Our verdict
MTD-built but specced like a small commercial mower — Honda GXV up top, alloy frame, BBC clutch, the lot. If you'd otherwise be eyeing a Hayter Harrier 56 or a Honda HRH 536, the Lawnflite Pro 553HRS comes in £400 cheaper and cuts the same width. The trade-off is resale value — Lawnflites don't hold money like Hondas or Hayters do.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Honda GXV — the engine that landscapers actually buy
- 53cm aluminium-framed deck won't rust
- BBC blade-brake clutch — engine stays running between cuts
- Hydrostatic-feel variable speed drive
Cons
- Lawnflite dealer network is patchy in the south-west
- 38kg makes it heavy on slopes
- No roller — bowling-club lawns need to look elsewhere
Full specs
| Type | Petrol |
|---|---|
| Cut width | 53 cm |
| Engine / Power | Honda GXV 160 OHV 163cc |
| Weight | 38 kg |
| Deck | Steel |
| Self-propelled | Yes |
| Rear roller | No |
| Mulching | Yes |
| Cutting heights | 6 positions |
| Bag capacity | 70 L |
| Suited to lawn | Large |
| Noise level | 95 dB |
Buying second-hand
Used Pro 553HRSs are scarce because landscapers run them into the ground, but ex-demo and one-season returns occasionally appear at £550-700. The GXV engine has 1500+ hours in it before a top-end rebuild — buy on engine compression, not appearance. Anything with a deck rust spot is fine; that's just paint, not the alloy frame.
Where to buy the Lawnflite Pro 553HRS
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