Any ideas on how to secure a Honda (HRX217HYA, if it matters) lawnmower? I don't have any space to lock it up so it sits in the side yard asking to be stolen (behind a gate and with surveillance camera, though). It is on concrete so I can drill and secure it with eyebolts or something like that. There just doesn't seem to be any convenient place on the lawnmower itself to loop a cable lock or chain around. I'm thinking of securing it by lapping the front end behind the front wheels with a chain or cable secured to two eyebolts embedded in the concrete.
Lawnmower Security
- Thread starter route246
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blackz26
Banned
You'll need something better then that. Bolt cutters will make quick work with that set up
rlitman
Well-known member
You leave such a nice mower out in the rain?
I would just run a cable through the handle like they do at Home Depot, and perhaps alter the bolts that hold the handle on, to make it harder to unscrew (smash the threads perhaps).
I would just run a cable through the handle like they do at Home Depot, and perhaps alter the bolts that hold the handle on, to make it harder to unscrew (smash the threads perhaps).
durallymax
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2011
- Messages
- 918
A simple cable attached to it will deter a lot of theives. Remember most are lazy.
The ones that want to steal it and will cut the cable, are going to find a way to take it no matter what. You can beef it up all you want, but by then you can buy a little shed.
Around here, alot of the implement dealers have a security system comprised of extension cords looped through every mower. In order to take it you have to unplug the cord. Many people don't even know why the cords are there, you could rig yours to look like it was charging the mower or something. Anyways this break in the system triggers the alarm. If you really wanna have fun you can have it trigger a big spotlight and siren. Up to you.
Sounds like you already have the camera so put a light above it when they trip the alarm theyll probably look at it, but I would guess they would give up and run away.
The ones that want to steal it and will cut the cable, are going to find a way to take it no matter what. You can beef it up all you want, but by then you can buy a little shed.
Around here, alot of the implement dealers have a security system comprised of extension cords looped through every mower. In order to take it you have to unplug the cord. Many people don't even know why the cords are there, you could rig yours to look like it was charging the mower or something. Anyways this break in the system triggers the alarm. If you really wanna have fun you can have it trigger a big spotlight and siren. Up to you.
Sounds like you already have the camera so put a light above it when they trip the alarm theyll probably look at it, but I would guess they would give up and run away.
Drill an eye-bolt into the concrete and attach a heavy cable like those used for bicycles.
Also, a cheap deterrent would be ADT or similar security system sign hanging up in obvious view on the garage. Top it off with fake security camera up on eve of garage that points directly at mower!!
I'm lucky where I live I've just put a plastic tub over the engine of my LawnBoy left it in backyard and it never disappeared from theft . . . and it keeps running and running.
Also, a cheap deterrent would be ADT or similar security system sign hanging up in obvious view on the garage. Top it off with fake security camera up on eve of garage that points directly at mower!!
I'm lucky where I live I've just put a plastic tub over the engine of my LawnBoy left it in backyard and it never disappeared from theft . . . and it keeps running and running.
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Subyroo651
Well-known member
Buy or build some kind of Enclosure to house it. Since you already have the concrete foundation, it would double as a shelter and security all in one. Out of prying eyes as well.
SMKS
Well-known member
I would say a cable through an eyelet in the concrete is fine. Most low-end thieves will be deterred by a cable. And if they really want it, nothing will stop them.
In threads like this sometimes the suggestions go way beyond what is practical in an attempt to stop all thefts. In reality, a simple step will stop most thefts and even the most secure, expensive procedures won't stop all thefts, so there's a point of significantly diminishing returns.
In threads like this sometimes the suggestions go way beyond what is practical in an attempt to stop all thefts. In reality, a simple step will stop most thefts and even the most secure, expensive procedures won't stop all thefts, so there's a point of significantly diminishing returns.
Zelatore
Well-known member
I like the idea of the cabled alarm. As said, any cable or chain would stop the 'casual' thief, but if they know it's there and decide they want it, bolt cutters aren't exactly rocket science. But having a light and alarm go off will alert you and/or you neighbors and run off all but the ballsiest thieves.
blindbug
Well-known member
I don't know what kind of clearance you have, but when we had to store a 4-wheeler (ATV) in a non-secure area, we actually built a little arm that was bolted into the ground out of steel plate. The arm flexed at the ground and the 'hand' bolted AROUND the rear axle with a lock on one side. It was intended more for long-term storage, but it worked on at least (1) occassion when someone tried to steal it, but literally got nowhere. Alternatively, could you put a boot on it? Like those used for parking ticket offenders?
nit2wn
Well-known member
Best I can come up with is securing a plate to the concrete with an eyebolt and putting a chain or cable through it. Then take the mower and park it over it and loop it across the mower between the backside of the engine and the handle so it's in the valley of the wedge of the frame. It would need to be tight enough so they can't wiggle it out somehow.. Won't be good for the paint but I think it would work on the theft part. If it's a solid frame with a cutout for the rear discharge, you could loop it through there. Hard to tell from the google pics.
blindbug
Well-known member
I just looked up the model number and realized this isn't a riding mower... negates everything I just said!
I'll concur with others here and say an eye-bolt into the concrete and a heavy chain around the mower itself. Maybe you could weld or bolt a U-bolt or 2 to the mower deck top to thread the chain through, or to attach a lock to?
woody 73
Well-known member
Just my two cents:
If someone wants it no matter how much security they will get it.
The weather no matter where you live just kills everything.
Leaving lights on at night just helps people to see better when taking things.
Neighborhood watch groups are wonderful as they watch peoples things get stolen 24/7.
Sometimes life *****!
Put in an eyebolt in the cement,get a heavy duty chain and good outdoor lock and buy a good outdoor tarp to cover your lawnmower. In the future Build a big Dog House and put that thing inside be sure and hang up a good beware of dog post in your yard!
If someone wants it no matter how much security they will get it.
The weather no matter where you live just kills everything.
Leaving lights on at night just helps people to see better when taking things.
Neighborhood watch groups are wonderful as they watch peoples things get stolen 24/7.
Sometimes life *****!
Put in an eyebolt in the cement,get a heavy duty chain and good outdoor lock and buy a good outdoor tarp to cover your lawnmower. In the future Build a big Dog House and put that thing inside be sure and hang up a good beware of dog post in your yard!
Big-Foot
Well-known member
Chain to the ground and a bicycle padlock through the chain and around the bottom of the crankshaft right above the blade.. Have chain it up after it cools down though...
bczygan
Well-known member
First thing is to make it disappear, before someone else makes it disappear. First choice would be inside storage. Are you sure you can't hoist it up high somewhere or get it down to the basement or something? Is there space under a deck or porch? Next choice is protecting it where it is. Bolt it down by all means, but go further. First, make the storage place somewhere that casual passers by can't see you putting it away. Hide it in plain sight. In other words, camouflage it. Fold the handle to make it a shape that doesn't match a mower so much and then cover it with something not desirable. Like a big ratty fake doghouse, put out a big food bowl and post a dog warning sign. Or a tarp covered with few bags of leaves and some loose leaves scattered to make it seem to be a pile of leaves under a tarp. Cover with a tarp and a big pile of brush. Or put it in a small enclosed utility trailer. Lean a piece of old plywood and some misc. boards up against a fence or the wall of the house, and house it under there. Arrange them in a casual "junky" fashion. Surround it with a dense line of potted evergreen shrubs. Or surround it with solid privacy fencing. Use a brown tarp, not silver or blue, that catch the eye too much. Or store it in the trunk of a car or back of a van. Or build a shed...you need one anyway!
I have almost the same mower, and live in a nice, safe neighborhood, and would still not leave it outside. That's a pricey mower, and some people roam around far out of their neighborhoods looking for stuff that's left outside to steal. I'd find a way to stick it in your garage if it's even remotely possible.
It's in a covered area with overhang and stays relatively dry, NorCal weather is not so extreme in terms of temps and I also have the Honda-branded cover for it.
Givl Reggin
Banned
It you want for it to be really PITA even for yourself take one or both of the rear wheels off it.
Cover it with a tarp, park it behind the house - out of sight out of mind.
FYI - Chain or cable takes 10 seconds to cut - eyebolts in concrete can be twisted off with a pipe wrench.
Cover it with a tarp, park it behind the house - out of sight out of mind.
FYI - Chain or cable takes 10 seconds to cut - eyebolts in concrete can be twisted off with a pipe wrench.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I didn't even think about the rear discharge door. I can secure a chain/cable to an eyebolt under the deck/blade area, open the discharge door and pull the chain/cable through and lock it to a second eyebolt. I'm pretty sure that would be deterrent enough. Local H/W stores sell beefy chains that can be wrapped to prevent scratching and damage, too.
FYI, the area is covered by a roof overhang to prevent direct rain, NorCal temps are not that extreme and I have the Honda cover to protect it further. The backyard area is not visible from the street unless the gate is opened and the neighborhood is low crime with nosy neighbors who look out for each other. Additionally, I have high-res video surveillance cameras around the perimeter (installed after a break-in a few years ago) and motion-sensor floodlights.
Unfortunately, because of some short-sighted landscaping decisions, access to the shed on the other side of the house would require wheeling the lawnmower over a gravel and moss garden with only embedded stepping stones and no way to effectively get it back there without rolling over the moss and gravel.
neophyte
Well-known member
If you use chain, run cable through the links, making a combination of both chain and cable. Cable cutters are available but seem to be much less common than bolt cutters. Most bolt cutters I've used haven't done a very good job when trying to cut cable. This won't necessarily prevent theft but it might make it take twice as many tools or twice as much time to accomplish.
rlitman
Well-known member
Or just get the square link chain used for bicycles that requires a huge bolt cutter to cut.
cryan
Well-known member
I would go down the Indiana Jones route. Pressure plates in the ground that set off poison darts, a pit of venomous snakes, a big huge stone ball that is set to roll down the side of the house if the lawnmower is moved or perhaps some kind of blade that chops up the intruder if they open the gate? Oh and don't forget an entire tribe of Hovito Indians equipped with blowpipes.
toolz
Well-known member
This is the first time I've of heard of this idea - it sounds great, a cable threaded through the chain links then secured along with the chain. I'm imagining the hassle trying to chew through this combination with boltcutters, it would be a jammed up mess.
Anybody have experience with this scheme?
What we did when we built my brothers landscaping trailer was to use a long eyebolt mounted through the trailer bed and cut a slot in the mower deck that the eye would fit through. Works great because you don't have to use a chain and the engine covers up most of the padlock so it would be almost impossible to cut with a bolt cutters.
raddksn
Well-known member
Never mind the dog be ware of me I shoot first ask later
Givl Reggin
Banned
WAIT-A-MINUTE!
I though we were talking about a riding mower.... this is a push mower? You seriously don't have room in the garage for a push mower? Then just a cable and lock will suffice.
I though we were talking about a riding mower.... this is a push mower? You seriously don't have room in the garage for a push mower? Then just a cable and lock will suffice.
blackz26
Banned
Oh this is a push mower? Why worry about it being stolen? There's better things to steal in a criminals eyes. This, is paranoia
Brilliant suggestion. I will try to do this.
Agreed.
I used to go through <$200 lawnmowers like Timex watches. It gets insanely expensive. Eventually they don't start very easily, the rope breaks, the quality of cut is really bad, etc. You get what you pay for. Buying a nice Honda or other high-end model works. My last Honda lasted 15 years and is still going strong. I just wanted a variable speed one to work the curves better without chewing up the lawn. My old one will be sold on CL.
My 2-car garage is also my workshop plus parking space for an SUV. There is no room in there for the mower. I'm not going to move my tools out for a lawnmower. Come on, which is more important? Your tools or your lawn mower? I have a lot of tools.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I consider my mower one of my most prized tools. Scissors are tiring to the hand and knees.
blackz26
Banned
Brilliant suggestion. I will try to do this.
Agreed.
I used to go through <$200 lawnmowers like Timex watches. It gets insanely expensive. Eventually they don't start very easily, the rope breaks, the quality of cut is really bad, etc. You get what you pay for. Buying a nice Honda or other high-end model works. My last Honda lasted 15 years and is still going strong. I just wanted a variable speed one to work the curves better without chewing up the lawn. My old one will be sold on CL.
My 2-car garage is also my workshop plus parking space for an SUV. There is no room in there for the mower. I'm not going to move my tools out for a lawnmower. Come on, which is more important? Your tools or your lawn mower? I have a lot of tools.
How can you be so hard on a freaking push mower in a residential lot? I have your problems all solved, hire someone else to mow it.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009I8AO6/?tag=atomicindus08-20
What about that? It'll lift 250 pounds, so it'll easily lift your mower. I'm planning on getting 2 (maybe more) for my garage myself.
What about that? It'll lift 250 pounds, so it'll easily lift your mower. I'm planning on getting 2 (maybe more) for my garage myself.
crewchief888
Well-known member
large german sheperd
and a .45
chaining it up will slow down or stop the casual thief,
a determined one will have it gone before you know it....
myself, i have a riding mower thats not worth the effort to steal, it's over 30 years old, rusted all to hell, 2 tires are flat, a car blocking the driveway
and they have to get past the dog & a .45
and a .45
chaining it up will slow down or stop the casual thief,
a determined one will have it gone before you know it....
myself, i have a riding mower thats not worth the effort to steal, it's over 30 years old, rusted all to hell, 2 tires are flat, a car blocking the driveway
and they have to get past the dog & a .45
There is a problem with hiring someone. You get weeds you've never heard of before. My neighbor just made that mistake and he is thinking of tearing out his lawn now and re-sodding. It costs $80/month here in NorCal to hire someone to take care of your yard. This mower costs $700, less than a year's worth of landscaper fees.
blackz26
Banned
I never said a landscaper. Higher a kid. 10 bucks a pop.
Still, how are you so hard on a push mower? Is it like The blades get dull and it's time for a new one? Or The key breaks and it's time for a new? I know people who have old lawn boys from the 80s.
I would get a more generic cover for it. If someone sees the Honda cover they'll know there's a good chance of a higher valued mower underneath it.
