I have inherited an SP470 with a house purchase. It starts fine but cuts out unless you have the throttle pulled in fully when idle. It will cut grass for 90 seconds or so at full throttle before engine slows and cuts out. Does the clutch need adjusting? Have changed oil, spark plug and filled with fresh petrol. Don't want to get it serviced as could buy new electric for same price but keen to keep the SP470 going as it seems a waste to scrap it.

Michael, October 2010

Governor spring is very slack so when you adjust the metal tang it has no effect. Does anyone know where I can buy a new governor spring, how easy they are to fit and if this will cure the problem?

Michael, November 2010

Don't really see the relevance of stating that for the same price of a service you can buy a new electric mower. If an electric mower will do the job you want this petrol self-propelled mower to do, then why don't you go down that route? You certainly won't buy a new self-propelled mountfield SP470 for the same price of a service.

If it is fitted with a Briggs and Stratton engine then engine idle speed is adjusted via the metal tang that governs the tension on the govenor spring.

If it's the Chinese Mountfield engine then forget it.

Not sure what "clutch" has to do with it

pleasant, October 2010