| Author | Message | ||
     Bo_sox |
OK - it's that time of year for a new walk-behind mower. I limped my 8 year old Ariens along for last years season. After 4 cuts this season I've realized the limping needs to come to an end. I've done a ton of online & in store research, mainly focusing on Honda, J.D., & Husqvarna. From prior brand experience and what I've seen & read, my gut & brain have me sold on Honda. I'm really considering the HRX series, either one of the two top end models (just need to figure if I really 'NEED' the key start or just say f' it and get it). Anyhow, I'd like to get some views from people who obviously have mechanical views & skills. Pro's & Con's on the polymer deck, hydrostatic drive, versamow system, blade stop while the engine keeps running feature, turning radius, reliability, ease of cleanup, ...etc. Anyones input would be greatly appreciated! | ||
| Crusty |
I can't say. When we bought the house in 2001, the previous owners gave us their used Briggs&Stratton powered mower. It still works fine. The engine was made in this country, too. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I'm using a John Deere with absolutely zero safety features to break or get in my way. It's a hand-me-down from my grandpa, then dad, now me. I'm surprised every time it starts. This thing belongs in a museum. That being said, I've never used the other brands  | ||
| Jjjd |
Go honda all the way!!!! No need for key start mine starts the first or second pull every time. I would go out and get another in a heart beat. I have had mine for 8 years now and only changed the spark plug and oil. John Deere's are way over priced if you ask me and I live only minutes away from the factory where they are made!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Crackhead |
I am using a Honda HR21 SXAM from the 1960s, all it has had done to it is maintenance. It only blues blue smoke when bouncing off of the governor (i guess i need to run seafoam through it). It also starts on the first pull and my wife can pull start it!!! I have never had a B&Shit that started as easy as Honda mowers. If they sell it a Walmart, then it can't be good or last long. | ||
| Sifo |
I don't see myself ever spending that kind of cash for a push mower. It needs a few wheels and an engine spinning a blade. Cheap works. +1 Briggs & Stratton on a generic frame! | ||
| Grancuda |
Last spring I bought a TroyBuilt self propelled bagger walk behind with a Honda motor and I should have gone with another briggs. The motor smokes black a ton, idles up and down constantly, the pull start doesn't return without pulling it in and out to get it to go back in, and is actually weaker than our old 3.5hp briggs. I have taken the carb apart to see if there was some obstruction but it is clean. I took it to a Honda Authorized Maintaince shop but they said looked to be somewhat normal and probably just a wear item which isn't covered. My briggs lasted 8 years before it started using oil and I never touched anything but the air cleaner and changed the oil. The murray chassis on the briggs powered motor was flawless too. The TroyBuilt chassis is pathetic, the wheels have nylon bearings and didn't even last a year. The bagger doesn't stay on worth a flip, if you push the mower down to get the front wheels off the ground the bagger touches the ground and makes the bagger come loose. Next time I will go for the $100 wal-mart special with a briggs. (Message edited by grancuda on March 11, 2010) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
My Dad has an ancient Honda that smokes but keeps on going, however it's on a metal base. I would never buy a petrol engine mower on a plastic base, the engine vibration fatigues the polymer in double quick time & then it's shagged. With a metal base you can weld it, with a B&S parts are plentiful & cheap. We have a 11 year old MTD ride on with a Tecumseh engine, only things I've had to do apart from routine maintenance, are bodge up the plastic front grill, which vibrated to bits, with some Dexion & replace the battery. It's still on the original belts!! I give it a shot of Redex down the plughole every couple of years in the spring to make sure the rings aren't gummed, & it's good to go. My advice; buy cheap, simple, repairable. Funny, I just re-read that & it applies to my other vehicles as well. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I have a ~10-12 year old Honda self-propelled I bought from Home Depot. I was pretty much won over by the coolness factor of having a mower with not just an overhead valve engine, but an overhead CAM engine. It's been a pretty good mower. Niggles: self-propel system has been a little quirky; the actuating cable stretched, there's no adjustment, and a replacement is now unavailable. This required some minor jury rigging to keep functioning. The mower also has a belt on the propel drive which seems to come off on a semi-regular basis. That said, I change the oil a couple of times a year, the air filter once a year, and I've put one new spark plug in it since I've owned it. It cranks easily (except for maybe the first start of the season) and doesn't smoke at all. | ||
| Aptbldr |
Honda CCV160 "Quadra-Cut" 3-speed mulcher/bagger since new. 1st two seasons: fouled plugs, minimized with constant blow-out & cleaning attention @ air-cleaner. Made a pre-cleaner, cut from nylon stocking, to protect air-box openings. 2nd two seasons, real mechanic provides its "tune-up" and cleans/lubes transmission/shifter assembly, stuck in 2nd. Wow! Much stronger mowing & no more fouled plugs. Heavy as all get out. Starts easily when plugs & air-cleaner are tidy. No experience with bagger. I've bungee'd the bagger door opened to tackle tall grass. Took at H-D card out to purchase w/ 10% off. | ||
| Teeps |
My mower is 20 years old, Trimmer frame with Honda 3.5hp engine. I've been offered three times what I paid new for it, at the mower shop... go figure. | ||
| Fast1075 |
If you buy a mower with a Briggs or Tecumseh engine, especially a "budget" mower....be aware that among each engine type, there are "grades" of durability as expressed in expected hours of engine life due to mechanical differences in the designs...for example two 3.5 hp engines that "look" alike...one has a cast iron cylinder and the other is aluminum...one has bearings on both ends of the crank...the other only has a bearing on the output, with a sleeve bushing on the other....the differences in engine life can be dramatic... In the case of the Honda and some other import engines, one of the reasons for the long life is that they have more of the durability features...but be aware that in todays market, even the imports may have models based on price point to compete with the "domestic" brands. | ||
| Trevd |
I've had an MTD mower (manual push) with a 160cc Honda engine for only about 3 years now, but every spring I'm happily surprised how easy it is to get started. One pull is usually all it takes. Very happy with it, and suspect it will last me for many many years. | ||
| Dynasport |
I have had nothing but terrible luck with mowers the last few years. In the past I had inexpensive mowers with Briggs & Stratton engines that lasted forever. Well, the last three mowers I have purchased have been nothing but problems. The first was a Sears Craftsman with a B&S engine. It ran great for about have a year then got to where it wouldn't start. Because it was under warranty I took it to the Sears repair facility. Almost a month later I got the mower back. The repair ticket list a ton of work, that if I had payed for would have cost a couple of hundred dollars more than I paid for the mower in the first place. I took it home, cut the yard. It worked fine. That one time. Then it wouldn't start again. Another month in the shop. Again, it worked once and then wouldn't start again. I took it back to the Sears where I bought it and after acting like an idiot (something I am ashamed of now) I convinced them to take the mower back. I paid the extra and bought a similar model with a Honda engine. It gave me problems last year (after about a years ownership). So, I went and bought the cheapest model I could find at Home Depot. It has been a bit spotty too. I am feeling a bit snakebit now. I have never paid anyone to cut my grass, but with my lawnmower experience the last few years, if I have trouble again I may end up going that route to delay my heart attack. | ||
| Fahren |
How big is your lawn? How about one of these: http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/scotts/index. htm# But if that's your lawn in your profile pic, then fuggedaboutit. (Message edited by fahren on March 11, 2010) | ||
| Orman1649 |
They are really nice, easy starting, and reliable.....but for the price you pay for the thing, it better mow the damn lawn itself. | ||
| Sanchez |
I bought a Honda mower from Sears about 6 years ago, and it's been great. On mine the speed varies based on how far I pull in the kill switch bar. It's brilliant. I don't have to reach my hand down to a lever to adjust speed. Also it's infinitely variable unlike older mowers that have e.g. 3 fixed speeds. Oh, and of course you want rear wheel drive. Mulching leaf piles wouldn't be possible with front wheel drive. | ||
| Dwardo |
Buy a cheap used mower from the local sale paper or a neighbor. When it breaks, get another. I have a Craftsman riding mower I got for $100 from a neighbor that runs like new. I also have a 1972 IH Cub Cadet that is a commercial-grade monster but that's another story. I can't see spending silly money on something as prosaic as a lawn mower. Save money for more toys! | ||
| Swampy |
I have been lucky finding walkbehinds, Craigslist and $35, the last one is a big wheel and was in suprisingly great condition. The last one I got was in the reject line at Wallyworld and I got that one for $35 also and it is still running after 10 years. I have a neighbor that has a walkbehind that he thought it would be a good idea to remove the air filter and throw it away when the stupid thing started running bad one day, mind you this is the most annoying thing in the neighborhood running, muffler rusted out, missing, stalling, oh yeah, he leaves it outside so there is water in the tank along with the gas, and the mice have eaten away at the ignition wiring. Every once and a while when I am feeling neighborly I go over and mow his lawn just to have peace in the Hood. So the moral to the story is, take care of it and it will last you a long time. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I've got my dad's old Mclane front-throw with a 5hp B&S motor.... runs like a top... not sure how old it is, I just know it's older than me by a fair margin... probably about 45-50 years. I also have a Honda self propelled 6hp rear bagger... I use that more often because my dad died and I don't want to lose his mower... call me sentimental. (Message edited by pwnzor on March 11, 2010) | ||
| Prowler |
OK, good story here.....My neighbor across the street is a little anal about keeping his things perfectly clean, including his push mower. Anyway, after every time he mows the lawn, he washes his mower to perfection, sparkly clean. I've been telling my son for years that this is the worst thing you can do to a mower (dust it off only!). So a while back, springtime rolls around and the neighbor's mower needs wheel bearings/ wheels and some new bushings for the drive system...shocking!  .... He finds out that this stuff will cost him more than the mower's worth to fix (he brings everything to the mower shop for service as he's not too mechanically inclined), so he puts it out by the trash and buys a new one for $400+. His mower was about 4 years old at the time. I tell my kid to wait until dark, then run over there and retrieve/ save the mower from the trash. After a re-paint (with flames!!), some new wheels and bushings installed (by me for around $30)....I've got a "New" mower, lovingly called "LAWN DOG", which I used for more than 5 years until replacing it with a well used riding mower...a Murray for $300. Tecumseh engine on that push mower started first or second pull every time...... The Murray rider I've had for about 4 years and it just keeps going.......kinda like a Toyota  . So I guess the morale of the story would be- buy cheap and run the crap outa it. I've never had a Briggs or Tecumseh engine die before the rest of the mower/snow blower/trimmer/auger, etc was scrap. (Message edited by prowler on March 11, 2010) | ||
| Etennuly |
I saw some, I believe it was Nissan or Chevrolet commercials, this winter, wherein they were ribbing Honda cars about GM cars having better gas mileage. The local dealers said that if you buy their new car they will give you one of four Hondas of your choice. Of course the choices were an electric mower, a fourstroke gas mower, a weed eater, and I don't recall what the fourth one was. My point is.....do you need a car? You could pay them a hidden extra $500 to get a $350 piece of lawn equipment free! | ||
| Bo_sox |
Thanks for all the advice and info.!!! Got off work early today and stopped by my local Honda power equipment dealer on the way home. After talking to several people on the job site and reading posts here, my mind was made up. Ended up purchasing their top of the line HRX-21 series mower (non electric start - couldn't justify the extra $100 for the little convenience). M.S.R.P. for the model I purchased is $800. Cash is King and with cash in hand I was out the door, tax in all, for $754. Plus they threw in a cover and Honda's offering an extra year of warranty on mowers purchased in March, which pushes this models warranty to 6 years. The warranty covers everything with the exception of the tires and hitting a rock big enough to bend the drive shaft. Couldn't be happier, now I just need it to stop raining so I can give it a shot on my 1/2+ acre of lawn! | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Toro Personal Pace, GTS motor. Aluminum deck. 6 years and a BIG lawn (1hr 45min to mow if I really move), still runs like a top. I'll buy another one in a heartbeat. | ||
| Crackhead |
Good purchase. take care of it and it will last a life time. |
