Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › After Hours Lounge › Lawnmower: buy cheap or feature laden?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Lawnmower: buy cheap or feature laden?

post #1 of 66
8/16/05 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
For my brand new house and brand new grass, I must finally buy my first ever lawnmower. And I'm torn between frugality and features. Any suggestions on the balance between cost versus ease and quality of use?

For my half-acre lot, which I can mow in one hour with a (borrowed) push-mower, I'm considering either full-featured, self-propelled 3-in-1 mulcher/bagger/side-discharge model or a <$150 push-only, 2-in-1 mulcher/side-discharge.

The object of my affection is the Toro Recycler 20041, at $400. I'm also flirting with the Craftsman 37669 (http://www.google.com/search?q=cache...an+37669&hl=en) on clearance for $300.

Or, I could go cheap and elope with something like the $140 Weedeater sold at Home Depot.

Any suggestions on getting a push-mower? Cheap or fancy?
Reply
post #2 of 66
8/16/05 at 6:07pm
I've got a half acre and use a self propelled Cub Cadet. I wouldn't even think of using a regular push mower.

I'd get one in the $400 - $600 dollar range.
Reply
post #3 of 66
8/16/05 at 6:30pm
Just got rid of my crappy Craftsman last year and replaced it with http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...Name=hrr216tda a Honda. Could not be happier with the new mower.

The Toro I'm sure would be a good mower but I would stay away from the Craftsman even though they are using the Honda motor. All the other parts are crap. Just my opinion!

Wes
Reply
post #4 of 66
8/16/05 at 6:34pm
Check the classifieds/yard sales for a used self-propelled Honda.
Reply
post #5 of 66
8/16/05 at 7:07pm
I agree about staying away from the craftsman. I had one before my current mower and it was crap.

The Cub Cadet I have has a Kawasaki engine and I haven't had any trouble with it in the three years I've had it so far.
Reply
post #6 of 66
8/16/05 at 7:38pm
I owned a piece-of-crap Murray from Wal-Mart, and it cut my very small lot in FL just fine for 11 seasons. Trouble is, it was hard to start after 4 years, needed 2 minutes of "CPR" (primer pulsing) for the first couple of minutes of operation, and was a hydrocarbon-spewing machine, from new.
I recently moved to VA, got a 1/4 acre, and decided to leave the old mower behind. I wanted a Honda, spent too much time gnashing my teeth over the cost, but ended up with-
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/M...Name=hrx217tda

NO regrets whatsoever over the price. It cuts perfectly, mulches fantastically, has pretty low-emissions as tested by the nose-o-meter, and is perhaps the quietest lawn mower I've ever heard (well, with an engine, anyway ).

I expect that it will last me 10 years, or Honda will be getting some serious grief from me.

Todd
Reply
post #7 of 66
8/16/05 at 7:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Check the classifieds/yard sales for a used self-propelled Honda.
Checked the sales this Sunday and no walking mowers were listed; only riders. And not being mechanically inclined, I'm reluctant to buy used.

Quote:
staying away from the craftsman
Oddly, Craftsman has the third-best reliability rankings in Consumer Reports, behind Honda and Toro. And there's concern Honda may slip, as they're moving to cheaper engine parts.

I appreciate the comments. I should have known the HTF crowd would recommend the more expensive choice

Todd - that Honda is very nice. But I want to keep it under $400. If I do get that Toro, I'll be angling for a 10% discount from HD to get it for $400 after tax.
Reply
post #8 of 66
8/16/05 at 8:10pm
I too would recommend staying away from Craftsman. To make a long story short I had two separate mowers suffering from bent blades in a period of less than two months so I got my money back. On my way home from Sears I just so happened to see a well used but operational mower for sale at a second hand shop and it's been working flawlessly for the past four years
Reply
post #9 of 66
8/16/05 at 8:32pm
I went with a Honda Self propelled for <$400 from my local dealer.

I wouldn't dare cheap out on a mower. My father hated his Murray.
Reply
post #10 of 66
8/16/05 at 10:15pm
I've learned from experience to stay away from the cheap ones. You'll end up getting a new one every other year. As for Craftsman, the cheap ones aren't very good, but the one I have now is a Craftsman brand, but with a Honda engine. It's the best mower I've ever had. Starts the first-time, every-time, and cuts great.

As for bent blades, I don't know how anyone can blame the mower. A blade only bends when you hit something like a rock or a medal pipe or some such thing.
Reply
post #11 of 66
8/16/05 at 11:35pm
Well, I recently purchased a cheap Craftsman rear-bagging lawnmower for $175.00 and let me tell you, I should've spend more. It's not that there's anything wrong it since it starts on the first try and it has been reliable. However, it's the little things like the ease of adjustability of the wheels or the amount of cut grass getting stuck in that flap that opens to the bag. I don't know how long it will last, although it will follow a tough act as my last lawnmower lasted over 20 years.

I should've purchased a Honda.
Reply
post #12 of 66
8/17/05 at 4:14am
I too just went from a Craftsman to a Honda and could not be happier. Spent less than $400 at Home Depot, which carries Honda in my area.
Reply
post #13 of 66
8/17/05 at 4:20am
As someone else pointed out there are now Craftsman mowers with Honda engines. As you can see there is a common theme between most of the posts in here about Hondas.
Reply
post #14 of 66
8/17/05 at 4:37am
Going on my 13th year on my TORO RECYCLER:b
I just change the oil and sharpen the blade every year for maintenance. I live in OK where I sometimes have to cut my bermuda 2-3 times per week. If the money is there, go with a good unit like Toro or Honda. YMMV
Reply
post #15 of 66
8/17/05 at 5:56am
It's a mower. Get whatever works as all it does is spin a blade. :-)

That said, you just need quality. I ran a $100 murray into the ground after 10 years of it's life, it could have gone longer, but the wheels came off and after 2 replacement sets, none would work right.

So I got another Murray this time around, 3-1, works good, but does have some drawbacks (well 1 anyway) the rear wheels stick out past the deck, so I cannot get in close to things to mow around, so everything needs the weedwacker to clean up.

I tried a neighbors self-propelled mower once and I hated it. We have slight hills (and I mean slight) on our lot and the single propelled wheel would sometimes just spin in the grass and go nowhere. Just something to keep in mind.
Reply
post #16 of 66
8/17/05 at 6:27am
Here's my opinion. If you get a self propelled mower, get one that is rear wheel drive. Those front wheel self propelled mowers are crap. When the bag begins to fill up and the weight is on the back wheels, the front wheels loose traction. If the self propel is on the back wheels, it keeps traction going during the whole operation.
Reply
post #17 of 66
8/17/05 at 8:35am
I bought the Toro mower based on what I read in Consumer Reports.
My impressions:
They say that it is only mediocre if you mulch the clippings (leave on the grass as you mow). Boy is that the truth, I find myself going back over places that I've already mowed just to break up the clumps it left behind on the first pass.

I frequently hear the gears of the 'personal pace' system make a grinding noise if I start out too fast. I think the drive wheels may just be spinning, but I'm not sure.

The cover for the battery box comes off as I'm mowing. It just doesn't seem to be able to snap into place tightly. My current fix for this is duct tape.

YMMV
Reply
post #18 of 66
8/17/05 at 8:45am
4 years on my Craftsman and I'll not buy another.
Reply
post #19 of 66
8/17/05 at 8:51am
Buy a Honda....not a Crapman with a Honda motor or one of the ones they sell at the big box home center (they're different...trust me) Rear whell drive (two speed is nice) and rear bag (side bags are a PITA) you won't be sorry. My first one lasted ten years before a cable broke (lack of proper maintenance on my part) and I had it completely serviced and gave it to my son-in-law who's now on his sixth year with using it (again minimal maintenance). Mowing the lawn is enough of a pain in and of itself...you don't want to be adding to the work with a mower that you have to futz with...JMO

Mort
Reply
post #20 of 66
8/17/05 at 9:08am
Just spend $200 and get a yardman and call it quits. Mine is going on three years without a hiccup. You're just cutting grass for christ sake! Does the blade spin? Is the grass being cut? DONE!
Reply
post #21 of 66
8/17/05 at 10:22am
Mort,
What you described is the mower I bought from Honda. No way I would cheap out and go the Yardman/Murray Route.
Quote:
I tried a neighbors self-propelled mower once and I hated it. We have slight hills (and I mean slight) on our lot and the single propelled wheel would sometimes just spin in the grass and go nowhere. Just something to keep in mind.
I haven't had this problem. My front yard is on a slight hill. No issues yet with the Honda Self Propelled I bought.
Reply
post #22 of 66
8/17/05 at 10:55am
The problem wth the Craftsman is that pulling the starter rope puts stress on four bolts holding down the main engine hood, to which the recoil assy is attached.

Over time, the holes have ovalized and the hood shakes and rattles. Even more so since three of the bolts no longer actually engage the hood. It's louder than the engine itself.

I'll have to get longer bolts and covering washers to fix it, which involves removing the gas tank, etc.
Reply
post #23 of 66
8/17/05 at 12:12pm
I've been mowing my acre for 5 years now with some used POS mower I bought for fifty bucks. It cuts the grass, which is all I ask...
Reply
post #24 of 66
8/17/05 at 12:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
They say that it is only mediocre if you mulch the clippings
That's disappointing to hear. Though, I believe few mowers rated better than an "average" for mulching; those that were good or excellent were priced over $400.

As for Honda, while I respect their engine life (and own a Honda Accord) the Hondas I've seen don't have side-discharge. And CR rated all but the most expensive Hondas as lesser performers. So I'm not presently interested in a Honda mower.

Quote:
Just spend $200 and get a yardman and call it quits. Mine
As much as I would like to get the do-it-all, super-convenient Toro, I'm leaning towards a $130 mulcher/bagger at Home Depot. That would leave $250 I could put towards furniture or vacation.

Again, I'm suprised by all the anti-Craftsman comments. You all need to subscribe to CR, and get their reliability data updated
Reply
post #25 of 66
8/17/05 at 1:47pm
CR likes Bose. Nuff sed.
Reply
post #26 of 66
8/17/05 at 2:01pm
Go electric, quiet, lightweight, and cut just fine. Creating the electricity they use is considerably less pollution than what gas powered models put out. Perfect for half acre or less.
Reply
post #27 of 66
8/17/05 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Again, I'm suprised by all the anti-Craftsman comments. You all need to subscribe to CR, and get their reliability data updated


I guess I don't hold much faith in CR, I had a Craftsman like I said and I am here to say in 3 years of owning it I went through 2 belts (on their advertised Direct Drive wording on the sales tag). Two front wheels (the gear drive ground down to nothing) and both of my bag supports broke. Also the two big rear wheels bent out because of the poor engineering of the wheel supports. It had an amazing 6.5HP that would bog down at even the sight of long grass, no way did that produce 6.5hp, I have seen 3hp Briggs that could out power that Craftsman no problem.

I am in the second year with the Honda and no problem yet and I mow three 1/3 acre yards every week!

Wes
Reply
post #28 of 66
8/17/05 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Go electric, quiet, lightweight, and cut just fine
That would be cool, but they're too expensive and don't seem like an effective solution for 1/2 acre.

Quote:
I guess I don't hold much faith in CR
CR isn't perfect (as recent photo-printer reviews showed), but I've found their reviews more helpful than not over the years. And they're about the only serious source of quality information for low- to mid-range consumer goods.

I browsed some more today. The $700 Honda would also be peachy, but that's beyond the budget

And my dream solution would be the Robo-Mower
Reply
post #29 of 66
8/18/05 at 11:19am
Buy which ever one has the highest gas milage!

Oh, and make sure you a have a secure place to lock it up. My previous mower, a self-propelled Scott, was burgled out of my garage; @$$hat broke the lock.

Last year I bought a self-propelled Toro.
Reply
post #30 of 66
8/18/05 at 2:05pm
My 3 year old Toro Recycler is amazing. I didn't want an electric start system but that's all they had at Lowes, and now I'm addicted to it. I'm still on the original battery which lasts months between charges. I'm also a big fan of the Personal Pace drive system they use. Best mower I've had, a wonderful piece of machinery.

I only wish I'd bought this mower 10 years ago instead of going through a series of cheap mowers that I hated to use, or that died prematurely.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: After Hours Lounge
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › After Hours Lounge › Lawnmower: buy cheap or feature laden?