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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Sep 14, 2015 1:09 AM
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.
Sep 13, 2015 9:09pm
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Sonofanump

Sep 14, 2015 3:04 AM
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.
Sep 13, 2015 11:04pm
cruiser_96's avatar

cruiser_96

Senior Member

7,536 posts
Sep 14, 2015 12:11 PM
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.
Sep 14, 2015 8:11am
S

superman

Senior Member

3,582 posts
Sep 14, 2015 7:13 PM
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.
Sep 14, 2015 3:13pm
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Sep 14, 2015 7:32 PM
...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.
Sep 14, 2015 3:32pm
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Sep 15, 2015 9:35 AM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 5:35am
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Sep 15, 2015 11:34 AM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 7:34am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 15, 2015 1:12 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 9:12am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 15, 2015 1:14 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 9:14am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 15, 2015 1:17 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 9:17am
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Sep 15, 2015 2:06 PM
Cool. Thanks Zwick and everyone. I'm definitely of the mind that spend for quality, properly maintain, never buy another one again.
Sep 15, 2015 10:06am
Uz2Bon36's avatar

Uz2Bon36

Banned

1,135 posts
Sep 15, 2015 3:19 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 11:19am
Uz2Bon36's avatar

Uz2Bon36

Banned

1,135 posts
Sep 15, 2015 3:25 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 11:25am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 15, 2015 3:30 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 11:30am
Old Rider's avatar

Old Rider

Senior Member

2,470 posts
Sep 15, 2015 3:43 PM
Pay the money for a good one!!
Sep 15, 2015 11:43am
Uz2Bon36's avatar

Uz2Bon36

Banned

1,135 posts
Sep 15, 2015 4:16 PM
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)
Sep 15, 2015 12:16pm
Classyposter58's avatar

Classyposter58

Senior Member

6,321 posts
Sep 15, 2015 5:29 PM
Buy a used one from a mower center or implement. Save a ton of money
Sep 15, 2015 1:29pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Sep 15, 2015 5:57 PM
Classyposter58;1750987 wrote:Buy a used one from a mower center or implement. Save a ton of money
yeah you could save like $50!!!!
Sep 15, 2015 1:57pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Sep 15, 2015 6:13 PM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 2:13pm
Classyposter58's avatar

Classyposter58

Senior Member

6,321 posts
Sep 16, 2015 12:01 AM
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
Sep 15, 2015 8:01pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Sep 16, 2015 2:55 AM
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.
Sep 15, 2015 10:55pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Sep 17, 2015 12:51 PM
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)
Sep 17, 2015 8:51am