Need a new lawnmower

[faceplant]

dude, dont confuse the dealer for the product
thats why you oughta check CR
JD didnt rate as high as i expected in CR
also i checked the 'buyers reviews' on amazon everybody loved Lawnboy
& be careful of what rival dealers say

i have a real old snapper....maybe I'll just get a good tune up & see how
far she can go

hmmm...then again i wonder if mower dealers offer 'demo days'....like ski shops do?

:smile:

 

[wa-loaf]

dude, dont confuse the dealer for the product
thats why you oughta check CR
JD didnt rate as high as i expected in CR
also i checked the 'buyers reviews' on amazon everybody loved Lawnboy
& be careful of what rival dealers say

i have a real old snapper....maybe I'll just get a good tune up & see how
far she can go

hmmm...then again i wonder if mower dealers offer 'demo days'....like ski shops do?

:smile:

I bought a cheap Lawnboy at HD this year. It's worked great, but I need to see if I can find a bigger bag for it.

I also have a LawnBoy snow blower I inherited. It's an early 80's model and works like a champ.

 

[darent]

had a craftsman 3hp for ten years,started first time every time. ruined it on a stump and bought a honda, had it one year and paid 125.00 for a tune up because it wouldn't start and it is like pushing a block of lead around{21" not powered drive on a 1/4 acre lot}, pay less and get a craftsman at sears

 

[Sky]

I'll see if my nice neighbor will let me demo his Toro. :>

My other neighbor has an MTD or some such lawn tractor. But I don't think he'll let me demo it.

As for CR.....I believe they intend to do fair and balanced / unbiased reports....but I think sometimes they rate the wrong points on things...or somehow miss the bigger picture.

I really only have one good example, and it's from a while ago.

The Ram -X Coleman Canoe was rated best. It glides in the water like skin on concrete! Now, I liked it because I could afford it back in the day...but ever since then, I cringe when I look at that canoe and I curse CR. :> I've been pretty sceptical of CR "best/worst ratings since then. Not so much doubting thier intent....just being careful about what they measure....and what they don't.

I'm asking you guys...and a few other web sited I've found for info. Handle height (did I say this already? :> ) will play a major role for me.

 

[faceplant]

I've been pretty sceptical of CR "best/worst ratings since then. Not so much doubting thier intent....just being careful about what they measure....and what they don't. .

me to, that's why I check other sources
wife/kids showed me amazon
its cool because you can check what other folks think about the product your thinking of getting
kind of like AZ, but for buying other sht :smile:

 

[wa-loaf]

Yea I find that when you read reviews by CR on equipment or other things you know a lot about. Their results usually give you WTF reaction.

 

[RootDKJ]

I have a Lawnboy SP, it works pretty good. Mulches or bags, but the bag isn't that large, so I have to empty it often. I broke the safety lever less then a year of owning it. Duct tape repair job and it's good to go. I could just replace the plastic bracket...but why bother.

 

[faceplant]

now why didnt i think of this before?

Mass. town uses goats to clear meadow, save a buck
ANDOVER, Mass. – A Boston suburb has some new landscapers that will work for food — a half-dozen goats clearing and maintaining an overgrown public meadow.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091017/ap_on_fe_st/odd_goat_landscaping

 

[Trekchick]

So let me tell you the way to get a demo....
go into a good shop, like a lawn and garden, or farm implement store. Let them know you're at the beginning stage of shopping and will be looking at other. Hint that one of the other places is going to let you demo, or is looking for a demo unit for you.
These shops know that its likely that you'll keep a machine that is on your site, so they'll likely do back flips to get you a demo.

And THAT is how I had three 48" deck lawn and garden tractors in my yard at one time. It was great to compare them side by side

 

[Sky]

And THAT is how I had three 48" deck lawn and garden tractors in my yard at one time. It was great to compare them side by side

Thanks...good stuff.

 

[ctenidae]

Buy a Scag. Sure, they cost a lot, and are way more mower than you need, but I like the name.

 

[Sky]

Buy a Scag. Sure, they cost a lot, and are way more mower than you need, but I like the name.

HA! I could start a small biz on my block! ROI...one summer? :>

And think of the nice tan I'd be workin on!

 

[gladerider]

had a craftsman for a couple of years. what a POS. hard time starting it. trashed it and got a Toro. think it's a 21" or 22". i had it for 2 summers now. one pull and it starts. i like toro.

 

[Greg]

Craftsman

I know a lot of people scoff at Craftsman, but I'm a Craftsman guy and have had very good luck. I've had a Craftsman 22" mulcher for about 7 years and the thing is bomber (6.5 HP B&S engine). I used it to mow down some brush this summer. Wasn't worried about it. The blade was already shot and by the time I was done I sheered the blade adapter off. New blade and adapter (had to go to a Sears part store for that) and it's good as new again for $20. It starts on the first or second pull every time even after sitting idle all winter. I think I paid about $200 for it. For a half acre lawn that's all I would get. I don't believe in spending a lot on lawn equipment. I have a $1000 Craftsman ride-on too and the thing is great. Weedwhacker, blower, snow thrower? All Craftsman and no problems. Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[tree_skier]

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....)

I thought you were getting a horse?

 

[roark]

I thought you were getting a horse?

L keeps pushing for one. Less lawn to mow is about the only argument that works for me...

 

[billski]

I thought you were getting a horse?

In Slovakia they just tether a goat in the middle of the town soccer field. Does a mighty fine job, if I may say so, though you don't want to slip and fall on the goodies left behind

 

[andrec10]

I am on my 2nd Honda. Bought one in 1989 which lasted 17 years (I am rough on my mowers). I bought a HRX 2 years ago and love it. I always hear people complain about thier Craftsman's. My Father in Law had a Toro which he hated as well.

 

[ctenidae]

I thought you were getting a horse?

We used to have two. Well, a horse (Tennessee Walker) and a pony (Shetland). We could tie the pony to 75 feet of line and a tree, and he'd eat a circle all teh way around. Never got tangled up or anything. The horse, though, could tangle himself up in the reins, looped over a fence. He was a moron.

Pony did a good job mowing a lot of the grass, which my brother and I had to mow with a push mower. We split the yard by tanks of gas. I hated that yard, and the mower. $50 WalMart special, back in 1980 or so. My dad probably still has and uses it.

 

[bigbog]

..thanks for posting that tractor oil pan info cc.... the higher JD models at local HD are ~$50 shy of what my first new(73') Toyota Corolla cost...:roll: *Have the same exact push-model Greg..(22" Craftsman)...no problems nearing end of 5th year.