Best push mower in the "low priced" catagory?

AndyM · Sep 11, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

I went mower shopping today with Mrs AndyM...

First stop was Wally World. They were completely sold out. They had plenty of snowblowers though.
Is this a gauge on how soon winter will arrive? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Went next door to Sears Hardware. I saw a nice Craftsman mower with a Honda engine for $239. Mrs AndyM said that was too much money. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Next stop was the John Deere/Toro/Honda dealership. Too expensive for the wife's tastes, but plenty of REALLY nice premium lawn mowers.

Home Depot was almost sold out for the year except for some Hondas and Toros in the $399 to $699 range.

We ended up with a Bolens by MTD from Lowes. Side discharge, 4.5 hp Briggs and Stratton. I didn't get more than an hour on it this evening, but it's going back for a refund tomorrow. VERY poorly designed and poor quality to boot. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

It is extremely hard to start, considering it's a new mower. Using the primer bulb on the first cold start or on a hot start afer mowing for several minutes, it still takes several (4-5-6) pulls.

The black plastic deflector for the side discharge fell off within the first 15 minutes.

The rubber/plastic rear guard is poorly attached and too long. While I was backing up with the mower, it flipped under the mower and got caught in the blade.

The design of the deck is such that the grass clippings gather under the deck, rather than discharging through the side as it's supposed to. I have a 50 by 100 fenced area outside the back door for the dog, and I couldn't get through one row without it clogging to a stop and having to clear out the clipping from the bottom.

No matter which way the mower is tilted to clear the clippings, at the slightest angle, it leaks oil into the exhaust, creating a cloud of white smoke when it was restarted. Never had this problem in the past with any of my mowers.

The fuel tank is much too small. As I said, I was cutting a 50 by 100 area, and only finished 3/4 of this before having to refuel. I couldn't get it restarted after refueling, and have decided to take it back to Lowes tomorrow afternoon. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Mrs AndyM, who gave me the original price limit, told me I should have spent more money and I should exchange it for a Honda tomorrow. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Yes, dear. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

buckle97 · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

 have decided to take it back to Lowes tomorrow afternoon 

Andy, did you have any trouble taking the mower back? Did you tell them all your reason's or did you just give the the biggest one "it stinks". I have bought a lot of poorly designed things over the past few years and most of them appear to have the same design now as when I bought them and took them back to the store years ago. I feel this way about stuff from all stores, not just Lowes.

If you get a Honda, you should be satisfied, but if your wife is like mine she will still make a comment about the price.

Lawrence

viking65 · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

I have a WeedEater brand 22", mulching push mower that I bought brand new 10 years ago for $200. It has a 4.5hp Briggs Quantum engine and a steel deck. It gets new oil, air filter and spark plug every spring and still starts with no more than 2 pulls. I use it for the trimming around the house and to cut a 11' x 65' batting cage area. I would like to buy a new push mower but this thing won't die.

AndyM · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

 Andy, did you have any trouble taking the mower back? Did you tell them all your reason's or did you just give the the biggest one "it stinks". 

They took it back with no problems, and didn't really care to know what was wrong with it. I'm kind of disappointed that they take it back without tracking any reasons to give the manufacturer. They were more upset with the fact that I brought a lawn mower with gasoline inside the building.

 If you get a Honda, you should be satisfied, but if your wife is like mine she will still make a comment about the price. 

I'm seriously looking at the Craftsman mowers at Sears with the Honda engines.

Has anyone here bought one of these yet?
I'm hoping to get the best of both worlds-- the quality of a Honda and the price of a Craftsman.
What do you all think?

ronjhall · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

Andy
I'm looking for a mower to do similar jobs as you.
Our Home Depots around here have a 6.5 HP like the 4.5. I was considering it. Glad you posted. I will save my money.
I keep hoping that someone will return a Honda mower that will be sold as reconditioned with a full warranty for under $300.

shoppintractors · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

I use mine mostly for trimming. One nice thing I noted is, there is no side chute....so I can trim going in either direction. I also like the larger rear tires for uneven terrian. (picture attached)

Don

AndyM · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

I was really surprised by your post-- I had no idea that MTD put Honda engines in some of their mowers.
As a matter of fact, I didn't know Sears put Honda engines in their mowers either, until last week. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Junkman · Sep 15, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

Sears doesn't ... the company that manufacturers them for Sears does. If Sears wrote the specs for the mower, you can be sure that only Sears has parts to fix it. A few years from now, even that will be doubtful. As the fellow that I know has said. By the time the machines need the parts that wear out from use, the manufacturer will have discontinued supporting that model.

thcri · Sep 16, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

I sure have been happy with my LawnBoy. Just really nothing has gone wrong with it in 8 years. Just one cable broke that I can remember.

KubotaSteve · Sep 16, 2004

Re: Best push mower in the \"low priced\" catagory?

I bought a Sears mower 3 years ago. I think it has the Briggs and Stratton engine. It has been everything I could ask for. I've never changed the oil and after each mowing season just push it inside the shed and never cleaned under the deck. It starts on the first pull and will go through some pretty thick grass. I guess I should perform better maintenance but then that would take time away from the Kubota /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. I did look up under the deck and there is no rust or anything. I like the simpleness of it, just a primer bulb and spring safety handle. I can't complain about Craftsman mowers. When my brother and I were teenagers, we mowed between 25 and 30 lawns with a 11hp craftsman riding mower not to mention pulling a cart with the push mower and weed eater to the jobs. We did this for about 5 years. He still mowed with it up until 2 years ago. Not a bad investment for $800.