For those that cut the grass what do you use...?

[Bartman39]

Older Simplicity Broadmoor, 42" deck. It looks just like this one:

Is that a cup holder I see...? What no beer...!

 

[Perknose]

Is that a cup holder I see...? What no beer...!

Lawns are serious business!

 

[Blain]

Honda HRX217K2HXA self-propelled.

Replaced a 1980's 3.5 hp Toro with that model just at the beginning of this summer. Love the Honda. Huge power, great cut, pretty quiet. Couldn't be happier with it.

ZV

Same here, great mower for average yards. First pull starts and can mow full width in deep grass without bogging.

Make sure when cleaning under the deck that you tilt the mower with the air filter side up.
I always clean it that way, but I guess some angles cutting my yard were too steep (tilted mower to cleaner side down).
My engine started to sputter a bit and began running like the governor was throttling it back.
It finally got hard to start, so I...
* Emptied the fuel tank and replaced the gas with Shell V-power.
* Replaced the spark plug (was dark and fouling).
* Replaced the air filter (was oil saturated and starving the intake).
* Changed the oil

My mower was purchaced the end of June.
My yard is a little over 1/2 acre.

 

[rh71]

a Craftsman that's not self-propelled and I regret every minute of it. Got it at 1st home ownership - didn't know better.

 

[alkemyst]

Make sure when cleaning under the deck that you tilt the mower with the air filter side up.
I always clean it that way, but I guess some angles cutting my yard were too steep (tilted mower to cleaner side down).
My engine started to sputter a bit and began running like the governor was throttling it back.
It finally got hard to start, so I...
* Emptied the fuel tank and replaced the gas with Shell V-power.
* Replaced the spark plug (was dark and fouling).
* Replaced the air filter (was oil saturated and starving the intake).
* Changed the oil

My mower was purchaced the end of June.
My yard is a little over 1/2 acre.

Not sure what you mean by making sure the air filter is up...shouldn't matter.

I can understand if you are running it with the air filter side against debris and stuff for long periods.

I just tilt up the front wheels and blow under it with my leaf blower and then all around the rear door as grass likes to collect along the hinge.

Just did my first breakin oil change on it last week. My dad has had the commercial version for 7+ years roughly and still starts 95% on the first pull and 100% by the second pull if I had to guess. IMHO the commercial version is a HUGE disadvantage for the average homeowner being so much heavier. They took a sledgehammer to the 'plastic deck' as an example....it's definitely a lifetime deck. Non-corrosive resins FTMFW!

 

[alkemyst]

Older Simplicity Broadmoor, 42" deck. It looks just like this one:

For mowing n00bs down one post at a time?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Not sure what you mean by making sure the air filter is up...shouldn't matter.

I can understand if you are running it with the air filter side against debris and stuff for long periods.

I just tilt up the front wheels and blow under it with my leaf blower and then all around the rear door as grass likes to collect along the hinge.

Just did my first breakin oil change on it last week. My dad has had the commercial version for 7+ years roughly and still starts 95% on the first pull and 100% by the second pull if I had to guess. IMHO the commercial version is a HUGE disadvantage for the average homeowner being so much heavier. They took a sledgehammer to the 'plastic deck' as an example....it's definitely a lifetime deck. Non-corrosive resins FTMFW!

If you tilt the motor air-filter down, it tends to run full of fuel. In the short term this will cause you to flood the engine, but over time may contribute to carb trouble as well.

You may also spill fuel all over your lawn and/or shop floor.

 

[alkemyst]

If you tilt the motor air-filter down, it tends to run full of fuel. In the short term this will cause you to flood the engine, but over time may contribute to carb trouble as well.

You may also spill fuel all over your lawn and/or shop floor.

Why would you tip it sideways to clean under it when lifting it back is much much easier?

I could agree that possibly running it on a 30/45 degree grade when the air filter is down could be problematic if the engineers didn't take that into account, but on a consumer model I doubt they did.

 

[mmntech]

Craftsman sell propelled gas mower. No idea what the specs are. Does the job. Used to use an electric but the cord always got caught on things.

 

[skyking]

shopping for a new mower today, see my first post about the tossed rod through the crankcase. Sears has a 'friends and family' sale on tonight, starting at 6. 10% off in that department.
Looking at a returned LT4000 with a 24 HP twin, or a new 21HP LT3000

 

[Zenmervolt]

Why would you tip it sideways to clean under it when lifting it back is much much easier?

I could agree that possibly running it on a 30/45 degree grade when the air filter is down could be problematic if the engineers didn't take that into account, but on a consumer model I doubt they did.

You always tilt a push mower away from the carburetor. Doesn't matter whether it's a commercial model or a consumer model.

Pushmowers (and self-propelled walk-behind mowers) use gravity-feed fuel systems and fairly simple carburetors. Put the thing on its side with the carburetor down and the float valve won't stay closed and you'll dump raw fuel all through the intake and out the air cleaner. If you keep the side with the carburetor up it keeps the gasoline from being fed into the carb.

Also, to Perknose: Love Simplicity machines. Used to have an old Allis-Chalmers era Simplicity garden tractor (7014 Baron with the Shuttle drive) almost identical to this one. Loved that old thing. When the old one-lung Briggs threw the rod I was vary disappointed. If I'm ever in a place to need a rider again, it'll be another Simplicity.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Why would you tip it sideways to clean under it when lifting it back is much much easier?

I could agree that possibly running it on a 30/45 degree grade when the air filter is down could be problematic if the engineers didn't take that into account, but on a consumer model I doubt they did.

You would tip it sideways so it will stay still while you clean it out, instead of having to screw around weighting down the handle or some such thing. On most, but not all models, air-filter 'up' also coincides with gas-cap 'up', reducing the chance of fuel leaking through the breather hole.

Maybe you have one of the air-filter-forward models, that also balances reasonably well when tipped backwards?

Unless you were a professional small-engines guy for quite a few years, I can guarantee I've cleaned/sharpened/tuned-up out more lawn-mowers of more different styles and brands than you will ever need to!

 

[alkemyst]

you had Honda HRX217K2HXA in your quote. On this model the gas cap is on top and the filter is on the side.

I just lift the front with one arm and blow under it with my blower. The plastic deck keeps grass from really sticking to it.

 

[3chordcharlie]

you had Honda HRX217K2HXA in your quote. On this model the gas cap is on top and the filter is on the side.

I just lift the front with one arm and blow under it with my blower. The plastic deck keeps grass from really sticking to it.

I didn't have any mower in my quote Most machines with filter on the 'drivers side', the gas cap will be towards the same side. When it isn't, maintenance is a pain due to the likelihood of spilled gasoline.

Plastic deck would be nice; my guys would love the lightness, but they would also destroy them in a trucks and trailers, etc environment.

You can get your deck clean with a blower, which means it isn't very dirty - after a couple of slightly damp days, my guys are cleaning out clumped grass an inch thick from the bottom of the mowers, so they need them propped up in an easy-to-work-on position.

 

[alkemyst]

I was originally responding to Blain...thought you were also agreeing with that.

commerical use <> residental, but today I cut my grass early after rain storms all night...the sidewalks were even still wet. Just blew off.

I know a lot of commercial guys are using the Nexite Hondas when a simple walk behind is warranted. One guy actually did a stress test on them on a popular commercial lawn forum and decided spending $500 more for the much heavier commercial unit was a total loss on ROI.

Like I said they had a shell and pounded it with a sledgehammer. It got some blemishes but structurally it was sound.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I was originally responding to Blain...thought you were also agreeing with that.

commerical use <> residental, but today I cut my grass early after rain storms all night...the sidewalks were even still wet. Just blew off.

I know a lot of commercial guys are using the Nexite Hondas when a simple walk behind is warranted. One guy actually did a stress test on them on a popular commercial lawn forum and decided spending $500 more for the much heavier commercial unit was a total loss on ROI.

Like I said they had a shell and pounded it with a sledgehammer. It got some blemishes but structurally it was sound.

Since the death of the old-school commercial lawnboy (the ones with the huge fuel tank, and staggered wheels), there's no real 'best commercial push-mower' as far as I can tell. There's just so many ways our guys can find to beat on a machine!

Bought a decent honda last year, but the engine is pretty exposed (particularly the valve cover has been bashed in twice on the trailer), and the cut is so-so.

Bought a new lawnboy commercial this year (*similar* to a Toro personal-pace, but not self-propelled, and better-built). It's heavy as hell, but good in all other ways.

In <10HP engines, there's no question hondas have been the best for several years.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Bought a decent honda last year, but the engine is pretty exposed (particularly the valve cover has been bashed in twice on the trailer), and the cut is so-so.

I've found the cut to be pretty good, but it requires a slower pace which probably isn't good for commercial use. I've seen a couple mowers with Honda engines that have guard that passes over the valve cover to keep that from happening. The valve cover definitely does seem vulnerable though and I've worried about it once or twice while mowing.

ZV

 

[3chordcharlie]

I've found the cut to be pretty good, but it requires a slower pace which probably isn't good for commercial use. I've seen a couple mowers with Honda engines that have guard that passes over the valve cover to keep that from happening. The valve cover definitely does seem vulnerable though and I've worried about it once or twice while mowing.

ZV

The cut has to do with the deck and blade design, obviously. Since my guys are mostly doing residential lawns, it really has to be good (otherwise what are folks paying for!). Some of the twin-lade models give a great cut, but they cost nearly as much as the commercial ones.

I used to do more of that work myself; since I don't anymore, it's worth just about any price to have equipment that refuses to break!

 

[Zenmervolt]

The cut has to do with the deck and blade design, obviously. Since my guys are mostly doing residential lawns, it really has to be good (otherwise what are folks paying for!). Some of the twin-lade models give a great cut, but they cost nearly as much as the commercial ones.

I used to do more of that work myself; since I don't anymore, it's worth just about any price to have equipment that refuses to break!

The HRX series have the twin-blade, so maybe I'm not comparing the right models. And you're absolutely right about the prices, Honda's quite proud of their equipment.

ZV

 

[alkemyst]

I get a very even cut with mine in both the slow and fast sections. No one on lawnsite has complained about the valve cover and the model is highly rated by pros for smaller lawns.

 

[skyking]

We picked up the new 21HP LT3000 last night. I'll report back after I get it set up tonight and mow with it.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I get a very even cut with mine in both the slow and fast sections. No one on lawnsite has complained about the valve cover and the model is highly rated by pros for smaller lawns.

The valve cover is enough of a concern that LawnBoy has a guard around it on their professional models: http://www.lawnboy.com/ca_en/productinfo/mowers/commercial/22270.html

No-one is saying that it's a bad mower; I personally couldn't be happier with mine. But just because it's great doesn't mean it's perfect.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

 

[alkemyst]

Grass, not your ass.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I get a very even cut with mine in both the slow and fast sections. No one on lawnsite has complained about the valve cover and the model is highly rated by pros for smaller lawns.

And yet someone here, who actually is a pro, and owns one that is used on smaller lawns, IS mentioning the valve cover It wasn't an expensive fix, except that anything which puts a crew out of commission, is expensive.

The twin blade models give a great cut, but are a pain to sharpen. (Which matters to me, because these things get sharpened weekly, not yearly). The single-blade one gets much better if you swap out for the 'ordinary' blade from the twin-blade set, which has better lift.

We've also got two of the commercial lawnboys that have the guard on them - it doubles as a lift point. They give a very good cut, and weigh about 1400lbs.