Reading this thread, I started thinking about the lawnmowers currently sheltered in my garage. One is great - for a push behind. I have a largish yard that is very uneven. Mowing with that one sucks. The other is self propelled, but is difficult for me to start.
For the past two years I haven’t had to mow at all, but since the roomie is gone it’s up to me. The Kid is allergic to freshly cut grass, so forced labor is out.
What I’m looking for is an electric start, self propelled mower - but have no idea what brands, bells and whistles, torque(?) I am looking for. Any suggestions?
Given that you said you have uneven terrain, I’d highly reccomend 12" rear wheels. I have no particular brand preference, but have been happy with the Toro mower I currently use, like this: http://www.toro.com/home/mowers/recycler/20065.html Note this is not electric start, but is guaranteed to start within 2 pulls, and after 3 years, still does so. I did not find any on that site that were both electric start and had large rear wheels, but might have missed it.
I would not buy anything with an engine whose maker I did not recognize. Briggs and Stratton and Tecumseh (sp?) are good quality.
When’s the last time it was treated to some maintenance? eg: oil change and new air filter and spark plug?
Lawn mower engines are simple beasts, and there aren’t a whole lot of things that can cause hard starts that won’t be addressed with new oil, plug and filter, or keeping the internals of the carburetor clean by not storing it over the winter with gas in it, and by giving it the occasional does of Gumout or Techron in the gas.
Of course, if the starting problem is being left-handed and the pull rope is on the right side of the handle and you have to do the dance of prime the carburetor, hold down the dead-man safety bar and pull the rope, that’s harder to deal with. (I hate my tiller for this very reason!)
Last July, when the idiot roomie used the snowblower mix in the do not mix mower. (Of course he had to use the blower mix since he stole the regular gas for his car and as I had just filled the can he couldn’t ask me to go fill it again - nor could he cough up his own money to fill it.) My brother-in-law took it all apart, cleaned it, got it working again.
The self propelled mower is pretty old. My dad kept it running by the grace of duct tape and WD-40. The pull was replaced maybe 5 years ago, but I don’t believe it’s one that was made for this mower as much as one he rigged to fit. It’s always been a bear to start. Also, the teeth to hold the cutting level on two of the wheels slip in the best used height - so I have to mow it either very long, very short, or lopsided.
In other words, it’s time for it to rejoin dad in the grasslands up above, heh.
The push behind is a cheapy a friend gave me when he moved. It worked great on his postage stamp yard. I’ve used it twice and was miserable for a few days afterwards. Just doesn’t work for me. I can hear my dad grumbling about “manning up” and moving into a condo now, but I do like the yard and most of the chores that go with it.
I’ve been looking around online, now I’m thinking I want to go all electric, maybe rechargable.