Viking MB545 VR Roller

Purchased 21/06/2016 with new Briggs 675 engine

I have had most makes of rear roller mowers and the Viking 545 is the best to date.

It has a variable speed to slow down when cutting flower borders but the cutting speed stays the same. A lot of other mowers with a throttle control slow the engine and consequently the blade so it doesnt cut as well.

I prefer this to my Honda HRX476 rear roller which is known to be slower. The Honda is also very heavy, and can be awkward to turn round corners as it is a solid roller and not split like the Viking.

Hope the new Briggs engine is as reliable as they say it is.

Taken my Viking MB545 VR Roller back to the shop again and had to resort to an electric flymo bought from a car boot sale for £20 to cut the grass. Was told when i bought the viking it was supposed to be the ROLLS-ROYCE of lawn mowers. I am not impressed. I suspect it may be a fault with the automatic choke as it appears to be getting fuel and sparking but still wont even offer to start. Took it back to the shop and eventually it started with plenty black smoke but when i used it next it only worked for 10 mins switched it off then tried to restart it but same problem.

This Viking MB545 VR Roller feels like a really quality machine despite the deck being made of plastic. The frame is strong and the handles are beautifully powder coated, the wheels run nicely on their bearing and the engine is probably more powerful than you will ever need. Interestingly, to start the mower all you have to do is apply the operator handle and pull the starter. There is no fuel tap or choke or even a carburettor primer. the mower starts very easily but I kind of miss having to go through a full starting procedure! Also, it keeps itself very clean, with all the grass blowing in to the grass box and nothing seems to stick within the cutting deck - I guess the "plastic" is some special kind of material with very low friction characteristics. My last mower was a Honda HRX476QXE which I managed to break (my fault) and I have to say that this machine is actually better, being much lighter and more manageable, and producing a slightly better cut.