OT - Lawnmower Recommendation

[NickRU714]

Just bought my first house in New Providence (after living in an apartment in JC for 9 years since college) so this will probably be the first of many OT theards:

Lawnmower recommendations?

Lot is only .34 acre so looking at self-propelled mower.
Don't see the need/cost for a riding.
Is electric start worth the cost? Growing up we had a pull-start and it worked fine.

Someone said Husqvarna. It looks like they mostly have Honda engines so would it make more sense to just get a Honda?
Same person also said to never cut it below 4''. I don't remember ever setting the lawnmower to a specific height when growing up.

Thanks in advance.

Tailgate and Grill recommendation requests will be forthcoming.

 

[NBKnight]

Can't go wrong with a Honda.

 

[mikershoein]

Honda is good, Troy Bily a decent brand for the price, Snappers last forever. If you're handy and can change spark plug and oil, you can probably get a decent used one off craigslist for $50-75 bucks

 

[Knight Shift]

Second the Honda. Get the one they sell at Home Depot or Lowes for $600. You will not regret it. Worth the extra $. We mow 3/4 acre with the 21" or 22" deck in 45 minutes. Great machine.

 

[miketd1]

Have you considered an Accord?



On a more serious note, I'd recommend a Honda powered one with the following considerations/features:

• Rear vs front wheel drive (I'd go rear -- front wheel drive is a pain around too many obstacles)
  
• Handle bar "feel". A straight bar is not ergonomic, so if you're mowing in excess of half an hour, get a bent one
• While you're at it, check the throttle control. I prefer one that's on the handle bar so you slow down into curves and accelerate out of them.
  
• Ease of use in terms of bagging (if you're bagging)
• Ease of use in changing deck height (you'll end up doing this often if you have thick grass and can't always mow when it's dry and sunny).
• Warranty
• Electric start is a luxury -- you don't need it, but once you use it, it's hard to go back

Once you know what options are must haves, it'll narrow your choices significantly.

You can narrow it further by price and brand preference.

Once you have it down to 3-5 mowers, do online research (at a minimum, look the models up on Amazon).

Good luck!

 

[e5fdny]

Why self propelled? Unless it's hilly or uneven terrain a push should be fine for that size of lawn. Nice exercise for you.

Get a 3-1 with a mulching blade, big rear wheels and the widest deck 22" (as @Knight Shift said) you can find. Don't bag.

Something that looks like one of these...

 

[Knight Shift]

Why self propelled? Unless it's hilly or uneven terrain a push should be fine. Nice exercise.

Get a 3-1 with a mulching blade and with the widest deck 22" (as @Knight Shift said) you can find. Don't bag.

Yeah. We mulch, and don't bag. The older Toro I had would not cut through the lawn if it was a little too high. The Honda has had not problem cutting at any height.

 

[RM60]

Self propelled but you don't need bells and whistles. I've had a lot of success with Toro. You shouldn't spend more than $300-$350.

 

[RU4Real]

You really want to be the only guy in the neighborhood who mows his own lawn?

 

[Knight Shift]

You really want to be the only guy in the neighborhood who mows his own lawn?

Why not? After Sandy, I towed one of these behind my Audi Q5 for several weeks as we were doing reconstruction on our beach house. Pride of Rumson.

 

[JMORC2003]

I have a craftsman, irresponsibly do not maintain it properly and it still works like a dream 5 years in. Has a Briggs and Stratton engine, starts on the first pull. It has the self propel but I don't always use it since it's easier for me to get the straight lines without it. Paid about $300 for it.

Mow high and don't bag the clippings. I keep the deck at the next to highest setting for the front, one lower for the back yard (easier for the kids to play in the shorter grass). Once it get into the hot and dry season I'll raise the deck to the highest setting.

 

[CERU00]

Toro personal pace Recycler or super Recycler with aluminum deck and Briggs and Stratton engine. Its got a great self propelled system and engine always starts after 10 yrs. I've had zero issues. Don't recommend bagging. Definitely go with a mulching blade.

 

[MozRU]

"Lot is only .34"

I push a craftsman on 1 acre. 22 inch. Split it up over two days. Was a great price and it takes a beating. I even use it to suck up leaves in the fall, chew them up, and bag it. Got it 3yrs ago. I haven't purchased a rider yet. I need the exercise.

For only .34 acre, IMO, you don't need some blast off mower.

I hear people on the Honda. That is best machine out there. If I had the money, I would have bought a Honda snow blower. Had to go with a Craftsman. It does the job. Electric start never works under 25 degrees. You get what you pay for.

 

[MozRU]

I have a craftsman, irresponsibly do not maintain it properly and it still works like a dream 5 years in. Has a Briggs and Stratton engine, starts on the first pull. It has the self propel but I don't always use it since it's easier for me to get the straight lines without it. Paid about $300 for it.

Mow high and don't bag the clippings. I keep the deck at the next to highest setting for the front, one lower for the back yard (easier for the kids to play in the shorter grass). Once it get into the hot and dry season I'll raise the deck to the highest setting.

I mow to the second to the lowest level with my Craftsman '22 push. I hate walking in tall grass.

Is mowing that low bad for a lawn?

 

[LC-88]

I have a Husquvarna (sp?) with the Honda engine. I went with the me propelled version. less to go wrong. Mulching blade never use bag. Had it 9 years still starts on first pull.

 

[gmay8]

Congrats on the house! New Providence is a great town and we were looking in that area for a long time before deciding to make the move to Monmouth County.

 

[Knight Shift]

Congrats on the house! New Providence is a great town and we were looking in that area for a long time before deciding to make the move to Monmouth County.

How is Fair Haven treating you? The commute working out OK?
If you don't know it already, the biggest event of the year is the annual Fair Haven Fireman's Fair, which happens at the end of August.

 

[rutgersal_rivals139582]

The Honda HRX with electric start is the best lawnmower you can buy. Electric Start is worth it, imo. Bought this model in 2006 and no issues. Runs like new, even today. Roughly $800 and worth every penny.

http://powerequipment.honda.com/lawn-mowers/hrx-series-lawn-mowers

 

[gmay8]

How is Fair Haven treating you? The commute working out OK?
If you don't know it already, the biggest event of the year is the annual Fair Haven Fireman's Fair, which happens at the end of August.

So far so good in FH... love the town, and the ability to get around to beach or downtown of Red Bank. The commute has also been a breeze, getting from my garage to my office in about 70 mins with a coffee in my hand. To be honest, the ferry is more crowded then i was expecting, as you need to be at the parking lot about 10-15 mins before the boat leaves in the morning and in line about 10-15 mins before the ferry leaves at night to get a seat... but overall it's been great so far.

The house we bought is a short walk to the volunteer fire house, (on the river side of river road) so i look forward to having some friends down and walking to the fair.

 

[RU1977]

Bought a used Honda off Craig's list - it's great.

 

[ClassOf02v.2]

You really want to be the only guy in the neighborhood who mows his own lawn?

This. Bought my first house November '14. Large 3 acre lot, but just over 2 acres is woods, so only less than an acre to mow. Was all excited to start mowing when the spring came on my hand-me-down POS ride on Yoshi machine my brother "fixed up" for me. I was the king of my castle on a nice hot day with a cold beer mowing my lawn.

For the first two or three mows.

This spring, hired this job out. Weekends were getting too busy. Affordable and they do a better job than I ever did.

Different strokes I guess.

 

[scottydont]

I bought a Craftsman 22" very similar to the one pictured above when I bought my house in 2000. Still runs fine 16 years later, and I am not good with maintaining it, believe me. Haven't changed the oil yet and it still has the original spark plug. I did replace the blade once and sharpen it annually.

 

[miketd1]

I mow to the second to the lowest level with my Craftsman '22 push. I hate walking in tall grass.

Is mowing that low bad for a lawn?

Depends on what grass you have:

While keeping this in mind:

 

[Knight Shift]

I bought a Craftsman 22" very similar to the one pictured above when I bought my house in 2000. Still runs fine 16 years later, and I am not good with maintaining it, believe me. Haven't changed the oil yet and it still has the original spark plug. I did replace the blade once and sharpen it annually.

LOL. On some forums you would get a lecture on how you MUST change your oil and plug at least every 2 years (preferably every year), yet I have done the same thing with some gasoline powered equipment with no bad results. Hopefully you check the oil once or twice per year.

 

[miketd1]

Shift: Depends on use. The more you use it, the more deposits start building up in the oil [edit: GAS, not oil). If you don't change it, the build-up can muck up the carburetor.

You don't want that to happen. It's a PITA to clean, even if you're handy (you basically have to take the whole darn thing apart and then rebuild it).

Much easier to simply change oil/spark plug every season than to go through that ordeal even once.

PS: At the end of the season, make sure to mix in fuel stabilizer with the last tank of gas you buy. And run your equipment until they run out of gas before storing it for the winter. Please trust me on this one.

 

[RU4Real]

Shift: Depends on use. The more you use it, the more deposits start building up in the oil. If you don't change it, the build-up can muck up the carburetor.

You're going to have to explain to us how deposits in the oil can "muck up the carburetor". If you've got engine oil getting to your carb then your problems are a lot bigger than not changing the oil.

 

[miketd1]

4real: Ah, that's true. That was what my problem was which I was trying to get everyone to avoid: bad/dirty carb.

I was told to do the above procedure to avoid it from happening again in the future.

There's a good chance I don't understand the causality there. However, I've followed that procedure and have had good fortune ever since.

Tried taking apart my carb myself and ended up having to call someone to finish the job.

 

[jmg75]

I have the electric start, self propelled Honda that will bag or mulch. Love it. Best lawnmower I have ever had.

 

[miketd1]

4Real: I should have said sediment build up in the gas, not the oil. That was my error.

 

[wheezer]

"Lot is only .34"

I push a craftsman on 1 acre. 22 inch. Split it up over two days. Was a great price and it takes a beating. I even use it to suck up leaves in the fall, chew them up, and bag it. Got it 3yrs ago. I haven't purchased a rider yet. I need the exercise.

For only .34 acre, IMO, you don't need some blast off mower.

I hear people on the Honda. That is best machine out there. If I had the money, I would have bought a Honda snow blower. Had to go with a Craftsman. It does the job. Electric start never works under 25 degrees. You get what you pay for.

-------
I am suprised that your electric start does not work under 25 degrees.... There would be a number of times you want to snowblow at that temp. Or below, so it really sounds like an inconvenience

I bought a toro with 1150 Briggs and Stratton engine, and the electric starter works on that....

One rational is that you can buy a decent snow blower and replace it twice more for the price of a Honda....and as long as you buy a decent one that is powerful enough, good enough why spend triple.... I usually like to buy the best that I can, but I can't see going for the Honda snowblower.

The lawnmower might be a different story.

 

[MozRU]

-------
I am suprised that your electric start does not work under 25 degrees.... There would be a number of times you want to snowblow at that temp. Or below, so it really sounds like an inconvenience

I bought a toro with 1150 Briggs and Stratton engine, and the electric starter works on that....

One rational is that you can buy a decent snow blower and replace it twice more for the price of a Honda....and as long as you buy a decent one that is powerful enough, good enough why spend triple.... I usually like to buy the best that I can, but I can't see going for the Honda snowblower.

The lawnmower might be a different story.

I hear ya. Its starts well enough just pulling it.

 

[TMCB]

Just bought my first house in New Providence (after living in an apartment in JC for 9 years since college) so this will probably be the first of many OT theards:

Lawnmower recommendations?

Lot is only .34 acre so looking at self-propelled mower.
Don't see the need/cost for a riding.
Is electric start worth the cost? Growing up we had a pull-start and it worked fine.

Someone said Husqvarna. It looks like they mostly have Honda engines so would it make more sense to just get a Honda?
Same person also said to never cut it below 4''. I don't remember ever setting the lawnmower to a specific height when growing up.

Thanks in advance.

Tailgate and Grill recommendation requests will be forthcoming.

Toro one of the best for the buck

 

[FanuSanu52]

I have a craftsman, irresponsibly do not maintain it properly and it still works like a dream 5 years in. Has a Briggs and Stratton engine, starts on the first pull. It has the self propel but I don't always use it since it's easier for me to get the straight lines without it. Paid about $300 for it.

Mow high and don't bag the clippings. I keep the deck at the next to highest setting for the front, one lower for the back yard (easier for the kids to play in the shorter grass). Once it get into the hot and dry season I'll raise the deck to the highest setting.

That first sentence could be straight out of my own life, although I guess I'm closer to six years in. I hate growing lawn, let alone mowing it, let alone doing mower maintenance. Just changed the oil and air filter for the first time because the drive wheels basically stopped working. Took a couple minutes but it's working smoothly again.

Can vouch for Hondas, too.

I'd be tempted to go with one of those robotic auto mowers if I was in the market, though.

 

[RU1977]

I'm getting old. How much are people paying to get their lawns mowed and weeds wacked? Having it done once every week or two?

 

[RedSpartan]

Honda or Lawn Boy. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[miketd1]

Spartan: God I miss those Lawn Boy 2-cycle mowers. Practically bulletproof.

 

[RedSpartan]

Spartan: God I miss those Lawn Boy 2-cycle mowers. Practically bulletproof.

Totally. Have had one in my family for 20-some years. At one point, it was stored under the garage steps for like 5 years while my dad paid for others to mow. I took it out when I bought my first house, filled it up, started on the first pull. I swear. Now my younger brother has it. It is immortal.

 

[e5fdny]

Totally. Have had one in my family for 20-some years. At one point, it was stored under the garage steps for like 5 years while my dad paid for others to mow. I took it out when I bought my first house, filled it up, started on the first pull. I swear. Now my younger brother has it. It is immortal.

Are they the ones with off set front wheel and the chute on the side that goes up?

A BEAST!

 

[Abro1975]

Flat lawn? who needs a stinking engine or or gas , go old school :

 

[RedSpartan]

Are they the ones with off set front wheel and the chute on the side that goes up?

A BEAST!

Top photo! That's the one!