Lawn Mowers

[Ranger17]

I too went with a Honda, picked one up a couple years ago and could not be happier. Cuts better and handles thicker grass better than anything I've owned over the years, and the extra features like adjusting the amount of grass that is bagged have been quite handy.
More $$ ? Yep. But for me it's been well worth it.

 

[df06]

In about 30 years, I've had two Honda self propelled mowers. Son started a lawn mowing business in hi school. He cut 20 lawns a week and wore out my first one. The second is about 15 years old, starts on first pull and works great.

 

[pennzy]

I don't know if they are still good but I bought a Power Smart from Sears about 7 years ago and it is the best push mower I ever had and I have gone through many . It has single handle height adjustment, something that I would not do without going forward. It has a Honda knock off engine that is excellent. Honda engine parts fit like air cleaners. $200 online shipped at the time.

I would never buy another high end push mower again. I have had Honda and Kubota. No thanks. The blade brakes only cause clogging and the self propulsion is expensive to maintain when it starts to wear out and adds too much weight to the mower. If you think you need self propulsion, buy a rider. A push mower is much more reliable, cheaper and lighter.

 

[wood714]

Like I said in my post.....GREEN=bad

Not always!

 

[bdGreen]

Like I said in my post.....GREEN=bad

I just can't handle the abuse around here...

bdGreen

 

[tops]

I sure as heck won't feel like mowing my lawn at age 107.

When the going gets tough the tough get going. Larry

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Husqvarna 54 inch rider for a little under acre and a 1/2 yard. It has
been going strong for 10 years. When it gives it up I will probably go
with a zero turn, that is, if I am still around.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

When shopping for lawn mowers and you get so enthralled overall the nice new sparkling mowers....just remember this....once you roll over that first pile of dog poop, the bloom is off the rose

 

[Buzzzer]

The best push mower I've had to date is still the one I have, around 17 years later. One of the last 2 cycle Lawn-boys I could find. The mower before that was a el-cheapo Murray with a Briggs engine. Bit the dust in less than 6 years.
This past winter I changed out the main shaft seal and put a new carburetor on it. Change the plugs every couple of years. She runs like a peach and usually starts on the first pull. I love it when I start the mower and the smoke pours out for the first couple of minutes. It tends to irritate the neighbors...

 

[mckenney99]

When shopping for lawn mowers and you get so enthralled overall the nice new sparkling mowers....just remember this....once you roll over that first pile of dog poop, the bloom is off the rose

I suppose the same thing applies to Raccoon poop too? My backyard is completely fenced in and I kept finding these huge 'deposits' in the backyard. I kept trying to figure out which no good neighbor was putting their dog in my yard at night to do their business. One night my motion sensor light lit up and I figured I had the culprit brown handed. Shined a flashlight into the backyard and caught the biggest 'Godzilla' raccoon I've ever seen mid squat. Mystery solved. Now I got to figure out how to get him trapped, a standard sized raccoon trap ain't gonna work. A suppressed 22lr will take care of the rest.

 

[dave1918a2]

You were right. MTD makes most of'm. Honda is a good unit, just remember to use sta-bil when parking it for a time, even a short time. Makes it much easier starting.

 

[gregintenn]

I bought a used Honda walk behind to leave at my mother in law's house for my kids to use. It is a fine mower, but I do not like the rear discharge.

As far as the wheels falling in off, for less than the price of another mower, you can get a small wire feed welder and fix them rather than throwing away an otherwise good mower.

 

[bdGreen]

I bought my first lawnmower in 1973 for around fifty bucks. It had a Briggs engine, grass catcher, and I think, a 3 1/2 h.p. engine.

I used that mower for 23 years.

It had a steel cased body. Never rusted out.
It didn't have mechanical height adjustments for the wheels.

Had to wrench them every time. Swore I would never do that again.

About year 16, my son and daughter were using it for their lawn mowing endeavors in the neighborhood when my son hit a half submerged brick in a neighbor's yard.

It knocked the magneto a bit out of whack.

I bought a tune-up kit just for the points, but, I also got a spark plug in the kit that I changed out.

That was the first time the spark plug had been changed.

At year 23 in the first of spring it didn't start after the first four pulls on the rope, so, I let it go.

I still have a gas powered edger that I have had for over 35 years. Yes, Briggs engine.

My current mower is a Troybilt. You guessed it, a Briggs engine.

I bought that mower for a very unique feature. When you pull the rope to start the engine the first time, releasing the bar to kill the motor rewinds the starter mechanism. Next time you need to start the engine just pump the primer nipple about four times and pull the handle back and it starts automatically. No rope pulling. My father stared at that for quite a while intrigued with the new 'technology'.

Briggs engines all the way for this guy.

Oh, and by the way CAJUNLAWYER, my first lawn mower was GREEN.

enjoy,
bdGreen

 

[Andrew2105]

I've had good luck with my 1983 Lawn Boy. It became mine in 1990 second hand & I have been very happy with it. recently had to fabricate a new drive shaft for the self propelling for the third time. This one has an electric start only with an alternator. The batteries are AGM & they last for years. Parts are getting hard (not impossible). Funny that, I try to maintain my stuff as I feel that it speaks well of me caring for things (childhood leftover attitude). Unfortunately that means I don't have many new shiny things. Ironic that a "green Lawnmower" is probably as anti green emissions wise as can be.

 

[MRB1]

I've been picking up "broken" lawn mowers at garage sales for years. You'd be surprised at how unbroke they become with some basic maintenance catch-up. What I find so surprising is how people treat their equipment - even "new" stuff is left outside in the weather like discarded trash.

 

[Golphin]

Living in Florida with a couple of acres to cut I don't use a push mower. I have worn out a few riding mowers over the years. I have a Big Dog zero turn right now that I have owned about 3 years. They are not cheap but are well made. Had to replace the deck belt last week and the belt was $42.00. That was a little bit of a shock but I had to have it. Of course the good zero turns are not cheap either starting at about 3k but they are fast mowing and well built.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Most reliable mower I ever had was a very cheap Troy Bilt with a Briggs & Stratton engine. It lasted about ten years, and I could have kept it going longer, but I really wanted something self propelled. Next was a Honda. Worst mower I ever had, and it crapped out just out of warranty. Loud bang and lots of smoke - it was a goner. Yes, I change the oil every spring. Then I got a cheap Lawn Boy. It worked pretty well for three years then became hard to start. Rather than rebuild the carb I decided to go with a battery mower. Two years so far, and my Ego is a go getter. It's self propelled, but it's so light with its plastic deck and housing that I rarely engage the self drive. The Ego has more power than any gasoline powered walk behind mower I've ever used. I like it so much that I bought an edger, string trimmer, and blower that all use the same batteries. Got a 7.5 aH battery with the mower and a 5 aH battery with the string trimmer. The others I bought as "bare tools" to save a couple bucks.

Yeah, replacement batteries are expensive when that time arrives, but I no longer have to pull on starter ropes, fuss with gasoline and oil, clean and rebuild those fussy little carburetors, etc.

 

[wood714]

When shopping for lawn mowers and you get so enthralled overall the nice new sparkling mowers....just remember this....once you roll over that first pile of dog poop, the bloom is off the rose

I might be known to wash and wax mine from time to time.

 

[snubbyfan]

Bolt a plate over the opening. Reinstall the wheel and keep on "gettin" up.

Exactly what I'm planning on doin'. I picked up a 1/2" drill bit and a bolt to replace the axle.
I plan to bypass the height adjustment (we never use it anyway) and just using the bolt to attach it to the plate.

 

[Turn4811]

HaHa! I have an acre to mow. I have a 22 year old John Deere rider. My niece bought a house 45 miles up the road month ago. I mowed her weeds for the first time yesterday. There was a stump 2'" above the ground covered by a foot of weeds that I hit. It broke the mount to the deck.

I (hopefully) found a junkyard deck to fix my mower for $200. An new "blank" deck is $670 from John Deere. I also found a salvage entry level John Deere rider for $950. I plan to fix my old mower and give it to my niece for their 1/2 acre lot and buy the entry level rider for my place. The only issue with my old unit is the deck.

 

[bagga]

I bought a B&S powered mower at k mart in 1976 for $99. I sharpen the blade and change the oil every year. it's still the original spark plug in it and it has never been out of the motor. it hasn't been running right this year and I think the jets are plugged. 46 years on it so I think I got my moneys worth out of it.

 

[bgrafsr]

My push mower is a Toro that I've had for years. Runs good once started. We usually have to put a few squirts of ether into the carb to get it to fire up.
Since we bought our new home on 2.3 acres, we bought a zero turn Cub Cadet with steering wheel and 54" deck. Has a Kohler engine and runs great. I only use non-ethanol (boat gas) in it too, as I do with all my gas engine lawn equipment.

 

[glowe]

Here is my take. All lawn mowers mow the lawn. There are very few bad push mowers and paying two or three times as much for one over the other is just money wasted. I have owned two Craftsman push mowers in the last 25 years. They probably cost just over $200 at year-end sales. Only reason I replaced my old one was that I hit a buried steel pipe and bent the shaft. It still ran but felt like it was ready to take off.

Three things are required for good life. Semi-annual maintenance, doing all the things suggested in the manual twice a year, lube, synthetic oil, filters, and spark plug. Second is keep the blade sharpened and balanced. Third is keep the underside of the deck clean. Pressure washing the deck in the fall before storage and mid-mowing season will lengthen the life by many years. The thing to remember is that a push mower is not a brush hog and is not intended for such use. Abuse it and the mower will not last no matter what brand you buy.

I cannot remember the last time I had to pull the starter rope twice when starting my mower and cannot say enough good things about Craftsman mowers. I also had a Craftsman yard tractor with a 26 HP Kohler Twin engine for 10 years and used it to mow and snow blow in the far north, so double duty, year-round. I wanted to upgrade to a locking differential mower/snow blower, so donated my old craftsman rider to my local shooting club and it is still mowing perfectly.

 

[MRB1]

I bought a B&S powered mower at k mart in 1976 for $99. I sharpen the blade and change the oil every year. it's still the original spark plug in it and it has never been out of the motor. it hasn't been running right this year and I think the jets are plugged. 46 years on it so I think I got my moneys worth out of it.

IF you ever have to replace that plug, the dang thing will never run again. Murphy's law is waiting for a chance to pounce !

 

[old tanker]

I am still using the Hayterette that came back from Germany with me in 1975. The deck is cast aluminium, it has ball bearing wheels and no OHSA cut-off. Even better, as senior occupant in a set of government quarters, it was issued to me for use by those in our building to do the mowing.

When clearing the installation going down the hand receipt turning in various implements of facilities maintenance, the clerk said, "That's it," and stamped my clearance papers. "Are you sure?" "Yep"

As it was cleaned, defueled and ready for turn in (you guys who know what CIF is will understand) I took it back home where the German movers dutifully packed it in my household goods. I've used it ever since. Kinda cool to have a mower with a Royal Warrant..."By Appointment of Her Majesty"

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Here is my take. All lawn mowers mow the lawn.

The thing to remember is that a push mower is not a brush hog and is not intended for such use.

I wish my wife would read this She also views the garbage disposal as a challenge.