what will more HP do for you in a lawn mower and how is a cheap push mower

[holden j caufield]

I saw a 4 HP mower for about $60 and some cheap push mower for $15. Are push mowers this cheap manual?

 

[jlee]

Ours was ~$200, IIRC...it's self-propelled, though..and somewhere around 6hp.

More horsepower = more power..if you're cutting thick/tall grass, a more powerful lawnmower might not stall when a cheap little one probably would.

 

[NogginBoink]

I know you don't want to hear this, but buying a lawn mower is one of those times that spending a little more money is worth it.

A 4 horse mower will stall more often than one with higher hp and won't be able to get through tall grass.

I realize that money is tight, but every time you use that mower you'll regret not getting a better one. It can be absolutely miserable. This is experience talking here.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Personally, I would not get a push mower with less than 5 hp. Anything lower and the mower is just too light duty. I'd say that you'll need to spend between $150 and $200 for a nicer new push mower. Even a $60 mower will be manual (and if it's not, they're really skimping on quality somewhere). Look at Toro's Personal Pace line, or Honda's push mower line.

ZV

 

[holden j caufield]

thanks for the info.

 

[holden j caufield]

another question. How about buying a used riding 8 HP mower for ~150? are they too high maintenance? Too many moving parts for things to go wrong?

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
another question. How about buying a used riding 8 HP mower for ~150? are they too high maintenance? Too many moving parts for things to go wrong?

again, a riding mower with only 8 hp sounds too weak.. we have a 12hp riding mower that sucks.. always gets caught up in tall grass.. becuasey most of that power goes to moving around the big heavy mower.

however, if you have a larger yard (like more than 1acre) then a riding moweris definetly worth it. again though-- this is something you dont want to skimp on.

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
another question. How about buying a used riding 8 HP mower for ~150? are they too high maintenance? Too many moving parts for things to go wrong?

again, a riding mower with only 8 hp sounds too weak.. we have a 12hp riding mower that sucks.. always gets caught up in tall grass.. becuasey most of that power goes to moving around the big heavy mower.

however, if you have a larger yard (like more than 1acre) then a riding moweris definetly worth it. again though-- this is something you dont want to skimp on.

a 120 shot of nitrous will fix the problem on your 12 hp beast. You don't need a new mower...you need NAAAAWS!!!

-=bmacd=-

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: bmacd

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
another question. How about buying a used riding 8 HP mower for ~150? are they too high maintenance? Too many moving parts for things to go wrong?

again, a riding mower with only 8 hp sounds too weak.. we have a 12hp riding mower that sucks.. always gets caught up in tall grass.. becuasey most of that power goes to moving around the big heavy mower.

however, if you have a larger yard (like more than 1acre) then a riding moweris definetly worth it. again though-- this is something you dont want to skimp on.

a 120 shot of nitrous will fix the problem on your 12 hp beast. You don't need a new mower...you need NAAAAWS!!!

-=bmacd=-

LOL.. that thing would kick ass with some nitrous. maybe a big spoiler too.

 

[yakko]

I always used to use the cheap little Murray mowers you get from K-mart. They work great and last a long time. You do have to have a little patience when mowing really high grass but that is no big deal. When me and a friend of mine used to mow lawns in our neighborhood he was always so careful and gentle with his $400 Craftsman mower while I would run over everything with my $99 Murray. Mine outlasted his by a long shot and I would have to kill four of them to spend the amount he did on one mower. The only expensive mowers I like are LawnBoy's because I have never stalled one unless it ran out of gas.

 

[LordUnum]

What everyone has said on here is pretty much right, incl. the "NAWWWS" bit, hehe. My 8-year-old 5HP Murray does most of my front and back lawns just fine at any height, but can get caught up (well, it'll slow-down and need a good pushing) in a little of the thicker St. Augustine I have in part of the backyard. But this may be because I keep the mower near the very lowest height setting and I haven't ever sharpened the blade as far as I can recall...

Funny you mention it, but these Murrays really do take a beating, yakko. I paid ~$200 for my 3-in-1 self-propelled @ Home Depot back then, and it's soaked up plenty of abuse from me over 8 years of constant, slightly careless use and it runs just as fine as it did on day one (only slightly louder maybe). I believe I've only given it one oil change, and changed the air filter once recently... man, I'd better go take care of my loyal yard machine.

 

[Zenmervolt]

$400 Craftsman mower

Your friend got bent over. I wouldn't pay $400 for a Craftsman riding mower. I've always rated Murray as being a better brand than Craftsman.

ZV

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

$400 Craftsman mower

Your friend got bent over. I wouldn't pay $400 for a Craftsman riding mower. I've always rated Murray as being a better brand than Craftsman.

ZV

I used to laugh at him all the time for it.

 

[Cyberian]

holden j caufield -

How big is your yard? This would make a difference in the kind of mower you need.