After putting the Mountfield SP41 lawn mower through its paces in my garden over the past few months, I can confidently say that it provides an excellent cut without breaking the bank. As someone who takes pride in having a well-maintained lawn, I was impressed by how easy the SP41 was to manoeuvre around my plot.
With four cutting heights ranging from 25-70mm, I found it simple to adjust the mower to the desired length for different parts of the garden. The 39cm cutting width made light work of trimming the borders. The 40 litre collection box means fewer emptying stops, and the rear wheel drive provided strong traction even on steeper slopes.
Powered by a 100cc Mountfield engine (or 123cc STIGA engine), the SP41 had more than enough guts to tackle both long and thick grass with ease. It was remarkably quiet in operation as well. Assembly took less than an hour and the instructions were clear as day. As you’ll see from my video, the end result was a beautifully evenly cut lawn.
In this review, we will look at all of its features and functions of this self propelled petrol lawn mower, and you can also refer to my video review below to see this mower in action. By the end of this review you will know if this is the right petrol lawn mower for you and your garden.
Mountfield SP41 Review Video
To give you a visual representation of the Mountfield SP41 please watch the video below:
Mountfield provide the SP 41 in two different engine types, the ST120 OHV and the RS100 OHV shown below. Please note that in my video review I tested STIGA ST120 engine 123cc.
Mountfield ST120 Engine
Engine Brand
STIGA
Engine Type
ST120 OHV Autochoke
Engine Capacity
123cc
Net Power Output
1.55kW @ 2800rpm
Starting Method
Recoil
Mountfield RS100 Engine
Engine Brand
Mountfield
Engine Type
RS100 OHV
Engine Capacity
100cc
Net Power Output
2.0kW @ 3600rpm
Starting Method
Recoil
Both the Mountfield engines are 4 stroke and run on regular 95 unleaded petrol and separate standard SAE30 engine oil, so no need to mix. The manufacturers recommend fuel stabilisers in any machine that spends a lot of time sitting in storage. A stabiliser will prevent corrosion and keep the internals of the engine clean.
The engine oil goes into a separate tank; SAE30 4-stroke for lawn mowers is ideal. The mower will work with other brands of SAE30 oils; engine oil is not supplied in the kit. The RS100 OHV is a 100cc recoil (or pull cord) start engine, which produces a respectable peak 2.1-horsepower. To put it into perspective, the very first motor car had 3-horsepower.
As mentioned above there is also ST120 Autochoke engine available, and you can compare the power output in the tables above.
The engine was easy to set up and the mower started first time. There is no primer button on the ST120. I was not expecting it to start on the first pull of the recoil cord, but was pleasantly surprised when it did. Subsequently, throughout my testing the Mountfield SP 41 started first time every time. The only slight difficulty I had was pouring the oil into the engine. In order to do this without spilling any oil you will require a funnel that is not supplied with the mower.
Again, as you can see from my video below, the power of this engine was more than enough to deal with the most demanding conditions.
Self-Propelled Drive
With a mower of this size and weight, you do not need engine help to move the machine, though it can become heavy when laden with damp grass. But with the Mountfield SP41, the engine is self propelled, driving the blades and the rear wheels.
The Mountfield SP41 runs at a single speed of 3.4km/h (2.1mph), a slow walk, which is activated when the operator brake is pulled to allow the engine to move the blades. To engage the self propelled mode, the operator lifts the throttle bar up towards the main bar to engage the clutch.
The SP (self propulsion) is a worth while addition, as this mower can also be purchased without the SP option. This is a single speed self propelled petrol lawn mower, but the speed is just about right, not too fast, not too slow and made my test up a steep slope a breeze (see video). Even if your lawn is flat and level, I would recommend that you pay the little extra and go self propelled, you will not regret it. Remember, there is an additional handle on the bar, when released it disengages the self propulsion – so you have the choice with the SP model.
It is possible to adjust the cutting level on the Mountfield SP41 by moving the 2 levers on the front wheels. There is also a single rear lever that controls both rear wheels. These are quick lock mechanisms that ratchet 5 different height positions, from 25mm to 70mm (1 – 2.76 inches). Both front and rear wheels are the same size and made from formed plastic.
The owner may want to set the front wheels a little lower than the rear wheels to ensure they miss raised obstacles such as flagstones of chippings. All the wheels (front and rear) are the same size.
As seen in my video the height adjustment works very well and it is great that you can adjust the front wheels separately to the rear wheels. It would have been nice however, if the front wheels could have been adjusted with a single lever as opposed to a leaver on both front wheels.
Mountfield SP41 and HP41 Comparison Table
Mountfield SP41 (100cc) 2020
Mountfield SP41 (123cc) 2021
Mountfield HP41 (100cc) 2020
Mountfield HP41 (123cc) 2021
Product
Mountfield SP41 39cm Petrol Rotary Lawnmower
Mountfield SP41 Petrol Lawnmower, Self-Propelled, 39cm cutting width,...
Mountfield 297411048/M17 / HP41 Petrol Rotary Lawnmower, Grey
Mountfield HP41 Petrol Lawnmower, Hand-propelled, 39cm cutting width,...
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Cutting Diameter and Features
The blade length of the Mountfield SP41 is 39 centimetres (15 in). This may sound small, but the mower is intended for use on the lawns of 400m2 (4310ft2) or smaller. To put that into perspective, you would need to spend 10 minutes walking the 190 metres (623-ft) to mow a 20×20-metre (65x65ft) garden. Though the SP41 will work on larger gardens, a small fuel tank means it will need more trips back to base to refuel.
A larger blade equals more weight and complexity; if you have a small to medium garden, then this mower is a perfect size. A smaller blade will also draw less energy from the engine, which is what makes this design more efficient than some other models.
As mentioned above, Mountfield have chosen a polypropylene deck for this mower to a mere 20 Kg. The quality of the deck is of a high standard and is built to last. The advantage of a polypropylene deck is not only the reduction in weight but you will also not have issues of rust, that can be an issue with steel decks. The smooth surface of the deck made it easy for me to brush down and clean the mower after use.
Roller (Stripes)
This Mountfield SP41 will not make stripes on the lawn, but Mountfield does make a separate unit that you can pull along your lawn to make the striping effect. If this unit is going to be used on small lawns; taking a manual roller across your lawn is going to be a quick job.
Grass Box Capacity
The grass collection bag comes with the kit and consists of a wire frame over which a 40 litre bag hangs. This grass bag frame needs assembling before it can be hung from the back of the mower. Everything about this model’s design is about saving on weight and complexity. This includes the bag build, which is a simple and strong mesh fabric.
Assembly of the grass bag actually took me slightly longer than assembly of the mower itself. Once you get the hang of attaching the plastic clips (see video) to the frame, it becomes quick and easy – and you only have to do this once.
Not only having a cloth collection bag reduces the weight, it also assists with the air circulation resulting in a more efficient collection of your 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 rose bushes or any sharp shrubs. Having said that, replacement collection bags are readily available here in the UK as are all Mountfield parts.
Practicalities
To start the engine on this Mountfield SP41, the operator needs to prime the engine with fuel; there is a small pump button set on top of the motor. After priming, the owner needs to stand behind the machine to hold the safety control and pull on the recoil cord. Please note that there is no priming button on the Mountfield ST120 Engine.
The 0.85 litre petrol fuel tank is mounted to the back of the engine with a wide opening to accept regular petrol can spout. Mountfield has set the filling cap above the height of the mower to make it easier to miss the engine cowling.
Petrol mowers are inherently not quiet, but Mountfield has managed to keep the noise rating of this model to a very respectable 95 decibels.
The Mountfield SP41 is a compact and lightweight lawn mower, and the handles fold flat. I had no issue fitting the mower into my standard saloon car boot.
Yes the mower doesn’t have side discharge or mulching capability, but then this mower is not designed for that market. It is a simple mower that will get the job of cutting your lawn done effectively, efficiently and with no fuss.
Safety Features
There is no ignition key on this Mountfield SP41, so for added safety, Mountfield has gone with a presence control 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.
Mulching
There is no mulching on this mower, but you can use it without the bag and let the grass clipping exit under the deck. Mulching would make the clippings less visible and less likely to show on the lawn but it is not an option with this mower.
If you are looking for a mulching mower, the Mountfield SP53 is supplied with a mulching plug.
Mountfield SP41 Self Propelled Lawnmower User Manual Download
Handles do not Fold at the Lower Deck Point (Middle Only)
Should You Buy this Mountfield SP41?
To keep the price down, they have used hollow plastic wheels and polypropylene deck over the blade, as opposed to steel. These are not an issue in themselves, but they would not be ideal for more commercial and heavy use purposes.
The Mountfield SP41 machine is lightweight, and there is no reason not to think that this is a fantastic value mower for what Mountfield offers as a package. This is worth buying if you have a small to medium sized garden (under 400m2), and you are looking for a premium and trusted brand that is good value, reliable with outstanding support up and down the UK, then this mower should definitely be on your shortlist.
Conclusion
For those looking for an affordable yet highly capable mower that won’t let you down, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Mountfield SP41. It offers fantastic value for money. Do check out my full video review for more details on why this is one impressive bit of garden kit
Easy-to-use self-propelled lawn mower with a 39cm cutting width, Lightweight chassis for manoeuvrability, Ideal for small- or medium-sized gardens, 40L grass collector
Easy to use: Self-propelled, Adjustable cutting height (5 positions from 22-80mm), Grooved wheels for traction, Rust-proof chassis
Stiga ST120 Autochoke petrol engine with 123 cubic capacity, Collection cutting method for ease of grass disposal, Light pack weight of 22.9kg, Max. working area 250m, 2-year manufacturer's warranty
Lightweight sturdy polypropylene chassis, 40 litre grass collector is easy to remove and empty using the top handle, Handles fold-over for compact storage and easy transportation
As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.
Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.
With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.
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