Lawn Mower education (of me) thread. Come share your knowledge.

[lurk3r]

I want this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-19jNcOl8Lc If you've had bogging issues you want more HP, the variable speed is not really necessary, just enough power to mow down small trees.

 

[Thebobo]

My lawn it tiny because of the ivy and planters of wild plants I pay a local service of you kids $25.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Convert it to electric using a 3 phase brushless motor and a VFD.

Seriously though never heard of a variable blade speed. Internal combustion engines tend to have a small range of speed they are most efficient at, and since mowers don't have a transmission they'll just be designed to run at one speed. Sometimes you'll have a slight adjustment you can do but not much. Briggs and Stratton engines are pretty solid. Just get a mower with one and call it a day.

Though if I was in the market now days I'd actually consider electric, nice to be more green.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Necro... But anyhow, people still mow their own lawns? I pay $20 for front and back..... Given, I don't have a big yard - but it's not the mowing that is a PITA... it's mowing, plus edging + cleaup... normally I just do the mowing and get annoyed iwth it

 

[spaceman]

get a honda
might not meet all the criteria
but its what to get

 

[paperfist]

get a honda
might not meet all the criteria
but its what to get

They seem to be bullet proof and don't even flinch at the Ethanol fuels.

And don't buy it from Lowes or Home Depot. They are junk compared to the same model that your local dealer has and probably for the same price.

If your mower is bogging down make sure your blades are sharp and get a bigger engine on your next mower.

 

[bigi]

I went EV mower and tools in 2015.

The initial price is higher than gasoline mowers, I am talking EGO 56V from HD. It's been quiet and very convenient to use and store. I got full range of EGO tools after getting the mower.

Their batteries are great and compatible with all tools they make. 2 batteries from 2015 still work as new.

Plenty of utube flicks on their equipment. Highly recommended.

 

[Red Squirrel]

How good is the electric in terms of performance? The idea definitely intrigues me.

 

[dawp]

any recommendations on a rider? this for about 3 acres.

 

[squirrel dog]

Husqvarna GT52XLS with the kawa engine .

 

[NoTine42]

any recommendations on a rider? this for about 3 acres.

Hills, trees?
For speed, it’s tough to beat a zero turn. (But they are different to control)

Tractor wise, 3 acres is getting into garden tractor or bigger territory.

Some say, visit some tractor dealers, not a specific brand, and go with the dealer you liked best.

 

[bigi]

How good is the electric in terms of performance? The idea definitely intrigues me.

It is truly great. How big is your lot? Ego offers push and self propelled models now. The batteries have improved as well.

This one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-21-...ttery-and-Charger-Included-LM2102SP/206515944

comes with 7.5 aH battery for $500. It is truly a steal.

I paid this price for push model with 5 aH battery in 2015. In any case, I'd not consider gasoline one at all.

 

[jtworldwide3]

Hills, trees?
For speed, it’s tough to beat a zero turn. (But they are different to control)

Tractor wise, 3 acres is getting into garden tractor or bigger territory.

Some say, visit some tractor dealers, not a specific brand, and go with the dealer you liked best.

Goto the dealer with the best service. For 3 acres you would have to peel my Exmark zero turn out of my cold dead hands. Even with a big garden tractor you will be out there for hours. Id be looking at the radius series, either the S, or if you want the kaw engine the X. They are a prosumer model and are 90% the machine of the huge commercial machines. A learning curve to drive a bit, but my mower with a 60" deck goes 10 MPH while mowing. I do 2 acres in 30 minutes or so.

 

[squirrel dog]

the husky is $ 3000+/- that exmark gets into commercial mowers . I like the husky as it has a dash switch that allows for positive traction , it pulls like a beast . http://todaysmowers.com has a good comparison of tractors . I have the craftsman with power steering . I am very pleased with its performance , I am in year two with it .

 

[Red Squirrel]

It is truly great. How big is your lot? Ego offers push and self propelled models now. The batteries have improved as well.

This one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-21-...ttery-and-Charger-Included-LM2102SP/206515944

comes with 7.5 aH battery for $500. It is truly a steal.

I paid this price for push model with 5 aH battery in 2015. In any case, I'd not consider gasoline one at all.

I'd say it's fairly average size for residential home, maybe even a bit smaller. I'd probably go with just a push model myself. That does look like a pretty good deal. I bet it's also much lighter too.

 

[bruceb]

If you are having issues starting it, then either the carburetor needs a rebuild or it is low on compression due to old age and wear. You can get a new engine pretty cheap and they are easy to install. Check out: Northern Tool & Equipment for the engines. They also sell entire lawn mowers.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_engines

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_lawn-garden+lawn-mowers+walk-behind-mowers

 

[rh71]

Necro... But anyhow, people still mow their own lawns? I pay $20 for front and back..... Given, I don't have a big yard - but it's not the mowing that is a PITA... it's mowing, plus edging + cleaup... normally I just do the mowing and get annoyed iwth it

Ever since I got a self-propelled, I don't mind it at all. Not even a sweat. Bagging & edging aren't required every time either.

 

[DietDrThunder]

As far as your #1 requirement.. Mowers have a maximum speed, depending on the size of the blade. You can always notch it down slower, but without mucking with the governor, you won't be making it go faster. The key to not bogging is keeping a sharp blade, and of course getting a mower with decent power.

Honda is #1 in readily available, consumer small engines. Can't really go wrong.

Dang it, I knew there was something I needed to do. Well I better go home this evening and remove the blade.

 

[NoTine42]

the husky is $ 3000+/- that exmark gets into commercial mowers . I like the husky as it has a dash switch that allows for positive traction , it pulls like a beast . http://todaysmowers.com has a good comparison of tractors . I have the craftsman with power steering . I am very pleased with its performance , I am in year two with it .

The HydroGear G730 would be a good transmission. With Husky (especially the box store GLS model) and Craftsman, you have to watch out for cheaper units with the K46

That said, I have a Craftsman DGS6500 (now called a GT5000) from 2008. It’s exactly what I expected, a nice K66 transmission, a decent motor (700+ hours on the low-end Koehler Courage) and a flimsy frame that needs serious welding, now. (Yes, i abused the frame with a Johnny Bucket..but a Garden Tractor should be designed for it). I have a hard time with reccomending Craftsman due to the frame. Another $100 in steel and it would have been a really nice tractor, but they really cheaped out on an essential part of a tractor.

 

[eng2d2]

If you are having issues starting it, then either the carburetor needs a rebuild or it is low on compression due to old age and wear. You can get a new engine pretty cheap and they are easy to install. Check out: Northern Tool & Equipment for the engines. They also sell entire lawn mowers.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_engines

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_lawn-garden+lawn-mowers+walk-behind-mowers

What if it sat very long. Is there something for me to buy to pour in gas tank. I overhauled the carburetor and cleaned it and still won’t start.

 

[Red Squirrel]

May be the type of fuel you use, though lawnmowers don't seem to be as picky as snowblowers. With snowblowers you want to use ethanol free premium. I use that for my lawnmower too now, but just because I buy it for the snow blower so may as well just use the same fuel. I should probably change the oil in both my snowblower and lawnmower though, have not done it yet since I bought them, it's good to change it out at once once when it's fairly new.

 

[Jerem]

They used to lock necro around here. Not anymore?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't see the point, at least it provides some kind of conversation. TBH I think the moderation needs to be more lax about this stuff. Even things like parody threads or silly/stupid threads. At least it's something. Mayne used to post a lot of random crap but at least it made some conversations happen. Not sure what happened to him, he either got banned for it or just stopped posting.

That said, maybe they need to auto archive threads after so many years of inactivity. It would auto lock but instead of saying locked it just says archived. I did that at one of my forums. Most of my traffic came from Google so people land on an old thread and go to reply to it not realizing how old it is.