Lawn Mower Recommendations

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

The 2 stroke mower I have was handed down to me from my Dad which in turn was handed down to him from my Grandmother, who passed away 25 years ago.

I've had it for 15 years, & since I've had it, I have never changed a spark plug or cleaned it's air cleaner.

Starts first time just about every time.

[Vindingo]

I will never in my life mow a lawn. If I'm going to put time and effort into growing a plant its going to give me something for my effort be it food or flowers or privacy or habitat for some creature I want around.

sac

What is the difference between flowers and a well manicured lawn if they are both for looks?

I like to walk around outside with no shoes on.  Patios, pavers and concrete don't feel nice to walk on barefoot.  It also isn't as pleasant to lay down on gravel, flagstones or mulch.  

+1 to the smell of fresh cut grass and how nice it looks right after it is cut.  Im not sure if there is another smell that brings back so many different memories.      

 

[il d00d]

RO-BO MO-WER (bloop, bleep)




Amazon link

I am also of the mind that I could be doing better things.  I spent roughly half of one weekend day of my pre-adult life mowing, edging, and cleaning the pool (Yes, I know.  I most certainly will cry you a river.)  If this thing lasts a year, and you currently pay 40/week for lawn service (assuming 40 mowings a year) it pays for itself in a year.

My current lawn is small, so no FHE.

[mraff]

I'm leaning towards a Honda.

I bought my 1st Honda mower 5 years ago when we came back to the states. Best sub-$500 purchase I've made in my entire adult life. Starts 1st time every time. All I do is change the oil at the end of the season and stabilize the gas.

[mitt]

I think that briggs gets a bad rap because people have had experience with the 200$ versions from wal mart.  The good grade briggs engines are every bit as good as the hondas.  I am seeing more and more honda engines on 300$ big box mowers as well, so it will be interesting to see if they keep their mystic.


mitt

[SacDuc]

What is the difference between flowers and a well manicured lawn if they are both for looks?

I like to walk around outside with no shoes on.  Patios, pavers and concrete don't feel nice to walk on barefoot.  It also isn't as pleasant to lay down on gravel, flagstones or mulch.  

+1 to the smell of fresh cut grass and how nice it looks right after it is cut.  Im not sure if there is another smell that brings back so many different memories.      

 

Not much at all. 'Cept you can't bring grass clippings as a gift if you are invited to someone's house for dinner. 

I have no argument what so ever with anything you said. I'm glad you like your lawn. You should grow it just as thick and lush as you can. I just don't want to mow lawn myself. Ever. I was just pointing out that there are options to mowing. Like growing stuff you don't have to mow.

The smell of grass clippings brings back memories for me too. Mostly those memories involve being 16 and waking up at 4am to get to the golf course and on the tractor/mower by 5am so I could be done with work by 1pm so I could sleep for an hour before heading to my other job. Perhaps that might explain my current attitude towards grass. I think I may have already mowed my acreage allotted for this lifetime.

sac


/would rather much lay in my hammock than grass anyway

[zzilla]

Cutting Grass with TREX600 Nitro Helicopter

[badgalbetty]

Reel mowers will give you a good cut if the reels are ground right with a -10* relief and that you flat grind the bedknife. After this is done it must be backlapped with some diamonite cutting compound for about 20 minutes. That way they will be sharp. I did this for a living a long time ago, I was a mechanic for Toro. If you want a good mower that is a gas mower buy a snapper. I worked for Toro Industrial Turf and bought a snapper. The decks on the snappers bag better than the Toro. Toro uses Florida (crunchy grass) as their deck testing ground, Snapper uses Michigan. Most people in the northern US have grass that is not crunchy grass so there fore the snapper is the better choice.
Toro makes a good machine but the decks are heavy and they dont bag as well.
Reel mowers need to be set up properly to cut well and if done properly you should be able to slide a feeler gauge of about 1/1000th between the reel and bednife.
I did this work for a long time and know reel mowers inside out. I worked mainly on Toro Greensmaster 3000's and also the gang mowers. Rotary mowers are good but a blunt blade will hack the grass not cut it and if the grass stem does not get a good cut it will discolor and look like crap within a few hours.
Just my 02.
BGB.

[cyrus buelton]

for Lawn mowers I recommend someone here illegally who is willing to work for subsistence wages

Mr. Incredible,


Funny you mention that. I remember as a kid a neighbor about 12 doors down had an electric mower. This had to be one of the first. We are talking early 90's here.

Well, the problem was the dude had a make the beast with two backsing huge hard. I'd say almost a 1/4 acre of mowing.

We'd always ride our bikes by several times when he was out there fighting with about 1,000 feet of extension cord to power that damn thing. It was hilarious.

For a smaller yard......that is a great idea. I'd imagine it'd get a good speed on the blade since electric motors are torque as hell.

[herm]

electric mowers with cord = stupid invention. my dad had one when i was a teenager. what a PITA.
oddly enough, he got a gasser right about the time his sons stopped being available to mow his lawn.

i also like the idea of the reel mower. but if thats not your thing, get a Honda. i bought one in 1996, and its still running.

[Popeye the Sailor]

electric mowers with cord = stupid invention. my dad had one when i was a teenager. what a PITA.
oddly enough, he got a gasser right about the time his sons stopped being available to mow his lawn.

i also like the idea of the reel mower. but if thats not your thing, get a Honda. i bought one in 1996, and its still running.

Meh-I had one for over a decade when I had a small yard. Worked like a charm.


Like I said-0 maintenance.

[Oldfisti]

All this talk about electric mowers and no one mentioned a rechargeable...


Great for a small plot and...


NO  CORD!!!!

[il d00d]

Another suggestion, since no one is going to second my brilliant robot suggestion - my dad had one of these for years.  He loved it, but nowadays they are kind of spendy.

The Hover Mower

Hover Mower by Eastman Industries   

[Got Duc]

Just like they use for greens on the golf course.

Hover Mower



and yes I know it is above

[JEFF_H]

I have a craftsman reel mower.
works great in the front yard, but the back yard has a large cottonwood tree that drops lots of sticks...those are a pain.

whenever i am mowing the front, some smartass walking by has to have a comment 'you're doing that the hard way', etc
the front yard is maybe 8x12