Countax 4WD Ride on Mower - some advice
Discussion
As part of a house sale, the vendor has offered to sell his late father's ride-on mower. It's a a 4WD Countax unit that will be at least 5-10 years old. It looks in good condition although he hasn't started the engine it for me yet. What should I look out for when going to view it again and make an offer?
It hasn't been serviced for the last few years. Any tips and a guide price would be great.
It hasn't been serviced for the last few years. Any tips and a guide price would be great.
Take some jump lead and:
- Ask to start the engine and listen for unusual noises, smoking, or rough idling
- Check for oil leaks around the engine and transmission
- Look for frame rust or structural damage
- Check seat condition and suspension
- Test steering lock to lock
- Check cutting height adjustment mechanisms
- Check the cutting deck for rust, damage or misalignment
- Examine blades for excessive wear
- Test the brakes
- Look at tyre condition
Given it's 5-10 years old without recent servicing, budget for:
- Full service (oil, filters, spark plugs): £150
- Possible blade replacement: £50
- Potential battery replacement: £50
- Belts replacement: £75
For a 5-10 year old unit without recent servicing:
- Good condition: £1,500
- Average condition: £1,000
- Poor condition: £750
- Ask to start the engine and listen for unusual noises, smoking, or rough idling
- Check for oil leaks around the engine and transmission
- Look for frame rust or structural damage
- Check seat condition and suspension
- Test steering lock to lock
- Check cutting height adjustment mechanisms
- Check the cutting deck for rust, damage or misalignment
- Examine blades for excessive wear
- Test the brakes
- Look at tyre condition
Given it's 5-10 years old without recent servicing, budget for:
- Full service (oil, filters, spark plugs): £150
- Possible blade replacement: £50
- Potential battery replacement: £50
- Belts replacement: £75
For a 5-10 year old unit without recent servicing:
- Good condition: £1,500
- Average condition: £1,000
- Poor condition: £750
Edited by paddy1970 on Monday 10th March 16:01
That will be a Petrol engine then.
I have a Diesel, a D 18/50 it has a Hours run counter.
Handbook also covers a K 18/50 model turn the key to first position it will show hours run, once started it becomes rev counter, could give an indication of usage over the years.
It might only have a handbrake, it's likely a push one pedal for forward and the other for reverse, no foot brake as such.
PCB's on the diesel can give trouble,, and the fuse box can get warm until the fuses don't make good contact.
I have a Diesel, a D 18/50 it has a Hours run counter.
Handbook also covers a K 18/50 model turn the key to first position it will show hours run, once started it becomes rev counter, could give an indication of usage over the years.
It might only have a handbrake, it's likely a push one pedal for forward and the other for reverse, no foot brake as such.
PCB's on the diesel can give trouble,, and the fuse box can get warm until the fuses don't make good contact.
jimothyc said:
Something to consider is that Countax aren't manufacturing mowers anymore. So parts supply can be an issue.
I've got a C300H that I acquired when I purchased my place and I had trouble finding someone who would even be willing to service it.
We had exactly the same problem recently with our old one.I've got a C300H that I acquired when I purchased my place and I had trouble finding someone who would even be willing to service it.
jimothyc said:
Something to consider is that Countax aren't manufacturing mowers anymore. So parts supply can be an issue.
I've got a C300H that I acquired when I purchased my place and I had trouble finding someone who would even be willing to service it.
what do you meanI've got a C300H that I acquired when I purchased my place and I had trouble finding someone who would even be willing to service it.
https://www.countax.co.uk/
paddy1970 said:
Take some jump lead and:
- Ask to start the engine and listen for unusual noises, smoking, or rough idling
- Check for oil leaks around the engine and transmission
- Look for frame rust or structural damage
- Check seat condition and suspension
- Test steering lock to lock
- Check cutting height adjustment mechanisms
- Check the cutting deck for rust, damage or misalignment
- Examine blades for excessive wear
- Test the brakes
- Look at tyre condition
Given it's 5-10 years old without recent servicing, budget for:
- Full service (oil, filters, spark plugs): £150
- Possible blade replacement: £50
- Potential battery replacement: £50
- Belts replacement: £75
For a 5-10 year old unit without recent servicing:
- Good condition: £1,500
- Average condition: £1,000
- Poor condition: £750
Excellent post.- Ask to start the engine and listen for unusual noises, smoking, or rough idling
- Check for oil leaks around the engine and transmission
- Look for frame rust or structural damage
- Check seat condition and suspension
- Test steering lock to lock
- Check cutting height adjustment mechanisms
- Check the cutting deck for rust, damage or misalignment
- Examine blades for excessive wear
- Test the brakes
- Look at tyre condition
Given it's 5-10 years old without recent servicing, budget for:
- Full service (oil, filters, spark plugs): £150
- Possible blade replacement: £50
- Potential battery replacement: £50
- Belts replacement: £75
For a 5-10 year old unit without recent servicing:
- Good condition: £1,500
- Average condition: £1,000
- Poor condition: £750
Edited by paddy1970 on Monday 10th March 16:01
Thanks to others for your contributions. All noted.
To put things into context, the vendor has put £750 as the price for the mower in the property fixtures/info form!
Some pictures:
Baldchap said:
jimothyc said:
Something to consider is that Countax aren't manufacturing mowers anymore. So parts supply can be an issue.
I've got a C300H that I acquired when I purchased my place and I had trouble finding someone who would even be willing to service it.
We had exactly the same problem recently with our old one.I've got a C300H that I acquired when I purchased my place and I had trouble finding someone who would even be willing to service it.
I have one of these, or what looks to be very similar.
A Countax C25 4WD, although mine has a mulching deck.
As regards servicing, mine is going in next week to our local farm machinery place for an annual service. Same place that has serviced it since new. Expect to budget more for a service than for a two wheel drive variant. Inc collection and drop off, mine is going to cost circa £350.
As others have said, check the deck and associated metal work for rust. Most of the rest of the stuff is consumables but it looks in pretty good nick from the limited amount I can see in the pics.
Very hardy/handy piece of kit though. Around 600 cc and 24 hp IIRC and can pull up to half a tonne with a trailer. I’ve got a little tipper one that hooks on the back of mine..
Cheers
A Countax C25 4WD, although mine has a mulching deck.
As regards servicing, mine is going in next week to our local farm machinery place for an annual service. Same place that has serviced it since new. Expect to budget more for a service than for a two wheel drive variant. Inc collection and drop off, mine is going to cost circa £350.
As others have said, check the deck and associated metal work for rust. Most of the rest of the stuff is consumables but it looks in pretty good nick from the limited amount I can see in the pics.
Very hardy/handy piece of kit though. Around 600 cc and 24 hp IIRC and can pull up to half a tonne with a trailer. I’ve got a little tipper one that hooks on the back of mine..
Cheers
A thread update...I didn't go for the mower the vendor was selling as I have the budget to buy a brand new one and there is no point buying one with an unknown past.
I am therefore on the hunt for something in the region of £2.5 - 3.5k. It should be able to mulch and have decent power, and of course be a reliable brand. To start with I was thinking of something like a Cobra LT86 HRL https://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/Cobra-Ride-O...
I am handy with servicing myself, so don't have a problem to change oil, spark plugs etc. Am I right in thinking that super unleaded (97 or 99 RON) is best for these engines?
The mower will mainly be for a flat paddock about 2 acres so dont necessarily need 4WD.
I know mulching requires regular mowing and dry conditions, but if I was to collect clippings how could I reuse them so they dont go to landfill?
I am therefore on the hunt for something in the region of £2.5 - 3.5k. It should be able to mulch and have decent power, and of course be a reliable brand. To start with I was thinking of something like a Cobra LT86 HRL https://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/Cobra-Ride-O...
I am handy with servicing myself, so don't have a problem to change oil, spark plugs etc. Am I right in thinking that super unleaded (97 or 99 RON) is best for these engines?
The mower will mainly be for a flat paddock about 2 acres so dont necessarily need 4WD.
I know mulching requires regular mowing and dry conditions, but if I was to collect clippings how could I reuse them so they dont go to landfill?
I don’t know anything about the Cobra brand, but 2 acres is a reasonably large area to cut with a small lawn tractor - the link you’ve given is quite a narrow deck (recommends up to an acre) so you might want to spend a bit more for some increased girth!
Just for an example, I cut one of our fields today, which is over 2 acres with a compact tractor with a 1.5m flail mower and I reckon that took me well over an hour (though it was quite long), and you will need to do it weekly in the summer, whereas with a pto flail I can let it grow long and do it every 6 weeks or so.
Collecting and emptying will get boring, very quickly…. so you want to mulch if you can, but it’s not always possible.
In terms of using he clippings, you can use them in your compost heap (mixed with browns) or as mulch for beds/hedges etc, but the amount you will be producing, you’ll almost certainly end up with a big pile somewhere!
Just for an example, I cut one of our fields today, which is over 2 acres with a compact tractor with a 1.5m flail mower and I reckon that took me well over an hour (though it was quite long), and you will need to do it weekly in the summer, whereas with a pto flail I can let it grow long and do it every 6 weeks or so.
Collecting and emptying will get boring, very quickly…. so you want to mulch if you can, but it’s not always possible.
In terms of using he clippings, you can use them in your compost heap (mixed with browns) or as mulch for beds/hedges etc, but the amount you will be producing, you’ll almost certainly end up with a big pile somewhere!
Thanks for the replies so far.
To my knowledge, the mower has now been removed from the property by the vendors and I do not know where it is or if it is even for sale. We were simply offered a price to buy but no further information.
I actually have a electric Cobra push mower since 2017 which does the relatively small lawns in my current house. It's a solid, no-nonsense mower and much better quality than the Bosch and Flymo stuff you get in Argos/B&Q. Thus, I do not have an issue with the Cobra company. However, I do want to buy the best bang for buck mower at the price point I am looking at.
I have been looking at a front deck machine like this Stiga: https://www.stiga.com/uk/2f5820421-st2-park-300.ht...
Its come's to about £3.6k with 85cm cutting deck.
I am yet to research about Husqvarna - I have heard they are the market leaders for domestic ride ons.
To my knowledge, the mower has now been removed from the property by the vendors and I do not know where it is or if it is even for sale. We were simply offered a price to buy but no further information.
I actually have a electric Cobra push mower since 2017 which does the relatively small lawns in my current house. It's a solid, no-nonsense mower and much better quality than the Bosch and Flymo stuff you get in Argos/B&Q. Thus, I do not have an issue with the Cobra company. However, I do want to buy the best bang for buck mower at the price point I am looking at.
I have been looking at a front deck machine like this Stiga: https://www.stiga.com/uk/2f5820421-st2-park-300.ht...
Its come's to about £3.6k with 85cm cutting deck.
I am yet to research about Husqvarna - I have heard they are the market leaders for domestic ride ons.
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