In this review, we will look at all of the features and functions of this self-propelled petrol lawn mower. By the end of this review you will know if this mower is the right option for you and your lawn. You can also refer to my video review below for visual representation and to see this mower in action. This Mountfield SP53 will not make stripes on your lawn, but there are many separate units available that you can pull along your lawn to make the striping effect. Rear rollers and Mulching don’t go together, as they target different audience, this Mountfield SP53 is aimed at the later. The Mountfield SP53 is a big petrol mower designed for large lawns up to 2,500 metres squared. As the weight of this mower is 34 kg, it is a good decision that this mower is self-propelled – especially when laden with damp grass too. The self-propulsion is a single speed at 3.7km/h – this is what I would call a very comfortable / slow walk speed that will for sure assist you when mowing your grass on a steep hill / incline. See my video above, where I am demonstrating this action by holding the mower easily with one hand only. The grass on the day was damp and as you can see there was some wheel spin, however the mower had no issues gaining traction with some encouragement and ascending the steep incline. Yes there are a few negatives as you can see above in the Cons section but these are really minor points and do not detract from the fact that this is yet again a quality Mountfield Self-Propelled Petrol Mower. Honda’s intelligent Auto Choke Comfort System (ACS) ensures ultra-reliable ignition under all conditions; while their high-specification Combustion Technology works to optimise power output, with the engine producing a substantial 4.2hp from a displacement of just 145cc.

Let me start by talking about Mountfield. We all know that they have a strong brand and good reputation for designing and producing great quality garden tools and lawn mowers over many years. This is another reason I was looking forward to testing one of their largest petrol lawn mowers currently available, the Mountfield SP53. If you have a large lawn you will for sure want to know that this mower is built to last and will be able to deal with slopes, uneven lawns and challenging areas in your garden efficiently and with minimum effort on your part. Please note that there is an Elite version of the Mountfield SP53 that comes fitted with a Honda GCVx170 167cc engine. There is no difference to the specification apart from the engine and that the grass collection box comes with a “Fill Indicator Flap”.Not only having a part cloth collection bag reduces the weight, it also assists with the air circulation resulting in a more efficient collection of your grass clippings. The disadvantage of a cloth collection bag is that they are more prone to damage – this is particularly so if you are having to mow close to sharp bushes / shrubs. Having said that, replacement collection bags are readily available here in the UK as are all Mountfield parts. An advantage of the hard top on the grass collection box means less dust and debris being projected into the operators face.

First impressions were very good, but what is the performance of the Mountfield SP53? Does it continue to impress whilst in action? The Mountfield SP51H Petrol Lawnmower has been equipped with self-propulsion, so will prove a real boon if your lawn’s on a slope, or has sections of rough, bumpy grass.The fact that this mower has 3 in 1 options is a real benefit in terms of practicalities. (mulch, collect and rear discharge) Supplied with mulch plug, a large 60-litre-capacity collector and a discharge chute, the Mountfield SP51H is capable of either bagging, recycling or rear-discharging your grass cuttings (the catcher has a dust- and pollen-retaining hard plastic top, and is made from canvas to save storage space). There is no ignition key on this Mountfield SP53, so for added safety, Mountfield has gone with a Operator Presence Control (OPC) lever – the operator must have at least one hand griping the safety handle before the machine will start. If the control handle is released, the engine will stop.

The self-propulsion, driving the blade and the rear wheels, is activated when the user lifts the throttle bar up towards the main bar to engage the clutch. The Mountfield SP53 is powered by a Mountfield 166cc 4 stroke engine, providing sufficient amount of power for larger lawns. Mountfield SP53 Engine Engine Brand The engine oil has a separate tank, and SAE30 4-stroke oil for lawn mowers is ideal. The ST170 OHV is a powerful 160cc recoil (or pull cord) start engine, which produces a hefty peak 3.5 horsepower. To put it into perspective, the very first motor car had 3-horsepower. Petrol mowers are inherently not quiet, but Mountfield has managed to keep the noise rating of this model to a very respectable 98 decibels.If you have any questions or have used any Mountfield mower and would like to share your views, please feel free to comment below.

The full range of Mountfield petrol mowers are good value for money, and this Mountfield SP53 is no exception. You do get what you pay for with a Mountfield mower, and whilst they may be little more expensive than some cheaper brands they offer peace of mind of owning a mower that will get the job done efficiently and will not let you down. Centralised height-of-cut adjustment makes what can be a troublesome process with lesser machines an easy one; larger-diameter drive-wheels provide superior manoeuvrability, especially when working on long grass. If you have a large lawn up to 2,500 metres squared I could find no valid reason, not to highly recommend this petrol mower. As mentioned above this Mountfield SP53 is supplied with both a mulching blade and mulching plug. This is a great feature that is normally an optional extra with other brands, and will provide seasonal flexibility for your grass cuttings. (free organic lawn fertiliser) Over the years many people have asked me how they know if a mower is self-propelled of not. This is a very important question with a simple response. If you see in the title SP, it means that the mower is (self-propelled), this applies to Mountfield range of petrol mowers.

Powered by the Honda GCV170 Autochoke 167cc engine. Designed to provide an excellent finish on all types of lawn. The Autochoke system on the engine automatically sets the choke to give optimum starting and running in all cutting conditions. Steel chassis with skid plate reduces scalping of the lawn. Features a Dynamic Speed Control (DSC) transmission, a conical clutch that allows for smoother gradual traction. Self-propelled, no need to push, ideal for maintaining lawns with minimum effort. Mulching plug means no need to collect grass as it recycles the clippings into the lawn. Suitable for lawns up to 2500m². The Mountfield engine is 4 stroke and runs on regular 95 unleaded petrol and separate standard SAE30 engine oil, so no need to mix. I always recommend that for all petrol mowers a fuel stabiliser is added to prevent corrosion and keep the internals of the engine clean, particularly over a longer period when the mower is not used i.e. winter months.