Push-Lawnmower suggestions

[pcal]

 One thing you need to look into is the fodder you are going to be feeding whatever type you buy.I lost 2 brush cutters and a couple mowers to ethanol fuel and had problems with my other power equipment over the last 10 years.Go to http://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=WA to buy ethanol free gas in your area.I put 92 octane in my  electric generator and 87 in my mower,chainsaw,brush cutter.You won't believe the power increase you will get without the ethanol,too.I can usually be done in 3/4th the time and not have to worry about emptying the carb unless its going into long term storage.Pure-gas org website list almost 200 stations that sell ethanol free gas in Washington.I have 3 stations close to me.If you have a boat you will save lots of $'s for H2O fuel filters too as pure gas has less water attraction than the booze gas.The price for pure gas verse ethanol isn't that much,either.Its less in some areas than the ethanol.

[Buzz2401]

Honda all the way.  I have owned quite a few mowers and last time I decided on a new one I thought I would save a few bucks and went to sears and bought the top of the line walk behind craftsman.  The store model wouldn't stay at it set deck height and I asked saleman about it, he said "oh some kids were messing with it" I thought ok no biggie. Got mine home pulled out of box and what do you know deck height adjustment wouldn't stay set. Promptly returned and went and dropped the $700 on a new honda.  That was 9 years ago and my mower still starts and cuts like new.  I owned a older Toro as a kid that I bought to mow the neighborhoods lawns for cash.  It was a great mower but I havent been to impressed with their new stuff.

[b23]

Mowing the lawn is, typically, one of those things we HAVE to do rather then something we want to do so taking that into consideration, I prefer to do those types of tasks with the least amount of hassle and frustration possible.

I've used a lot of different mowers over my 45 years, from reallllly sheetie ones to really good ones and I've come to the conclusion that, like many things in life, when it comes to lawn mowers, you get exactly what you pay for.  The cheap or less expensive mowers I've used over the years lead to nothing but a PITA and loads of frustration.  They usually have crappy underpowered motors that after about the first season never seem to run right.  They often don't cut the grass very well or conditions have to be perfect for them to do a very good job.  They either plug up a lot or have a very poor overall design that gets lots of buildup under the deck or they leave trails or clumps of cut grass all over the place.

I don't know what your budget is or how big of an area you will be mowing but I'm like the rest, I couldn't recommend a true Honda mower enough.  I say true Honda mower because there are many other company's that just use Honda engines but aren't true Honda lawn mowers.

Here is what I'd recommend to you.

If you're on somewhat of a budget or you have a smallish lawn, I'd buy one of Honda's more standard models that usually sell for around $450-$499.

If you have a larger area to mow or your budget will allow, I'd either buy Honda's HRX 217 (usually around $650-$699) or their commercial mower (usually about $1000).  I personally have both of these models.  The commercial model is the most expensive BUT they are nothing short of amazing.  As all Honda mowers do, they cut extremely well and last an amazingly longgggg time.  The Honda commercial mower I have was purchased by my grandparents in 1985.  They cost almost $1000 back then even.  Either myself or my dad used that mower to cut my grandparents lawn AND my parents lawn every week up till 1998 when they switched and started using a service.  They gave it to me and I've used it every week since on my own lawn.  I bought a HRX two summers ago because I wanted a mower that did a really good job of mulching and my old hand me down 1985 model wasn't really designed for it.  So from 1985 till 2012 that thing never missed a single season.  It's never been in the shop for anything.  Over the years I've adjusted the stretch out of the cables myself, anyone who has ever done this knows how easy that is, and I've done the other basic maintenance, oil change, spark plug, new blade.  The old girl puffs a little smoke every time when I first start her up but other than that it runs as good as it always has.

My new HRX 217 is a great mower too.  I like how well it mulches.  Their are pros and cons to mulching but having a mower that does a really good job of mulching when you choose to go that route makes things a lot nicer.  The HRX has a pretty cool feature that allows you to decide how much you want to mulch or bag.  You can mulch a little and bag a lot or vice versa and anything in between.  My new one is a far bit quieter but I'm sure all mowers are quieter than they were in 1985, too.

It's your money so spend it how ever you want but if you are looking for a lawn mower that not only lasts a reallllllllllly long time but will also do a great job with no added frustration/s, Honda brand mowers are the only ones I'll ever own.

[PolarBear]

As far as push mowers or self propelled walk behind, I will only own Hondas!  My wife has her own and I have a 20+ year old pusher and both still fires up on the first pull.  The mower decks will wear out before the motors.  You can add life to your decks by cleaning them every time you mow.  I also (as stated above) recommend using ONLY ethanol free gas!  I won't put any gas with ethanol in any of my mowers, trimmers, saws, outboards etc.  It has saved me a ton of headaches and repairs by doing so. 

[WSU]

Honda.  Newer craftsman stuff is junk (at least the one my parents bought is).  The Honda will last you decades.

[Bofire]

Honda generally makes the motor not the mower. good motors. But the motors are on many manufactures frames. Many older mowers can have the old Briggs replaced with a honda fairly cheap.
Sears Craftsman is a brand name, they make nothing, they bid out misc, crap that they sell. every time it is bid there may be a new company building it.

However the true Honda brand mowers are great!
Carl

[PolarBear]

 
A true Honda is worth every penny!

[Mudman]

Cheap Bolens with briggs. 150$.  No frills.  Runs great. Lowes.

[Buzz2401]

I honestly think the motor has little to do with anything.  A small engine is easy to maintain and work on, it what its attached to that makes the difference.  Get a honda and you won't be disapointed.

[sirfunkeybut]

If you can so some basic mechanical work you could score one off CL for next to nothing.


I've seen em with clogged air filters and the owner wondering what's the matter,  scrap it and go get a new one   

  I often get free ones that are "broke" chance a spark plug and turn around and 100.00 

[Boss .300 winmag]

If you really want a good mower that will last a long time with little to no maintenance, IE never change the blade, no gas to buy, no oil to change, spark plugs lasts till its dead, has internal filters with no need to change, and the starter cord will never break, mulches and fertilizes at the same time, waters the grass, mows daily no matter the weather, self motivated, just get a goat or two.