i need a new lawn mower. has anyone purchased one recently? anybody know when they (lowes, home depot, sears, etc) put them on sale?

i want just a regular push mower, NOT self propelled, rear bag, and big rear tires. mine that died was a bolens from lowes (bottom of the line, around $100) and i'd prefer to not get that one again. i don't want to spend more than $300 either. no electric mowers, i'd prefer gas (4 cycle). also, height adjustment needs to be easy (at least easier than on the last mower).

any suggestions?

8/14/2007 9:16:31 AM

so basically you want a reliable mower that is well built and adjustable, but you are only willing to pay for the shitty push mowers? just making sure im getting this right.

why not a self-propelled? They are pretty much the standard now, and a damn dream to use.

8/14/2007 9:22:02 AM

yeah if i was buying a mower i would get a self propelled.

8/14/2007 9:24:24 AM

might want to wait until labor day weekend. it's only a few weeks away and all of the big stores will have huge sales.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 9:26 AM. Reason : d]

8/14/2007 9:25:51 AM

^thank you! that is the kind of information i am looking for.

^^^i'm looking to find a good one on sale.

i don't want self propelled b/c it costs extra and i have a small, flat lawn. i don't need self propelled. i use self propelled when i mow my parents' lawn and the lawn at the beach and i don't need it or like it. they're not a dream b/c the mower itself ways more, is harder to move when it's not on and running, the ones with the extra bar you pull towards you pinches my fingers easily, the ones with the trigger handles you can only use right handed, and the ones like the Toros that go faster the harder you push on them are VERY expensive. i'm not paying more for a feature i do not want. end of story.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 9:36 AM. Reason : ]

8/14/2007 9:35:59 AM

Some guys on arboristsite say Toros are some of the best...but not the models they sell in big box stores.
Maybe we'll go look at a Toro dealer.

This looks really good...
http://www.toro.com/home/mowers/superrecycler/20053.html

-6.5hp B&S motor
-not self propelled
-aluminum deck

Too bad it doesn't have big wheels in the back. big wheels make turning them around so easy.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 9:48 AM. Reason : $400 MSRP]

8/14/2007 9:48:29 AM

no rear bag either...

8/14/2007 9:50:24 AM

Rear bag is an option.
Some people online said they got the bags but never use them because it mulches so well.

Looks like it has typical height adjustment...might be a pita. We'd just have to take a look.

That mower gets lots of good reviews.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 9:58 AM. Reason : ]

8/14/2007 9:56:10 AM

Why not go on Craigslist and get a 1-2 season old mower great shape and end up with a much better mower than what you are going to get in a store with your very low price. For $350-300 on craiglist, you can probably get some really nice stuff.

8/14/2007 10:13:58 AM

briggs engines are typically low rpm, and will leave a fair number of blades sticking up if you have a fine (fescue) lawn. Hondas and other motors turn up a little faster and give a better cut.

8/14/2007 10:44:40 AM

I have a Honda self propelled. have had it for 5 seasons now. AWESOME lawn mower. The guy at Home Depot swore it would start on the first pull out of the box and it did. After the lawn mower has been sitting for 4-5 months of no use, sometimes it takes 2 pulls for the first time. They are well worth the money.

8/14/2007 10:53:35 AM

i have st. augustine (not fine blade grass), but i'm still leaning towards a honda.

8/14/2007 11:13:57 AM

why not just get a manual reel mower then? If you have a flat yard, decent grass and cut it regularly, it's going to be MUCH easier with a reel mower, you wont have to worry about gas and shit, and only need to get the blade sharpened once every couple of years.

8/14/2007 11:19:23 AM

Honda would be real nice...but at around $400 it's a 5.5hp Honda vs a 6.5hp B&S on a Toro.

Many on the internet say that the only thing better on a Honda is the engine. Seeing as how the engine is the most important part then...hmm...hard choices...

^We have one. It's a flat lawn overall, but it's not smooth like golf greens. It takes two passes to get everything cut...just not that convenient.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 11:25 AM. Reason : ]

8/14/2007 11:23:20 AM

lots of roots and holes (dogs) and whatnot. so yeah it's overall flat as in no hills, but not perfectly flat.

8/14/2007 11:27:41 AM

I tried a Brill reel mower on my yard (generally considered the best one available). I think I spent close to $200 on mine. I spent an entire summer on my fescue with it, and said never again. If you have less dense grass it is ok, but if you overseed or have thick grass at all, you dont want a reel. If you think you could use a reel, you can come try mine for free (then buy it for a super price if you like it).

You also have to make sure you cut very frequently with a reel. If the blade gets high, it wont bend into the cutting area, and you'll have a hard time. They also cut grass low, and if you have fescue, it doesnt like to be cut low.

[Edited on August 14, 2007 at 1:15 PM. Reason : .]

8/14/2007 1:14:00 PM

i already have a reel mower and i don't have fescue grass, i have st. augustine.

it's a very thick bladed grass that likes to be kept short, loves the sun and the heat.

8/14/2007 1:23:26 PM

Troy-Bilt® 160cc Honda Engine 21" Cut Push Mower - $239.00

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=97712-270-11A-542Q711&lpage=none

8/14/2007 2:14:29 PM

Well if you wanna come try my Brill, by all means

8/14/2007 2:15:31 PM

Quote :

"Why not go on Craigslist and get a 1-2 season old mower great shape and end up with a much better mower than what you are going to get in a store with your very low price. For $350-300 on craiglist, you can probably get some really nice stuff."

i think this is the best advice posted in here. if you don't have a problem with something used, let someone else take the financial hit upfront of buying something from the store. i picked up my riding mower off craigslist for less than half of what it would have been new. it's a few years old, but had all new belts, pulleys, tires, and blades.

8/14/2007 2:53:17 PM

My friend got a Husqvarna riding lawn mower for $100 bucks. Didnt start. Simply replaced the starter cog for about $20, and the damn thing cuts and runs really well.

8/14/2007 3:06:19 PM

go get a Honda or a Husquvarna from Northern Tools.

8/14/2007 4:39:02 PM

You can get some great self propelled ones for around $300

8/14/2007 4:57:23 PM

Consumer Reports says for push mowers, Honda is the best, but also the most expensive. Craftsman and Toro ranked well too.

Stay the hell away from Yardman. Toro actually recently bought Yardman so they'll get better eventually, but overall they were the worst push mower in Consumer Reports rankings this past year.

I have a Craftsman, 2.5 years old, that works pretty well other than the bag slipping off occasionally.

8/14/2007 5:14:35 PM

Don't all of the different brands (toro, troy-bilt, craftsman) use the same two engine manufacturers (honda or Briggs and Stratton)?

If so, what's the use in comparing one vs. the other given the same engine manufacturer?

8/14/2007 5:36:40 PM

Same engine aside, I know that Craftsman has some key start models, which means no pulling on a string anymore. Also these models are self propelled. I think for your price range you can easily get a very nice model.

8/14/2007 6:05:30 PM

Quote :

"Don't all of the different brands (toro, troy-bilt, craftsman) use the same two engine manufacturers (honda or Briggs and Stratton)? If so, what's the use in comparing one vs. the other given the same engine manufacturer?"

Deck material, deck design, fastener quality, controls, height adjustment mechanism, wheels with bearings, ease of cleaning, accessories, overall build quality. There's other stuff aside from engines.

8/14/2007 6:37:01 PM

Quote :

"Deck material, deck design, fastener quality, controls, height adjustment mechanism, wheels with bearings, ease of cleaning, accessories, overall build quality. There's other stuff aside from engines. "

Damn straight. Don't forget that Murray (or what used to be Murray) uses Briggs & Stratton, and they are far and away the biggest hunks of shit made.

I know that Toro has used cast-aluminum decks for YEARS. I remember cutting grass with one almost 30 years ago.

8/14/2007 7:49:48 PM

Briggs has at least 3 different levels of motors, so the 3.5 hp on your murray is a far different animal than a 3.5 hp on your toro, even though they look the same.

8/15/2007 7:39:46 AM

thanks

8/15/2007 7:49:57 AM

i just ordered a hover mower.

honda engine, made by husqvarna(sp?).

no more wheels!

flymo rules.

8/15/2007 8:48:44 AM

Hover mowers suck if you have to cut grass in a ditch bank or any type of hill.

8/15/2007 8:50:04 AM

wtf is a hover mower?

8/15/2007 8:55:08 AM

A mower that doesn't have any wheels. It uses the speed of the blades to give it lift and you have to push it around its fine on flat land but not good on hills. Its like a hover craft it glides across the ground.

8/15/2007 9:05:09 AM

i looked it up. it looks like just a big weedeater that hovers. is it really that great for cutting grass (seeing as how it doesn't have blades)?

8/15/2007 9:10:14 AM

it's fine for cutting nc grass. even better for golf course type grass.

it's got a fan on the top of the area above the blades.

they've got metal and string blades as an option.

[Edited on August 15, 2007 at 9:39 AM. Reason : it's fine on hills and you can mow lakes if you want ]

8/15/2007 9:39:15 AM

that's pretty badass, just watched a video of it on youtube

8/15/2007 9:46:08 AM

what do you mean by nc grass? there are a lot of different types here. golf course grass, which is typically very fine bladed, is way different from st. augustine or centipede, and i somehow doubt that thing would cut those grasses very well. anyway, good luck w/ it.

8/15/2007 9:59:46 AM

it works on shitty nc crabgrass no problem on hills or near streams/lakes.

weeds if you will.

works GREAT on well tended fine blade lawns.

8/15/2007 12:48:32 PM

I need a new handle for my old Murray. I went to turn one day and it broke right off because it was rusted so badly, but the 5HP B&S engine still runs like a champ. Can anyone with a dead lawnmower (se7entythree?) hook a brother up?

8/15/2007 1:08:06 PM

I have a 5 year old yard machine i just recessitated, frankly I only have like .10 of an acre, so i mean i didnt see the point in dropping major cash for an expensvie mower. Besides the fact that its got dead animal goo on it it mows fine, even with my weed infested lawn.

Honestly, unless you have a really hilly or large lawn, why go self propelled?

Best lawnmower i ever used was this beast my grandfather left us (it was a toro) damn thing still runs great and its like 20 years old.

8/15/2007 1:23:43 PM

honestly, Walmart has a 4 cycle regular old motor for $100. It has a Briggs & Stratton motor in it too.

8/15/2007 2:45:22 PM

Lawn boy ftw.

8/15/2007 4:02:15 PM

buy a goat.

8/15/2007 4:04:59 PM

i guess the cutting your nose off in spite of your face (or whatever) equivalent would be to buy a condo

8/15/2007 4:09:28 PM

I worked on lawn mowers for 3 years at a family shop and my recommendation is the cheapest think you can find. Get one with a briggs and stratton motor and the height adjustment you want. Other than that buy the cheapest you can find.

8/15/2007 5:10:14 PM

You might be able to find the Yard Machines (Briggs & Stratton 675 series engine) 3-in-1 high-wheel push mower at Home Depot. 190cc, 21" deck. They were on special buy last week (ended Wednesday) for $189. the 3-in-1 is bagging, mulching, and side discharge. The high-weel is key for a manual push in my experience.

SKU #959-633 in case you just want to call around


[Edited on August 15, 2007 at 5:50 PM. Reason : .]

8/15/2007 5:48:06 PM