The lawnmower I borrowed yesterday was a very well-used (and aged-looking) Snapper, and the transmission was exposed. It did a good job, though the thick, wet grass in the back yard clogged it several times. Here’s what I’ve found so far:
Snapper is a well-known brand, and I liked the one I borrowed. But I’m concerned about what seems to be a 3⅓ hp engine when the back yard chokes my 6.5 hp mower. OTOH, it looks like smaller engines are the norm nowadays. The SO used to have a Toro (not the linked model), and she was greatly impressed by it. If I buy a Toro, the SO will be pleased. I like the blade-stop mechanism that allows the mower to stay running while you step away to move something in the way or whatever. I also like the feature that allows you to attach a hose to clean it out. But despite the ‘guaranteed two-pull start’, many reviewers say that the Toro fails to start after a few weeks or a few months. They say the ‘guaranty’ is worthless because shops are inundated with non-starting Toro mowers. I have a Honda generator that has only failed me once, and that’s because it’s seldom used. (Gas goes bad without a stabiliser. I’ve been shown how to drain the carburettor bowl.) The Honda mower, which appears to be 5.1 hp @3,600 rpm, doesn’t have the garden hose fitting, but it does have the blade-stop feature. Its positive-to-negative review ratio is better than the Toro’s. It also costs 1.75 times as much. Also, some of the negative reviews mention starting problems, even with fresh fuel.
What do you think? Which of the mowers I’ve linked would you choose? What other options should I consider? My ‘must-haves’ are that it is self-propelled, has reliable starting, and the ability to mow heave, often wet, grass without choking. The ‘I-really-want-to-have’ is the blade-stop feature. I prefer a mulching mower with the option of bagging instead. FWIW, my current mowers are both the cheapest (or nearly so) Craftsman ones without self-propultion, without blade-stop, and with 6.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engines.
I only buy lawnmowers once every two decades, and I was really impressed with the Honda that I bought last year (although I have a model that doesn’t have the blade brake). Easy starting, doesn’t clog, runs smoothly. It just feels well built, so maybe it’ll last three decades!
I am currently using a 2012 Toro model 30371 22" self-propelled walk-behind mower that I use to mow my 1/2 acre, almost completely level lot. It’s a step below the Toro you’re looking at (the blade stops as soon as you let go of the handle on mine, which I actually prefer - I’ve only got ten toes, and they take almost forever to grow back).
Toros definitely don’t last forever: I tend to get three to four years out of one before something goes wonky with it and it’s cheaper/faster to purchase a new one than get the old one fixed at the only nearby “service center”, which is a locksmith shop that also repairs lawn mowers.
(I’m not as good as I should be in terms of maintenance; once a year I change the oil, spark plug, air filter, and mower blade. Whether the mower needs it or not )
Having said that, my next door neighbor swears by his Honda self-propelled walk-behind and thinks I’m crazy for buying Toros. He claims that his current Honda has lasted ten years, and I have no reason to disbelieve him.
The Toro I’m using right now is on its third year and still starts on the first or second pull. I purchased it as Home Depot for something like $300 (I think an equivalent model is around $350 now). Mine has a Kohler 6.75HP engine. Toro seems to change its engine supplier every couple of years, though, so it’s quite possible that the current models come with a different manufacturer’s engine.
Yep. My friend included his Briggs & Stratton powered lawnmower when I bought the house. I found a tree stump and bent the crankshaft. I could spend $150 having the engine rebuilt, or buy a new 6.5 hp Craftsman for $150. I bought the Craftsman. Eventually I found a different stump. I thought I’d bent the crankshaft, so I spent $150 on a new one. Turns out the shaft wasn’t bent and I got it repaired. I gave the original (whatever brand) mower to the mechanic; who said he’d either recycle it, or fix it and give it to a needy family. One of the Craftsmans wouldn’t start last year, so it’s been sitting. The other is in the shop, and I hope it will last a little while. But I did, as the SO said I would, like the self-propulsion of the Snapper I borrowed.
I used to have a Poulan pro 22" FWD mulching/side-discharge mower with a 6.5 hp B&S engine. Made relatively quick work of well-watered summertime St. Augustine grass, and seems indestructible- I got it from my Dad, who used it for 3-4 years before hiring a lawn service, and I used it for 7 before hiring a lawn service, and my brother’s been using it for a couple years now without any issues.
I just bought a Toro last year. It has the quick start warranty. I’ve already had it in the shop because it wouldn’t start. The shop claims it’s because you can’t leave these models sitting more than a week or so with gas in them. It clogs the fuel system. My previous Craftsman model could sit all winter with gas in it and start right up in the spring. OTOH, that craftsman would clog up with even moderately thick grass whereas the Toro doesn’t even slow down. My next one will probably be a Honda.
Normally I start up my Toro and run it for about 60 seconds once a month during the winter just to clear out any stale gas that otherwise might foul the spark plug. (Is that based on sound lawnmower science? No, but it’s what I heard I should do once, so…)
This winter with all of the bad weather and snow that just didn’t happen. I fired up my three year old Toro this spring after four months of winter total inactivity. Took three pulls (instead of the usual one or two) to get it going that first time. After that initial three-pull issue, it’s been fine.
We’ve had our Honda for years, I would never buy anything else. The Toro we had before that couldn’t cope with our 1/2 acre of sloping rough ground, we gave it away after 3 years.
The only advise I have is to avoid anything with a Briggs & Stratton engine. I have had only trouble with them. They seem to have issues with the carb constantly especially the gaskets.
I have had the same MTD non propelled mower (B&S engine) for 20+ years. With minimal maintenance it worked great and started on the first and sometimes second pull. Then last summer it got submerged in a flood and now it takes several pulls to get it running. I mow often at my (now deceased) mom’s house. She has a Lawn Boy self propelled that has been a great mower.
Instead of looking at the different manufacturers, make a list of the features you are interested in. So far, it seems we have
Self-propelled
Blade clutch (enables you to stop the blade while engine runs
For me, #2 isn’t important. A well-maintained warmed-up engine will start first pull unless it is out of gas. But, to each his own.
How about
Big rear wheels (makes turning a whole lot easier)
High-end HP (keeps it from bogging down in heavy growth)
Grass Catcher
Mulcher
Electric Start
As with anything else, buy the highest quality you can afford–you’ll never be disappointed with high quality. Most of all, take care of it. Do not let it get rained on. Wash it off with a hose after use. In the fall, put stabilizer in the fuel (you never know when your last use will be, but, for me anyway, any time after October is suspect). Each spring, sharpen your blade (or replace it) and change your spark plug (or clean it). If it does get rained on, get it running as soon as you can and use fresh gas.
My mower is 8 years old, front drive Craftsman 6 HP with rear gas catcher. I have less than a half acre, so I catch the clippings (and leaves) and compost them. I hose it off after use (still hot) and clean out the front drive on even years (I did it this year). I keep it under the patio roof (it doesn’t rain much here) and it will start 1st or 2nd pull. I have two blades, one sharpened, one on the mower. I replace the blade each spring, sharpen them both when I clean the drive system. Also, each spring, I change the oil, wire brush the spark plug (or replace it) and replace the air filter. If it does end up getting rained on, I have to remove the carb bowl, clean it out, and put it back on (I use cardboard gasket cut with a scissors since I lost the rubber one years ago). Last year, I replaced both cables and drive wheels (I almost just bought a new mower, but decided that with those things replaced, it would be almost new). I am happy with it, even 8 years old.
It’s the first mower I’ve had with a Honda engine, and it’s great. Starts on the first pull, no matter what. I pulled it out last month after sitting all winter, and it cranked right up.
It’s all wheel drive, so it just goes. With a sharp blade, this thing will cut a wet hayfield.
My previous Craftsman was a 6.75hp B&S engine, and would bog down where this Husky 4.6hp Honda just goes and goes.
The only thing I wanted, but it doesn’t have is electric start. If my wife or kids want to mow (ha!), it just makes it easier. With this Honda, it’s irrelevant. It takes so little effort to start it, it’s surprising.
I had a $50 rebate from Husqvarna, and a $50 coupon to Lowe’s, so I got mine for $400. I just saw on their website that their rebate ended April 30, but I bet they’ll have another one come along.
You can get a cheaper mower that’s nice, but all my friends with Honda mowers swear they’ll never use another brand.
Honda. I bought the lowest end, least fancy model. from Amazon Been great for the past couple of years.
Of course, here in the PNW, you only have to mow about a dozen times per year (although with the unseasonably nice weather we’ve been having, I might have to mow about 20 times this year).
I would be interested in actually testing the gas each of you use. What the seller or the retailer say is mostly BS.
The only thing I will use Efuel in is a late model car when I just can’t get to a regular straight gas station. I add stabilizer and straight fuel as much as I can.
In small engines, mowers, tillers, generators etc. I keep enough real gas around to fuel them. I will make a fuel run to get real gas if I get low. I have five 6 gal cans, 4 two gal cans & 3 one gallon cans. One is for mix fuel for chain saws etc., that are two stroke.
If it has a carb or is used only periodically, I use real gas.
It is not too much trouble for me because of the benefits it has produced for me.
Mine Toro also, started on the 2nd pull this season after winter storage. I think this is it’s 4th season. Mostly starts on pull #1 or sometimes 2 during the season.
I have noticed however it can sometimes be hard to start if stopped and left for a little bit but still hot, perhaps vapor lock, but will restart fine again when it cools down.
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