there and difficult to control but does do a nice job when you come to be familiar with it, seeing you cut on that slope was hilarious!
:-)
is the mower fixed speed ?I noticed that it has a choke and throttle cable but if it hovers it must be a fixed speed , does the control lever on the left hand side do anything ?
it cuts the engine and it operates the choke, as any throttle control
Does it really hover?? I used to own the 2 stoke version and it was a beast. Saw this had come out and wondered or it was good enough to a bee apiary? Is it any good on ruff ground?
It does hover Christopher and I much prefer it to the self propelled mower I had before it. It is great on rough ground, I posted another video showing it in action if you are interested. It is still hard work, but the mower is so much easier to manoeuvre than wheeled mowers. We use it regularly. :-)
i never even knew such a thing existed. I am so frustrated with the lawn mowers I've purchased over the last 3 yrs. They all break after a few months it seems. Anyone have a suggestions for a Self propelled mower under $400 that will last 3-4 yrs perhaps. Thanks
"Wolf Garden" Red and yellow they seliger for Sure :-) Mine gasoline one is 1992 and still running ...prepare for a price Shock or buy a Honda mower, the do complete units not Engine only
Read Stephen King's 'The Lawnmower Man' short story before wishing you had a self propelled one !
Just get one with a Honda motor. that is the key.
A lot of the time it has to do with the ethanol in the fuel that comes out of the pump now days. If possible buy 100% gasoline for your small engines. Its usually labeled Marine fuel at the gas station.
Check & change oil level, air flow filter, and spark plug regularly, and use decent quality fuel. Should last years.
Do they still make these? I remember seeing the commercials in the early 80s and thinking how cool they are if they actually worked.
They still make them. :-)
It looks like a great concept. The flatter the lawn the better i would imagine.
Yes. it is much easier on the flat. I prefer it on the slopes to the self propelled mower I had before it, but it has to be used vertically up and down. My wife finds it way too heavy for normal use and she is not one to complain. Personally I think it is a good mower.
Yes, great Concept. I use Flymo since the eighties (know it since the seventies when my father bought it's first one) and wouldn't use another one.
For the slopes, it's just a question of practice: once aquired, you'll find it more easy then a mower with weels. If you want to go horizontal, don't follow the mower but walk higher then it , with the handle at about 90 degrees of the direction you walk (sorry if my english is not perfect, hope you understand).
I'm from belgium, and don't find Petrol Hover Flymo more, even no 47cm electric ones... No more than 40 cm. Is it possible to find it in England?
MarcMac04 I answer to myself: it seems that, if we want a petrol Flymo in Belgium, we must bought a Husqvarna GX 560, witch is a Flymo with the badge or Husqvarna, from the same commercial group.
I'm happy having finding that, because I prefer this option vs the one witch consists of buying a similar model from another manufacturer (yes it exists) because I prefer buying the original vs the copy :)
Your English is very good Marc! I have found it easier the more I use it. I tried tying a rope onto the handle for the steep bits, but this leads to other problems and I made the decision that mowing them the way I showed in the video was best for me.
I had a look at the Husqvarna GX 560 and it certainly looks like the same machine. I did a bit more digging around and Husqvarna own Flymo. so it probably is exactly the same mower! You learn something every day! Thank you for your comments Marc.
I’m too attached to my 1987 John Deere 14PB and wheels, looks like it gives the lawn a crew cut. How do you control cutting height?
There are spacers above the blade. I have it set to cut the grass as short as possible. :-)
There are spacers above the blade. I have it set to cut the grass as short as possible. :-)
What sprinklers?
great vid mate better than anything i have seen on here what did you pay for the mower ? i have seen one for £375. New
Thank you for your kind comment. I paid about £400 for it if I remember rightly.
I was considering one but after watching this no, thank you for the demonstration.
LOL, I wouldn't be without mine. It's a brilliant bit of kit! :-)
for you, thank you
I remember in the late 70's my dad had a Flymo and when he start cutting the grass the neighbors would swarm around. Problem with the Flymo was that it would cut the grass too short and my dad quit cutting the grass with it and just use it for blowing the grass off the sidewalk and driveway.
They were very popular in the '60s and '70s :-)
Love mine. Greatest thing for hill sides because of its ability to mow side to side.
Agreed. :-)
how to you move it when its in storage ?
ok i saw the wheel later in the video
This man does not seem to know about the instructions for stopping and starting a hover mower
It seems obvious that as the mower "floats" on an air cushion, any attempt to push it across a slope will result in it falling down the slope due to gravity, just swing the mower from the highest point of the bank, on a rope if the bank is long/high. The 4 stroke version does look very heavy compared to the 2 stroke version ! I might have to think about this one.
I agree, it is obvious that it will float downwards, but after handling an electric machine which is easy to traverse slopes with, this is a bit of a shock. it is because of the weight. There is way more leverage on the handle and it takes a lot of strength to hold it level.
I am a lady gardener, and I manage it.
The two stroke would be lighter and better for real steep slopes [where the fuel might cut out] but I find the 4 stroke with wheels does for me as a jobbing gardener, I have a 4 wheeler as well.
+Jo Allan I get all my mowers from mowersonline
+Jo Allan and I recommend reading the manual
Once you've got a lawn in order frequent use with a flymo yeids great results with virtually no clumping of cuttings. Best done on very dry grass if possible.
:-)
Oddly enough allen wrenches will fit star bits, unless they are anti theft. This is the first time I've heard of this and its really cool.
how much do they cost? american? what if it flips over does it shut off if flipped while running?
is this supposed to be a self propelled mower without the transmission? can you mow tall grass with it?
Brian Lee Hello Brian. I could not find the Flymo for sale in the USA, however Husqvarna own Flymo and they sell the GX 560 in the States. I found one listed at $849
www.husqvarna.com/au/products/lawn-mowers/husqvarna-lawn-mowers-for-homeowners/
The mower will not flip over. It floats on a cushion of air and is in fact a minature hovercraft. As soon as it is spinning, air is pushed down through the top of the orange case via a fan on engine, this is forced out from under the casing and effectively lifts it off the ground slightly. The mower then floats on this air cushion and is very easy to push around. The air flow is nowhere near enough to allow the mower to lift any higher off the ground and the mower is too heavy to flip over. There is no auto cut off.
You can see the mower dealing with longer stuff here
ruclips.net/video/XyTOBEDAkFM/видео.html
I reckon you need the wheels to deal with this sort of a problem though Brian, because the hover function will not lift it enough to get over the longer stuff. You can see how I have to pivot it over using the wheel set.
So because it floats a few millimeters off the ground it is not self propelled, but it is remarkably easy to use.
I hope this helps.
yes you helped alot, if anybody knows how i can order one in the U.S ,please tell me, i looked at the website and it will not give me a dealer in my country, would it cost alot to have it shipped to U.S from your country?
I want to thank you for making this video and sharing this you do a great job showing the operation of this mower.
You mow inside your house?
And outside!
And for the average "home owner" their was the Ho-mow mower it came in rainbow colors !
I wish I could get the time I spent watching this video back
+Ddum Eoj Too late!
+Russell Platten oh shii chill bro
On a longer, steep slope I always attached a rope with two half hitches and used it like a pendulum.
Good idea. :-)
I owned a later model that used a lighter more powerful 2 stroke motor, and even then there were issues with not enough lift, and side slip on inclines. Honestly the device would have a hope if they could find a way to shed 15 pounds.
I agree, if it was lighter it would improve the mower immensely.
It's made to do just that, slip side to side. Golf courses still use a version of this for cutting extreme banks. You can hold in one hand and swing side to side almost as a sling blade.
A remedy to a non-existent problem. I'll take that Texas-style---------------------------------EL PASO!
It took a minute for me to understand this ! No rolling resistance !
Yes it floats on air!
Thanks for your comment. I thought long and hard about where to stand on the slope and tried it both ways on another section of the garden with a steeper incline; I came to the conclusion that it is harder to fall uphill that it is down. I reckon I need to do what Georgey1012 said and tie a rope to it. I hope you manage to find another petrol hover mower down under! All the very best, Russell.
Russell Platten you Twit looks like you’ve never handled a mower in you’re life
I don't understand how it can forcefully blow the grass down hard enough to levitate but still effectively cut it at the same time. Mulchers pull the grass up straight for the clean cut. I never would have thought this would work. Thanks for boggling my mind.
Liked it yes thank you. I'm not in the market for a mower that size, though I can see the advantage of petrol rather than electric straight away. Again thank you for your time and effort all the best.
:-)
Good one on complaining about the unusual safety scrow, you almost baited me into a rant.
:-)
Excellent review Sir. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you so much for going to the effort of making this vid and sharing it😎👍🏻
Do you find that you get any lumbar discomfort from extended use of your petrol flymo?
I'm considering one, but have a prolapsed disc in my lumbar spine, so conventional mowing is very painful very quickly, owing to the inherent loading of the lower back, especially when tall, like myself.
I have a slipped disc and find it easier than a self propelled mower as I use mine for rougher ground. I do not use it for prolonged lengths of time though, so I cannot say whether it would cause issues if I used it for longer periods. The good thing about this mower is that it goes wherever you push it and you are not constantly fighting the wheels to turn it. :-)
Good review. I'm no expert but I think you should have faced the drive when mowing down the hill and used the mower in a side to side motion in order to stop it hovering off the edge
It is difficult either way. Size to side operation is difficult whilst standing on a slope. :-)
Work up to down and laterally In stead of sideways on..they hover over hard surfaces..
Never seen a Flymo before!
Thomas Andersen They have been around in the UK since the 60's.
Looks like it would cut a putting green nicely. How strange that it dont come with the wheels!
Thomas Andersen There is a fan connected to the shaft above the blade and housing. The fan pushes air through the orange casing and blows it down to the ground. This turns the mower into a mini hovercraft and it literally floats on a cushion of air. It is very easy to move when it is running and wheels are not required.
Its amazing that such a strange design was mass produced
Thomas Andersen It is mass produced because sensible people could see a need for it, and bought them by the thousand, it is still a very useful machine for many garden requirements where access is a problem, and it does not leave wheel marks on your lawn, try one!
Aww nice finally 😮 petrol flymo thankyou for sharing 👍🏼 handals great on the hill side & slopes 👍🏼
:-)
In the US
we call that a star head bolt!
hey were are you from ? me from Oregon and i would recommend you get a commercial Honda mower model HRC 216 if they have them i work in landscaping for a living cut at a number 5 and your lawn will look great maintenance is easy and prise is $1,350.00 dollars
Hi Alonso, unfortunately I live in the UK. I have a Saxon Baroness lawnmower for the main part of the garden. Roughly how long is a number 5? Thank you for your comment.
ohh the UK never heard of that brand over here US number 5 is about 3-4 inch sorry for responding late I hardly check my personal email
These are amazing, always started well, built like a tank. Big engine chomps through anything. Didn’t bother with the carriage thingy waste of time, just carry it around (engine OFF obviously).
:-)
great video but you did tip the mower on the wrong side ,it should not be tipped onto the air filter side, should be the oil filler down
A King Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Looks like some T30-ish torx bits there.
Yes, they probably are Torx screws.
I know it's a Torx, I was just saying what size it looks like.
Well I finally bought a brand new one of these, same as yours, last month. I'm incredibly disappointed with it - worst mower I've ever had. I bought it for a reasonable sized, flat, garden, similar to the one at the start of your vid. The reason for my disappointment is not that it's heavy or difficult to manoeuvre (I was expecting that) but it sprays grass EVERYWHERE. All over your legs, flowerbeds, foot paths, everywhere. Twenty minutes or so to cut the grass and another ten to clear up the mess. I also have a husqvarna wb53 mulching mower which is an outstanding piece of kit and mulches the grass so beautifully you can hardly even see the clippings. This was an itch that I had to scratch, but I wish I hadn't bothered.
I am sorry that you are disappointed with yours. We were using ours today and still love it. We are not worried about clippings, the areas we cut tend to be rough anyway and for that it is perfect.
Nothing like doing yard work in business casual!
I think Europe is less casual.
good review
i am using a 20v Dewalt electric trimmer and blower , just switched from gas 2 stroke trimmer
lawnmowers is Lawnboy 22271 brand
also have a older 2 stroke 10601 lawnboy very lite
never seen those add on wheels before,well not in the UK anyways its a lil beast that haha,their meant to be the best for sloped grass verges
Anyone using a flymo....or any mower come to that Please wear steel toe capped boots especially if gradients are involved. The is a condition called 'Flymo Foot' at uk A&Es .
Good advice! :-)
If you want to scalp the lawn every time you mow, this is the way to go.
I'm in love with this lad's sexy Scottish accent ❤️❤️❤️
Yorkshire accent. :-)
I'd be afraid my foot would slip under it ....but it's a unique design!!
knighthawk86855 When you use it, it is suprisingly easy! It really does float over the ground. I have never had any fear of mowing my feet:-)
lt looks like it cut too low and there is no adjustment
mrannen1958 There are spacers between the mower cover and the blade. The mower is set at it's lowest cut. To raise the cut, you have to remove the blade. Remove a spacer or both if required and replace the blade. This is quite easy to do in reality.
Now all you need is two more wheels, and it will be a lawnmower again, rather than a temporary grass remover.
LOL. I had self propelled mowers before this and this mower is much better than those. It is so easy to handle whilst mowing. Not having wheels to transport it is a pain though and that is why I bought the wheel set. The wheel set made mowing even easier as you can pivot the Flymo on them for brush cutting. :-)
man he does not cut the grass, he digs into the dirt ripping out the grass
I dont like the mess of cutted grass after finished. I prefer a mower with grass catcher.
tilt the blade for,more,lift and use tin and all aluminum.
Cheers.
This is the strangest mower I have ever seen. I have never heard of a mower without four wheels. You must have a different type of grass in the UK than we do in America. If my landscaper used something like this my grass would be totally scalped and would never recover. I would have to have them replace it. Very interesting to see, though.
Hello Blanca, hover mowers are fairly common here in the UK. They are usually electric and much lighter. Petrol hover mowers are pretty rare. Hover mowers are a real pleasure to use on level surfaces as they float on a cushion of air and are very easy to handle.
You can adjust the cutting height from about 10 to 33 mm
MarcMac04 I found a pretty old video witch presents the first flymo in the year 1967 ;)
www.ina.fr/video/AFE04002111/tondeuses-a-gazon-flymo-video.html
English version begins at 9min 32 sec
They was a big thing here in the US in the 70s and 80s. I bought mine in 1978 it has a 2 stroke engine, it's light and easy to use you can go any direction with it. I still have it and use it to trim with once in awhile but I have just over three acres of land and it is easier to us the string trimmer to do the trimming.
It will NOT scalp your lawn. I'm in the US (Texas) and used one for years. The entire deck floats over the turf...no way it can scalp. I even used it over water on a golf course pond to cut down some reeds and lilies that were not wanted.
check out 58v Echo electric lawnmower with composite deck
simple , and quite .
good for the Mrs to use !!!!!!!!!!!
it looks cute
I love this mower!
0:15 DEPENDS WHERE YOU BUY IT!
I think the lack of oil and tools is their way of hinting that you shouldn't buy it unless you're mechanically inclined. There's nothing companies hate more than mechanically incompetent people buying their product and then giving them bad reviews when they mess something up. At least with this mower, stupid people will either run it out of oil or just send it back when they can't figure out how to put it together - 2 things that won't make the company look bad.
That is an interesting theory. Personally, I think it is a way of saving money. :-)
I had a friend once who's mom bought a new mower and didn't put any oil in it and the engine seized. I don't she was the complaining type but, if she were, I could see her giving the company a bad review.
A big problem with lots of people is that they don't admit their own mistakes with products and instead lie about the causes of engine problems. I'm sure mechanics deal with it all the time when someone comes in with a thrown rod and claims that the engine just started making a knocking sound the day before.
Ive never got out of breath push mowing and i smoke 2 packs a day😅😅
That looks like it botched your lawn pretty good. Your review was good bit the flymo isn't.
:-)
I should mention I am here because I was watching Bizarre ER on TV and an English bloke cut his fingers off while using his new hover mower............. I was like WHAT THE FUCK IS A HOVER MOWER AND WHY WOULD YOU TEST IT WITH YOUR FINGERS.................. so searched for hover mower to see what all the fuss was about
my mate at work had one of these and he said it was utterly useless
I think utterly useless is a bit unfair! Personally, I love it.
+c3h8O I don't know what you're doing but I've never found a hill steep enough to flip a push mower that I would actually be able to mow with this bad invention.... Hills that would flip a riding mower for sure... but a push mower?
+c3h8O my mate at work said it was useless for anything more than a small incline
Some people use a long cord as for a kite, standing securely on the upper side of the slope and it works fine, as it can move laterally without problems
Really? No PPE!
:-)
Show someone hitting a tree root with it!!! :D things trash can ready, certainly.
icutemall It is very robust! I ran over a cast iron gate stop with it. it made a lot of noise but kept on going with just a dent on the blade!
Davos is narrating this video
Is he? ;-)
Russell Platten XD
Umm.... Why's the engine fitted the wrong way round? LOL
***** So who thought it a good idea to mount it tge wrong way round?
***** I'm not saying that they aren't mounted like that, all I'm saying is whoever came up with that idea is a spanner
Just why lol...... and then my favorite moment at 3 mins in when he sits down and tells us he is impressed
+Ben & With LOL, you guys never saw what it was like with my self propelled mower! It used to get stuck halfway up the bank and the wheels were useless most of the time! I love this mower!
Damn is this man OK he was so out of breath!!!!???
I think I'm Ok. :-)
Russell Platten oh OK Glad!!!!
hover mower just seems stupid to me
What sort of black magic is this?!?
It has a fan action that blows air down into the blade housing through vents at the top. The mower then floats on a cushion of air just like a hovercraft. These mowers are brilliant, very light when the engine is running, but heavy when it is not so transporting it to and from the work area is a little difficult. Fitting wheels gives you the best of both worlds. :-)
that one sounds better
:-)
LOL, you can get on on Amazon for $268, but the wheel kit costs $450. LOL.
I only paid £95 for the wheel set and I thought that was expensive!
Use a hex wrench
This guy is a total amateur, he doesn't know how to start it properly, you have to put your leg on the marked spot, he turns it over on the WRONG side and when you're moving it it has to run, if it doesn't it will scrape of course.. read the manual for gods sake
This looks extremely dangerous on any sort of slope.
The electric version seems to work better.
I agree, but if you have a large area to mow away from a socket the petrol model is the only option.
just poison the grass, man lol,???
I don't see any reason or benefit to this. A regular mower with 4 wheels is cheaper, lighter, easier to use etc etc etc.... I guess for sloped lawns it will give a more uniform cut height, BUT for all that effort manhandling the monster around it just doesn't seem worth it. 94 POUNDS for two wheels that don't even really achieve much???? WOW even in Australia where everything costs at least double the rest of the world you can buy a complete lawn mower for $150, it won't be powered by Honda sure, gotta spend $400ish+ to get a Honda engine. But ultimately my Victa is about 20 years old and still starts first pull every time, blows a little smoke, uses a little oil, but it works.
+tapper88 The hover mower is much easier to use than a wheeled mower and requires much less effort. I have used both many times over the years and prefer the hover. If you ever get the chance, give one a try! Thank you for your comments.
+Russell Platten Pass, there is no way it is easier to use, also not having a catcher makes it absolutely useless to me. All it will do is make a mess. The only benefit I can see is the uniform cut height on slopes.......... but it appears to be a nightmare trying to manhandle the thing on a slope anyway, I was genuinely concerned for your safety when you tried to mow along the slope and ended up on the road.
Their are ways to handle the hover mower on slopes that makes it easy. With some experience I can say you may enjoy it.
I plan to make some didactic videos, but I just have to find the time to do it...
I Uses Flymo hover mowers since a long time (petrol and electric), and i can say i wouldn't change.
I enjoy it particularly when there are obstacles and curves in the garden
Great mowing clothes
Physics is your friend, if you don’t engineer something to defy it.
:-)
I prefer striping my lawn with a real mower and bagging the clippings rather than shooting them out the sides in all directions.
:-)