Lawn mower question

[GH85Carrera]

My current mower is a 21 inch wide Lawn Boy commercial mower I have had for 19 years. I wore the tires completely smooth, not just the drive wheels but all four tires. It died suddenly yesterday. It does not want to start and I will take it apart and see if it is worth fixing again.

My question is really what mower would you recommend if I decide to get a new mower. I know the two cycle mowers are gone now. Would you get a Toro or a Honda?

I am looking for a 21 inch self propelled rear bagger or something similar.

Opinions please.

[masraum]

Snapper makes good mowers. The fact that they pulled out of Walmart's gotta be good.

The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart | Fast Company

[kaisen]

Why not another Lawn Boy? We love ours. Toro owns Lawn Boy, BTW.

[RWebb]

I've always thought Honda was the best (well, since they started selling them anyway). After that, the other 3 brands are good also.

you could always rebuild your mower's motor...

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by masraum

Snapper makes good mowers. The fact that they pulled out of Walmart's gotta be good.

The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart | Fast Company

+1. Plus it is great for sucking up the leaves in the fall!

-Z

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by masraum

Snapper makes good mowers. The fact that they pulled out of Walmart's gotta be good.

The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart | Fast Company

I agreed wit this part of that article:

Why would you buy a walk-behind mower from Snapper that costs $519? What could it possibly have to justify spending $300 or $400 more?

NOTHING.

That guy and his high horse are doomed. He'll have to charge more and more for fewer and fewer sales, until he has to charge $100mil for one mower.
Wal-mart will be around for a lot longer than he will.

BYW I bought my sears lawn mower from a garage sale for $5. It had a leaky gas tank, which I replaced with a new one I bought on-line for $15. That was about 8 years ago and it still runs great although I had to replace the blade ($9) a couple years ago.

[porsche4life]

Watch craigslist and pick up a lightly used Toro commercial... Trust me...

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

... lightly used Toro commercial...

xlnt point -- assuming you can find one

[GH85Carrera]

I just looked at the mowers at a commercial lawn mower shop. They mostly sell to the pros. My old mower was a professional grade M series with a magnesium frame. To get into the same level of mower now they start at $600 and go up to $1299.

It is like the difference in Snap on tools compared to Craftsman. I only mow my own yard. But if I am using a tool once or twice a week for 8 or 9 months a year I want good equipment. Easy to use design and easier to maintain.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Watch craigslist and pick up a lightly used Toro commercial... Trust me...

Yea, freshly stolen from some yard crew.

[porsche4life]

Glen, stop being so negative.... Not everything on there is stolen....

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, not every single thing. I guess there might be one or two legit deals.

[red-beard]

I have a Honda and I do not recommend it based on the present Ethanol fuel, unless they've already redesigned the carbs. Ethanol is not good for the carbs and you should run the engine with the fuel cut off to get it out of the bowl. I need to replace 3 carbs: My Lawnmower, my generator and my father's power washer.

I have an old Briggs and Stratton power washer that refuses to die, no matter what fuel you put in. My next mower will use a Briggs and Stratton engine, whatever model/brand it is.

[cbush]

Our Toro has been great. Had it for 5 years now with no problem. Highly recommend it for a high end mower.

[jpk]

Fix the Lawn-Boy. It would even be worth splurging on new wheels. Look at it this way- even if it costs you $300 to fix, you won't find anything of the same caliber for that kind of money.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by jpk

Fix the Lawn-Boy. It would even be worth splurging on new wheels. Look at it this way- even if it costs you $300 to fix, you won't find anything of the same caliber for that kind of money.

Someone else will, if he won't.

[Jeff Jagusch]

Hey Glenn,

I may just have a NOS engine for you in my basement,
I dont think that I'll ever use it!

Jeff

[gecc]

I've been using my 21" Snapper self propelled for 28 years... still going strong!

[1990C4S]

Fix what you have. They run forever.

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I have a Honda and I do not recommend it based on the present Ethanol fuel, unless they've already redesigned the carbs. Ethanol is not good for the carbs and you should run the engine with the fuel cut off to get it out of the bowl. I need to replace 3 carbs: My Lawnmower, my generator and my father's power washer.

I have an old Briggs and Stratton power washer that refuses to die, no matter what fuel you put in. My next mower will use a Briggs and Stratton engine, whatever model/brand it is.

I've just had the carb reworked in my honda. Are you saying run the engine with the fuel cut off each time, or each winter?