Who makes a 5-6 hp push mower that won't fall apart in 5 years?

[tehAndy]

Our old 1992 Tecumseh-powered Murray lawnmower is finally on it's last legs. The Tecumseh still fires on the first tug of the cord and runs as nice as you like, but the deck is rusting away to the point that I've had to patch it with some spare sheet metal, zip screws, and foil tape. Plus, both front wheels have fallen off once during the last couple of mowing seasons and are being held on with big washers.


Wants:

- Tall rear wheels preferred
- Not self-propelled
- 22" or so deck
- 5 or so hp.
- Will keep going for 20 years like the last one (lol probably not, but would be nice).
- Not as deafeningly loud as a 20-year old mower is.

The old girl:

[Tinker Toy]

I have been mowing our acre lot (yes, really!) with a 100 dollar 20" Yard Machines non self propelled mower for the last two years that I bought about 10 years ago. We have a 42" rider and it is good but is parked in the shed because I need the exercise and don't like the rough ride. There is little to go wrong with the Yard Machine unless possibly if the wheels get loose or crooked but so far, not yet.

Tecumseh made good engines but as you may know are out of business. B & S are good also.

Our last non self propelled mower had large rear wheels but it did not matter for me. I am curious to know why you want the large rear wheels.

[GeoffD]

I am curious to know why you want the large rear wheels.

Large rear wheels work a little better in wet/swampy areas. Larger surface area.

Briggs & Stratton now rates their engines by torque rather than horsepower. It makes sense since lawn mowers don't have throttles these days. I have no idea what RPM a lawn mower is set to so I don't know how to convert the old HP rating to the new torque rating.

For a push mower with a Briggs & Stratton engine, I doubt brand matters much. Everybody seems to use the same wheel assembly and that's the only thing that's going to break.

[Mk1Racer]

One word, Honda. /thread

[smittyATL]

I've had a Troy Bilt with a B&S 6.75 HP engine for 8+ years on a pretty large lot. I've maybe changed the spark plug once or twice. Same for air filter and oil. It starts every time and cuts the hell out of some grass.

Saw some decent deals at Lowe's recently for Toro high-wheel mowers with Honda engines, less than $300.

[ATL_Av8r]

Dude....your cat ****s a LOT

[winstonsmith84]

I've killed 3 cheapo stamped deck push movers over the last 11 years mowing a 40X160 lot. 3, well, really 2.5. I swapped motors onto a deck I found in the trash and got one more year. All of them crack. My solution?

A 30 year old $50 Lawn Boy. That green bomb is better than any new sub $300 push mower. I may "upgrade" to a non self-propelled one as I've got a lot of crap to mow around. It is really sad that the old 2 stroke is such a pollution monster, as it is tough to beat an old Lawn Boy, at least in my opinion.

[Tornado2dr]

It is really sad that the old 2 stroke is such a pollution monster, as it is tough to beat an old Lawn Boy, at least in my opinion.

Grew up pushing the green monsters and choking on the exhaust. I'm sure it is why I can hold my breath for a long time underwater.

Staggered front wheels...serious stance cred.

[tehAndy]

I am curious to know why you want the large rear wheels.

I just find them easier to maneuver through rough/tight stuff that way.

Dude....your cat ****s a LOT

We have three cats, and they *do* **** a lot.

I save the buckets to put waste oil in for easy transporting to the village dump site.


Incidentally, the mower being replaced was one we bought in '92 so we wouldn't have to keep borrowing someone else's green smokebeast. I bet that old thing is still mowing *somebody's* lawn somewhere.

[Mosbius Designs]

One word, Honda. /thread

One word, Honda. /thread

One word, Honda. /thread

One word, Honda. /thread

One word, Honda. /thread

Seriously. You pay a lot for them, but you get quality. And since you don't want self-propelled, you can get a basic model for a reasonable price.

[winstonsmith84]

I bet that old thing is still mowing *somebody's* lawn somewhere.

Worst business model ever. Build something indestructible, so much so that 30-40 year old ones are still running like new. Never need a new one! Lawn Boys were either destroyed by straight gas or people just got tired of them .

[FLY-GTI1]

I am curious to know why you want the large rear wheels.

Better leverage when pushing down to lift up the front to say change directions (cutting back and forth).

[Sentinelist]

Problem: you didn't buy a Honda

Solution: buy a Honda

Get the $399 model at Home Depot.

/thread

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Saw some decent deals at Lowe's recently for Toro high-wheel mowers with Honda engines, less than $300.

This is what I have, except for it's a Craftsman high-wheel non-propelled with a Honda engine. It works very well.

[22AudiQ]

Let me say though that the Honda lawn mowers with the terrible, wrist-ruining self propel engager things should be avoided like crazy.

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Ou...&storeId=10051

See that little gray piece near the handles? You have to simultaneously push it forward with your thumbs and pull on the bar. It's the least ergonomic design in the world and hurts your hands after a quarter of your yard.

[Mosbius Designs]

Let me say though that the Honda lawn mowers with the terrible, wrist-ruining self propel engager things should be avoided like crazy.

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Ou...&storeId=10051

See that little gray piece near the handles? You have to simultaneously push it forward with your thumbs and pull on the bar. It's the least ergonomic design in the world and hurts your hands after a quarter of your yard.

Yep. That's why you go the next step up and get the traditional self-propel lever. Same design they've used for over 30 years now.


Points moot, however - the OP doesn't want a self propel model.

[spockcat]

Yep. That's why you go the next step up and get the traditional self-propel lever. Same design they've used for over 30 years now.


Points moot, however - the OP doesn't want a self propel model.

Even without self propelled you still need to engage the blade stop system. The days of "hands free" mowers are long gone. And I can tell you it was nice to be able to take your hand off the mower for a second without having the engine or blades stop.

[joness0154]

Even without self propelled you still need to engage the blade stop system. The days of "hands free" mowers are long gone. And I can tell you it was nice to be able to take your hand off the mower for a second without having the engine or blades stop.

When was the last time they made mowers without the safety bar? I haven't seen one from the past 25+ years.

Regardless, it's not that hard to use a piece of velcro to strap the safety bar to the handle

[spockcat]

When was the last time they made mowers without the safety bar? I haven't seen one from the past 25+ years.

Regardless, it's not that hard to use a piece of velcro to strap the safety bar to the handle

My grandparents had no problem letting a 10 year old use a mower without any such safety equipment. Of course, such safety equipment wasn't on mowers back then.

[Tornado2dr]

My grandparents had no problem letting a 10 year old use a mower without any such safety equipment. Of course, such safety equipment wasn't on mowers back then.

I always let that little green monster run while I dumped the bag. Seemed a lot easier than cranking on it.

[Jettavr666]

see this thread:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ciation-Thread

honestly dont bother with anything else. While there are other mowers that will easily last 10 years, Hondas will last 20 years without breaking a sweat. My brother just inherited my parents old one when he bought his first house. Its 20 years old and starts on the first pull 95% of the time, and always by the second. Oh did I mentioned it has lived outside under at most a tarp for half its life, and has NO rust?

If I was in the market I would buy NOTHING else they are just that good.



Also the newer ones have a plastic deck which is lighter than almost all other mowers, and will never rust

Also DONT be tempted by the other brand mowers with honda engines. While they are better, one of the best things about honda mowers is the overall build quality, not just the engines.

[Jettavr666]

Worst business model ever. Build something indestructible, so much so that 30-40 year old ones are still running like new. Never need a new one! Lawn Boys were either destroyed by straight gas or people just got tired of them .

well yes and no, lawboys had sihtty build quality otherwise, and the two stroke motors that would make breathing difficult in a cloud of white smoke. Also the two stroke motors were not always easy to start.

The four stroke honda i used growing up however burns so clean that even at 20 years old there is only a puff of smoke on startup, and no smell when running.

[Jettavr666]

Even without self propelled you still need to engage the blade stop system. The days of "hands free" mowers are long gone. And I can tell you it was nice to be able to take your hand off the mower for a second without having the engine or blades stop.

Im no safety nazi, but this is a GOOD thing. even growing up i remember hearing stories of people getting maimed or killed by mowers, and I am 29.

[Mosbius Designs]

see this thread:

Heh, my thread. I'm LOVING the new one so far.

I will say, though - (I guess it helps since it was always protected in a shed) that the old HR214 that was 25 years old did not have one ounce of rust on the deck. The Nexite plastic deck was the one thing I wasn't sure about with the new one, but it seems pretty durable.

[Mk1Racer]

Im no safety nazi, but this is a GOOD thing. even growing up i remember hearing stories of people getting maimed or killed by mowers, and I am 29.

And even w/ all the modern safety features, you still hear about people losing fingers, etc. while trying to clear snow blowers. You just can't fix stupid. Not getting hurt while using something is as much about knowing how to safely and properly use something than it is about the safety features. My father and grandfather taught me how to use power equipment safely when I was pretty young. By Jr. HS, I was using all kinds of power equipment from gas mowers to electric drills to chain saws. I've always been safety conscious about using power equipment, and, knock on wood, have never been injured. I've seen others, who should know better, do stupid stuff, and get seriously hurt. If you're smart about how you use your tools / equipment, you probably won't get hurt. All the new safety equipment is great, but if it fails, and you're used to relaying on it, rather than actually paying attention to what you're doing, there's a strong possibility that you'll get hurt. And then you have the people that defeat the safety features because they're too much of a PITA. That's great until someone comes along that doesn't know that XYZ safety feature has been disabled.

[Sentinelist]

see this thread:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ciation-Thread

honestly dont bother with anything else. While there are other mowers that will easily last 10 years, Hondas will last 20 years without breaking a sweat. My brother just inherited my parents old one when he bought his first house. Its 20 years old and starts on the first pull 95% of the time, and always by the second. Oh did I mentioned it has lived outside under at most a tarp for half its life, and has NO rust?

If I was in the market I would buy NOTHING else they are just that good.

Also the newer ones have a plastic deck which is lighter than almost all other mowers, and will never rust

Also DONT be tempted by the other brand mowers with honda engines. While they are better, one of the best things about honda mowers is the overall build quality, not just the engines.

Nailed it. I keep mine under a tarp too!

My father still uses the one he got more than 30 years ago now- it was the same one I ran tirelessly during summers in high school for my lawn mowing business. Then it went back to just our lawn duty when i went to college. I think he only changed the oil every several years and never had any real problems that I can recall. Except maybe a broken wheel in the late 90s that was replaced.

Unfcukwithable.

[winstonsmith84]

well yes and no, lawboys had sihtty build quality otherwise, and the two stroke motors that would make breathing difficult in a cloud of white smoke. Also the two stroke motors were not always easy to start.

That must have been a feature of the later years. Mine is a tank. Mine also doesn't smoke as I use synthetic mixed at 32:1 rather than the 16:1 of the Lawnboy branded oil. Mine sat out all winter and fired on the 3rd pull. They are not for everyone though.

[883sportster]

winstonsmith84

That must have been a feature of the later years. Mine is a tank. Mine also doesn't smoke as I use synthetic mixed at 32:1 rather than the 16:1 of the Lawnboy branded oil. Mine sat out all winter and fired on the 3rd pull. They are not for everyone though.

Same here. I use Amsoil 2 cycle mix and have never had it smoke. I used this a ton before my Dad handed down my Grandfathers Gravely to me. Best $35 bucks I've ever spent. It'll sit all winter and with 2-3 pulls it starts right up after that it's one pull and she cranks right up.

[1.8Tquattro]

And then you have the people that defeat the safety features because they're too much of a PITA. That's great until someone comes along that doesn't know that XYZ safety feature has been disabled.

<--------- Uses a zip tie to hold the safety mech open because the cable rusted through.

[trigtm]

Currently fighting with my old Briggs 3.5 on a snapper 21" deck, self-propelled.

I am still getting the tell-tale Briggs squeal from the starter clutch even though I've replaced it already but I believe that the shaft may be dirty and causing it to bind. I've cleaned/replaced everything else on this thing so if this doesn't work, I'm junking it and getting something with a Honda.

I think this mower is an '86 too, so basically a classic!

[Mk1Racer]

Same here. I use Amsoil 2 cycle mix and have never had it smoke. I used this a ton before my Dad handed down my Grandfathers Gravely to me. Best $35 bucks I've ever spent. It'll sit all winter and with 2-3 pulls it starts right up after that it's one pull and she cranks right up.

Saw a guy cutting his lawn w/ one of these today!

[Dan92SLC]

Honda

Trust me. Mine started on the first pull after sitting all winter with old gas in it, no fuel stabilizer. It's 3 years old and gets abused.

The ONLY caveat: It's very easy to bend the crank by running over large rocks or something similar (hard enough to stop the blade and kill the engine). Don't do that or you are looking at a $200 repair.