It's not really the brand as much as it is the moter. I also prefer self propelled with at least a 22" cut radius. If the yards small but the cheapest mower with a Honda or Briggs and Straton Moter.

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.

True.

I have had the same Toro for 12 years. My dad wanted to get it for me when he found out my wife and I bought a house. My dad still has the same Toro at his house that I learned to cut grass on. Still works and he has no complaints with it.

Is Toro "the brand"? I'm not sure. But I do know that we did purchase it from an authorized Toro dealer (in Rey'burg) and I have no complaints.

Bought a used craftsman rider on Craigslist 3 years ago for $200. It came with a bagger I don't use. I haven't changed the oil and I treat it like crap. It is probably 20 years old and runs like its new. The solenoid went out this summer. I start it with a screw driver. My point is, Craftsman mowers are awesome.

...I bought a Lawnboy 16years ago and it always starts.
I've only had to replace the spark plug once, the wheels wore down in the back & I replaced them but I change the air filter every year as well as the year end oil change.

I have a Honda push mower. Starts on the first pull every time. I get it tuned and sharpened every year, because I take care of my stuff.

cruiser_96;1750647 wrote:I have had the same Toro for 12 years. My dad wanted to get it for me when he found out my wife and I bought a house. My dad still has the same Toro at his house that I learned to cut grass on. Still works and he has no complaints with it.

Is Toro "the brand"? I'm not sure. But I do know that we did purchase it from an authorized Toro dealer (in Rey'burg) and I have no complaints.

So, I guess I'm not getting a Toro. Can't trust your opinion.

hasbeen;1750916 wrote:So, I guess I'm not getting a Toro. Can't trust your opinion.

Toro is their own brand. They also make Exmark for commercial line too. Toro is good but not a cheap one.

superman;1750753 wrote:Bought a used craftsman rider on Craigslist 3 years ago for $200. It came with a bagger I don't use. I haven't changed the oil and I treat it like crap. It is probably 20 years old and runs like its new. The solenoid went out this summer. I start it with a screw driver. My point is, Craftsman mowers are awesome.

MTD makes all of Craftmans lawn mowers and MTD isn't exactly garbage but isn't exactly good either. Middle of the road stuff.

sportchampps;1750579 wrote:It's not really the brand as much as it is the moter. I also prefer self propelled with at least a 22" cut radius. If the yards small but the cheapest mower with a Honda or Briggs and Straton Moter.

The best thing you can say about Briggs is their customer service is really good. Their motors are just ok. Honda makes good small engines. Kohler is even better. Nothing really beats Kawasaki for mower engine though.

don't know your budget, but for your lawn size, this is a good mower.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Toro-Personal-Pace-Recycler-22-in-Honda-GCV160-Variable-Speed-Self-Propelled-Gas-Lawn-Mower-20337/205447382

Cool. Thanks Zwick and everyone. I'm definitely of the mind that spend for quality, properly maintain, never buy another one again.

superman;1750753 wrote:Bought a used craftsman rider on Craigslist 3 years ago for $200. It came with a bagger I don't use. I haven't changed the oil and I treat it like crap. It is probably 20 years old and runs like its new. The solenoid went out this summer. I start it with a screw driver. My point is, Craftsman mowers are awesome.

Some of the older ones with briggs & stratton engines were not bad. Grew up with many craftsman mowers since my dad worked for Sears.

ZWICK 4 PREZ;1750931 wrote:don't know your budget, but for your lawn size, this is a good mower.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Toro-Personal-Pace-Recycler-22-in-Honda-GCV160-Variable-Speed-Self-Propelled-Gas-Lawn-Mower-20337/205447382

Toro is a good brand but find the local Toro dealer, instead of buying from one of the massive hardware stores. Some local ACE hardware stores carry good quality Toro and Stihl brand yard equipment.

Uz2Bon36;1750964 wrote:Toro is a good brand but find the local Toro dealer, instead of buying from one of the massive hardware stores. Some local ACE hardware stores carry good quality Toro and Stihl brand yard equipment.

definitely. Homedepot was the easiest way to show him with a price though.

Pay the money for a good one!!

ZWICK 4 PREZ;1750966 wrote:definitely. Homedepot was the easiest way to show him with a price though.

Gotcha. Just FYI for OP: A difference between real Toro's and those from H.Depot/Lowes/etc with generic foreign engines and cheaper made decks. Even the wheels are made with better quality plastic from legit Toro dealers than the 3rd party mass produced models.


(yea...lawn care is my side job)

Buy a used one from a mower center or implement. Save a ton of money

Classyposter58;1750987 wrote:Buy a used one from a mower center or implement. Save a ton of money

yeah you could save like $50!!!!

hasbeen;1750948 wrote:Cool. Thanks Zwick and everyone. I'm definitely of the mind that spend for quality, properly maintain, never buy another one again.

remember that places like Home Depo name brand product ( John Deere, Snapper as examples) are not the same high quality as a authorized repair dealer models.

ZWICK 4 PREZ;1750994 wrote:yeah you could save like $50!!!!

No I saved probably $200. Bought a John Deere self propelled for $100 when it's easily $300 new in store

2 mowers ago I bought a used one that was repaired at Walmart for $85....mowed with it for 4 years before the wheels broke off.

i bought a $140 mower 8 years ago and it still runs great. I haven't done any really work to it (because it was $140 for fucks sake, why would I?)

Maintenance is key:
1. Sharpen the damn blade (beginning of mowing season) - cuts more efficiently
2. ETHANOL FREE GASOLINE - much like I92 said, a guy that works on mowers for a living told me this
3. Change the oil, spark plug, and air filter every summer.
4. Keep the mower deck clean - I don't clean it after every cut, but if it's particularly wet when I mow I will clean it off afterwards. When you put it up for the winter it should be spotless.

I spend about $50 per year on all this shit plus gasoline (my lawn is incredibly small now, but when I lived in WY and in LA I had about a 1/2 acre that was mowed, with this mower I don't remember how much I was spending then, but the difference was gasoline)