Powerful, Noisy, Poor Design (Flymo Power Compact 400)

Member Name: limecc

Product:	Flymo Power Compact 400
Date:	05/05/03 (1022 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice power switch, Chunky wheels, 33cm cut

Disadvantages: Moss inducing, Grass spillage, Noisy

I was attracted by the smaller brother of the Compact 400, the Compact 330, after my old 1000w rotary wheeled mower died. I had nipped to the local diy store to examine the different models.

It appealed because of its 1600w motor, the sturdy wheels and handle, and it looked like it might not clog too easily. Because it was available under £100, the deal was clinched.

My lawn was long after 10 days growth, and the 330 cut through it without even slowing down, even at fast walking speed. This was also the case on the lowest height setting, but that made the machine VERY hard to push over the grass, and still fairly hard where you had just cut!

I found it a lot noisier than previous mowers I have used. It should come with earplugs! At least it puts off your neighbour's conversation.

The specification says it cuts down to 20mm, but I would say it was actually nearer to 30mm which is poor. The quality of the cut was poor too, no doubt due in part to the fact that the blade blunts easily - I only cut one lawn to discover this. It is also impossible to cut close to walls or edges because the blade tips are not very close to the side of the machine.

The biggest fault for me was the grass collection. The design means that the grass is blown upwards through a big hole in the bottom of the collection basket. When you take the basket out, it drops back out of the big hole, into the machine, over the lawn, over the patio, everywhere, everywhere.

The machine seemed to pick up most of the cuttings, but dried blossom and smaller stuff are not touched. The integral roller buries it into the lawn. It spreads grass onto concrete easily too if you over-run the lawn. There is no question that this machine would have been a BIG moss creating monster, which is another reason why it had to go back the following day.

Summary: