mulching mower

[bohman]

I might be looking for a mulching push mower soon. Anybody have recommendations, or brands to avoid? I don't need anything big, 3.5 - 5 horse should do it. It's been my experience that it's hard to beat something with a Briggs & stratton engine, but if you think you know something better, I'd love to hear it.

 

[SD1492]

I might be looking for a mulching push mower soon. Anybody have recommendations, or brands to avoid? I don't need anything big, 3.5 - 5 horse should do it. It's been my experience that it's hard to beat something with a Briggs & stratton engine, but if you think you know something better, I'd love to hear it.

I've got a Craftsman. Got it 3 years ago and have never had a problem with it. Knock on Wood. But yes Briggs & Strattons are GOOD.

Good luck.

 

[huntr1]

Honda makes a good mower too.

Briggs never die.

If you get a self propelled, get one with a full width lever handle, just like the deadman switch, not the little handle like the clutch lever on a motorcycle.

Look at the wheels. Cheaper mowers have plastic hubs on the wheels. Better mowers have metal hubs.

Do you want a mulcher that can discharge too?
Do you want a mulcher that can take a bag?

Honda has come out with a dual blade mower, supposed to be better for mulching.

Current lawnboys and toro's are no better than any other mower on the market, unlike the old 2-cycle versions that were the BEST.

You do not need to get the mower with the built in fuel stabilizer gas cap. Just get the standard mower and add Sta-bil to every can of gas you buy.

My mower that I bought at Home Depot starts 2nd pull every spring and then 1st pull after that till I put it away in the fall (Briggs motor).

The mower that I keep down by the stormwater pond (yardsale mower my father-in-law gave me 10+ years ago) starts 2nd or 3rd pull every spring and 1st or second pull after that. It stays outside, no cover, deck cleaned in the fall only when put away for the winter, air filter changed once since I've had it (last year), same for the engine oil. (briggs motor)

Don't get a Tecumseh motor.

 

[sparkyaclown]

I've got an MTD going on 10 years old still starts in 1 or 2 pulls. You really can't go wrong with any mower that has a Briggs engine.

 

[ItalianScallion]

I highly recommend Troy-bilt. I've had mine for 18 years and it's still going strong. Lowes has them for btwn $200-400 depending on how many features you want. Self start, self propelled, etc.

 

[czygvtwkr]

I like Troy Built too, first pull it starts every time.

 

[huntr1]

I highly recommend Troy-bilt. I've had mine for 18 years and it's still going strong. Lowes has them for btwn $200-400 depending on how many features you want. Self start, self propelled, etc.

THAT's what I have. Forgot, I didn't get my mower at HD, I got it at Lowes in Waldorf.

 

[itsbob]

THAT's what I have. Forgot, I didn't get my mower at HD, I got it at Lowes in Waldorf.

Harley sells Lawn Mowers now?? I can see the big chrome V-Twins mulching the grass now... Po-ta-to Po-ta-to.. back and forth in the yard.. Leather fringe flying back from the handle (bars)..

 

[itsbob]

I've got an MTD going on 10 years old still starts in 1 or 2 pulls. You really can't go wrong with any mower that has a Briggs engine.

That, and if you look close enough, almost ALL lawn mowers are made by the same company, and branded on the way out the door..

Lowes sells what, four different makes of lawn tractors, and they are all the same tractor..

 

[bohman]

Harley sells Lawn Mowers now?? I can see the big chrome V-Twins mulching the grass now... Po-ta-to Po-ta-to.. back and forth in the yard.. Leather fringe flying back from the handle (bars)..

You're joking, but I have no doubt they could sell that ####. You'd better stop giving them ideas, or you'll be seeing that in a yard near you soon...

And thanks everybody, for the response. I may not even get a new one soon, because the one I have is running strong (20 year-old Briggs), but it's a side discharge. I want a mulching one at some point.

 

[desertrat]

That, and if you look close enough, almost ALL lawn mowers are made by the same company, and branded on the way out the door..

Lowes sells what, four different makes of lawn tractors, and they are all the same tractor..

I think Husqvarna will be quite surprised to hear this.

 

[itsbob]

I think Husqvarna will be quite surprised to hear this.

Husky is one of the ones that REALLY sticks out.. check it out next time you are there.. Simple things, like gear shifter location and set up.. even the cup holder.. The mower deck lift.. It's the same between the Husky and the "John Deere" I think (it may have been another brand they were selling)..

And when you look at the accessories they sell.. it even lists like ten different makes of mowers the accessories fit on, as all ten are made by the same company..

But I think if you went to a Husky Dealer, just like a JD dealer you aren't going to see any of the models they sell at a Lowes, or Home Depot.. I think Lowes sells "licensed products" brand names put on generic machines, but the dealers only sell the real thing..

 

[itsbob]

You're joking, but I have no doubt they could sell that ####. You'd better stop giving them ideas, or you'll be seeing that in a yard near you soon...

And thanks everybody, for the response. I may not even get a new one soon, because the one I have is running strong (20 year-old Briggs), but it's a side discharge. I want a mulching one at some point.

Why not just convert the one you have to mulching machine? All you need is a mulching blade, and cover up the discharge chute.

 

[desertrat]

Husky is one of the ones that REALLY sticks out.. check it out next time you are there.. Simple things, like gear shifter location and set up.. even the cup holder.. The mower deck lift.. It's the same between the Husky and the "John Deere" I think (it may have been another brand they were selling)..

And when you look at the accessories they sell.. it even lists like ten different makes of mowers the accessories fit on, as all ten are made by the same company..

But I think if you went to a Husky Dealer, just like a JD dealer you aren't going to see any of the models they sell at a Lowes, or Home Depot.. I think Lowes sells "licensed products" brand names put on generic machines, but the dealers only sell the real thing..

I think they use some of the same components. Check out the front axle.

 

[huntr1]

Husky is one of the ones that REALLY sticks out.. check it out next time you are there.. Simple things, like gear shifter location and set up.. even the cup holder.. The mower deck lift.. It's the same between the Husky and the "John Deere" I think (it may have been another brand they were selling)..

And when you look at the accessories they sell.. it even lists like ten different makes of mowers the accessories fit on, as all ten are made by the same company..

But I think if you went to a Husky Dealer, just like a JD dealer you aren't going to see any of the models they sell at a Lowes, or Home Depot.. I think Lowes sells "licensed products" brand names put on generic machines, but the dealers only sell the real thing..

American Yard Products (AYP) makes the multi-branded mowers/tractors you see at Home Depot/Lowes/WalMart/Sears.

 

[itsbob]

I like Troy Built too, first pull it starts every time.

Troy Bilt is now part of MTD.. the people that make MTD lawn mowers, Yard Boy.. Don't know if their quality will still be the same.

 

[czygvtwkr]

Troy Bilt is now part of MTD.. the people that make MTD lawn mowers, Yard Boy.. Don't know if their quality will still be the same.

When did this occur? I bought my mower last year.

 

[bohman]

Why not just convert the one you have to mulching machine? All you need is a mulching blade, and cover up the discharge chute.

I read somewhere (please don't ask me to quote source, don't remember) that the decks of the mulching mowers are slightly higher to allow the clippings to circulate inside while they are being mulched, and that if you put a mulching blade on a regular mower it isn't going to work right.

That made sense to me, but if any of you have had success with simply switching blades on a regular mower, I'd love to hear it. I'm a cheap bastard and the thought of buying a new mower when I don't need to gives me a headache.

 

[huntr1]

Just changing the blade to a mulching blade will work, just not nearly as well as buying a new mower with the higher deck. The higher volume under the deck does allow the clippings to circulate thru the blade more than once resulting in smaller clippings.