Cheap, LIGHTWEIGHT push mower

[fishman]

You could do a lot worse than buying an 80's model lawnboy. When I was in high school I had a pretty successful lawn business. I had a 21" lawnboy and a stihl trimmer. Never had a breakdown or a problem on either. Did wear out a set of wheels on the lawnboy though.

As a matter of fact, that old lawnboy is sitting in my garage right now. It still runs great but needs quite a bit of work. I plan on "restoring" it when I get the time and $.

Anyway, there's my two cents.

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

I would also recommend a 2 stroke lawnboy. The 2 stroke will eliminate the oiling problem. It is lighter than a 4 stroke. They are generally well make units.

For slope mowing I would also recomend one with all the modern safeties. What you are doing can be dangerous.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Bird, you made up my mind. My mother has been offering me her slightly used 2-stroke Lawnboy I helped her purchase years ago. She has had a yardman do her lawn for the last 5 years. Originally, we'd bought her a Honda mower for the "easy pull" starting. But, the Honda is so heavy, (I still use it). She gave it to me when I helped her buy something lighter(Lawnboy). I think its a Silver series. I don't even know if they make 2 cycle mowers anymore. I've already cleaned the carb on it a couple of years ago due to "just sitting" for a year or two. I'm sure I'll have to do it again.
She loaned it out to my uncle and he nearly broke the starter gear. He didn't know how to choke it. Said it was the darndest hard starting mower he's ever tried to use. haha

 

[samisam]

Almost all the two stroke mowers are gone. They are supposedly "smog hogs" and will not pass emission standards. Somehow they are classed differently from chain saws and trimmers because the have wheels.
Samisam

 

[Bird]

According to Lawnboy, they do still make the 2-cycle mowers with cast aluminum deck, but of course I don't know whether they're the same as the ones that were made by OMC, and they aren't cheap. Besides the good luck I had with mine, I have a friend who's used his for 25 years and a few years ago bought a second used one "just in the case the old one ever quits". Everytime I used mine, when I was through, I hosed it off, top and bottom, then turned off the gas at the valve under the tank, restarted it, and let it run until it ran all the gas out of the carburetor. That not only kept the carb from gumming up, but let it dry itself out a bit after being washed. And I put a new spark plug in it every couple of years just as preventive maintenance.

 

[fivestring]

Even Bolens is now made by MTD. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Does Walmart or Lowes own MTD? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SWMBO wanted the "cute green mower with the rear bagger".
That would be Bolens. Made by... that's right, MTD.
SWMBO must get what she wants, cause if momma's not happy, nobody's happy! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It was definitely cheap and lightweight.
4.5 hp B&S. She could even lift it!
Anyone taking odds on how long this MTD product will last? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anyone taking odds on how long this MTD product will last? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)</font>

For many years to come /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

If you (anyone) think of MTD as junk, treat it as such and it will last even longer! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif G

 

[slowrev]

Yes MTD 's will last ok, much more value per dollar spent than the premium brands. I am currently trying to re-animate a John Deere small push mower with a 3-4 hp Briggs on it. The deck might be a bit heavier than an el-cheapo Murray or MTD, but otherwise it is the same quality as the rest of the small cheap push mowers, just costs more for the green paint /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I have an MTD YardMan self propelled mulcher. Used heavially for 7 years, no problems, powdercoated dech still has no rust, etc...

 

[HammerFour]

Toro made ( makes?) some nice aluminum deck two stroke mowers, I have two of them, both self propelled and very reliable. One other nice thing, aluminum decks won't rust out...