Who Makes a Good Walk Behind Self Propelled Mower?

Ledgemere Farm · Jul 8, 2004

Just came back from the JD dealer. He sold me a used 14SE 21" self propelled for $175 w/ a spare blade and mulch plug. It's an aluminum deck w/a 5.5HP Kawasaki. I like the fact that it has a throttle and separate blade engagement. He said this mower was replaced by the JX75 and was about $800. Think i got a good deal?

om21braz · Jul 8, 2004

With no preference to mulching or bagging, I'd go Deere. If mulching exclusively, the Toro is probably a little better mulcher. I wound up buying a Deere JX75 - very satisfied with it !

Bird · Jul 8, 2004

I do like the aluminum, or alloy, decks, which my old LawnBoy had. And I wonder how well the new composite decks that Honda has will last. And does anyone have one of the new 2-cycle LawnBoys? Their Model 10552 would be my first choice if it's as good as when they were made by OMC and didn't cost so much.

slowrev · Jul 8, 2004

If it runs good and pulls itself well, that is a good deal.

Gatorboy · Jul 8, 2004

Good luck with your new purchase. You said you will cut 5 hours a week with this 21" mower? Your profile says you have 5.5 acres -- I'm surprised you can't mow, and trim that in less than 5 hours total. What am I missing that takes you 5+ hours to trim?

It's funny, when I think of a self-propelled mower, a John Deere never pops into my mind.

slowrev · Jul 8, 2004

I don't think John Deere makes any of their self propelled mowers, just a re-badging thing. I got an older IH mower the other day, it was just a Lawn boy/OMC with an IH sticker on it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I also have a 50's vintage IH refridgerator that still works, thinking of painting it red /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ledgemere Farm · Jul 8, 2004

I cut 12 lawns besides mine. Most I can do with my GT, but some, like the church and the pole yard here at work, need to be done with a push mower. I used to like the commercial JD had a few year sback: Guy drives down the stairs of his townhouse, takes one swath between the street and sidewalk, then drives back up the stairs. Anyone remebr that?

Ledgemere Farm · Jul 8, 2004

The aluminum deck is easilly 1/4" thick. If I blow a hole through that, I will be in a mine field. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

slowrev · Jul 8, 2004

You will probably be ok. I had an old Lawn Boy that I had to rivet 2 patches onto because rocks got between the end of the blade and the deck. It is very suprising when that happens /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

All of the "aluminum" decks are cast which is a bit brittle. But they usually do ok and are light with no rust. You got a good deal /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

yellowsocks93 · Jul 8, 2004

Sounds like a good deal and if you look at the JX 75 which is my favorite model, yours looks identical except for the silver color. In my opinion yours is better looking!