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A New Chapter in the Life of Greenfield Mowers

A New Chapter in the Life of Greenfield Mowers

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(This article is now out of date and circumstances have changed drastically. The comments following quickly summarises the current situation but we have left the remainder of the article as part of the Greenfield history. 19-03-2021. Cox is no longer producing the Fastcut 2 and have been able to reproduce the Greenfield Fastcut as it was by outsourcing it overseas. The new Fastcut Greenfield looks exactly like the previous Fascut model featuring 34" steel decks in both a Classic and Delxue version. To browse and view the specs of these machines please click the link https://www.hendersonmowers.com.au/brands/greenfield-chippers-shredders-spare-parts-ride-on-lawn-mowers-slasher-australian-made/ride-on-mowers/ ) 

 

Greenfield much like ourselves at Henderson Mowers & Chainsaws are a proud, family-owned Australian business supporting our own economy and own people. Greenfield has been manufacturing durable products for Australian conditions since 1966 and in doing so has built a reputation not many other machines can compete with. 

For obvious reasons manufacturing in Australia has its complications although in a revised effort to maintain the quality, accessibility and support Greenfield has entered into an agreement with Cox Australia which will see them produce Greenfield products from their manufacturing site in Brisbane. This will combine over 100 years of Australian lawn mowing expertise between two of Australia’s most prominent brands Cox and Greenfield. We have been assured that this move will see Greenfield and Cox benefit as a whole spreading over-head costs and increasing buying power with the benefits being passed onto our customers. These benefits include more competitive prices, a larger model range and a more responsive spare parts management system. 

Henderson Mowers & Chainsaws Ballarat has been established since 1963 and over the years it has continually grown with the Greenfield brand, appreciating the reputation that comes with it. Providing numerous amounts of Greenfield products to customers locally whilst even shipping some internationally via our website that has seen us export Greenfield ride-on too New Zealand! 



Henderson Mowers & Chainsaws looks forward to the opportunities this presents for our customers and welcomes the proactive thinking of Greenfield to ensure that their products remain an integral part of the Australian mowing industry. Henderson's see's first hand the high-quality products that Greenfield produce and the niche market it caters for and this will enable that to continue for years to come.   

Below we have attached the press release by Cox and Greenfield jointly whilst also giving you a taste of the models to come. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this new and exciting chapter the life of Greenfield Mowers.  

The NEW Greenfield Models:

With a new chapter comes change and Greenfield has added a couple of products to their range whilst also redesigning and improving the much loved traditional Greenfield Fastcut Model. We will go through each of the three models explain which market they are aimed at and why you should be purchasing it if it is right for you. We will start with the best and the one I am most excited about, the Greenfield Fastcut 2!

Greenfield Fastcut 2 Model:

The Greenfield Fastcut model is your traditional bread and butter Greenfield machine, Australian made for Australian conditions. Now they have gone to the drawing board and come back with a new and improved version which at first may not look like a traditional Greenfield but it boasts all the same features you have come to know and love plus some added improvements, are you excited yet? First, let's take a look at it.  


Greenfield Fastcut 2


Now the models available are as followed and a price list is available towards the end of this article:

  • Deluxe 34" Alloy with a 24hp V-Twin
  • Deluxe 34" Alloy with a 17.5 Single Cylinder
  • Deluxe 35" Fab Steel with a 24hp V-Twin
  • Deluxe 35" Fab Steel with a 23hp V-Twin Vanguard
  • Deluxe 35" Fab Steel with a 17.5 Single Cylinder
  • Standard 32" Alloy with 17.5hp Single Cylinder 
  • Standard 32" Alloy with a 24hp V-Twin
  • Standard 32" Fab Steel with 17.5hp Single Cylinder
  • Standard 32" Fab Steel with a 24hp V-Twin

Now let's talk about the new advantages. Well everyone that's had a Greenfield before and is a rather tall person, sitting on a Greenfield and getting on and off a Greenfield was a pain. The new design addresses this issue by using a larger step-through for elderly people and taller people to more easily get on and off the machine, thank-you! Now the next advantage is in the drive and although you may not understand the pros of this change if your not very mechanically minded, trust me, it is a great addition. The new drive system uses a series of crush washes which push against each other to automatically set the drive pulleys on the axel so that the spacing between the cork and the drive pulley is correct, this makes fixing the drive when worn a much easier task to do for mechanics. Traditionally they used shims which had to be added or removed according to the condition of the corks which was time-consuming a very labour intensive. The drive tension is now also on a spring underneath the mower which automatically adjusts as the drive belt stretches!

Now let's discuss the new engine. The brand new V-Twin is called a Power BOSS engine and made by the Chinese manufacturer Loncin, now Loncin is a huge player in the small engine market and the even make the Toro V-Twin Engine found on at least 80% of there zero turn mowers! So have no fear, Loncin is a proven small engine manufacturer. Spare parts are also readily available with some of the largest aftermarket companies in Australia carrying a wide range of parts. The standard Greenfield will carry a single cylinder 17.5 Briggs & Stratton Engine.  

Production of these units has begun but as you can imagine with the Greenfield mower not being in production there is a large backlog of orders so availability will have a waiting time attached to it for some time until stock levels are recouped. For more information on this please contact your nearest dealer. 

So as you can see the all-new Greenfield Fastcut 2 has many features which have improved on its previous model and we are excited to share this with you guys!

 


Greenfield Model and Price List* (inc. gst.):

Below is the new and improved range of Greenfield products that will be available in as of March 2019 for consumers. We look forward to helping our customers in making the right choice when purchasing from the new range whilst also providing backup and support for all the products in the range. Please zoom in for viewing if you are currently using a mobile phone. 


Price List Update


As you can see there is an extensive increase in the number of units being offered to customers and entry-level prices reducing making a high-end Australian made product more affordable for Australian's. We are particularly excited about the new entry-level ride-on mower which will open up the Greenfield brand to a whole new customer base that was previously priced out of the Greenfield range making it more accessible to everyone. Notably, all domestic push mowers have been removed from their production line although I have been in contact with Greenfield and they have not written off bring them back in the future. 

*Prices are noted as of the date 01st of March 2019 and are subject to change after this date, please contact your nearest dealer for the current RRP.

Cox Australia Press Release: 

Blog Cox

Cox has released a statement regarding the current situation between themselves and Greenfield the positive implications they believe will stem from it. We have made it available in the image below, please note if you are reading on a mobile phone please zoom in and you will clearly see the details of the letter. If you have any further questions please contact us and we will endeavour to answer them for you! 

 

  

 


SHOP GREENFIELD PRODUCTS NOW:

BLOG COX

 


 

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Replying to Matthew Richard Synnott
Who said: Well I don`t agree that Briggs and Stratton engines are anything to be proud of and I am not alone in that belief, I invite anyone considering investing in petrol powered equipment to read the reviews on the internet of Briggs and Stratton engines, it would have to be upwards of 96% of people taking the trouble to write a review of their experience with these engines who are not just uncomplimentary but downright scathing. It is when you look deeper and closer than the nice shiny finish of the engine that the design shortcuts become evident, unfortunate choice of materials which leads to parts and equipment failure not far down the track. A potential buyer doesn`t see where economies have been made internally, the cam shaft and its gears, the spindly push rods and rocker assembly and weak valve springs, the propensity for the conrod to exit the crankcase. Then if you try to make a warranty claim they will try every reason to avoid honoring it sheeting responsibility back to the owner/operator`s negligence, wrong engine oil, insufficient engine oil, foreign objects in the crankcase. Then a bent crankshaft is not a claim, mainly a problem with mowers with blades mounted directly on the crankshaft. I have just assisted a friend with his Greenfield ride-on mower, he bought new around five years ago, 20 hp Vanguard engine 127 hours on the tach, the engine shut down two months ago and never went again. I looked for all the simple things first, carburettor and associated fuel issues, ignition, including a check that the flywheel had not shifted on the crankshaft, it hadn`t, it can and does happen. A 7 hp Briggs and Stratton engine I had on a John Deere walk behind mower allowed it`s flywheel to shift because the taper on the flywheel did not match the taper on the crankshaft, no matter how tight the flywheel nut was torqued it was never a snug fit not helped by the woodruff key being soft aluminium, that`s right folks aluminium not steel, admittedly the vanguard has a steel key. B&S will excuse this by saying that the key is just for ignition timing purposes, it is not meant to lock the flywheel to the shaft, ok then take more care with tolerances. Having said all that, I will declare that I own a 13hp Cox from early this century, so side valve, not OHV, I bought second hand almost new. While the mower is unsophisticated it is heavy duty and reasonably simple for me to maintain, I know my way around mechanicals, it`s necessary when dealing with Briggs and Stratton. It is no accident that it is almost impossible to have an alternate power source, it has to be the case that B&S supply their crappy engines to equipment manufacturers at or below cost so the likes of Honda can`t compete cost wise, quality wise the only thing common to them is that they burn petrol. One is rightfully proud of their product, (Honda), the other has no right to be proud. It`s like printers who allow their product to marketed at or below cost so they lose on the printer but win on the ink cartridge. Of course mower shops won`t hear a bad word about B&S, why, because of a couple of things, it`s almost a case of sell B&S or have no mowers to sell, almost. Secondly the repeat business both of parts and repairs would keep the workshop busy and the sales on target. Some of the blame has to go to we customers , were we given the choice of a Cox or Greenfield or any of the imports for that matter and were offered a choice of a machine powered by B&S costing say $7,000 or the same machine powered by Honda but costing $8,000, very few people would justify paying the extra. I mean they both look like they are quality how much better can Honda be? The answer to that is chalk and cheese, ask someone who has owned a Honda over a very long time because they are built to last a very long time, not so the also ran. I would be much happier had my Cox been powered by Honda. So what of the Chinese engine, I guess only time will tell, I really hope it works out both for the local industry and for the customers, It`s about time consumers got a better deal than we have had, I wouldn`t count on the big American fixing their act anytime soon, pressed by competition.
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Comments

Biken - posted

By buying a product in person, you will have the opportunity to test-drive the machine. Pay attention to how it runs and its performance in cutting grass. If it runs well, then you need to check if it the blades can cut the lawn well. The blades should be sharp so that it can cut the grass properly.

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Comments

Al - posted

These new Greenfield ride on mowers have nothing in common with the older models from a couple of years ago!! I am in the market for a ride on but those new Cox look a like greenfield mowers with those garbage chiniese engines are absolute shit> You can take that bloody garbage and shove it up your backside especially for the money! Bring back the propper Greenfield ride on mower with a propper chassis and Briggs or Vangard V twin engines then I'll buy another one but not this crap!! Reply From Henderson Mowers: Hi Al! Thanks for your feedback and I will be sure to pass it on to Greenfield. I just wanted to rebut a few of your points for a healthy argument. Firstly I do agree that the new Greenfield do not look like the old ones, I loved the old ones with the shiny finish and scoop in the bonnet! These are made out of the Cox factory and as any smart company would they have made an attempt to reduce costs and therefore have no doubt incorporated a little of the same supplies in the newer Greenfields which is why the body may seem similar in some aspects. Like anything, you can't judge something on its looks though. It terms of how they operate, the pulley system on the deck, the friction drive system (with the crush washer upgrade) and the cut you have all come to know and love are exactly the same as before and I know this as I have cut with them multiple times. The engine. Al as you know at the end of the day everything is about price. Money makes the world go round and it doesn't matter how good a Greenfield is you need to have it priced well to sell in todays market. With the Boss engine the unit can be priced just under the $7K mark at $6,995 inc. gst. which is a super important price point to be at. I have actually been to the Toro factory in Minneapolis where they do rigorous testing and they also run Loncin engines (Loncin make the Boss engine) and it holds up extremely well which is why Toro sell so many units. Now I'm not disagreeing that a Vanguard engine is nicer and it has a reputation that takes years to match but again it all comes down to money. Greenfield have released the Deluxe model with a Vanguard also and it is priced at $7,399 inc. gst. (above that $7k mark) and I have 4 sitting in my showroom. You see this is a luxury for those that either want the Vanguard name like yourself and also have the money to do so. Some people have a budget to buy to though and like any company Greenfield realises it so they try and cater for all areas of the market. I'm like yourself and I would spend the extra $400 to buy the Vanguard because I know the engine is proven in commercial applications although it's super easy to sit here and spend other peoples money so the Boss engine will be perfect for some people. So, in summary, I agree with the look of the unit but minimising costs is a huge aspect of surviving in Australian manufacturing so that's what they have done to fight that adversary. I disagree with you in regards to how it operates because under the body it still applies what has made the Greenfield name a household one in Australian family homes, I don't agree that the engine is terrible because they are manufactured by a company that makes engines for the biggest mower company in the world called Toro, but I do agree they are unproven when compared to a Vanguard which is available as an optional extra and I apologise for it not being in the spreadsheet because it is only a recent addition, although it is in our products if you look there! (features a Vanguard 23HP V-Twin!) Thanks for the blog post! I love a healthy debate! If you would like to come down and try a Vanguard unit I would love the chance to show to you first hand how good they are. Thanks again Al!

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Comments

Matthew Richard Synnott - posted

Well I don`t agree that Briggs and Stratton engines are anything to be proud of and I am not alone in that belief, I invite anyone considering investing in petrol powered equipment to read the reviews on the internet of Briggs and Stratton engines, it would have to be upwards of 96% of people taking the trouble to write a review of their experience with these engines who are not just uncomplimentary but downright scathing. It is when you look deeper and closer than the nice shiny finish of the engine that the design shortcuts become evident, unfortunate choice of materials which leads to parts and equipment failure not far down the track. A potential buyer doesn`t see where economies have been made internally, the cam shaft and its gears, the spindly push rods and rocker assembly and weak valve springs, the propensity for the conrod to exit the crankcase. Then if you try to make a warranty claim they will try every reason to avoid honoring it sheeting responsibility back to the owner/operator`s negligence, wrong engine oil, insufficient engine oil, foreign objects in the crankcase. Then a bent crankshaft is not a claim, mainly a problem with mowers with blades mounted directly on the crankshaft. I have just assisted a friend with his Greenfield ride-on mower, he bought new around five years ago, 20 hp Vanguard engine 127 hours on the tach, the engine shut down two months ago and never went again. I looked for all the simple things first, carburettor and associated fuel issues, ignition, including a check that the flywheel had not shifted on the crankshaft, it hadn`t, it can and does happen. A 7 hp Briggs and Stratton engine I had on a John Deere walk behind mower allowed it`s flywheel to shift because the taper on the flywheel did not match the taper on the crankshaft, no matter how tight the flywheel nut was torqued it was never a snug fit not helped by the woodruff key being soft aluminium, that`s right folks aluminium not steel, admittedly the vanguard has a steel key. B&S will excuse this by saying that the key is just for ignition timing purposes, it is not meant to lock the flywheel to the shaft, ok then take more care with tolerances. Having said all that, I will declare that I own a 13hp Cox from early this century, so side valve, not OHV, I bought second hand almost new. While the mower is unsophisticated it is heavy duty and reasonably simple for me to maintain, I know my way around mechanicals, it`s necessary when dealing with Briggs and Stratton. It is no accident that it is almost impossible to have an alternate power source, it has to be the case that B&S supply their crappy engines to equipment manufacturers at or below cost so the likes of Honda can`t compete cost wise, quality wise the only thing common to them is that they burn petrol. One is rightfully proud of their product, (Honda), the other has no right to be proud. It`s like printers who allow their product to marketed at or below cost so they lose on the printer but win on the ink cartridge. Of course mower shops won`t hear a bad word about B&S, why, because of a couple of things, it`s almost a case of sell B&S or have no mowers to sell, almost. Secondly the repeat business both of parts and repairs would keep the workshop busy and the sales on target. Some of the blame has to go to we customers , were we given the choice of a Cox or Greenfield or any of the imports for that matter and were offered a choice of a machine powered by B&S costing say $7,000 or the same machine powered by Honda but costing $8,000, very few people would justify paying the extra. I mean they both look like they are quality how much better can Honda be? The answer to that is chalk and cheese, ask someone who has owned a Honda over a very long time because they are built to last a very long time, not so the also ran. I would be much happier had my Cox been powered by Honda. So what of the Chinese engine, I guess only time will tell, I really hope it works out both for the local industry and for the customers, It`s about time consumers got a better deal than we have had, I wouldn`t count on the big American fixing their act anytime soon, pressed by competition.

Reply