What do you hate about lawn mowing?

[stomachmonkey]

Having to remember not to block the driveway when my guys show up.

When I used to self mow hated.

1) Clipping bag. Thankfully now they say it is better to leave the clippings in the grass.

2) They need to be made to start easier. An affordable electric start option is nice.

3) How about a larger opening for fuel filling? I could never find a funnel when needed.

4) Blades that stay sharper longer.

5) Swivel wheels for maneuverability.

[Porschephile944]

I primarlly use a john deer sit on to mow the grass when I'm at home.

1) Getting off the mower to empty the bags
2) cleaning the mower deck at the end of the season and between cuttings
3) grease fittings suck
4) changing the oil sucks
-oil drain plug design is a horrible tube thats stuck out of the engine block and I can never get the end off without it almost coming out of the block
-oil filter is mounted upside down, just like in the 944
5) loud, both the mower and the blades
6) ipod holder and headphone jack so i don't have to worry about it falling out of my pocket and getting run over

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

To begin with, what do you dislike about mowing your lawn?

the mowing part

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

What hassles do you have cutting your grass?

that it envolves me doing something

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

What could be done to remove the hassles & make you like it more (or dislike it less)?

the repetetiveness of it all , it frigging grows back !

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

What do you like about mowing your lawn?

nothing really, i hate mowing

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

What could be done to make the experience better?

outsourcing

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

What do you dislike about maintaining your lawn mower?

it requires maintenance???

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

How could the maintenance hassles be eliminated or reduced?

that part actually works just fine, i don't maintain the bugger, so i guess mine's working optimally in that area

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

If you were designing a walk-behind or riding lawn mower, how would it be different from what is currently on the market?

that it works without me walking behind it, or riding the darn thing

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

What features would the perfect lawn mower or riding mower have? Don't hold back -- go crazy.

don't worry, i hardly ever hold back, crazy is my middle name

so the perfect lawn mower : i don't operate it, don't maintain it, don't have to think about it

i think it's called, concrete

[rouxroux]

Evcer since I replaced my 30 year old John Deere with my new Exmark, I'm a happy man. The Exmark "just gets it right", heavy welded deck w/foot operated lift, great ride, Hobbs meter (elapsed time)...and everything is so easy to service, plus it has a deck washout fitting. I've made a few modifications to it, but right out of the box this machine is amazing. It's cut my mowing time by 2/3. The only negative is that I wish the rear had a more substantial towing attachment point.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

I think I'm going to buy a sheep.

and with that option you get fringe benefits!

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

and with that option you get fringe benefits!

But you'd still have to deal with her *****!

[Tim Hancock]

I mow 9 acres and it is tough to find a 60" deck mower at a decent price anymore. Most are too fancy and complex which means more things to break as it ages. I have never "bagged" grass in my life, most mower decks are designed with too much baffling and they will not go thru heavy or damp grass at a high enough speed. I have an old school riding mower with a 60" deck and just a 12 hp motor and with it's open deck design, it will run circles around newer higher hp 60" mowers simply because the grass is not trapped as much in the deck.

Heavy belts and easily accessed spindle grease fittings trump narrow belts and "sealed" brgs every time after a few years of hard use.

I have a pto driven 72" finish mower (Befco) that is 15 + yrs old and it has had the belts and gear box oil changed once since new and it works perfect. Most new mowers however are cheaply built with very thin decks and crappy spindles that just do not last as long as they should.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

No sheep is bad sheep.

[Nostril Cheese]

mowing the lawn.

Thats why I have woodchips

[livi]

Stijn,

Call me and I´ll help you asphalt your whole garden!

[Victor]

Mowing I don't mind. I have a 10 year old Honda mower that has NEVER had any maintenance and works like a trooper. That being said, I'm only mowing a small yard. The only thingI don't like is the hight of the handle - it's designed for Japanese I think and I am 6'2" - not good for backs.

It's the edges around the lawn that gimme the creeps - I hate whipper snipping or whatever its called. Invent a mower with an edging attachment!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

But you'd still have to deal with her *****!

I thought sheep $hit was good for the grass!

[Dennis Kalma]

Two things I dislike about my Honda (17 years old, 2 oil changes, zero maintenance...no improvement possible there).

1. I wish I could have it deposit the clippings directly into a plastic garbage bag. I have to transfer it from the mower bag and that is the part that really sucks. Mulching blades are fine, but I don't want to mulch more than about 1 time out of 3....

2. Built in edger, sort of like my Roomba's corner cleaner with a blade.

Dennis

[ken_xman]

Having owned a sizeable landscaping company for several years before selling, let me seperate commercial use machines from residential use machines.
Commercial: Had all Scag equipment, ZTR machines and traditional 48" walk behinds. I disliked the necessity to buy trac-vac systems for picking up clippings/ leaves. Having to flip up the deck to scrape out in wet conditions, blades that dont stay sharp, lack of suction on a partial clogged deck, scalping when cresting peak of a hill by inexperienced laborer, lack of oil monitoring for dirty change rather than hr metering- like new BMW cars have, noise level of machines, necessity to remove stupid plastic plastic flap on discharge chute when new or leave clipping lines, walk behinds suck to change cutting height.

Residential: Now- My one acre lawn. John Deere 22hp 48" automatic with bagger system total cost around $3000. Primary complaint is lack of blade speed and deck suction. Has a tendency to clog when damp, PITA to clean deck, rides like crap could use suspension, put rollers all the way down , and cut on the highest setting. Machine is ok for johnny homeowner- but really a piece of crap.

The Scag ZTR tiger is a big machine for one lawn, but had the best quality cut. I just couldnt justify to buy a $10k mower with the trac-vac for my single home now.
**If you could design a ZTR machine with a high suction, faster blades, collection system- with dust catching system, suspension, 48" deck, easy cleanout deck, better blades- stay sharper longer- different curves more suction, run flat tires- or self seal, easy access zerk fittings- spindles, hubs ect...for $4K.. you could apeal more homeowners to step up.
If you want, you can send me one to test for a season.
Ken

[Dan in Pasadena]

I LIKE mowing my lawn. I mow and edge pretty much the first thing on Saturday mornings, wash my cars too. It makes me sort of feel "all is well" and my weekend is off to a clean start. I do all other projects and stuff afterward. When I can't mow my lawn it actually bugs me.

[FastCarFan]

Great stuff guys. Keep 'em coming!

Thanks.

[lendaddy]

I just got an old used John Deere LX 188 this year, it is my first quality mower and there are two things on it that absolutely rule compared to the many junk tractors I have had.

1) Hydrostatic drive with foot pedals for fwd/rev speed control. This makes maneuvering in tight places simple and you get much more done.

2) Floating deck, man o man what a difference! I have a lawn again, no more scalping and/or gouging the dirt.

[Rusty Heap]

better suspension on a ride on mower, not everyone has glass smooth lawn. give me springs and some supension travel.

Mower deck tin is typlically too thin, spindles can't take the occasional rock hit.

yup, build in a FM radio.

I mow about 1.5 acres, out of 5, kubota and a brush hog does the rough stuff, better gauges would be nice, volts not just an amp meter, make the filler spout at an ergonomic spot, not under the seat and hidden only to spill gas while pouring out of a 5 gallon jug.

Noise reduction would be nice, I run a craftsman 20 horse v-twin, smooth buy noisy.

[gt350mike]

Originally Posted by peppy

I will ask my wife!

That is hilarious, but in all seriousness, we bought a zero turn mower two years ago and nobody complains about cutting the grass. I'm not sure if it's possible, but engineers can design a engine and blade system that runs quieter would be a big plus.

Getting someone to trim/weedeat around the yard is a different story.......

[berettafan]

i love my JD mulching deck. raking clippings is just not going to happen with me.

a tight turning circle is helpful.

quieter would be nice.

love the hydro trans.

a built in liquid spray rig would be nice with standardized settings. (rotary spreaders don't work when cutting since they spread farther than the cutting path).