Need a new lawnmower

[Sky]

Was hoping to get through the fall with the present one. But it just died. RIP.

So, I only have a 1/2 acre lot. Pool, house, driveway....it still takes a while to mow with a walk-behind (21" cut). I see my neighbor on his riding mower, same yard size. Bingo Bango he's done.

Personally...I like the way the yad looks after I mow, nice straight lines etc.

This past yeatt the kids had had to do the lawn (me and my band thumb to start...hernia and subsequent surgery subsequently. But I figure I'ge got a few more years in me of walking behind the mower vs riding (AND having to store said riding mower im my crowded garage).

Was thinking of jumping up and buying a Honda. Appx $500. Definitley not interested in a POS for 1/2 the price (or less).

Pros Cons? Anybody?

 

[billski]

I have had 2 snappers, one push one rider. They are built like tanks, all metal and are very simple and easy to repair. Uses the same Briggs engines they designed 40 years ago. 25 years. What can I say?
The only thing I every had to replace was this solid-state module that is used to control I believe the safety switches. There is nothing else electronic on this beast.

The only thing I know about about Hondas is that they are quieter.

 

[roark]

So, I only have a 1/2 acre lot. Pool, house, driveway....it still takes a while to mow with a walk-behind (21" cut).

I always giggle when I see folks with tiny yards and riders (or 'lawn tractors').

FWIW my walk behind (albeit self propelled) toro has been rock solid for 4 years thus far on my 1.5 acres (yeah, I probably do actually need a rider....)

 

[ccskier]

I totally disagree on the snapper, I bought a brand new 22" one last summer, mowed lawn twice 3rd time I barely knicked a stump I had hit 100 times with pos craftsman and it bent the shaft, motor totally faqued. They said was going to cost 250 to fix a mower I paid 350 for, junked it, bought a husquavarna, it is OK. I am a few inches shorter than you and the push handle is too low for me, only downfall. I love my fathers Honda, he has had for almost 10 years, doesn't change oil, winterize, nada and starts right up every year.

 

[Hawkshot99]

FWIW my walk behind (albeit self propelled) toro has been rock solid for 4 years thus far on my 1.5 acres (yeah, I probably do actually need a rider....)

Yea screw that. No way I would even consider using a 21". I love having my mower. 48" commercial walk behind. If I am in a rush I can mow my 1/2 acre in 12 mins!

 

[Hawkshot99]

I totally disagree on the snapper, I bought a brand new 22" one last summer, mowed lawn twice 3rd time I barely knicked a stump I had hit 100 times with pos craftsman and it bent the shaft, motor totally faqued. They said was going to cost 250 to fix a mower I paid 350 for, junked it, bought a husquavarna, it is OK. I am a few inches shorter than you and the push handle is too low for me, only downfall. I love my fathers Honda, he has had for almost 10 years, doesn't change oil, winterize, nada and starts right up every year.

Snapper used to be a very good company, back when they were a stand alone company. In the late 90's they were bought by Simplicity, and Simplicity is now a devision of Briggs and Straton.

 

[faceplant]

i looked into getting a new one
went to the library, checked consumrs reports-
they did a story on it las t spring

you can check it yourself but they like Toro
also Lawnboy- that's what i might get
push (#10640) or motorized (10647)- you can get em under $275 at HmDepot

buddy has Toro, loves it, more $

Honda = major coinage

 

[Trekchick]

I mow 3+ acres, some of which is quite hilly around the barn.
When I looked at getting a new lawn tractor I went to the implement stores and got three demos(I picked two of them up and one was delivered to me)
It was great to have all three (New Holland, JohnDeere, Cub Cadet) in my yard to compare side by side and see how each would handle the varied terrain I have to mow.

It really came down to the Cub Cadet and John Deere. The John Deere was the final choice based on being service friendly because I do my own lawn mower maintenance.

The Cub Cadet is powerful being shaft driven and 20HP, but the John Deere was easer to access to change the oil, air filter and grease. Besides, I have only had to replace one belt, which isn't bad considering how much I use it.

 

[hammer]

Bought a Honda lawnmower back in 1995...was real nice for a few years (quiet, started up on first pull every time) but the tranny went after 3-4 years (slipping) and the engine went a few years after. :-x I wasn't obsessive about maintenance but I did keep up on oil changes.

Subsequently bought a Craftsman lawn mower which has been running fine for several years. Starts up fine as long as I remember to prime it when it's cold. I mow most of my lawn with my JD tractor so it doesn't get as much use but I can't complain...and it was a few hundred less than the Honda.

 

[Sky]

Thnaks everyone. Hawk.....the 12-min lawnjob is compelling. My neighbor (as I said) is proof positive. His lot is the same as mine, but he has less "lawn". He's a tad older than me and ...larger girth. He apparently got heat stroke one year pushing his mower so his fam bought him the rider.

We have a JD shop in the neighborhood. I stopped by earlier this year to "shop". I'd love to be done in 15 minutes or so. Maybe when I'm 65. :>

I think my other neighbor had a Craftsman for many years, now has a Toro. He and I are very friendly, I'm sure I can borrow his mower for the ONE LAST MOW of the year.

The Honda seems compelling with the four blades. But the transmission issues etc (on any of the SP options) = extra moving parts.

The low-budget John Deere I "had" was super simple. No throttle, no trani, bag or mulch option. I must have had this thing for 8 or 10 years. Prime and pull and off she went.

I'll have to shop around for a mower that has a high enough handle! THat will be a major factor!

Again...thanks!

 

[Hawkshot99]

Hawk.....the 12-min lawnjob is compelling. My neighbor (as I said) is proof positive. His lot is the same as mine, but he has less "lawn". He's a tad older than me and ...larger girth. He apparently got heat stroke one year pushing his mower so his fam bought him the rider.

Just so you don't think I am super lazy, I have a lawn business. That is why I have that mower.

 

[ccskier]

DDN'T buy anything like a mower at the homo cheapo. For example, JD riding lawn mower a @ HD, plastic oil pan. When you buy it at a real JD dealer, cast iron, big difference.

 

[Sky]

Just so you don't think I am super lazy, I have a lawn business. That is why I have that mower.

I knew hat...from your recent Coyote watching you post. No worries!

 

[Sky]

DDN'T buy anything like a mower at the homo cheapo. For example, JD riding lawn mower a @ HD, plastic oil pan. When you buy it at a real JD dealer, cast iron, big difference.

Really?! I definitely was going to buy where I can get parts and service. But I didn' realize HD's offerings were different. Yuck!

 

[hammer]

DDN'T buy anything like a mower at the homo cheapo. For example, JD riding lawn mower a @ HD, plastic oil pan. When you buy it at a real JD dealer, cast iron, big difference.

The local JD dealer told me that they sold the same models as Home Depot and that they serviced them as well...of course, the Home Depot models were the bottom-line ones, but the salesman at the JD dealer said that they were still good for mowing lawns.

I ended up going with a more expensive model because I have steeper slopes to mow and because I need to haul loam/stone/mulch around the yard. I'd like to put a snowthrower attachment on my tractor as well but I don't have the storage space.

Sky: I'd like to think that my problems were an exception to the rule, but I figured I'd let you know that a $400 Sears mower is doing better for me than the $600 Honda mower did.

 

[Sky]

The local JD dealer told me that they sold the same models as Home Depot and that they serviced them as well...of course, the Home Depot models were the bottom-line ones, but the salesman at the JD dealer said that they were still good for mowing lawns.

I ended up going with a more expensive model because I have steeper slopes to mow and because I need to haul loam/stone/mulch around the yard. I'd like to put a snowthrower attachment on my tractor as well but I don't have the storage space.

Sky: I'd like to think that my problems were an exception to the rule, but I figured I'd let you know that a $400 Sears mower is doing better for me than the $600 Honda mower did.

re: JD...thanks for the clarification.

re: Sears vs Honda...again, thanks. Much appreciated. I'll hunt around and will probably end up getting something I can get serviced locally. Would really like to do the lawn tractor thing JUST cuz I've got better things to do that the lawn for 2+hrs (trimming, bagging, etc). THe stupid thing about the lawn tractor is...I've go some smallish places that a push mower would be better suited for. HATE the idea of buying BOTH types.

My Physical THerapist is very happy with his TORO with the variable speed SP option. He has a similar lawn to mine and claims he's down to about an hour. So maybe the SP option helps? I was checking one site that compared several of the options discussed here. SOme fo these mowers weigh 90+ pounds!! Cripes! They better be SP!!

Handle height (like I said) and local servicing will play a part.

 

[Trekchick]

DDN'T buy anything like a mower at the homo cheapo. For example, JD riding lawn mower a @ HD, plastic oil pan. When you buy it at a real JD dealer, cast iron, big difference.

Really?! I definitely was going to buy where I can get parts and service. But I didn' realize HD's offerings were different. Yuck!

The local JD dealer told me that they sold the same models as Home Depot and that they serviced them as well...of course, the Home Depot models were the bottom-line ones, but the salesman at the JD dealer said that they were still good for mowing lawns.

I ended up going with a more expensive model because I have steeper slopes to mow and because I need to haul loam/stone/mulch around the yard. I'd like to put a snowthrower attachment on my tractor as well but I don't have the storage space.

Sky: I'd like to think that my problems were an exception to the rule, but I figured I'd let you know that a $400 Sears mower is doing better for me than the $600 Honda mower did.

I can't make a comment about the oil pan because I didn't check that out, but I can say that the axel's are different as well as the steel frame. Smaller moving parts like Ujoints 'n' such, which means more break downs.

And Yea, I did actually crawl on the floor of home depot to measure and check things out. I'm that kinda girl. The guy in the little orange apron got really annoyed.

Any way, my JD implement dealer said that they do service on the Home Depot machines because they are the authorized JD warranty place in our area. They have sold a lot of machines to folks who buy at Home Depot, after they have a break down and need to come to them for service. They give service with a smile and show the customer the difference, which makes them a customer for life.

 

[Sky]

Any way, my JD implement dealer said that they do service on the Home Depot machines because they are the authorized JD warranty place in our area. They have sold a lot of machines to folks who buy at Home Depot, after they have a break down and need to come to them for service. They give service with a smile and show the customer the difference, which makes them a customer for life.

I was just check (on-line) JD's walk-behinds since there's a dealer up the street.

Also checked Sears (they offer Husqvarna, Snapper and Craftsman).

There's a Toro guy (well...my neighbor) close to work as well.

Mrs Sky is quite adament we wait till Spring. Meh. She doesn't mow the lawn anyway. :>

 

[Trekchick]

LOL, Mr TC didn't think we needed a lawn mower either, but when he came home to find 3 in our yard, ready for me to demo, he realized that there was a new lawn tractor in our future, whether he liked it or not.

I really do like mowing, its extremely therapeutic for me.

Find out if you can demo a mower. You may be surprised.

 

[Sky]

I really do like mowing, its extremely therapeutic for me.

Find out if you can demo a mower. You may be surprised.

I'm not sure I find it "theraputic"...or even "cathartic", but I enjoy the beer afterwards and...call me OCD...the straight lines. Think Fenway Park. :>

When you said "demo"...you sparked my interest. Thanks!