909 99cc 16" Key Start 4-Stroke Lawn Mower ES99

Very Impressed – My mum brought this for me so I could do the lawns easily without pulling my arms off. I love it. Easy to use although its a fairly heavy machine that is not self driven. Cuts well too. Had to start with the pull start and it went on the second pull. Very impressed for a cheapie. Because its not self propelled it is a little more difficult to get in and around bushes etc but no more or less than other brands. I hose it off and dry it down when finished and it still looks and sounds like new

Cheap but good value. Requires patience to get it going – I purchased this mower in November 2013. It was $199. It was complete with a catcher and had a lead acid battery to allow the mower to be started with a key start. After I assembled it, I filled it with fuel and, to my surprise, it started via the key start immediately. Mowed my lawns brilliantly. The handles fold down to allow easier storage.

A month later, I had to use it again. Added fuel, pressed the bulb pump to prime the engine, twisted the key start, nothing. Checked the battery connection, still dead. OK. So it flattened from lack of use over a month. I plugged in the battery charger included with the mower and left it for 24 hours, Still it refused to start. So resorted to the old method to start it, the pull rope. Primed it, pulled the cord, no result. Prime some more eventually got it to sputter but no start. It was then I noticed a couple of things not present. First there is no choke. Other mowers have a start position, which is the choke in reality, but not this mower. No problem, I used a rubber band to pull the idler lever in, PRIMED THE ENGINE AGAIN, ONE PULL AND IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY.

Adjusted the idler till the engine warmed up, then release the rubber band. All go. When I went to store it though I noticed fuel running out through the air cleaner. Second part not included, a stop cock or valve to turn off the fuel line. So I had to park the mower on an angle to keep the fuel on one side away from the fuel line. Most fuel driven engines have a fuel valve, but not this lawn mower.

The battery start never worked again. no matter how long I charged the battery. The engine charged it, so I could start the engine after each catcher full of grass was dumped. So I used it for the next two and half years. Then about 3 months ago I went to turn on the key, but it wouldn't move. I disassembled the ignition barrel and found it had rusted up. I noted the barrel was a plug in device, so figured I could get a new barrel. NOPE!! Could not find one anywhere. So I cut the plug off and hot wired the mower to start it. And that's the way it will stay. It works as a lawn mower brilliantly, but I couldn't find any after sales service agent. Except maybe Master's where I purchased it. But they will be gone soon.

I guess you might say, what did I expect for $199? Fair point and that's why I have given it four stars. If it had a service back up of sorts, a choke to help it start and a stop cock to turn off the fuel line, then maybe a five.

Best points. Strong motor, easy to operate once you understand it, decent sized catcher, key start when it works.

Bad points Lack of a choke, no stop cock, battery doesn't hold its charge for long