At what point do you put a mower out to pasture?

[NavyVet88]

2011 Troy Bilt pushmower with ?hp B&S motor. Bought it new when I was stationed in Virginia and it was on clearance for $169.

I’ve put as much or more into this thing than what I paid for it to keep it going. Multiple carb rebuilds, multiple amazon carbs, recoil starter, both front wheels replaced twice already, throttle cable etc.

I’m tired of fooling with this thing. It sounds like the governor spring I put on last summer needs replacing again already.

I’m ready to go get a new one lol

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Sounds like you have already talked yourself into a new one

 

[NavyVet88]

Sounds like you have already talked yourself into a new one

I really hate spending money sometimes. I’d rather keep getting the good out of something, but like I said above, I’ve done spent more money keeping this thing going over the years than what I initially paid for it lol

 

[Cujet]

A new quality mower is a wonderful thing. But wow are they pricey now! I hope you find a good deal. There is a reason I re-engine'd my 25 year old commercial Snapper mower. I bent the crankshaft multiple times on the original Kawasaki engine, straightened it, and kept mowing. But eventually it gave up the ghost...

 

[JeffKeryk]

You can have my old mower. Don't need the dang thing anymore.

 

[Kestas]

It's always a personal decision. Some people are more tolerant of maintenance and repairs than others. When you know you know.

 

[TheOilWizard]

I'm all for keeping things running as long as possible, but there is a point where financially it doesn't make sense. Sounds like you have reached that point. Nothing to be ashamed of, a 15 year old mower is quite a decent run nowadays.

 

[The_Jeff]

About three things kill a push mower-- carb/governor issues, bent crank, or rusted out mower decks. I bought a new Chonda from Amazon about 15 years ago and the deck rusted out, so the engine lives on on a formerly Briggs-powered deck. Going to make a Mower of Theseus (Grandpa's axe) if this continues.

 

[TheOilWizard]

About three things kill a push mower-- carb/governor issues, bent crank, or rusted out mower decks. I bought a new Chonda from Amazon about 15 years ago and the deck rusted out, so the engine lives on on a formerly Briggs-powered deck. Going to make a Mower of Theseus (Grandpa's axe) if this continues.

Yeah, the decks are comically thin on newer mowers. The engines have no problems outlasting everything else if properly maintained.

 

[ecotourist]

I gave up on our first power mower when it wouldn't start anymore. It was at least 16 or 17 years old and had a Briggs and Stratton engine. After fiddling with it for several days I gave up and bought a new Craftsman mower with a Honda engine.

Our new house has lawns on 2 levels. The upper bench is our septic field. I got tired of hauling the mower up and down the stairs to that upper level so we bought a new Honda (self propelled) mower for the lower level. That 20 plus year old mower with the Honda engine now mows our upper bench and lives inside a large plastic bin between times.

Did I mention that I really like Honda engines.

 

[walterjay]

I finally got rid of a 22" mower purchased 28 years ago from BJ's for $99.00

It had a Techumseh engine and high rear wheels fully adjustable. It served me well only needed one carburetor. Gas tank started leaking and I decided quits. Did not get a lot of use, just trimming and small work. I think I only changed the oil four times.

BTW the deck was still solid.

 

[Propflux01]

A tornado made the decision for me on a Cub Cadet mower a few years back.

 

[martinq]

The first time I used a battery powered Stihl mower I was never going back. Smooth and easy. Less noise, less vibration, "easy" starting... would never use a gas powered mower again even if I was paid to.

 

[E150GT]

Disappointing for sure. I bought a new troybilt tb130 push mower in 2012. It was always problem free. Of course it was not self propelled. I let it sit for a while with e10 gas and the carb gummed up but it worked itself out.it would run on full choke only for a while and then after a season of running like that it worked again like normal. I ended up buying a new Honda in 2024 when the wheels locked up on the troybilt. After I got the Honda I bought a new deck and axle and wheels for it because the engine ran so good. Spent way more than it was worth but I gave it to my sister and her husband uses it weekly. My point? Get something that's not a briggs and Stratton.

 

[Opelman]

Technically I put this one out to pasture yesterday. Mowed the pasture fence line, and used it to tow the sprayer around dispensing 2,4,D on the lawn. Good running but tired mid 80s Onan powered. I find that if I like a certain machine that I will often exceed its value in repairs just because it is still much more economical than purchasing new.

 

[The_Eric]

Repairing is almost always cheaper than replacing, That said when asked by customers if they should fix a vehicle one of the 3 questions that I ask is "Do you like the vehicle?" Sounds like you don't. Life is too short to be tormented by a mower that you don't like... get one that tickles your fancy and enjoy mowing again.

 

[Selmorides]

I had a Craftsman that ran great for years but the deck was rusting. Grass was blowing out the top of the deck. My son found the exact same left on the curb. Engine was seized but the deck was good so I put my engine on the ‘new’ deck. Couple years later I was mowing and the handle dropped. No warning. Deck rusted through, could no longer hold the weight of the engine. It was time.

 

[nascarnation]

Technically I put this one out to pasture yesterday. Mowed the pasture fence line, and used it to tow the sprayer around dispensing 2,4,D on the lawn. Good running but tired mid 80s Onan powered. I find that if I like a certain machine that I will often exceed its value in repairs just because it is still much more economical than purchasing new.View attachment 332637

I had one of those it was the best machine I ever owned. Unfortunately I included it in a house sale deal thinking I was getting an upgrade going to a John Deere...what an expensive mistake that was.

 

[martinq]

I had one of those it was the best machine I ever owned. Unfortunately I included it in a house sale deal thinking I was getting an upgrade going to a John Deere...what an expensive mistake that was.

I've got some history with Deere and I'm catching up on repair / maintenance on my own equipment. What Deere was an expensive mistake? Or was this due to a bad dealer?

 

[macarose]

I bought a 1990s Craftsman for $100 back in 2011 from one of my customers and it's lasted about 15 years. However I have found small carbureted engines to be a bit difficult to keep going. A neighbor down the street from me has been a huge help.

Like you I'm crossing that rubicon where, if you mow a lot, it may be better to just replace the engine and whatever else needs fixing versus buying new. I almost bought a lawnmower from one of my wife's friends who moved to California. But the new owners of that property wanted it.

I hope that in about five years electric lawnmowers become cheap and plentiful. Georgia is in a severe drought right now and the Super El Nino may worsen it. So there will be a chance that I'll be mowing a lot less this season.