Lawn Mowers

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hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:01 PM
I bought a house. It has a yard. My girlfriend insists we keep it trim. Does the brand of lawn mower matter? I'm doing a push/self-propelled mower. Don't need a riding mower.
Sep 12, 2015 8:01pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:02 PM
How bigs the yard?
Sep 12, 2015 8:02pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:04 PM
1/3 acre is the total property.
Sep 12, 2015 8:04pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:12 PM
I wouldn't worry about the brand....seems they all have the same issues if you don't keep clean gas in them. Make sure not to us 87....use the 89
Sep 12, 2015 8:12pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:17 PM
Ironman92;1750124 wrote:I wouldn't worry about the brand....seems they all have the same issues if you don't keep clean gas in them. Make sure not to us 87....use the 89
Not that I don't believe you, but why?
Sep 12, 2015 8:17pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:20 PM
hasbeen;1750131 wrote:Not that I don't believe you, but why?
(My neighbor a few houses up fixes mowers) the majority of them will clog up running on 87 gas.....89 and they'll run clean much longer. Two different times he's fixed a mower for me and the 87 gas is what he said was the main problem. It's fine in cars but the smaller engines have trouble with it in the way that it burns.
Sep 12, 2015 8:20pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:51 PM
I bought a wide area walk behind but I have an acre yard. It was expensive though. I went with a commercial brand just because I plan on keeping it for ever.
Sep 12, 2015 8:51pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:53 PM
Ironman92;1750134 wrote:(My neighbor a few houses up fixes mowers) the majority of them will clog up running on 87 gas.....89 and they'll run clean much longer. Two different times he's fixed a mower for me and the 87 gas is what he said was the main problem. It's fine in cars but the smaller engines have trouble with it in the way that it burns.
87 is fine. The problem is people by gas in a 5 gallon can and it sits all summer as you use it. You cant let gasoline sit. I only buy a gallon at a time.
Sep 12, 2015 8:53pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

Senior Member

8,748 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:59 PM
Ya know, mowers aren't made like they used to be.....to last a long time.

Today, you pay cheap for a piece of crap that lasts a few years. Then you set it on the curb and get another cheap ass mower.




Cueing: Belly and the Millenials
Sep 12, 2015 8:59pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 8:59 PM
When I had a small yard I used a Toro recycler with the personal pace. I had great luck with it. It was a 22 inch wide cut.
Sep 12, 2015 8:59pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:01 PM
BRF;1750143 wrote:Ya know, mowers aren't made like they used to be.....to last a long time.

Today, you pay cheap for a piece of crap that lasts a few years. Then you set it on the curb and get another cheap ass mower.




Cueing: Belly and the Millenials
I wouldn't say that. The mower I bought this year has a 7 gauge steel deck and hydrostatic transmission. It will probably outlive me.
Sep 12, 2015 9:01pm
F

friendfromlowry

Senior Member

6,239 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:03 PM
Bought a brand new push mower a couple years ago. Never had a problem with it. I buy a few gallons of gas at the beginning of the spring and it usually lasts just about all summer.

You know what I have had problems with, though? Bees. They nest underground and I don't realize it until I've ran over it and piss them off. Never had that problem growing up at my parents house but my house has had problems every year right around August. So, be careful of that I guess.
Sep 12, 2015 9:03pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

Senior Member

8,748 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:12 PM
ZWICK 4 PREZ;1750145 wrote:I wouldn't say that. The mower I bought this year has a 7 gauge steel deck and hydrostatic transmission. It will probably outlive me.
I should have typed "today you CAN pay cheap for a piece of crap......."

You did not, nor did I.
Sep 12, 2015 9:12pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:14 PM
I, admittedly, spent way too much time researching mowers before I bought mine lol.
Sep 12, 2015 9:14pm
F

friendfromlowry

Senior Member

6,239 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:20 PM
I just bought whatever was cheapest at Lowes. Cutting the grass already fucking sucks as it is.
Sep 12, 2015 9:20pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

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8,748 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:22 PM
^^^^ That's what I was talking about. Lots of people do this.
Sep 12, 2015 9:22pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 12, 2015 9:24 PM
friendfromlowry;1750155 wrote:I just bought whatever was cheapest at Lowes. Cutting the grass already fucking sucks as it is.
I spend a ton of time on yard work so I have a lot invested in yard working tools.
Sep 12, 2015 9:24pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Sep 12, 2015 10:20 PM
Remembering our first house had a 1 1/2 acre lot....I push mowed it for 5 years. Dumbass lol
Sep 12, 2015 10:20pm
Uz2Bon36's avatar

Uz2Bon36

Banned

1,135 posts
Sep 12, 2015 10:25 PM
ZWICK 4 PREZ;1750142 wrote:87 is fine. The problem is people by gas in a 5 gallon can and it sits all summer as you use it. You cant let gasoline sit. I only buy a gallon at a time.

This. Gasoline turns to pure shit pretty quickly.


imo if wanting a smaller (non riding) mower, go to an authorized Toro dealer for a quality walk behind. Toro's from Home Depot/Lowes/etc are not the same quality. Or if wanting to go big and get something more commercial grade, I like Scag.
Sep 12, 2015 10:25pm
Uz2Bon36's avatar

Uz2Bon36

Banned

1,135 posts
Sep 12, 2015 10:30 PM
friendfromlowry;1750155 wrote:I just bought whatever was cheapest at Lowes. Cutting the grass already fucking sucks as it is.
You get what ya pay for. I picked up a cheap disposable mower and it was shit within a year or two. My Toro push mower starts on either the 1st or 2nd pull every time.
Sep 12, 2015 10:30pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Sep 13, 2015 8:05 AM
Never buy cheat...tools or equipment
1.5 areas I want the best, 1/3 areas You want the best you can't do good work with cheap tools

i have a small push mower .. I like the high vacuum type mowers, with a munching bladed fall leaves are gone less problems..

How much storage do you have for a small rider ?
Sep 13, 2015 8:05am
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Sep 13, 2015 8:16 AM
Belly35;1750207 wrote:Never buy cheat...tools or equipment
1.5 areas I want the best, 1/3 areas You want the best you can't do good work with cheap tools

i have a small push mower .. I like the high vacuum type mowers, with a munching bladed fall leaves are gone less problems..

How much storage do you have for a small rider ?
I have a large shed on the property, easily fit a large mower. Not sure my budget can for it.
Sep 13, 2015 8:16am
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

Senior Member

9,206 posts
Sep 13, 2015 10:11 AM
One thing about self propelled mowers is weight.....If you have a straight shot with inclines it's worth the extra money, but if your are trimming around a lot of trees and flower beds, they are harder to maneuver.
Sep 13, 2015 10:11am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Sep 13, 2015 12:10 PM
HitsRus;1750220 wrote:One thing about self propelled mowers is weight.....If you have a straight shot with inclines it's worth the extra money, but if your are trimming around a lot of trees and flower beds, they are harder to maneuver.
Yes....pretty much finished with my 2nd year with mine. It was only $189 at Walmart. No issues yet but I have a flat front yard and a small but busy backyard (garage, patio, deck, pool, trampoline, telephone pole, landscaping)...I wish I would've got the smallest mower available as it's turns everywhere and I feel like the wheels will break off before anything else lol. I blow the grass in the front but have to mulch it in the back.
Sep 13, 2015 12:10pm
redstreak one's avatar

redstreak one

Senior Member

1,152 posts
Sep 13, 2015 5:21 PM
I stay away from push mowers that have the handle attached to the rear wheels with the height adjustment feature. I bought a new on with handles attached to the frame and make sure you keep undercarriage clean. If you don't that will rust it out quicker.
Sep 13, 2015 5:21pm