Question for Lawnboy

[T Bone]

Lawnboy,

What kind of push/self propelled homeowner type lawn mower would you recommend? I've gone through 2 Craftsman mowers with 6.75 hp B&S engines in 3 years. The engines were garbage from the get go. Metallic sparkles in the oil, followed by heavy oil use, followed by grenade.

 

[idnative1948]

What kind of stuff are you mowing? Regular size lawn grass (1/4 AC)? Using it commercially?
Last B&S engine lasted me ten years, but rest of the mower fell apart. The one I have now has a Honda engine. SIL has a Toro shop locally, not that I would want to spend that for the size of yard I have. Better part of his clients are commerical lawn service guys.
But seeing as how LawnBoy is in the business will wait for him to chime in.

 

[Lawnboy]

T-Bone I'm sorry to hear of your bad luck with the Briggs engine. I have had nothing but good luck with them. Really the majority of brands will use a Briggs and Stratton motor on their units. Not sure what's happening with your motors to be crapping out so soon. I've yet to have a motor fail. The unit will just slowly fall apart (after I've replaced wheels,drive belt's etc several times.) I use synthetic motor oil in all my equipment. Really cheap insurance and you will only need to change your fluid maybe once a season.
I just can't think why you might be getting metal in the motor unless for some reason there was not enough oil in the crank case or something like that I did have a employee once mistake the oil fill with the gas fill. He put gas in the oil Gas will really break your oil down fast and if not caught and changed you will getting a seized motor. You might check that your little slaves know where to put the gas for sure just as a precaution.

Anyway it sounds like you need a new mower. I've used Toro's for about 15 years and like I said I've never had a motor fail. They were all Briggs motors as well. I will have to go look and see what models I'm using for sure but I attatched a link for one that looks real similar to the ones we use. I will double check for sure. The other option that a friend of mine has is the honda. Different motor and he mows commercially as well with his. They both mulch really well as long as you mow weekly and not bi weekly/monthly

I don't know what you have for dealers so I used this Home depot link to show you the 2 I was thinking about. Some of the cheaper Toro model suck at mulching and components fall off.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...duct-1-_-toro;mower;100659636-_-100617092-_-N



http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...yword=toro+mower&storeId=10051#specifications

 

[Zach]

I'm just relieved to see this isn't a fashion question....

 

[T Bone]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Application is our 3/4 acre lot and a handful of others that my 14 year old earns money on. We change the oil with 30 wt oil twice a year. The idea of my son putting gas in the oil is entirely possible.

Sears stood behind the first mower with sparkly oil (only a few weeks old) and gave me another identical one. It went for 2 1/2 summers and died in Sept last year. Took it to the small engine repair shop and he told me similar things that you and others have said. (That they are good little work horses).

I'll do some shopping in the next month or two and see if I can find one that lasts.

 

[thecrittergitter]

T-Bone I'm sorry to hear of your bad luck with the Briggs engine. I have had nothing but good luck with them. Really the majority of brands will use a Briggs and Stratton motor on their units. Not sure what's happening with your motors to be crapping out so soon. I've yet to have a motor fail. The unit will just slowly fall apart (after I've replaced wheels,drive belt's etc several times.) I use synthetic motor oil in all my equipment. Really cheap insurance and you will only need to change your fluid maybe once a season.
I just can't think why you might be getting metal in the motor unless for some reason there was not enough oil in the crank case or something like that I did have a employee once mistake the oil fill with the gas fill. He put gas in the oil Gas will really break your oil down fast and if not caught and changed you will getting a seized motor. You might check that your little slaves know where to put the gas for sure just as a precaution.

Anyway it sounds like you need a new mower. I've used Toro's for about 15 years and like I said I've never had a motor fail. They were all Briggs motors as well. I will have to go look and see what models I'm using for sure but I attatched a link for one that looks real similar to the ones we use. I will double check for sure. The other option that a friend of mine has is the honda. Different motor and he mows commercially as well with his. They both mulch really well as long as you mow weekly and not bi weekly/monthly

I don't know what you have for dealers so I used this Home depot link to show you the 2 I was thinking about. Some of the cheaper Toro model suck at mulching and components fall off.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...duct-1-_-toro;mower;100659636-_-100617092-_-N



http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...yword=toro+mower&storeId=10051#specifications

Oh, Come on, don't let Lawnboy fool you..............he doesn't know how to use a push mower Its rider or nothingLOL

 

[1_pointer]

I second the suggestion of a Toro. When I bought my first house in 2002 the sellers left a lawnmower that had been sitting outside since I don't know when. They claimed it hadn't been used in over a year. I put some oil and gas in it and it fired up on the third pull. I'm still using it! It's got some crappy patch jobs on some small things that have broken along the way, but it still cuts grass and if primed well will start by the second pull. FWIW...

 

[noharleyyet]

We've had a Honda self propelled for over 15 years. Bruised the pocketbook at first but has never missed a beat.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

We have had good luck with a Huskavana (mspl). I have 2 of those so the wife can chose whichever she wants. But they are riders. John

 

[mdunc8]

Oh, Come on, don't let Lawnboy fool you..............he doesn't know how to use a push mower Its rider or nothingLOL

......

 

[fowladdict]

I vote for the Honda. Mine just keeps going. Ten years now and I have not taken very good care of it either!!

 

[dustinf]

Am I a douche, because my wife cuts the grass?

I bought her a new Toro as a house warming gift 6 years ago. She hasn't complained about it yet.

 

[idnative1948]

When our youngest daughter was just a tyke. I bought my wife a 2-stroke leaf blower. Even to this day, 20 plus years later when she yanks my chain I emit the sound of a 2-stroke and the gas fumes

Am I a douche, because my wife cuts the grass?

I bought her a new Toro as a house warming gift 6 years ago. She hasn't complained about it yet.

 

[noharleyyet]

Am I a douche, because my wife cuts the grass?

.

Not at all, you are a hero to pointer.

 

[MThuntr]

Most of my mowers have fallen apart vs the engine blown. I stay away from self propelled mowers. I need the workout and I feel they put unnecessary strain on a motor.

As said before there must have been some oil breakdown or solvent in the oil. You may also consider adding a little bit of something like Lucas oil to the crankcase. I believe my current Craftsman mower has a B&S but I think there was an option for a Kohler or Husqvarna motor. I agree that a Honda would probably be a better choice. If I were to go all out a commercial grade Toro or Exmark would be my purchase.

 

[1_pointer]

Not at all, you are a hero to pointer.

Yes, yes he is.

I did find NHY's dream mower...

 

[sheff]

Hustler......Get one and it will outlast your automobile.

 

[noharleyyet]

pointer, that pic made my head hurt.

 

[Dinkshooter]

My wife was a princess and had never ran a lawnmower before she made her mistake and married me. Some how a 2 week Alaska trip came up and she learned!

Pay back for the helping me butcher critters before marriag thing.

 

[Deleted member 16864]

My wife was a princess and had never ran a lawnmower before she made her mistake and married me. Some how a 2 week Alaska trip came up and she learned!

Pay back for the helping me butcher critters before marriag thing.

Pre-marital critter butchering?