Need a new push lawnmower

[foxeye]

Do the knockoffs actually say Honda on them?

No they do not. They look like a twin brother to them and folks naturally "assume" Of course some dealers do not do anything to discredit that assumption either.

 

[sheepdawg]

I bought a 6 1/2 HP.Toro last year and the sucker never seemed to take more tha two pulls to start it. No fiddling with priming the carb or anything just pull the cord. Cuts my St. Augustine like a champ and mulches my leaves in the fall. I believe it set me back $269 or $289 at Home Depot. Decemt self propelled mower, I'm impressed with it.

 

[mkk41]

They use a Briggs & Stratton motor , so I bought a Sears last year , on sale. 6 1/2hp , rear bagger or mulch. The mulching feature (just leave the bag off) works great if I don't let the grass get too high.

 

[NCTexan]

Be the first in your neighborhood with a Flymo. They're big in the UK but seldom seen in the states.

Not only do they look weird hovering over your lawn... you never have to worry about wheel tracks in your freshly mowed lawn.

 

[Dennis The B]

Another vote for the troy bilt Honda 190cc I like the poster do not want anything more than a 21/22" cut and do NOT want self propelled. The Honda Troybilt at $279 is the best deal around in my opinion. Once yo go Honda-you'll never go back to B&S

Caj, I figured your wife would be offering the lawn mower advice, based on this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/307991-man-jokes-read-if-you-dare.html

 

[JcMack]

My lawn mower is Jose.

 

[doublesharp]

The "real" Honda engines start with a GX prefix and normally those are on Honda badged equipment although some top end manufacturers will pay the premium and use the GX. The GC is Honda's homeowner line with the 5hp GC160 being the most common on power mowers, pressure washers, etc. These engines can be purchased for around $140 by consumers like me. No doubt big buying manufacturers get a substantial price break.

I've got several of these consumer Honda engines and get good service from all. If you were close to me, I'd sell you a good used Honda brand self propelled, caster wheeled (zero turn push mower) with the GC engine for $200.

I've also got a Husqvarna with the GC Honda, a Billy Goat walk behind blower powered by the GC, a Whipper Clipper walk behind edger powered by the GC and a couple more that I'd have to go to the barn to remember. I make it a hobby to check Craigslist in the lawn/garden section for Honda and I've made some good deals. As in guns, don't buy junk. They aren't infallible but they are semi easy to work on and in my experience a good one stays good. If you neglect your equipment a Honda will fail just like any other brand.

The only power tool I'm sentimental about is this Honda 173 17" push mower. It is from the late 1980s and has a 3 hp GX engine and a plastic deck. I bought it used over 20 years ago and there is nothing comparable on today's market. Weighs 40 lbs and is perfect for cutting and bagging the dog's yard. I spent enough to buy a cheap mower having this one refurbished a couple years ago.

 

[bagga]

i have a lawnmower that i bought at k mart in 1976 and it's a 2 pull and it's running machine. the spark plug has never had a wrench on it. i change the oil every year and sharpen the blade too. 3 horse briggs on it. the deck has a couple of holes rotted through but it still runs too good to worry about it.

 

[Mickey D]

Haerd to beat Craftsman. I bought my first in 1979, ran it until 2004. I replaced it with another Craftsman only because the discharge bag was no longer available for replacement. They have both ALWAYS started on the first pull and never gave me a problem.

Here is the first after I repainted the deck in 2003.

 

[ralph7]

The biggest problem w/mowers is bad gas.
Use Stabil, or run it out of gas at the end of the season and it won't really matter if it is a Briggs and Stratton or a Honda.