Whats a good Self Propelled mower?

[Nick Chapman]

Need to buy a self propelled mower. My back is absolutely horrible right now, and I can not push a mower. My girlfriend has offered to cut the yard, but she can not push the mower either(she's just weak :D ). Need to pick up a self propelled mower that we can both use. Whats a good brand, without breaking the bank?

Thanks,
Nick

[slowimport96]

Need to buy a self propelled mower. My back is absolutely horrible right now, and I can not push a mower. My girlfriend has offered to cut the yard, but she can not push the mower either(she's just weak :D ). Need to pick up a self propelled mower that we can both use. Whats a good brand, without breaking the bank?

Thanks,
Nick


have someone mow it for you. @ least until your back gets better. You could probably get it done for 30 or less, not sure.

[Yellowstang]

Craftsman with a Briggs and Stratton engine. 7 HP, starts first pull every time!

Edit: and get a mulcher, don't bag the damn clippings!

[Nick Chapman]

have someone mow it for you. @ least until your back gets better. You could probably get it done for 30 or less, not sure.


Been trying that. Can't find anyone to stick around more than 1 week. We went through 6 lawn services last summer, before I just decided to do it myself.

[DHGBullitt3345]

I've got one of the John Deeres. Mid Engine, Rear wheel drive LOL

[Yellowstang]

Been trying that. Can't find anyone to stick around more than 1 week. We went through 6 lawn services last summer, before I just decided to do it myself.


Why pay someone to mow your lawn. That's like paying someone to, well... wash your car! :eek:

[my dixie wrecked]

I've got a Toro personal pace. Wife can start it with ease. they also have the Electric start that I didnt opt for. the other Toro I had lasted for about 12 years. it was working when it was stolen too. i think it was around 250 bucks. And for your its got the self cleaning option. Hook a hose to it and turn it on and it cleans the shit out of it.

[Nick Chapman]

Why pay someone to mow your lawn. That's like paying someone to, well... wash your car! :eek:


Because I do not have time to do it myself. Full time job, plus the detailing business, I don't ever get days off.

[8mpg]

Id go with a Briggs and Stratton engine on whatever you get.

The new toro stuff has gone to crap. Old Toro was great...my dad had a lawnmower that lasted a good 15 years.

Oh...and regardless of what Rob said.. Id still go with something that has the option of bagging. After a good year, the thatching gets to thick and needs to be dethatched..thats a lot of work. Also, bagging is good for times like now with assloads of weeds.

[Relinquished]

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=103528-573-BG20495&detail=desc&lpage=none




i have an older john deere

[Mach1Nut]

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=249887-270-12AI865M011&lpage=none

This is which one I bought 2 years ago. It has been very nice. You can mulch and bag. Front wheel drive. Briggs & Stratton.

[Yellowstang]

Oh...and regardless of what Rob said.. Id still go with something that has the option of bagging. After a good year, the thatching gets to thick and needs to be dethatched..thats a lot of work. Also, bagging is good for times like now with assloads of weeds.


true, most mulchers have the option to attach the bag now, best of both worlds!

PS, kill the weeds before you mow!

[Nick Chapman]

PS, kill the weeds before you mow!


If I kill the weeds, I'll have nothing to mow :o

[evil jose]

And get a rear wheel drive model. I've always used front wheel drive and I bought a rear wheel drive this last time and I was surprised how much easier it was going up and down hills.

[BOOSTED32V]

I just bought the Cub Cadet rear wheel drive for $259.00 at Home Depot, the next model up had the electric start, but I opted not to get it, just another thing to break., It's a 3-in1 convertable 7hp 1 pull start, my son loves it, LOL!...'H'

[Lyn]

And get a rear wheel drive model. I've always used front wheel drive and I bought a rear wheel drive this last time and I was surprised how much easier it was going up and down hills.
I had a harder time with rear whel drive mowers when you get to lke a corner against a fence or something. When you want to stop and pick up the front wheels, the rear whel drive keeps going so it digs up the grass. :eek:


<-- yellowstang

[Tx Redneck]

This is all you need to see.
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/products/models.aspx?page=models&section=P2LM&category=res My moms is going on 10 yrs without one problem.

[2K2 LS1]

I have always told everyone I know to get a HONDA mower. Don't get the cheap homedepot or lowe's or northern tool ones either. Spring for the $8-900 and get the last mower you will have to buy. I have a honda HR214 that my dad bought in 1985ish that to this day runs and cuts like a champ. I love it so much that I have 5 other honda mowers in various conditions that I tinker with and resell or part out. If you look 9 out of 10 of the Lawn crews these days run the honda engine on eithe ra honda or toro deck. You simply can't beat there quality. Like Jose said; stick with rear wheel drive not front. if you opt for a brand other than honda, make sure you get a shaft driven trani not a belt. You will thank me later! :cool:

[2K2 LS1]

Here you go Nick

http://dallas.craigslist.org/grd/649584230.html

[Slowhand]

Oh...and regardless of what Rob said.. Id still go with something that has the option of bagging. After a good year, the thatching gets to thick and needs to be dethatched..thats a lot of work. Also, bagging is good for times like now with assloads of weeds.

You need to have the capabilities to mulch and bag; any mower that has no provisions for bagging sounds useless. I usually just mulch, but 4 times a year or so we bag (beginning and end of season).

[BreedLove]

You need to have the capabilities to mulch and bag; any mower that has no provisions for bagging sounds useless. I usually just mulch, but 4 times a year or so we bag (beginning and end of season).
Nigga you got to always bag! Keeps the yard looking so much nicer. That way you don't get those grass clumps everywhere.

[evil jose]

I had a harder time with rear whel drive mowers when you get to lke a corner against a fence or something. When you want to stop and pick up the front wheels, the rear whel drive keeps going so it digs up the grass. :eek:


<-- yellowstang

Well the flip side to that is when going up a hill it digs into the ground better. Plus I have the lever where I can vary the speed of the drive and when I go to one of those tight places I let go of the lever so it's not going forward. Hope that makes sense. RWD works better for me in my situation.

[BP]

Honda, mine is 5 years old and still starts on the first pull. My brother mowed 5-6 yards a week with it until he stepped up and bought his own. My 42" riding mower does most of the work now though:)

[Big Thumper]

Ditto on the Honda. I bought one when I was 15 to mow lawns with. I'm now 36 and I still use it. I ran this thing out of oil, never service it and it is finally starting to smoke on initial start. Mine is the "commercial" mower with a steel deck...one heavy SOB.

[8mpg]

true, most mulchers have the option to attach the bag now, best of both worlds!

PS, kill the weeds before you mow!

LOL... like Nick said...if it wasnt for the weeds..there would be no reason to mow :D

Im really working on killing the weeds...its a bitch.

[miketyler]

Yup - have been running self-propelled Hondas for years now. I had a plastic deck Honda Harmony mower. Great mower, very reliable. I got three HRZ-215's off of CL a year or so back. These are the ones with the swivel wheels up front that allow them to turn in a zero radius. Anyhow, they are great, start first time, with 3speed transmission. Gotta have em.

For riders, I just got a Cub Cadet with 50" deck and 21hp engine. Seems to work pretty good so far.

[ram57ta]

I finally did away last summer with my 1980 Toro Rear drive when the old 4hp Briggs threw a rod thru the case. Them old ones are some tough bastards if you get the Briggs motor (the Tecumseh's suck).
I went hunting at pawn shops and picked up a late 90's Commercial Toro rear bagger with a 6hp Suzuki 2 stroke for 100 bucks....that things a beast and will cut thru damn near anything. If it dies I will probably go pick up a mid level Honda at Home Depot.

[PooterWS6]

Id go with a Briggs and Stratton engine on whatever you get.

The new toro stuff has gone to crap. Old Toro was great...my dad had a lawnmower that lasted a good 15 years.

Oh...and regardless of what Rob said.. Id still go with something that has the option of bagging. After a good year, the thatching gets to thick and needs to be dethatched..thats a lot of work. Also, bagging is good for times like now with assloads of weeds.
Any push/selfpropelled mower sucks balls at bagging!
(Unless it came with like riding lawn mower-sized bags:p)

Mine fills up with one pass of my front yard, when the grass isnt even very tall, im not starting/stopping the mower 20 times on the front yard alone to bag....
(I usually end up cutting, then raking it up later and bagging it by hand)

[2K2 LS1]

Ditto on the Honda. I bought one when I was 15 to mow lawns with. I'm now 36 and I still use it. I ran this thing out of oil, never service it and it is finally starting to smoke on initial start. Mine is the "commercial" mower with a steel deck...one heavy SOB.

What model Scott?

[Red 342 H.O.]

I have a Yard Man (MTD) that i got from lowes back in 1999 and it is self propelled, mulcing blades with a bagger. Bought it for about $250 back then and it was rated like #1 or #2 in Consumer Reports.

This thing never drinks oil, cranks on first pull, absolutely flawless. I change the oil every year, clean off the plug and blow off or replace the air filter every winter and it has never had dark or black oil when I drain it......it looks like brand new oil everytime I check it or drain it..........just my two cents. OH, AND IT HAS A BRIGGS & STRATTON.

[Big Thumper]

What model Scott?

I think it is HRA-216.

[bulldawgs75]

dont let "self-propelled" fool you, you will still need to push the mower. Unless you are getting it to assist the girlfriend in pushing. I like the Personal Pace mowers by Toro.

[EW]

I love my Toro SUPER Recycler! I bought it from Mr. C's hardware on Precinct Line. Personal Pace is the bomb. If you walk slow it goes slow if you walk fast it will take off. Cast deck, mulcher w/bagging option.

Basically, the newer version.
http://www.toro.com/home/mowers/superrecycler/20092.html

[EW]

I finally did away last summer with my 1980 Toro Rear drive when the old 4hp Briggs threw a rod thru the case. Them old ones are some tough bastards if you get the Briggs motor (the Tecumseh's suck).
I went hunting at pawn shops and picked up a late 90's Commercial Toro rear bagger with a 6hp Suzuki 2 stroke for 100 bucks....that things a beast and will cut thru damn near anything. If it dies I will probably go pick up a mid level Honda at Home Depot.
I thought about buying the commercial model when I bought mine but it was $900! Pneumatic tires, cast deck, and oil filter ftw.

[5.0LiterRiceEater]

My Craftsman lasted for 8 years. Just bought this one last month and love it so far. Rear drive and electric start



http://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/12AE18M3056_prod_lg.jpg

[Skidmark]

http://www.flyingfingers.com/shop/images/medium/__notions__Clover/Scissors-493S.jpg

[doopie]

Honda rear wheel drive. Pulls so hard my wife always does wheelies with it and has to slow it down so it doesnt go so fast she has to jog behind it. The other mower is a Cub Cadet ZTT46 for me.

Raymond

[bcoop]

I've always had excellent luck with Honda HRC series and Lawn Boy.


One Lawn Boy is 20 years old. The other is about 5. Not a single problem out of either, besides the regular replacement of filters and wheels.


Got two Hondas that are about 18 years old, and one that is about 10 years old. They are great, but when the self propel goes out, watch out. Expensive to fix.


They are however, easy to maintain and you will get a good 10 years of use before the self propel wears out unless you abuse it.

[97blkpny]

http://www.flyingfingers.com/shop/images/medium/__notions__Clover/Scissors-493S.jpg


Hahaha. It doesn't have a bag option. :(

[MotoMan]

Nick I think you need one of these :D

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a218/greg_dusek/2407_image.jpg

[mk5.0]

just get a riding mower and be done.

[2K2 LS1]

I've always had excellent luck with Honda HRC series and Lawn Boy.


One Lawn Boy is 20 years old. The other is about 5. Not a single problem out of either, besides the regular replacement of filters and wheels.


Got two Hondas that are about 18 years old, and one that is about 10 years old. They are great, but when the self propel goes out, watch out. Expensive to fix.


They are however, easy to maintain and you will get a good 10 years of use before the self propel wears out unless you abuse it.

Hit me up if you need parts. I have several I am going to part out and put on ebay.

[ceyko]

I bought a 6.5hp Craftsman w/ B&S engine about 7 years ago. It's a great mower, but when you live in a standard development I'm pretty sure it is over kill. It's not like a mower has to live up to the same standards as a mower on duty on a 2+ acre plot of land.

Hell, I could probably do maintenance ever 4 years and still match the same maintenance on those mowers done once a year.