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Need New Lawn Mower

Nytemare

By Nytemare
in The Off-Topic Bar

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ShimanoFisherman Enthusiast

ShimanoFisherman

Posted
Posted
So, I am in need of a new mower...I want something good this time, not something that last a year at best.

 

I was looking at http://www.sears.ca/product/craftsman-md-3...71369640?ptag=1

 

What you guys have that's nice self propelled and key start is a must as the wife will likely use it more than me as she's home most of the time, I'm usually sailing in the middle of nowhere.

 

Honda HRX :(

 

I have a Honda that starts on the first pull every time and has never given me a problem. I've owned it for five years. Though I don't have the electric start or the infinitely variable hyrdrostatic drive. I just have three manual speeds.

 

No idea on the quality of recent Craftsman products.

telo Enthusiast

telo

Posted
Posted
So, I am in need of a new mower...I want something good this time, not something that last a year at best.

 

I was looking at http://www.sears.ca/product/craftsman-md-3...71369640?ptag=1

 

What you guys have that's nice self propelled and key start is a must as the wife will likely use it more than me as she's home most of the time, I'm usually sailing in the middle of nowhere.

 

Check out this mower:

 

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xoj...catalogId=10053

 

It's a really great machine. I've got the electric start version as well as the rope start. Always starts on the 1st or 2nd pull. Personal pace mowing speed is great also. Easy to switch from bagging to mulching with the flip of a lever. Rear drive also

 

The Craftsman is a front wheel drive. As the bag gets full it tends to cause the front drive wheels to loos traction.

bluArrow Enthusiast

bluArrow

Posted
Posted
I want something good this time
There's really only one choice and that's the Honda. Consumers Report magazine loves them. John Deere used to make a top tier walk behind with an aluminum deck that was practically a commercial model but I see they dropped it.

Which leaves the Honda. It's a lot of money but it's the benchmark of walk-behinds, sort of like the GMT900 is the benchmark of pickups. :(

Dzlbudman Enthusiast

Dzlbudman

Posted
Posted

I have a Honda HRR and love it! make sure u spend the extra cash and get the blade clutch. Never realized how much a feature like that makes the de bagging process so much easier not restarting every time. I believe they have a key feature, I just have pull start starts in one pull.

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted

I have a very similar Craftsman mower that I bought when I built this house (7 years ago) and it's never missed a beat. Don't know who makes em but it has served us very well.

BruceW Enthusiast

BruceW

Posted
Posted

I no longer buy Craftsman gas powered tools. The last weed eater and lawn mower I purchased from Sears lasted less than a year. Both were mid to high end in their lineup.

 

I only buy from my local Stihl dealer. I wish Stihl made lawn mowers.

 

When you are shopping I have seen a lot of 173CC OHV engines. I bought a Husquavarna with a 173CC Kohler at Sears near the end of last year. It worked great last year. This year it is running ok but making terrible sounds. It is going to the dealer for service. I found out after buying that the 173CC Kohler was made by MTD in China.

sab316 Enthusiast

sab316

Posted
Posted

ExMark makes a pretty decent pushmower if thats what you're looking for... Or look at Snapper. We own a lawn care business and when we first started we had 2 Snappers last us 9+ years.

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted
So, I am in need of a new mower...I want something good this time, not something that last a year at best.

 

I was looking at http://www.sears.ca/product/craftsman-md-3...71369640?ptag=1

 

What you guys have that's nice self propelled and key start is a must as the wife will likely use it more than me as she's home most of the time, I'm usually sailing in the middle of nowhere.

 

I have one...... Runs great cranks good.... But I am on my second one...... I got it mid season last year..... Over the winter I kept the charger plugged up on it. I got it out to use it the first time this season and unplugged it.... Pulled it out of the shop, turned the key and toxic melt down......... It burned up the wiring and the starter motor.....

 

The Sears guy said it was the charger that caused the problem. I had to take the mower in to get it worked on...... They rolled me a new one outside and said..... No change in warranty, and no charge.

 

I grinned and said geeeeez I hope that does not happen again.... I almost crapped on myself when it started burning..... Only thing I could think of was WHAT IF that thing had done that with my restored cars about 50 feet from them and caught the building on fire..... What would sears have said about that.....

 

By the way... It now stays on the carport...... A LONG WAYS from the high dollar stuff in the shop..... I LEARNED quick.. But I learned along time ago never crank stuff that has been stored for periods of time inside a building..... for that fact don't connect the battery inside either..

 

Jbo

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

If you lived closer, I've got both a Craftsman (that was only used twice) as well as a Honda Commercial walk behind for sale. Craftsman seems to be a good mower (my wife had it before we got married, used it twice, decided that she didn't like mowing and hired a landscaping company)...But I've never walked behind a mower that was just a badass until I used a Honda Commercial. I've never used anything even close in performance. Kills me that it's a Honda...But they did that shit right.

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ok...So I am going to try and find a Honda mower dealer, or see if the local Home depot has a Toro.

 

Just do a little shop and compare...good to hear the longevity stories about your guys mowers though. I will definitely be looking around.

wurgs Senior Enthusiast

wurgs

Posted
Posted

Bought a craftsman pusher back in 98 and still runs fine. It starts on the 1st or 2nd pull every time. Dad has always had Toros and they have lasted him 15-20 years so they would be a good choice also.

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