What's the shelf life on a lawnmower?

[Scarpozzi]

I've got an 8 year old push mower...it's in decent shape still (Troybilt with Honda engine).

Mowers keep going up in price these days with self-propelled baggers upwards of $350. I saw an opportunity to snag one under $250 stacking a few deals, but don't really need it yet. How long should I leave it in the box before I take it out? I've got it stored in my dry garage in the cardboard box, elevated on a shelf. It doesn't have motor oil or gas in it yet.

I'm guessing a couple of years would be alright. It also has a Honda engine.

 

[Fritzo]

Have a Craftsman 20" with a Briggs & Stratton 2HP...I've never changed the oil, changed the sparkplug, washed it, or changed the filter on it. It still starts on the first pull every time. I bought it in 1995.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Most things would have a lifespan longer than your own. If the garage is dry and the lawnmower boxed the metal won't rust for decades and the plastic will last longer than that. The only possible thing that would break down would be rubber pieces like oil seals in the engine. They have to have a life span of at least several years to account for time to go from factory and through the distribution chain and sit on a shelf for a model cycle. I still wouldn't do it though, you might get another 5-10 years out of the current one. My Briggs and Stratton engined mower has got to be at least 15-18 years old now and runs fine.

 

[Genx87]

We had a sears lawnmower crap out on us 4 years ago. Went and spent a little more money on a Toro self propelled mower. It cost a little more but damn does it run good. Always starts by the 3rd pull. Even after sitting for months during the winter.

 

[OutHouse]

if its maintained and not abused it will last 20+ years. the one my dad had he bought in the early 60's and got a new one in 91. the old one worked fine but he wanted to drive a cadillac and keep the jalope in case the fancy one broke.

 

[tynopik]

I saw an opportunity to snag one under $250 stacking a few deals, but don't really need it yet.

buy a mutual fund instead

invest in stocks, not lawn mowers

 

[Scarpozzi]

if its maintained and not abused it will last 20+ years. the one my dad had he bought in the early 60's and got a new one in 91. the old one worked fine but he wanted to drive a cadillac and keep the jalope in case the fancy one broke.

buy a mutual fund instead

invest in stocks, not lawn mowers

I'm covered....was looking at my investment portfolio and retirement calculators earlier this week. It turns out I'll probably be bringing in just as much in retirement as I am now because I started when I was 21 and will probably be working to 65 or so. I should have my house paid off in a few years, kids will be out of daycare and my wife and I will probably double or triple our retirement savings with 20+ years to go....I'm not worried about a $250 mower.

I don't maintain my mowers and only mow about 1/3 of an acre at home...and around a half acre at my lake property (thanks to steep hills and woods I don't mow it all). Now that it has some age on it, I may end up cleaning up my Troy-bilt and taking it out there to store. I bought a riding mower last month too that's the same brand as my push mower. It'll be nice to have a matching set of mowers to use at home and load my riding mower up in my truck for the bi-weekly trim at the lake. I like to mow out there...gives me an excuse to fish.

 

[Fardringle]

I still use a nearly 40-year-old Craftsman push mower. And I'll keep using it until it no longer runs well enough to cut the lawn reliably. The only maintenance I do on it is occasionally (very rarely) top up the oil, and sharpen the blade every year or two. It usually takes a few pulls to get it started the first time it comes out of storage after the winter, but it always starts on the first pull after that.

So...the answer is: It depends. If it is a good quality machine it could sit for decades and still work just fine. If it is junk it might not work next week...

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I...I'm not worried about a $250 mower.

The fact that you started this thread suggests otherwise.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I've got an 8 year old push mower...it's in decent shape still (Troybilt with Honda engine).

Mowers keep going up in price these days with self-propelled baggers upwards of $350. I saw an opportunity to snag one under $250 stacking a few deals, but don't really need it yet. How long should I leave it in the box before I take it out? I've got it stored in my dry garage in the cardboard box, elevated on a shelf. It doesn't have motor oil or gas in it yet.

I'm guessing a couple of years would be alright. It also has a Honda engine.

Stored in a box without fluids? Decades, probably. Might need to replace some seals or rubber (silicone? plastic? whatever) components before use after a substantial amount of time. You'll probably be dead by then though.

Properly maintained a small engine can last a very, very long time. Most engines can, actually. Vibration and metal fatigue aren't really a huge deal for stuff like this.

 

[rh71]

I've had this sucker for 15 years with not a single oil change and it's been humming along every year. I got tired of pushing it so got a $379 RWD Husqvarna for $230 after discounts and couldn't be more excited to go mow every week... Yes I'll be maintaining it better.

Craftsman - think I'll sell it for like $50.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I gave my mower to our gardener. It was just sitting in our garage taking up space. At least he is actually using it.

 

[NutBucket]

I'm surprised. Most garndeners I see use pretty nice mowers...nicer than any big box store.

 

[TXHokie]

Longest one I had was a Craftman that lasted 11 yrs. Engine seized up. Then I got two more from various CL and those lasted 2 and 3 yrs....both had engine problems. Not sure what my bad luck is with them things since I change out the oil at least once every year or two. Broke down and got a nice floor model top of the line self propelled last summer. One hand push self propelled even up the hill is great. Get ethanol-free gas if you can get them. The ethanol stuff at the gas station will gum up your small engine over time or so I'm told especially in storage.

 

[Red Squirrel]

My dad has a lawnmower that's at least 20 years old. Probably more like 25. Still runs. I changed the oil in it once, like 10ish years ago.

 

[rh71]

My dad has a lawnmower that's at least 20 years old. Probably more like 25. Still runs. I changed the oil in it once, like 10ish years ago.

Sounds more and more like not doing the oil change is perhaps better for it (of course not in theory). The manual read one oil change every 50-80 hours. I think once a season is too much... as I said before, I've used it an hour per week for 3 months a year and haven't ever changed the oil in 15 years. If I follow the recommendation, that's only 3 changes in 15 years needed.

The new Husqvarna states 25 hours or end of season. I don't know, planned obsolescence?

 

[BurnItDwn]

My mower works well last time I tried it. I got lazy and hire the teenagers down the block who run their own lawn service business, so my mower hasn't really worked in a couple of years. Its approx 30 years old Toro from the 80s.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Sounds more and more like not doing the oil change is perhaps better for it (of course not in theory). The manual read one oil change every 50-80 hours. I think once a season is too much... as I said before, I've used it an hour per week for 3 months a year and haven't ever changed the oil in 15 years. If I follow the recommendation, that's only 3 changes in 15 years needed.

The new Husqvarna states 25 hours or end of season. I don't know, planned obsolescence?

Yeah I almost wonder if it's like a water heater, they say you should flush it etc once a year but most people don't bother, but if you have not done it maybe it's best to just leave it alone. Haha.

 

[Exterous]

I've got an 8 year old push mower...it's in decent shape still (Troybilt with Honda engine).

Sounds like we have a very similar mower. Mine was manufactured in 2006 but we started using it in 2007 and I don't see any signs of it slowing down. Only possible negative I could see might be finding parts down the road but I have no plan to look for another one until this one croaks

 

[sandorski]

Me and the Boys line up at Midnight outside the Sears every year in anticipation of the release of the new Craftsman models. Always the first on the Block to have the bling that makes all the neighbours envious.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I got 26 years out of my Honda HR214sx with the aluminum deck and when I didn't need it anymore I sold it on craigslist.

 

[skull]

Most things would have a lifespan longer than your own. If the garage is dry and the lawnmower boxed the metal won't rust for decades and the plastic will last longer than that. The only possible thing that would break down would be rubber pieces like oil seals in the engine. They have to have a life span of at least several years to account for time to go from factory and through the distribution chain and sit on a shelf for a model cycle. I still wouldn't do it though, you might get another 5-10 years out of the current one. My Briggs and Stratton engined mower has got to be at least 15-18 years old now and runs fine.

Thats not true if the garage gets cold. Moisture in the air will condensate in and on it making it rust. If thats the case and you can't get it in conditioned space. I'd keep it full of oil as high I could, no gas though.

I agree I wouldn't buy one til the old one breaks your right seals break down faster when they are not used. Old very low mileage cars can be worse than old high mileage cars for that reason.

My craftsmen with a briggs and stratton is going strong at 14 years starts up first time no problem. The oil didn't get changed for years at one point and I beat the crap out of it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought the same mower Rh71 bought.....21" Husquvarna deal from Lowes.

Sounds like we have a very similar mower. Mine was manufactured in 2006 but we started using it in 2007 and I don't see any signs of it slowing down. Only possible negative I could see might be finding parts down the road but I have no plan to look for another one until this one croaks

My Troybilt is a 2009 and only has one cosmetic issue...it's missing a screw from the plastic cover that goes over the self-propelled belt drive. The belt jumped the pulley a few years back and when I put it back on, one of the screws backed itself out. I found a replacement on ebay today, but haven't ordered the $5 screw (with shipping) yet. Other than that, for motor function, it occasionally has issues with the air intake and throttle governor. I replaced the air filter and that helped a lot, but it still backfires occasionally and can kick when starting.