Need a lawnmower

[psteng19]

Here's what I know -

Don't need a rider, property is not that large at all.
Slight hill, so self-propelled would be nice.
Don't want to bag (or do I?), so I would need a mulcher?
Would like a smaller model, and cheap is always good.

Heard good things about Honda's (do they have VTEC in their lawnmowers?), and Toro's.

 

[SampSon]

Depends on how much you want to spend. If you maintain any decent mower it will last a long time. Toro, Honda, John Deere, all the same sh!t.
Get the self-propelled or you will kick yourself in the ass.

 

[kranky]

Remember the bigger the engine, the heavier the mower. If you have a lot of twists and turns to follow, look at the ones with front swivel wheels. Otherwise the fixed wheels will be fine. If you get a 2-cycle engine you have to mix oil/gas when filling the tank. 4-cycle uses straight gas and has a separate oil reservoir like your car.

Sometimes you'll want to bag.

Self-propelled without a doubt. I have a Sears mower with a Honda engine, works great.

 

[gooseman]

I have a toro that seems pretty good to me. One suggestion though, if you get a self-propelled model get one where the rear wheels have the propulsion, not the front.

 

[Kelemvor]

Most mowers these days are mulchers and most are also self propelled. We got a Craftsman mower with a 7HP Briggs engine on it like 6 years ago. The thing still starts on the first pull just about every time. And I finally have the oil changed and such a month or so ago. And no, the front wheels should be the ones that propel on self propelled. so if you need to stop you can just push down to lift them off the ground. At least that's y opinion.

I don't think I've ever seen one with the rear wheels doing the propelling.

 

[lightpants]

A few years ago I bought a toro "personal pace" lawn mower at home depot.
Best mower I have ever owned, I highly recommend it.

 

[bcoupland]

John Deere FTW! I have a JX-75. It has a 6 HP OHC Kawasaki engine that starts on the first pull every time. Rear-wheel drive with a hydrostatic clutch and 5 speeds is great for the hills. I haven't had any troubles with it whatsoever in 5 years. If anything, get something with a blade clutch. You'll learn to love it because you don't have to re-start the mower each time you walk away from it and it is a lot safer as well.

 

[richardycc]

just bought the cheapest self propelled Toro from Home Depot for $279 -15% off, I think the model # is 20071. if you are getting a Toro from HD too, you might want to get the more expensive model with higher wheels with true 'personal pace', this 20071 is labelled as 'variable speed', not sure how much different it is from their patented personal pace system.

 

[CorCentral]

I have a 6hp Craftsman (Briggs and Stratton) I bought 6years ago and still starts on one pull after depressing the primer bulb 6 times.
It's a front wheel drive. Paid about $280.00 for it.

As for bagging........... If you have TONS of weeds, bagging would be a good idea. If not, mulching the cut grass is good for your lawn and feeds it.

Figure on spending around $300.00 for a decent one.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Most mowers these days are mulchers and most are also self propelled. We got a Craftsman mower with a 7HP Briggs engine on it like 6 years ago. The thing still starts on the first pull just about every time. And I finally have the oil changed and such a month or so ago. And no, the front wheels should be the ones that propel on self propelled. so if you need to stop you can just push down to lift them off the ground. At least that's y opinion.

I don't think I've ever seen one with the rear wheels doing the propelling.

I have had several self propelled mowers, and they tend to be heavier than regular push mowers. And, I find that self propelled mowers tend to bog down a bit more in wet grass.

I got a 6.5 HP Briggs Craftsman 3 years ago (12" rear wheels) and it still fire upon first full (prime bulb 3 push). And, I haven't had the need to change/clean the sparkplug/carb.

 

[DaveJ]

Toro FTW! My Toro mower is 6 years old and still going, despite being heavily abused. Mine is front wheel drive.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: richardycc
just bought the cheapest self propelled Toro from Home Depot for $279 -15% off, I think the model # is 20071. if you are getting a Toro from HD too, you might want to get the more expensive model with higher wheels with true 'personal pace', this 20071 is labelled as 'variable speed', not sure how much different it is from their patented personal pace system.

Where is this 15% off? Coupon?

 

[RossMAN]

What's your budget?

Do you have access to a CostCo or Sam's Club?

 

[trOver]

Originally posted by: lightpants
A few years ago I bought a toro "personal pace" lawn mower at home depot.
Best mower I have ever owned, I highly recommend it.

Seconded. I have owned my craftsman/sears mowers, and the toro wins hands down. I mow 4-6 yards besides my own, so it gets used 4-6 times more than a normal mower, and has been going strong for two years now. Thats equivilant to 8-12 years if I was just mowing my lawn.

My toro is a personal pace, rear wheel drive, bags, mulchs, 22" blade, paid ~380 at HD

 

[KK]

I picked up the toro 20055 model about 2 monthes ago. The thing is great so far, the personal pace system is great too. the lower models have cheap wheels, and a cheaper engine, tecumseh, and I believe the deck is cheaper. The deck on the super recyclers are cast aluminum. Also the super recyclers come with a 5 year warranty, where as the regular recyclers just come with a 2 year warranty. It was between the hondas and the toro for me. I went with the toro because I didn't care for the plastic deck that hondas had plus the thumb drive seems like it'd be annoying after mowing for alittle while. I paid 500 + tax for it at the local ace.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's your budget?

Do you have access to a CostCo or Sam's Club?

$200 to maybe $400?

No membership to either but I can if the savings will negate the membership fees.

 

[MrPickins]

One more vote for Toro.
We bought a 6.5HP Recycler model with a tall back wheel and self propel.

After 4 years of mowing my lawn, and 2 friends' lawns, the thing runs like brand new.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: psteng19

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What's your budget?

Do you have access to a CostCo or Sam's Club?

$200 to maybe $400?

No membership to either but I can if the savings will negate the membership fees.

For 200 to 400 you can get a dam good mower. I have a Toro. I got it from Lowes I know that it's one model below the self propeled one. I have a hill but it's only in the front and is slight. I returned the self propelled one to say about 60 to 70 dollars to get a weed trimmer. I can tell you opt for the self propelled because it becomes as easy as you simply steer the unit and it goes by itself. Almost all mowers you get wheather it's toro, troy built etc... use an MTD Brigs and Straton engine. The B&S engine is superior and will last you several years. I will tell you that the deck will rust before the engine goes. I've heard from a lot of people that Honda mowers last forever. I don't know if they say this just because of the Honda cars but I've heard they have last a long time.

Bagging is never good because your'e not returning nutrients back to your hard. I always mulch. But my mower has the option to bag. But I never use this feature. Bagging is only good if you don't want weeds and weed seeds returning to your property.

 

[radioouman]

Here's another vote for Toro.

Mine was built in 1981. It has a 3.5 hp Briggs & Stratton on it, and it is not self propelled. I'm 28, and I've used this mower since I was 12. It starts on the third or fourth pull every time. I can fill my 2 gallon gas can at the beginning of the summer and still have gas left over at the end of the season.

 

[steppinthrax]

One thing I forgot to mention was my B&G engine has something called easy pull start. Essentilly your pulling a clock spring that turns the engine over. I never had to use no more then 1 pull to turn it over.

 

[Chryso]

I got a Lawn-Boy from Home Depot and it is great. It is rear wheel drive. I used to use a Craftsman that had big rear wheels and front wheel drive.
I have REALLY thick grass and the self propelled Craftsman couldn't hack it. I would end up pushing the thing a lot of the time. The rear wheel drive Lawn-Boy goes through the thick grass easily.

 

[aldamon]

Our first lawn mower was stolen so I picked up a used, larger mower on on Craigslist for $40. It's worked fine for years now.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: trOver

Originally posted by: lightpants
A few years ago I bought a toro "personal pace" lawn mower at home depot.
Best mower I have ever owned, I highly recommend it.

Seconded. I have owned my craftsman/sears mowers, and the toro wins hands down. I mow 4-6 yards besides my own, so it gets used 4-6 times more than a normal mower, and has been going strong for two years now. Thats equivilant to 8-12 years if I was just mowing my lawn.

My toro is a personal pace, rear wheel drive, bags, mulchs, 22" blade, paid ~380 at HD

I have the same Toro. It's a good mower. My blade is pretty much gone after two years, though.

 

[Skotty]

In regards to self propelled --

Push it and get some exercise you lazy buggers.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: Skotty
In regards to self propelled --

Push it and get some exercise you lazy buggers.

:laugh: