I am in need of a new mower this year. I want a walk-behind, that is not self propelled. Should be 21" Deck, with mulching and bag. I have several options but it basically comes down to brand... Troy-Bilt? Yard-Man? What are your experiences with brands and what would you recommend?

 

I would go with the Honda HRX-series, but they're self-propelled.

 

^you know, my neighbor has one of those, and I've used it before. Not too impressed, for the price at least.

 

I really like my Toro SR4. Its cuts great and has the best self propelled system. I got it with the blade clutch and that is a nice feature as well. I don't bag, but its convenient when opening fences, etc.

 

Sears Craftsman.

Usually less than $200, 6.5 Hp, not self-propelled. The Craftsman still starts on 1 pull with priming and has made it for 8 years with minimal maintenance. I should take the blade off and get it sharpened someday...

I might try an electric mower next time since I have smaller grass areas in the yards.

 

Toro mowers are the best. Tried a Honda mower and it was overrated

 

HONDA FTW

 

I guess you should clarify your price range. Sub $200, go to sears or to home depot and try to get a leftover - they have some really good deals if they have any of last years models.

If $500 or so, go to the honda and toro dealers. This time of year is actually optimal buying time because they are just starting to bring out their mowing equipment for commercial sales but they haven't gotten to consumer stuff yet. They'll haul one out of a box for you at a pretyt good discount because they want it out of the way. This is how I bought my Toro.

Aside from the dramatic difference in quality between my mower and my dad's craftsman, mine came with a full coveage 5 year warranty. This completely justified the cost to me.

 

$200 is about right for me. I will check the craftsman.

 

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07138813000P

Pretty good deal!

 

Also consider going to the Honda and Toro dealers for used mowers. Sometimes they are still under warranty and are a better price/value than a cheap new one.

 

Go push it up a hill before you buy it. Unless your lot is tiny and absolutely flat, the self propelled are MUCH nicer.

I've mowed lawns with those mowers - they are heavy and it sucks.

 

meh, I don't really like self propelled mowers.

 

What's not to like?

 

+1

I bought one last year when I had it with my POS Murray. 6.75 HP FTMFW.

 

I've always had them at my house, the self propelled is nice cause the yard is a little hilly and i'm lazy when it's hot. Never had an issue with them, always start first pull.

 

My Toro is almost as old as I am...it's never been to the repair shop and it's never not started on the first pull. I don't even winterize it. I don't see how you could beat that.

 

we have a 5 year old troy built that was $200. it has worked well for us. i just replaced the blade and oil. starts 1st try. but i think the next one will be a honda

 

I'm a Toro guy.

(off subject) The past 4 summers I operated an $80,000 15' deck Toro mower.

 

Toro all the way for mowers (I would never buy one of the their snow blowers though.) Hondas are very nice too, but a lot of $$$$.

Stay away from the MTD manufactured crap which includes: Yard-Man, Troy-bilt, Cub Cadet, Yard Machines, Bolens and just about everything Sears sells. If you absolutely HAVE to buy an MTD product then buy Troy-Bilt, it comes the closest to being a quality brand. Otherwise it is just a bunch of junk that lasts only a few seasons.

 

I have a Honda Harmony II (21", 5hp, rear-drive self-propelled) and I don't like it very much because of a couple of design decisions that don't work for me:

1) rear drive propulsion. Nice in cars, makes the front end too light in the mower. When the going gets tough, the front end comes up too easy. I'd rather have the front wheels propel.

2) Fixed angle on the handle. Makes the mower long and less maneuverable in some tight spots in my yard. Also a pain in the ass to store the handle folded because you have to unscrew a couple of large 3-wing nuts in order to fold the handle. Takes a minute when it should be seconds. This also puts the handle pretty low with no adjustment for the height. Not great for a tallish user.

On the plus side, it cuts nicely when the front end stays down, mulches very well, and has plenty of power for the thickest parts of my lawn.

 

I would like to take this advise. Proof?

 

I absolutely love my honda mower. Its worked flawlessly for many years now and cuts awesome. It will go thru the deepest of grass and leaves and not leave a clump

 

What didn't impress you about it?

 

I have a Honda with rear wheel drive and hate it only because of that. I wish I bought a mower that the front wheel where the drive wheels

 

By all means go to your local store that sells both MTD products, Toro and Honda (local to me Home Depot does). Compare the three in detail. I'm not talking about reading the marketing tags, but take a close look at the deck, blade and handles. You'll find that Toro and Honda use much more substantial materials. The decks are thicker, the blades are made out of better material and won't break as easily.

Outside of that you'd need to visit my various family members. My dad has always bought the cheapest lawn mower he could and they last about 5 seasons, where as my oldest brother bought a Toro in 1990 and it is still going strong.

I can give you directions to their houses if you'd like.

As far as Toro snow blowers go, they have a lot of plastic bits on them. I bought an Ariens 2 stage 6hp snow blower last December and it's all metal construction and it easily powers through drifts that leaves my neighbors 8-hp Toro gasping. (I am unsure as to why since both of our blowers have Tecumseh Snow King engines.)
CanopyFlyer

 

Be careful of the newer Toro's. I bought one last year and returned it. They have alot of really cool and innovative convenience features that plain don't work. One example is the deck height adjustment, nothing but a tension spring holds the whole thing up... as soon as the mower does some hard work and starts to vibrate the deck drops to the dirt.

 

I went from FWD to RWD. I hate FWD. It's useless on any sort of incline... which is where you really need a self-propelled in the first place.

 

I wasn't being facetious, I really wanted to know!

Dave-I didn't like the feel of the Honda. Didn't like the clutch engage, felt like it could break easily. Didn't seem to mulch very well.

 

This is nice.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...egoryID=527106

 

^^I have the one model down from that without the variable speed front wheel drive, it is just single speed and a 6hp motor. It has worked great on my little parcel of land. I've yet to have to rake and I DETEST raking.

The mower you are looking at and mine have individual height adjustment at each wheel, I've not had a problem with it.

I paid $299 for mine two years ago.

Sorry, I was trying to be humorous, guess it didn't come out that way!

CanopyFlyer

 

The whole MTD line makes good stuff. Go highest HP you can get for your $$. My biggest disappointment is in the power my mower has, but that is what I get for cheaping out. I have a 5.5hp I think... I am not trudging out to the garage through the snow to find out.

MTD products are made locally where I live and they were almost dealt a fatal blow when it didnt snow last year. They sold so few snowblowers it was a huge loss for them.

 

Huh, I have a Honda with a dual blade system and it mulches awesome. I can't even see the mulch after I mow it's so small. Honda's mulching is probably one of the best.

Ya the clutch is a bit weird, but nothing that annoys me. I only wish it had a 4th gear so I get the yard done faster


When I was back in Chicago I owned a few auto-drive toro's I prefer the Honda...

Did your neighbor sharpen his blades every season?

I logged into my Consumer reports and C&P their "quick recommendations"... maybe it'll help with your decision.

 

Maybe this will help too... Good luck on your purchase. If you have tiny yard I wouldn't spent too much $$.

 

I was wondering why those mowers were so expensive- then saw that CR was rating just self-propelleds. Yes, the manual-propulsion mowers would be less expensive.

 

I agree with Dave (SiGGY). My lawn is SUPER thick and gets long in between cuts due to my inground irrigation and my HRX mower does a fantastic job mulching. The dual blades are what really makes it all work.

 

i have a sears craftsman with the Briggs & Stratton Engine. front wheel drive, self propelled, rear bag, plus side mulcher. I love it, have had no problems, stars with one pull. I think I paid around $230. got it on sale.

 

I got a nice Honda after a bunch of cheap models. The Honda runs great, doesn't even burn oil. I think it might last about 20 years. These mowers with big engines got so heavy, you need self propelled.

 

Cub Cadets FTW !!

 

I didnt like the way mine operated so i messed with things a little. I bumped up the rpm a slight bit and readjusted the self propel a little. My 3rd now is a very brisk walk for me and im 6'5". Its so quick i almost never take it out of 2nd.