I enjoyed reading the Lawn-Boy history. My dad gave me an old Lawn-boy mower shortly after I bought my first home (1982). It lasted until 1988, when it finally blew up. It had a plaque on it that said 1957 - our millionth mower year. It is hard to complain about it blowing up after 31 years.

 

The dudes on this forum have a lawnboy fixation:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/lmower/

 

Toro or Honda... no one else knows what they are doing.

Mod it and post pics

 

Not true! What's wrong with this one? Right at $200:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...rs%2C+Rear+Bag

 

How big is your lawn?

I bought the cheapest no-name brand at Home Depot and it has served me without fail for seven years running. I've never changed the oil, I've never sharpened the blade, I've never changed the spark plug, I've never winterized it. Zip, zilch, nada - and my lawn is just as healthy as ever.

 

Craftsmen are at the bottom of the barrel. Never had one last me long. Id highly recommend a Honda if you could swing it. Otherwise get a Toro or something else.

A $500 mower that lasts 5yrs+ is much cheaper than one for $250 that lasts for 2.

 

That's craziness! He doesn't need a lawnmower payment; he just wants to mow his lawn. If I were going into business, this model might pay for itself, but I could buy a gang of good lawn equipment for $750.

 

Ha damn kinda extreme there almost breakin up over a mower? lol. I just got rid of my POS Yardman and got a Honda. The engine on the lawnman worked great but I had baisic problems that gave a bunch of problems. It was FWD and the gears on the tires kept getting worn out and it was $40 a set for new tires!!! The honda is great, Got 3 Honda cars and a Honda lawnmower

 

i bought a troy bilt mulch,bag,side discharge last year for 200 at lowes, it works fine for me. and i just put a new coat of wax on it a couple of weeks ago. gotta protect the paint since there is very little to protect it

 

What is better, multching or bagging? Why?

 

depends on the person it seem some prefer to mulch but if you wait to long in will leave clumps of cut grass on your yards that can kill the grass that is still growing, and the clumps of grass all over the yard looks like shit, bagging elimantes this problem, but IMO it a pain in the ass having to stop and dump it all the time. i mulch but i also cut my yard every 5-7 days so it doesn't really get that tall (no clumping)

 

Meh... You can't do this with a push mower:

 

that mower wont cut any grass no cutting deck

 

If your lawn in healthy, mulching is the way to go.

Grass is 85%-90% water by weight, so by mulching you are putting that water back into your lawn.

Any mulching attachment or mower that has the attachment already built into it, chops up the grass so that it doesn't promote thatch or kill off the grass by covering it and preventing light and nutients to penetrate down to the roots. You really shouldn't see any mulched blades after the pass with the mower.


On the otherhand, if your lawn is stressed, filled with weeds, or diseased, you should bag the grass. A weedy, mulched lawn only promoted spread of the invaders.

If you consistently water, fertilize and keep your lawn healthy, any true lawn/garden expert will say to mulch.

 

Mulching is the way to go, but I use a lawn sweeper every once and awhile so I can get grass for my compost bins :hippy:

 

Mulching BY FAR! It cuts the grass into small clippings and redistributes it over the lawn, and is supposed to be healthier for the lawn as it gets nutrients from the clipped grass as it breaks down. Great part is that you don't have to stop for bagging, and the mulched grass isn't visible on the lawn, if you keep your blade sharp enough.

 

here's one with a bag for $199 on sale.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...rs%2C+Rear+Bag

 

Try and pick up a lower model Honda. My dad has had the same Honda mower since 1986. It's not even 2 years younger than me :chucke:. It still runs great, no signs of dying. All original parts except for the spark plug.

 

Someone else posted that one, and it actually doesn't look that bad...

 

So Jatterbox, what kinda lawnmower did you get ??

(saw the box in your motorcycle thread).

 

All you need http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...939671-6303028

 

buys yourselfs a Honda mower and get the V-tech model.

 

Dude, the RL1000 is out now

http://www.probotics.com/showproducts.asp?num=14

 

i'll post pics when I get home.

 

Check out Toro, I have a mower that is 18 years old and never a problem. Or... find a neighbor with a Toro and COP IT! Make sure you go show off your "new mower" to the neighbor the next day, and pretend you don't know what he's talking about when he starts the accusations..

 

What did you wind up paying? I'm looking to get the HMA because my Snapper Hi-Vac is on the way out. I'd like a little pricing info before I hit up my local dealer. He worked with me on price when I bought my 928 snow thrower so I'm

 

Looks like i'm going to need a new mower too. I dropped my 8 year old craftsman to a repair place because it didn't start. The guy ordered a carbeuator but said its backordered. I'm thinking of just buying a new one instead of fixing it.

 

I used to own a crappy craftsman self - propelled. It started falling apart so I ditched it and got a Toro recycler - SO much better, mulches better than the craftsman too. I think they are pricier, but it has been great. One pull start every time.

 

I think it was $599 - 10%...

$540 or something???