The Racing 6196PR boasts a compact 61cm cutting-width that not only makes it easy to work around and between obstacles, but also makes it possible to gain access to areas beyond narrow gateways (unusually for a ride-on mower, the Racing 6196PR will fit through a standard 28" garden gate).

I'd also decided to try out a new product from ARC, which is a billet chrome molly billet crank. Just as I got started on the engine they came out with it. For years we've had a dilemma where the old heavy cast iron counterweights that came with these engines not only presented an issue of having to deal with more mass, but on occasion these have come loose, smashing through the crank case. The solution was to get an old-style 80's or early 90's crank with removable eccentrics and install lightweight brass counterweights. ARC developed a billet crank with the counterweights machined into the piece- thus its all one piece. I opted for this part. The Racing 62PR boasts a compact 61cm cutting-width that not only makes it easy to work around and between obstacles, but also makes it possible to gain access to areas beyond narrow gateways (unusually for a ride-on mower, the Racing 62PR will fit through a standard 28" gate). Battery charger offered separately (starter battery will need recharging periodically if the machine is not in use) Pre-delivery inspection and assembly (optional extra - see above) In The pic entitled: "Steering arm", you can see how this system works together. Lastly, the "turn right" pic shows the underside linkage and radius arms. If you see the "t" shaped piece, that's where the radius arms connect. The "T" is welded to the bottom of the front steering shaft.Extend the length of the frame. Why? The original frame was around 38" long. The width from wheel to wheel? 36". The problem was that when you're basically driving a square, you have very poor handling. I decided to lengthen the frame to the maximum length permitted for Mod-X machines: 42". Thus I would add 6" to the frame. The Racing 6196PRRS boasts a compact 61cm cutting-width that not only makes it easy to work around and between obstacles, but also makes it possible to gain access to areas beyond narrow gateways (unusually for a ride-on mower, the Racing 6196PRRS will fit through a standard 28" garden gate).

With all of the sheetmetal painted the mower was fully assembled. Pretty nice looking if I don't mind saying so. Now there was only one thing left to do- which was to race it and see what it would do. The first race was actually what we call our "Test-n-tune" day where all the new "mowchines" are brought out and tested... and tuned up. The engine was then installed and the old clutch bolted on. This has been a fantastic clutch with over 3 years of use and hardly any wear. I did disassemble it and applied a very light coat of grease to the bearings. I also cleaned the shoes a bit. A new fully adjustable steering system. The old setup wasn't adjustable at all. The new one is fully adjustable and the caster and camber can be carefully tweaked. This is important because no matter what engine you might have, a mower that steers poorly and plows into corners will be impossible to handle. We’ve made searching easy! Using our filters, you can choose by ' Manufacturer', if you have one in mind. Alternatively, if you have a budget to work to, search our ride-on lawn mowers by ' Price'. Adjust the toe-out. As mentioned before, toe-out means how much the wheels splay outwards- as in they turn away from the mower a bit. It doesn't take much. Only 1/8" on each side. Doesn't sound like much but this will greatly help the mower become far more stable.The second specialized part is what's known as a "dogbone" connection rod for the large cast iron counterweights. These large weights help the engine run smoother. The crank runs directly through it. The wimpy aluminum factory original is prone to breaking. If that happens, the counterweight will slam into the sides of the crank case, breaking right through it. Say bye-bye to the engine if that occurs. So again, a billet aluminum replacement is used. Undertaking a complete manufacturer’s PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) in accordance with the manufacturer's established guidelines

Next up is the installation of the steering shaft running along the front of the frame. This mower has an unusual setup where the steering linkage runs over the top of the engine. An a arm runs from the steering wheel pitman arm to a shaft running down the front of the frame to the radius arms of the front axle spindles. First, I got some 1/1/4" steel pipe and cut some lengths about 2" long. On each end, I placed a bearing in which the steering shaft fits through. I am using a right angle gearbox for this build. Why? Because the other choice is to use a 3-5 speed gearbox used as standard equipment on mowers. These work fine, but it also means you'll have to change the grease in them and perhaps invest in hardened gears since the originals will strip out much easier. With a right angle gear box, or RAGB, there's only two moving parts. Plus, they are made for higher speed applications and therefor perfectly suited for this application. More simplicity means more reliability. Lastly, the cheap stamped bearings I went with in the steering system have way too much slop in them. I replaced all 8 of the bearings with sealed ball bearing units with steel snap rings. This removed all of the slop in the steering and made the handling much more accurate and responsive, which in turn is much safer. So make sure and invest in better high quality bearings for everything that moves. If your plot is becoming difficult to manage, investing in a ride-on lawn mower will prove more economical in the long run, rather than hiring a grounds maintenance team to maintain it. You'll need space to store it, but these tractor-style mowers are a lot of fun and robust enough to handle the steepest Great British terrain. The best ride-on lawn mowers offer great manoeuvrability and ease of use. You'll confidently be able to negotiate your way around any obstacles while landscaping your lawn.

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So, don't lose your plot - instead ready, set, mow on a ride-on lawn mower. As we've mentioned, there are petrol or battery-powered models. If it's petrol-powered take note of the engine size and fuel tank capacity. Some of these nifty machines can reach 8mph which could put pay to any lawn croquet taking place - so be careful. With battery-powered models, much like cordless lawn mowers, be aware of the battery life and charging time. In general, you should get a solid 150 minutes of mowing done before the lawn mower needs a recharge. Some mowers come with two, while others offer super-fast chargers. Mowers with the latest sensory technology can sense the load on the motor and operate at the optimum level for each task, boosting power for long/damp grass and extending battery run time during lighter cutting tasks. What is cutting width? Many of us like the idea of having a ride on mower to cut our lawn. However, many ride on mowers can be very cumbersome and not always as practical as you might think in a garden. A high-capacity 196cc (6.5hp) four-stroke overhead-valve engine - with electric-start - provides dependable, fuel-efficient power; while five-step blade-height adjustment (35-75mm) ensures there’s a setting for every eventuality.

Lastly, if you're welding, drilling, grinding, or working with any power tools, please use proper safety gear- as in gloves, boots, goggles, respirators, and so on. Use common sense and you'll avoid a trip to the emergency room ( trust me- I've been there enough to know) The rebuilt engine has held up great this year. Its now broken in so the synthetic oil stays almost crystal clear for a good 2-3 races.

Chipperfield C25-7 Ride-On Petrol Lawn Mower 196cc

A high-capacity 196cc (6.5hp) four-stroke overhead-valve engine - with electric key start - provides dependable, fuel-efficient power; while five-step blade-height adjustment (35-75mm) ensures there’s a setting for every eventuality.