New Lawnmower

[x-trainer ben]

So i just called a highly ranked repair shop for advice on which brand to get and these are highlights of the conversation. If you have any thoughts on what was said, please reply.

1. They don't see many Torro, Husqueverna?, or John Deere for repairs.
2. Fuel stabilizer needed in new mowers because of plastic parts , gas goes bad in 30 days because of Ethanol?
3. Self propelled are heavy but make hills easy( never used self propelled)
4. Again they liked Torro for a "basic" mower
5. keep fresh gas, do not buy 5 gallons and let it get funky sitting around
6. get a tuneup every year for 60 bucks.
Thoughts?

[mtpockets]

Depending on how much you got to cut. Many people are switching towards battery powered. Say goodbye to gas and the issues that come with it. I am switching all my stuff over.

[x-trainer ben]

Depending on how much you got to cut. Many people are switching towards battery powered. Say goodbye to gas and the issues that come with it. I am switching all my stuff over.

My neighbors have these green colored mowers that i think are battery powered. My only worry is running out of juice mid cut,lol.
It takes me 1.5 hours with a push mower moving fast.

[Cantplankwell]

I have a Poulan, maybe that is just a Canadian thing, but it has a Honda Engine.

Have left last falls gas in it till spring and it starts no problem. Had it for 8 years now I think, basically I treat it like a lawnmower, not a prized possession. My wife gets ticked off because I am not out there washing and detailing etc.

Self propelled goes against the grain of this forum, I have seriously considered weighting mine down for extra calorie burn.

[mtpockets]

My neighbors have these green colored mowers that i think are battery powered. My only worry is running out of juice mid cut,lol.
It takes me 1.5 hours with a push mower moving fast.

Yeah, I am not all that knowledgable about them especially for big cuts. I do recall IC and mgftp mentioning them, perhaps they or someone else can answer this question. If I had to cut 1.5 hrs I would probably be riding something with a beer holder attatched.

[jreacher]

If you get self propelled, decide if you want front or rear wheel drive.

If you slightly raise the front end when mowing to go over a mole hill or something, it won't propel if front driven. I mow a weedy area with uneven ground at the edge of a field that I do this with

[Mark1T]

My neighbors have these green colored mowers that i think are battery powered. My only worry is running out of juice mid cut,lol.
It takes me 1.5 hours with a push mower moving fast.

A good battery powered mower (push) can last 1 hour and then only takes about 30 minutes to recharge enough to finish the rest. No gas, no oil, much lighter.

[brandon92]

Use ethanol free (marine) fuel, it will last longer and run better.

If you’re just getting a push mower, don’t get too hung up on the brand. Do however research the motor, as some brands will use different brand motors on similar models of mower.

I’ve always been a fan of ex Mark, but then again that was commercial grade equipment I used for my business.

[Karl_Hungus]

I've had gas sitting around for ages and I have never really had an issue. I wouldn't leave it sitting in the gas tank all winter though because I've had it gum up the carburetor...which btw, the majority of nonstarting lawnmowers I've had started right up after taking off the carburetor and cleaning it. The little holes get clogged pretty easy.

[dipworm]

Toro is the way to go. John Deere sells Honda mowers which don't hold up like a Toro. I only used stabilizer in off season, had one that lasted over 25 years never replaced plug or any other kind of "tune up". Replaced it with another Toro rear wheel drive. They are in no way heavy. Takes me about 1 hour to mow my yard. I might add my neighbor is still using the Toro I upgraded.

[mtpockets]

I've had gas sitting around for ages and I have never really had an issue. I wouldn't leave it sitting in the gas tank all winter though because I've had it gum up the carburetor...which btw, the majority of nonstarting lawnmowers I've had started right up after taking off the carburetor and cleaning it. The little holes get clogged pretty easy.

I have been pretty lucky, the only carbs I had gum up on me were the ones that used mixed gas after sitting. I had an old walmart special mower for over 12 years, I beat the hell out of it, never stabilized the gas or drained it over winter and my last cut is the end of sept and don't start again until may. I wasn't worried about it because I am used to working on small engines, I put a carb kit in it once during that time because the diaphram was getting weak, the mower deck rotted out on it and gave the engine to a kid making a go cart. That mower was probably the best 100 bucks I ever spent. I never purchased another mower decided it was time for someone else to do my lawn work

[cwsmith35]

I'm from Iowa, and I grew up in John Deere country, so I have to put a plug in for John Deere. I know they aren't the cheapest, but nothing runs like a Deere!

[PhDPepper1111]

I have too many acres to push! But in any case, yeah, all those brands will work fine for you.
I'm still waiting for commercial/industrial strength electric stuff, which may not be all that far off... until then gas is still king for weedwackers, chainsaws, and mowers on a larger scale.
I wouldn't pay 60 bucks for a tune up but there's nothing wrong with doing so.
I'd say don't let the gas sit for years but you are unlikely to have issues even if it sits for several months.
I get the idealism of push mowers, but in the end do what you want. Pushing doesn't have much specificity for any resistance work. It's best value is in cardio and if you like pushing for cardio then go for it. If not, then don't.

[Bosko]

Honda HRX 217....this one is 22 years old....never been repaired

[Jtbny]

I do a bit of small engine repair and second the ethanol free gas in all small engines (or any carb cars) as well as fuel stabilizer if its going to sit. And if its sits for winter I like to drain all the gas and add just a small bit of Stabile in the tank, pull the cord slowly a couple times and store or fill completely to the top so air can't sit and add stabilizer.

Of all the recent mowers I've helped people with the main issue has been the carb being clogged up or the plug being really bad. I think all the big box store mowers are decent and will last many many year with a little bit of maintaince (oil change, proper storage, gas etc.) Toro seems to be OK and I'd guess many are made with the same briggs type motor. Self propelled is cool if you have hills but another thing to go wrong, IMO (and heavier).

Ideally I'd follow the manufacture maintaince schedule for "tune ups".

[AlBHappy]

I had a self propelled Toro and it was complete JUNK. I know they have a good reputation, I probably got a lemon.

I currently have had a self propelled Husqvarna for 4 years. It is excellent

[Icepops81]

Just use 91 with no ethanol and you do t have to worry about going bad.

[MajorTendonitis]

Bought a Toro self propelled last month . Best investment I’ve made in a long time . There’s models you don’t want , as the bar is too low . I’ll see which one have .

This is the one you want , it’s got the large handle on top as this one does . The ones with the then bars are far too low and awkward

Here’s a link . Site is crashing as I try to load pics again

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/tor...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[OldFartTom]

...Self propelled goes against the grain of this forum, I have seriously considered weighting mine down for extra calorie burn.

That's right, really the discussion should be what type of hedge trimmer or whatever to mount on the front of a prowler

[Plateauplower]

Just get a fence and goats. I dump a little sea foam or stable in the tank at the end of the year for the last cut, it stabilizes the fuel for 6 months. My last Walmart special mower lasted 12 years and was still running but the frame was getting bad.

[jreacher]

Bought a Toro self propelled last month . Best investment I’ve made in a long time . There’s models you don’t want , as the bar is too low . I’ll see which one have .

This is the one you want , it’s got the large handle on top as this one does . The ones with the then bars are far too low and awkward

Here’s a link . Site is crashing as I try to load pics again

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/tor...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'm not sure if Toro is the only brand doing this, but these mowers advertise as having no oil change ever. They just require "topping off."

I'm sceptical. Apparently many people still suck the oil out or tip it on its side to drain it so they can change it

[supramax]

I'm not sure if Toro is the only brand doing this, but these mowers advertise as having no oil change ever. They just require "topping off."

I'm sceptical. Apparently many people still suck the oil out or tip it on its side to drain it so they can change it

I have a YardWorks push lawnmower with a Briggs&Straton 675 EX engine that doesn't require oil changes. I've had it for four years and I cut a half acre every two weeks in the Summer. Not only have I never changed oil, but I've never even needed to top it off. It gets fantastic mileage on a tank of gas, too.

[x-trainer ben]

You guys are great, I will rep you over the next few days. Thanks for all of the advice since this is a topic that I dont know much about. And I will check out the battery ones just to see what the current specs and estimates are. Thanks again!

[jreacher]

I have a YardWorks push lawnmower with a Briggs&Straton 675 EX engine that doesn't require oil changes. I've had it for four years and I cut a half acre every two weeks in the Summer. Not only have I never changed oil, but I've never even needed to top it off. It gets fantastic mileage on a tank of gas, too.

Awesome. I'm not an engine expert so that sounds like black magic to me. Pretty cool

[lowkey122]

I’ve always been a fan of ex Mark, but then again that was commercial grade equipment I used for my business.

ExMark all the way. I live in a rural part of the South and most yards here are far too big to push mow so you mostly see ExMark and Farris zero turn mowers here. I got a 60" mid grade ExMark about 10 years ago and that thing hasn't given me a single problem. You could run it at 20mph and it won't miss a blade of grass.

[x-trainer ben]

A nd what are you doing with 2 old mowers sitting in the garage? The special trash pickup?
The dump?

[mtpockets]

A nd what are you doing with 2 old mowers sitting in the garage? The special trash pickup?
The dump?

Any scrappers in your area? Most folks I know just put them at the curb and they disappear. Either taken for scrap or parts. I am a country bumkin though, that's how things work in my neck of the woods.

[supramax]

Awesome. I'm not an engine expert so that sounds like black magic to me. Pretty cool

Briggs&Straton engines and the universe are magic.

[OldFartTom]

On a serious note, who was it here that had a heart attack while putting their lawn mower away. Trying to remember... hope they're OK and training again

[mtpockets]

Briggs&Straton engines and the universe are magic.

The ones I had were pretty much bullet proof