MGB: Need lawn mower recommendations.

Hello Everyone,
I need some help from the collective.
I need a new lawn mower. My brother and I are just now starting to divide the items from from parents household, so he gets the mower and I'm taking the snow blower.
The one I've been using is a 5HP Toro "Recycler". It seems to work really well and I never have to bag the grass clippings. Its also self propelled which is nice.
I guess I'm looking for a general place to start. I've never had to buy one before. What do you use and do you like it?


yard=8000 sq/ft

mower should be:

Mulching
5+ HP
self propelled
gas not electric
$300-$500 (can spend more if necessary)

Thanks a million for your help

Chris
66B

For a walk behind, self propelled rear drive I like the Honda Mowers the best. Great engines and start first time every time.

In Florida I always had Snapper Mowers. Really liked their self propelled system with six speeds but they'd be better with Honda engines.

MTD is good "bang for the buck" in mowers. Definitely get something with a Briggs & Stratton engine.

Tom,
Is MTD the brand or an acronym? I don't recognize it.

Chris

66mgbguy Wrote:

Sold mowers for 5 years, Honda engines and self propelled features are the best though the carbs hate old gas. Also Honda's deck adjustments seem to be spaced to far apart, one is to low and if you go up one notch seems to be too tall. Toro is very good, noisier than the Honda. Love the self paced system of the Toro, Honda has one very similiar. John Deere is over priced and MTD just won't last. Also the bagging system on the MTD is junk. Honda's the best mulcher and also Honda is the only one that uses bearings on their wheels, very nice for longetivity.

As you said, the Toro is a good machine. And like Peter, I have some friends that have a Honda that I've used a couple of times, great machine. Both have great suction and do a good job of recycling.

MTD started off has The Modern Tool Company and somehow got MTD out of it alpng the way.

I asked this same question one or two years ago here and I got a lot of reccomendations for the Toro Personal Pace system and I got one. It starts first or send pull every time and also has the key start as well. But the personal pace is the total cat's ass!! I have a biggish sized yard but is too iregular for a rider. The personal pace is just that, You can actually jog while mowing your lawn. If you are not moving, the wheels are not moving. Your front drive wheels re ot tearing the sod when gettinto tight areas like other sp mowers. When you want to go forward it just goes at whatever speed you want and when you stop, it stops. It is great!
Mine is like 6.5 hp with side and rear discharge.

Toro Personal Pace system for sure .... Whatever size you need for your yard.

I have the Personal Pace Toro for 6 years. It has been a decent mower. I think the Honda is probably smoother and quiter, but the Toro personal pace system is really nice. Plenty of power when the grass is high.

I bought a Honda self-propelled walk-behind with the composite (non-metal) deck last year and love it. Highly recommended.

Get something with at least 6 hp.

The yellow pages or a reference from a friend.

18 year old males with a mower in the back of their Toyota pick-up are more dependable, cost less to maintain, cost less to buy and do not require an extended warranty.

Jack

I have a Toro Personal Pace and think its the greatest lawnmower in the world. Honda's are nice but I think using the Toro is so much more comfortable than the Honda.

Thanks guys. This is great and exactly what I was looking for. Since I had a Toro I think I'll start there and see whats available. Would this be the time of year where these things might be on sale or is still not late enough in the season yet?

Chris
66B

tfisher7621 Wrote:

with a real small yard to mow, I prefer electric.

My buddy and i got a deal on a sears craftsman since we were buying 2. I've had it for 3 years. never a problem. starts first pull, even after sitting all winter

Ken

chgosfs Wrote:

I have a Husqvarrna self-propelled, and its terrific... bag dumping is real easy, changeover to no bag or mulching is really simple.. it also has the personal pace feature and is VERY well made. Bought it at Lowes, but I dot think they handel the Husky mower line any more... they do still sell Husky lawn tractors.

I'd buy it again.

I am on my second Toro mower. The first lasted almost 20 years, and was still working when I decided to move to the personal pace. If you can afford it, by the aluminum deck model, not the steel deck sold at the big-box home centers like Home Depot. You'll pay more, but the durability and longevity are worth it.

As others have mentioned, starts on the first pull and the personal pace system is the best for a walk behind.

I don't like Briggs & Stratton. All my Snappers in Florida had them. In Florida you generally are mowing your lawn twice a week and the B&S engines always had one problem or another. I bought a ten year old Power Trim Edger with a Honda engine for $50. That thing ran flawlessly for another ten years until I sold the house. Sold the edger to my neighbor for $100.00.

I have a Craftsman with a Honda engine, self propelled, front drive, about 4 years old. It starts with first pull every time. BUT I prefer to mulch and the thing leaves a wind row of grass along the right hand side. I do not like it for this reason. The Sears deck is a lousy design - not designed for mulching. Next spring I will be shopping for a Toro Personal Pace.