Rover Hi Wheeler 11A-B0R6333

Fell to bits - literally – Living in the country and having a mix of lawn and grass in a low rainfall area I mow infrequently and mainly to see if any snakes are near to the house. After battling cancer I was looking for something simple, easy to use, reliable and durable. ( Rover had a reputation for that ). I bought a 21'' Rover Highwheeler with a single blade, large rear wheels and good range of deck adjustment. I tend to mow from 200 to 400 squ metres about 6 times a year, living in a dry part of SA. It started first go on first use. A pleasure mowing. On second use it took 3 goes to start. The third use it eventually started but seemed to be running increasingly roughly to the point I decided to take it to my nearest dealership 60km away. I asked them to do an oil, filter and blade change and find out what was wrong with it. On collecting it a fortnight later they told me they could find nothing wrong with it. When I got it home it took three goes to start and the engine still felt a lot rougher than my old Honda. I had done two short bits of mowing in 3 months. Then unseasonal rain followed by fast grass growth in February meant I really needed to mow right round the house. Firstly the mower was very temperamental in starting. Once going it seemed to be doing anywhere between wanting to stall and revving so hard I could barely hold onto the handle, followed by black smoke and then copious grey smoke. Worried I took it to my garage to check the oil and on removing the dipstick found the filler tube also in my hand. The top cover had rattled loose. I needed a torch to look into the screw recesses and found a loose screw in one hole and the other had no screw. I gather from what I was able to see of the design the dipstick filler tube has two lugs that are meant to slide onto two little metal clips which in turn are held in place by the top cover. Also during this event the muffler heat protection shroud fell off. This product is clearly designed to minimise screw and bolt use with everything sliding on or together. The slightest rattle and it all falls to bits. The engine was clearly a dud but as Rover Australia's Office informed me ,'' we don't deal with the general public you'll have to contact your nearest dealership''. The mower isn't yet 18 months old, has been used in easy conditions 6 or 7 times and now won't start at all. An oil filler- dipstick tube should not be able to fall off exposing the sump oil to dust and grit. Any engine vibrates and just sliding components on rather than using a few screws and bolts also seems shoddy. Add Rover Australia's office disinterest in their reputation and 5 year Warranty and I have become so depressed it has just been sitting in the garage. Also, for a Chinese made product $1000 to mow 400 squ metres of grass 7 times is depressingly expensive. I can't deal with Rover or their dealership any more mentally, I normally recycle everything but inflicting this mower on anyone else is morally not possible. I guess it will make a last trip to the local rubbish tip.