Lawnmower Question

[drm1111]

I am looking to buy a new lawnmower. I need to know if anyone has these 2 mowers and what they like or dislike about them. Just need some more info before I pull the trigger. Lawnboy #10795 with Honda engine and the Toro #20092 with the B&S engine. I know both mowers are made by Toro but I like the Honda engine. Its a little more price wise but you get what you pay for IMO. Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated.

[N_Jay]

I dumped a Tecumseh Craftsman for a Honda Craftsman and will never go back to Tacoma or B&S.

[dustino8]

I'm with N_Jay on this. Get the one with the Honda engine. I've had a Craftsman with a Honda motor for five years now and it starts on the first pull every time, runs like it was new (However, there's probably someone on here that can say the same about their B&S).

On the other hand, if your going to spend that amount on a mower, why not get a Honda? Here's one in the price range you're looking for:

Honda Mower

[whizmo]

Consumer Reports just tested mowers in their May 2008 issue. I'd get a copy.

- Mark

[drm1111]

Yea after looking at the Honda mowers, I believe thats what I am going to buy. Anyone have either of the hrrvka or vxa models. I notice a $100 difference. Seems the one has the blade disingagement and 9inch tires vs 8 inch. Is it worth the extra money?

[sjlee]

I'm a big fan of B&S... probably because I like to support a local company.

In any case, my lawnmower is a Yard Machine with a B&S motor. I bought it at Home Depot about 5 or 6 years ago for less than $200. It's pretty basic... 6.0 HP, mulching, push mower.

I simply put in gas each time I use it, sharpen the blade when it needs it and change the oil before I store it for the winter. It usually starts with one pull... the only exception is the first time I use it in the spring.

My father had a B&S lawnmower that he had while I was growing up... probably had it at least 10 years. He didn't know the meaning of preventative maintenance or winter storage procedures... he just put in gas each time he used it (or when I was old enough to mow). It too had a B&S engine.

To be honest, I don't think you can really go wrong with either lawnmower.

[drm1111]

I was just comparing the Honda mowers, Toro and the Lawnboy mowers. Seems the Lawnboy I was looking at is highly rated and right below it is the Toro model I was looking at. The Honda is middle of the road in reviews. Do I go with the Lawnboy with the Honda engine $529.99 or the Honda at either $479 or $579 depending on the model ???

[Dano]

I have a Snapper 21" mower with a Briggs & Stratton 4 hp engine on it.

It's 20 years old. Engine runs like a charm and has never had any repairs done to it, just typical maintenance.

I was in the small engine repair business for a while and I would swear by B&S for that stuff. Didn't care much for Tecumseh. And Hondas were a pain in the a$$ to work on - and generally overpriced.

I'm also partial to Snapper for the lawnmower itself. But then again, mine has lasted 20 years, with a few summers (long, long ago) in commercial use.

[drm1111]

I looked at the snappers at Sears and they were nice but seemed kinda big and bulky. The price was good @ $399.99 but just not sure about the large size of the mower. I have a little over 1/4 acre with lots of landscaping so I would have a have a mower thats east to get around stuff and lightweight. The Toro and Lawnboy both has an aluminum deck weighing in at 83 pounds. The Honda is a little heavier but has a steel deck. Keep the input coming guys and gals. I need info !!!!

[N_Jay]

From what I have seen the Honda engines and therefore the whole lawnmower is lighter.
It helps reduce the work of mowing.
I don't know about B&S these days, but the Honda uses a lot less gas to do the same lawn then the Tecumseh did.

[rocky]

I'd go with a blade brake clutch to ensure the engine keeps spinning even if the blade isn't.
I'd go with multiple gears rather than a single speed. Single speeds are usually too slooow

Then I'd buy the cheapest on the market with those features.

That said, I've been a tractor guy for 7 years now. Back then sears mower and tractor stuff was junk and I ended up with the cheapest JD with a Kohler. Never let me down. I do still have a tecumseh powered snow blower that is 13 years old now. Sometimes I wish it would blow up so I can treat myself to a new one.

[sjlee]

Originally posted by drm1111
I looked at the snappers at Sears and they were nice but seemed kinda big and bulky. The price was good @ $399.99 but just not sure about the large size of the mower. I have a little over 1/4 acre with lots of landscaping so I would have a have a mower thats east to get around stuff and lightweight. The Toro and Lawnboy both has an aluminum deck weighing in at 83 pounds. The Honda is a little heavier but has a steel deck. Keep the input coming guys and gals. I need info !!!!

My yard sounds very similar to yours. It takes me about a hour or so to cut all the grass. My wife has mowed the lawn as well, so the mower isn't heavy at all.

[sjlee]

Originally posted by rocky
I'd go with a blade brake clutch to ensure the engine keeps spinning even if the blade isn't.
I'd go with multiple gears rather than a single speed. Single speeds are usually too slooow

Then I'd buy the cheapest on the market with those features.

That said, I've been a tractor guy for 7 years now. Back then sears mower and tractor stuff was junk and I ended up with the cheapest JD with a Kohler. Never let me down. I do still have a tecumseh powered snow blower that is 13 years old now. Sometimes I wish it would blow up so I can treat myself to a new one.

I think the OP was looking at push mower, not tractors.

I also have a Yard Machine snow thrower (2 stage) with a Tecumseh engine. It's probably as old as yours. It still runs, but needs carb work. My biggest problem with it right now is that the nut is seized on the oil drain.

Probably one of the poorest designed features on it... it has a metal tube screwed into the engine to allow the oil to drain out behind the thrower. Because the tube is threaded, when I turn the nut now, the entire thing turns. Because it is round, I cannot use a wrench to hold the tube while trying to turn the nut.

I can't complain too much... I got it for free, and it being a 2-stage thrower has helped after some snowstorms.

[krygny]

No contest. Get the Lawn Boy with the Honda Engine. Why do so many people think that Briggs & Stratton engines are good? B&S engines are crap. They're cheap and that's why so many manufacturers use them, but they're still crap. I have a John Deere with a B&S engine. The best thing I can say about it is it cuts the grass.

I had an OMC Lawn Boy for 17 seasons and loved it. It had a bullet-proof 2-cycle engine (only 3 moving parts) and a cast aluminum deck. Why can't they make things like they used to?

[LChisum]

I bought a Lawn Boy last summer and am very pleased with it. It has a Tecumseh (sp) engine, which I was a little concerned about, but so far has started on the first pull each time. I got rid of a Craftsman top-of-the-line Honda powered mower that I had for several years, and had repaired several times. The main problem was in the rear wheel drive which depended on pins in each wheel activated by centrifugal force to drive the wheel. The pins were the weak link. One broke off completely, resulting in a one wheel drive. After that was fixed, one or both would stick in the drive position, yielding tire marks in the lawn when the mower was pulled backward. I had a friend who worked for Sears in mower maintenance who told me that it was a common problem. I don't know if Craftsman has changed the rear wheel drive mechanism or not. The Lawn Boy has no blade clutch or throttle, but I discovered that I don't really need them. It has a variable speed which is controlled by just pushing in on the grips. It will move as fast as you want to.

Larry