Best mower in $250-300 price range ???
- Thread starter Dave Hess
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That is a very limited price range, but the Troy Bilt mower(s) at Lowes with the HONDA engine provides a great cut in both the mulching and bagging modes. Briggs and Stratton motors are OK, but not as smooth or fuel efficient as the excellent HONDA unit. No matter what, don't buy anything with the Kohler or Chonda clone motors. The Husqvarna decks are sturdier, but it will be $329 for one with a HONDA engine.
Husqvarna w/Honda
Husqvarna w/Honda
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well with side discharge engine SIZE is not as important as its less likely to bog down, FWD offers the best maneuverability and will work fine on a flat yard.
This one seems like a good choice.
lowes
the non-5star includes the gripe of using fwd mower on hilly yard.
They have 10% off coupon codes if you order online also.
This one seems like a good choice.
lowes
the non-5star includes the gripe of using fwd mower on hilly yard.
They have 10% off coupon codes if you order online also.
I loved my old Toro with the big rear wheels.
Also my MIL's Toro "Personal Pace" RWD is a great mower that she has abused for over 7 years now.
I would spring the $359 for it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Toro-Personal...=5yc1vZc5apZ1i9
Also my MIL's Toro "Personal Pace" RWD is a great mower that she has abused for over 7 years now.
I would spring the $359 for it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Toro-Personal...=5yc1vZc5apZ1i9
Originally Posted By: Nukeman7
No matter what, don't buy anything with the Kohler or Chonda clone motors.
What is your reasoning for this?
I also would prefer a Briggs or Honda, but I would probably consider Toro's self-branded engine (which I think I read is a Honda clone) since Toro offers good parts support.
Kohler I've never used.
To the OP-
I have a Craftsman mower that was made by Husky and is very similar to this one previously listed.
Lowe's Husky
The only differences are that mine has a Briggs engine and the regular rear wheels. For a consumer mower, it has held up fine. It's something like 7 years old now and still runs really well, but puffs out a little smoke on startup. The only repairs I've done are replacing the front wheels and the drive belt.
I also use it exclusively for mulching. I don't like side discharge or bagging nearly as much.
It doesn't have as much self-propelling as my big Toro did, but the front wheel drive is so nice for maneuvering in my small-is yard with lots of obstacles. My huge Toro cast deck model was a beast, but was too hard to maneuver with it's rear-wheel drive.
No matter what, don't buy anything with the Kohler or Chonda clone motors.
What is your reasoning for this?
I also would prefer a Briggs or Honda, but I would probably consider Toro's self-branded engine (which I think I read is a Honda clone) since Toro offers good parts support.
Kohler I've never used.
To the OP-
I have a Craftsman mower that was made by Husky and is very similar to this one previously listed.
Lowe's Husky
The only differences are that mine has a Briggs engine and the regular rear wheels. For a consumer mower, it has held up fine. It's something like 7 years old now and still runs really well, but puffs out a little smoke on startup. The only repairs I've done are replacing the front wheels and the drive belt.
I also use it exclusively for mulching. I don't like side discharge or bagging nearly as much.
It doesn't have as much self-propelling as my big Toro did, but the front wheel drive is so nice for maneuvering in my small-is yard with lots of obstacles. My huge Toro cast deck model was a beast, but was too hard to maneuver with it's rear-wheel drive.
I own the one Nukeman7 mentioned, the Husqvarna from Lowes w/ 160cc Honda.
I have owned it for 2 years now. Zero problem.
It bags and mulches well. The Honda engine starts on 1st or 2nd pull every time.
The Front Wheel Drive combined with the high rear wheels (8" I think) work well and can maneuver well.
I use it to mow my front and back yard and also a 1/3 acre lot that I planning on building my next home on.
The self propel engagement bar is easy to use and egronomic.
I bought it for $300 from Lowes.
All I do is sharpen the blade and change oil and filter once a year.
It was also rated high in either consumer reports or some type of DIY Magazine comparo.
I have owned it for 2 years now. Zero problem.
It bags and mulches well. The Honda engine starts on 1st or 2nd pull every time.
The Front Wheel Drive combined with the high rear wheels (8" I think) work well and can maneuver well.
I use it to mow my front and back yard and also a 1/3 acre lot that I planning on building my next home on.
The self propel engagement bar is easy to use and egronomic.
I bought it for $300 from Lowes.
All I do is sharpen the blade and change oil and filter once a year.
It was also rated high in either consumer reports or some type of DIY Magazine comparo.
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Is Snapper still around? I used to see those when I was growing up all the time (1970s).
I remember back then my grandparents had a mower,that had this crank on top of the engine. You`d wind it up until the tension felt tight,and it`d click in place. You`d then pull a lever on the handle that`d release the crank and it`d spin the starter. They would always let me start it up when they`d mow. I thought it was so much fun to do!
I remember back then my grandparents had a mower,that had this crank on top of the engine. You`d wind it up until the tension felt tight,and it`d click in place. You`d then pull a lever on the handle that`d release the crank and it`d spin the starter. They would always let me start it up when they`d mow. I thought it was so much fun to do!
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Is Snapper still around? I used to see those when I was growing up all the time (1970s).
Yes, they are still around. In the last decade or so Briggs and Stratton has purchased some power equipment companies and Snapper is one of them. So, now Snapper products are made by the greater Briggs corporation.
They also now own Simplicity, Murray and some other brands. They also now make "Briggs and Stratton" branded snowthrowers.
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/eu/en/products
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Thanks for the advice. $400 is my max budget.
Ah, now that's a good budget. You're now into a much better range and there are some pretty decent products.
Is Snapper still around? I used to see those when I was growing up all the time (1970s).
Yes, they are still around. In the last decade or so Briggs and Stratton has purchased some power equipment companies and Snapper is one of them. So, now Snapper products are made by the greater Briggs corporation.
They also now own Simplicity, Murray and some other brands. They also now make "Briggs and Stratton" branded snowthrowers.
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/eu/en/products
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Thanks for the advice. $400 is my max budget.
Ah, now that's a good budget. You're now into a much better range and there are some pretty decent products.
$50 mower from craigslist FTW, no way would I buy a new cheapo mower... get a decent used one, change the plug, oil and air filter and you will be set.
why new?
why new?
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
$50 mower from craigslist FTW, no way would I buy a new cheapo mower... get a decent used one, change the plug, oil and air filter and you will be set.
why new?
This actually isn't a bad suggestion, although $50 will mostly net you a beater mower in my area or one that was a piece of junk to begin with..
I paid around $100 or $120 for my Craftsman mower that was only a couple seasons old. That's less than 50% of retail, I believe. It's now been more than 5 years and it's still working great.
$50 mower from craigslist FTW, no way would I buy a new cheapo mower... get a decent used one, change the plug, oil and air filter and you will be set.
why new?
This actually isn't a bad suggestion, although $50 will mostly net you a beater mower in my area or one that was a piece of junk to begin with..
I paid around $100 or $120 for my Craftsman mower that was only a couple seasons old. That's less than 50% of retail, I believe. It's now been more than 5 years and it's still working great.
I would say either get a cheap push mower with a Briggs or top of the line name brand. In between is mostly junk.
Troybilt with Honda motor? Mine was falling apart around the engine after 4 years of TLC. Cheap hardware, cheap transmission (Replaced twice in 4 years with light duty use, $200 each time) but had a sweet engine. Didn't matter. Had to replace it and ended up getting the cheapo push mower with Briggs engine. Couldn't be happier, nothing to break! And, more exercise. The new Briggs OHV engines are really nice...just as smooth and quiet as my Honda was, if not better.
If I was going to get a fancy mower I'd go for Honda brand mower with hydro drive or Toro brand with Honda motor.
Troybilt with Honda motor? Mine was falling apart around the engine after 4 years of TLC. Cheap hardware, cheap transmission (Replaced twice in 4 years with light duty use, $200 each time) but had a sweet engine. Didn't matter. Had to replace it and ended up getting the cheapo push mower with Briggs engine. Couldn't be happier, nothing to break! And, more exercise. The new Briggs OHV engines are really nice...just as smooth and quiet as my Honda was, if not better.
If I was going to get a fancy mower I'd go for Honda brand mower with hydro drive or Toro brand with Honda motor.
The most important question is, What type of motor oil are you going to use in it?
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
The most important question is, What type of motor oil are you going to use in it?
leftovers of any kind
The most important question is, What type of motor oil are you going to use in it?
leftovers of any kind
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Thanks for the advice. $400 is my max budget.
If you have a Northern Tool store nearby, this is the mower to get. Look for a $50 off coupon and it's the best deal going! Try discount code 186008 if ordering online.
Honda Mower
Thanks for the advice. $400 is my max budget.
If you have a Northern Tool store nearby, this is the mower to get. Look for a $50 off coupon and it's the best deal going! Try discount code 186008 if ordering online.
Honda Mower
My dad is wanting a new Toro if I am unable to get our Lawn Boy F series running. They cost about what you are wanting to spend.
Ill tell you what I told him: Get a nice used one on Craigslist for one third the cost. Those Yard Machines with the B&S engine on them are quite bullet proof. A nice self propelled with side discharge should be easy to find. The deck will be much more stout as well. The quality of the new stuff just doesn't impress me.
Ill tell you what I told him: Get a nice used one on Craigslist for one third the cost. Those Yard Machines with the B&S engine on them are quite bullet proof. A nice self propelled with side discharge should be easy to find. The deck will be much more stout as well. The quality of the new stuff just doesn't impress me.
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