What's the Best Lawnmower In The World?

"Berang" (berang) 06/11/2015 at 10:32 • Filed to: mower

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Come on tell us about your favorite lawnmowers...

I’m going to nominate Lawn-Boy mowers, because simply, they were the best. I say “were” because the new ones aren’t in the same league as the old ones. For decades the Lawn-Boy mowers featured a lightweight cast alloy body with a lightweight 2-stroke engine. It was a maneuverable machine that didn’t bog down in tall grass thanks to the 2-stroke’s smooth torque. Relatively recently they gave up the 2-stroke - sacrilege.

Most mower companies were satisfied to squash out a piece of steel, put any old 4-stroke lump on top and call it a day. But some companies went a little further for the few of us that enjoy the finer things in life.

So which mower do you feel excels?

crowmolly > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:34

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Any one made, I dunno, pre 2005?

Just seems like nothing is overbuilt and pennies are pinched on every new piece of yard equipment these days. At least general consumer stuff.

dogisbadob > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:34

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Honda, of course. Legendary reliability and VTEC yo! You cut the grass in half the time :p

daender > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:34

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Nothing runs like a Deere...

CalzoneGolem > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:36

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Jcarr > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:37

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Second you on “old” Lawn-Boy. When I was growing up we had one that my parents got as a wedding gift in 1980. That thing ran like a top until they replaced it with something a little bigger in 2010. 30 years.

Also, I hate having to change the oil on my mower now that they’re using 4-strokes. I’d much rather just have to add oil to the gas.

BigBlock440 > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:39

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Relatively recently they gave up the 2-stroke - sacrilege.

Or, more accurately, were forced out of it by the feds.

My favorite is the $10 yard sale special with a B&S, I’ve got 2 of them.

Jcarr > dogisbadob 06/11/2015 at 10:39

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Agree on the Honda engines. I have a cheap MTD self-propelled, but it has a Honda engine. I’ve been using it for 6 years and it has yet to give me any problems.

Birddog > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:40

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All it needs is a Beer holder.

505Turbeaux > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:40

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It is a rider, but I am super partial to Wheel Horse. Rugged frames, rugged motors, great Hydro drive, super attachments. Here was mine

Berang > BigBlock440 06/11/2015 at 10:42

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It’s true, but they tried and succeeded in making one that met federal requirements, but the price became sort of outrageous, and they already cost more than the competition since they built their own engines. No matter how good something is, a company can’t justify production if nobody is going to fork over money for it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:44

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We had a Snapper-branded two-stroke/aluminum deck one for a while. Mulching rig set up on it, so it got the nickname Bessie. BECAUSE COW HURR HURR.

For riders, I like a Snapper rear-engine - not because it’s sophisticated but because it’s made out of lumps of iron and hard to break.

Agrajag > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:45

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Just about any swivel wheel with the Honda GCV160.

I actually dislike the older lawn boy’s because of the cast decks. In rocky areas like where I live, they shatter or get holes punched in the side. Stamped steel just looks like the Hulk was stuck under the mower.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:45

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My wife took this yesterday, a little buck doing dandylion control work for us.

Otherwise Honda since 1989 yo!

Agrajag > 505Turbeaux 06/11/2015 at 10:45

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I just saw an old Wheel Horse yesterday that is water cooled. Mind blown.

njp1589 > dogisbadob 06/11/2015 at 10:46

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Definitely agree with Honda. I’ve used a lot of push mowers over my many summers earning a few bucks in South FL, and Hondas are smooth, have a good drive system, and are one of the few mowers I’ve used that have the power to get through 3-5” of Floratam.

For trimmers I recommend a straight shaft Echo.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > dogisbadob 06/11/2015 at 10:47

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Honda for push-mowers is quite nice. Smoother than a Briggs, harder to goof up. Of course, there’s a little self-selection of clientele going on. Cheap vertical shaft Briggs hold up just fine when not operated by cheapskates, but they’re nearly always sold only *to* cheapskates who then feed them a diet of rocks, brush, and hate.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > crowmolly 06/11/2015 at 10:50

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Snappers use a prissified rear deck these days and have all the foot-pedal blade release nonsense, but underneath, they’re still pretty much this. (Had one just like this, ‘70s model, that we used to do all our mowing with. 8HP Briggs so clapped out we had to clean the plug and add a pint of oil every job.)

petebmwm > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:50

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tractor= wheel horse with the kohler engine. push= lawn boy commercial 2 stroke cast aluminum deck.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BigBlock440 06/11/2015 at 10:52

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The two most common maladies with a B&S yard sale special: clogged jet and sheared flywheel key (generally on a 6HP+ because CAN BE HITTING ROCK WITH BLADE HURR). Either can be fixed in about half an hour. Slightly more advanced, the oil over-fill and the clogged air filter - either of which are also quick fixes.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:52

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I’m far from a Honda fanboy but there are a few in my family that have lasted two decades or more. Fuel efficient, too.

Berang > 505Turbeaux 06/11/2015 at 10:55

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Years ago I was looking through old magazines in the school library when I came across a wheel horse ad (or possibly it might have been gravely) from the 1960s. It was loaded with slogans, one of which I will always remember was “ Durable as a cat! ” - which still makes me laugh.

I want to see the Mad Men episode where they came up with that one.

uofime-2 > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:55

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John Deere 318 can’t be beat if you want a lawn mower and a garden tractor. They use a flat twin Onan generator motor that will run forever and the rest of the tractor is hydraulic, so if you can keep the leaks plugged it can’t be killed.

For pure mowing power a zero turn John Deere 727 is an absolute beast

SaveTheIntegras > Berang 06/11/2015 at 10:57

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Mattbob > 505Turbeaux 06/11/2015 at 11:01

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My grand parents had one like that when I used to mow their lawn. Built like a tank, and with a huge flywheel, it ran so smooth. I like how they output the power via the belt system/clutch thing. It seems like it would make using other attachments real easy.

BigBlock440 > uofime-2 06/11/2015 at 11:03

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That 318 really sucks down the fuel though.

LongbowMkII > Berang 06/11/2015 at 11:04

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Had an old Murray riding mower in 2000-05. Bought used. Occasional broken blade belt (13y/o me: MOAR POWER!!1) but good otherwise. My parent’s replacements havent been as reliable (troybuilt[crap] and husqvarna)

Sold off due to starter wheel on motor sheering too many teeth.

ly2v8-Brian > Berang 06/11/2015 at 11:04

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For push mowers I have to be a homer and say Toro and Lawn-Boy (same company, Toro in Bloomington, MN)

and for riding mowers John Deere (but not the cheapo stuff you get at Lowe's or Home Depot, you have to go to an actual John Deere dealer).

505Turbeaux > Mattbob 06/11/2015 at 11:06

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it does. The solid cast front axle does it for me too

ly2v8-Brian > 505Turbeaux 06/11/2015 at 11:07

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What year is it?

505Turbeaux > ly2v8-Brian 06/11/2015 at 11:07

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that was a 1995 314 hydro

ly2v8-Brian > 505Turbeaux 06/11/2015 at 11:09

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Toro product. They certainly are one of the top manufacturers in this country.

crowmolly > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/11/2015 at 11:14

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Seems legit

LumberJunk > Berang 06/11/2015 at 11:14

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Toro Recycler. I have had mine since 1995. It has its original motor, original rings, original valve setup, and original carb. The ONLY thing we have replaced on this badboy is the plug, oil, self-propelled belt drive selector (now it’s a bolt that you turn with your hand), and the blade.

It’s used to cut around an acre of grass each week. Old house had 0.6 acres and house before that had 6 acres (however it was done with riding mower most of the time).

This bad boy has seen a lot of action and shows no signs of giving up yet! Even after sitting over the winter it started on the second or third pull.

505Turbeaux > ly2v8-Brian 06/11/2015 at 11:15

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oh yeah, they kept enough of what made wheel horse the best for a long time. Now they arent too awesome anymore

AM > Berang 06/11/2015 at 11:21

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My Echo 58V! It’s the Tesla Model S of the lawnmower world.

uofime-2 > BigBlock440 06/11/2015 at 11:35

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all that power has a price

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > AM 06/11/2015 at 11:37

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REPRESENT!

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Berang 06/11/2015 at 11:46

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/thread
/dropsmic

deekster_caddy > Berang 06/11/2015 at 11:53

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I have to say I’m real happy with my troy-bilt honda powered 21” mower. Replaced a briggs and stratton craftsman mower with the troy-bilt and it’s just worlds better. Easier to start, never have any problems with it.

The best mower is the one with the least features to break, btw. Push it yourself, the exercise is good for you.

BigBlock440 > uofime-2 06/11/2015 at 11:54

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Yeah, it seems excessive though (maybe it’s just mine?) I go through 3/4 of a tank just cutting my 2 acres. Legit normal sized tractors (normal east coast, not normal mid-west) don’t even go through that much.

uofime-2 > BigBlock440 06/11/2015 at 12:12

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That does sound excessive, used to mow 5 acres and not use that much

BigBlock440 > uofime-2 06/11/2015 at 12:19

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I am on a hill and have to go slow, and it was somewhat neglected before I got it, so it could be just me. It’s good to know that I may be able to do something about it though, I just assumed that’s how it was.

jmedarts > Berang 06/11/2015 at 12:20

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1989-1990 I chased one of these around 3 days a week ~ 120 lawns. Wasn’t this model obviously, it had a 60” deck, and an 18hp twin cylinder Kohler engine that I had to wrap a rope around to pull start, and since she was brand new she started first pull, every time. And thank god for that because the compression in that motor was excellent. It would cut anything, even wet, and a tennis ball caught just right would fly out with incredible muzzle velocity.

Lawn-boys back then (green one, third from the right) were not popular for commercial use, sooner or later the carb would go wonky and they were just not as easy to adjust in the field as the 4 cycles.

uofime-2 > BigBlock440 06/11/2015 at 12:25

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Might benefit from a good cleaning

BigBlock440 > uofime-2 06/11/2015 at 12:31

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It did benefit from a good cleaning, had to put a bit of work in to get it to run. Cleaned carb, new fuel tank, etc. Got it to run, but ran rough, so I got a tune up kit, new filters/spark plugs made a world of difference. Still went through a lot of fuel. I actually just googled it, came to a JD troubleshooting guide and it list that excessive fuel consumption is caused by the choke not being fully open. Sometimes I have to run it like that so it runs smoothly and doesn’t bog down, but I assumed since I didn’t see any smoke, it wasn’t burning any more fuel than it was built to. I’ll have to try running without it and clean the carb again, maybe that’ll help it.

ranwhenparked > Berang 06/11/2015 at 21:30

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Those offset wheel, magesium deck Lawn-Boys were amazing. I tried to find a cheap used one recently, and holy crap, are the resale values high on good ones.