What feature do you miss most about older push mowers?

[Looking4new]

What do I miss on a push mower? NOT a thing! I haven't used one of those things in 30 years. If it hasn't got a steering wheel and a seat, I aint running it.

 

[oldnslo]

No Safety switches, brakes,etc.. Every time you want to move a twig or dogs toy the engine shuts off. What a major PITA to operate.

 

[JDgreen227]

No Safety switches, brakes,etc.. Every time you want to move a twig or dogs toy the engine shuts off. What a major PITA to operate.

I personally think the safety features are a GREAT idea. You can easily pivot the mower and reach the object without shutting the engine off. I do that all the time.

 

[Oaktree]

I miss a throttle!

No Safety switches, brakes,etc.. Every time you want to move a twig or dogs toy the engine shuts off. What a major PITA to operate.

I'll second both of those. Also the extended discharge chutes that constantly plug up. Never remember the older mowers doing that.

Other things I miss are the well made, solidly adjustable wheel adjusters and the wheels that had metal center bushings. Most of todays adjusters are cheaply made and the plastic wheels have no center bushings. Todays pusher engines are very powerful and reliable and easy starting compared to older models but the decks are crap.

I'll agree on the plastic wheels, but I don't think the engines are very well made anymore. Agree they start a LOT easier (usually 1st or 2nd pull), but they don't seem to stand up. My last one (B&S engine, not some cheap Chinese no-name one) lasted about 4 years before the rings were shot. It also didn't like to be operated on any sort of slope...it would cough, spit, fart, smoke and almost stall if you tried to mow an embankment. What a POS, wasn't cheap either.
Deck was in good shape...bought a cheapie at TS & swapped the new motor to the old deck.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I miss just that...PUSH MOWERS. Not self-propelled...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

No Safety switches, brakes,etc.. Every time you want to move a twig or dogs toy the engine shuts off. What a major PITA to operate.

Our Honda has a blade clutch so you can disenguage the blades without stopping the engine.

 

[shortthrow50]

I may be way older than you guys but when I read the title I immediately thought back to the reel push mower I had to use as a kid. No motor. Just kid power. They even were sadistic enough to have a grass catcher to put behind those things. Anyone remember those mowers?

I do not miss those things at all.

MoKelly

How old are you? 90 years old or something? even my dad had a gas push mower as a kid and he is 65 hahaha:laughing:

 

[shortthrow50]

I miss just that...PUSH MOWERS. Not self-propelled...

why would you miss that? I have a john deere push mower that my mom bought new for me back in 86 or 87 to mow the dam yard. cant remember exact year but i still have it today. the thing is heavy and a pain in the ***. I was seriously thinking about blasting the s.h.it. out of it with my ak out of boredom but memories keep me from doing it.

 

[themichelob]

"why would you miss that?"--how about no fumes, no noise just a nice quiet stroll around the yard. By the way, can you write a sentence without a disguised curse??? Regards, Mike

 

[ultrarunner]

How old are you? 90 years old or something? even my dad had a gas push mower as a kid and he is 65 hahaha:laughing:

I thought real mower too... got my first gas mower in 1990