Lawnmower: buy cheap or feature laden? (1 Viewer)

[DaveF]

Rumor is side yards are now included in hoa. They've been cut twice, now. It's odd this wasn't announced or communicated in some way. Hooray procrastination! I'd almost spent $400 on equipment a couple weeks ago that would be useless.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

When I lived in San Jose, the lack of water had everyone plant bermuda grass. This grew so slowly that I lived with a corded B&D electric the whole time. But when I got to PNW watered Boise, the bluegrass grows so fast that the corded electric would just stall out.

So in June 2009 I bought a $280 Toro recycler with a B&S motor, model 20330. Unlike with my cars I didn't keep any log of maintenance steps other than to throw the receipts into a folder. But now that it's still going strong at 11 years I'm starting to work up logs of maintenance/repair items.

So far I've done the following.

- changed the oil multiple times
- sharpened the blade annually with a bench grinder
- changed the plug and air filter twice
- changed the blade once
- changed the cloth bag once
- changed the "deadman" cable once

This mower always starts with a single pull.

Now I'm wondering how long I can make it last. Anyone have any input on how long a maintained B&S powered mower can last?

When it dies I'd consider a 40v or 80V battery model, but it seems more "green" to keep an existing machine going as long as possible. I use approx. 3 gallons of gas and 2/3 quart of oil per year.

 

[BobO'Link]

I have no idea how long a "maintained" B&S powered mower can last - just not that regularly maintained ones. My first, a 3.5HP B&S Murray from WM lasted ~18 years. The second, a 6.5HP B&S Craftsman from Sears almost 20 years - until my grandson ran over something (won't say what) and bent the shaft. It still started on the first pull before it was damaged beyond repair. I never changed the oil on either - just added more when it'd get low. Replaced the plug every 3 or 4 years and the blade about the same. The air filters on both could be cleaned so I'd do that at the start of each season.

 

[John*Wells]

It depends on where you live and the size of your yard. In many places, a lawnmower is a seasonal tool. However, in a place like Florida, I am Good with a simple push mower. At the rate Florida is going, there isn't much grass in some places to mow anyhow. I see that trend continuing

 

[KeithDA]

Here in the UK, we have about a one acre paddock and cut it about twice every 8 - 9 days on 'side-eject'. With the mulch kit on, it does a good job on the lawns (about 1/4 of an acre) if they are kept short (about every 5-6 days - this stops the lumps forming as there's less to mulch and hide in the lawn)
The main reason I'm commenting is because we have a 'sit-on' American machine! - a Hustler Fastrak with zero turn. It's excellent but probably more than you want to spend - ours was £3,500 14 years ago.. (but still going strong)