Between these mowers....whixh to get?

[mcrn]

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Outdoo...51#.UC-146P2bmg

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Outdoo...51#.UC-2RqP2bmg

http://mowtownusa.3dcartstores.com/Husqv...r_p_204495.html


So its time for me to get a new mower. My yard is a mix of st augustine...bahia...and weeds. I like to mulch. All of these are around the same price. What do you guys think? I would like to get electric because I like to mow at night sometimes so this way I would not bother my neighbors but im concerned it will not have enough power to get through my yard. My current old snapper bogs down and dies through part of my yard. TIA

 

[wallyuwl]

The electric won't have enough power. We had a 24 volt and it was seriously short on power and could only run a half hour before needing to be charged again. A 36 won't be a lot better.

See if you can find reviews on the Husqv. related to mulching ability. I've seen good things about the Hondas ability to mulch because of its two blade design.

Do yourself a favor and look for a mower with the blade stop feature where only the blade stops when you release the handle and now the engine as well. It is great.

 

[SF0059]

Electrics are a joke, so eliminate that one.

I own a Husqvarna and my dad owns a Honda. Both are excellent machines have not given us any trouble. At the end of the day it comes down to what you want to do with it. The Husqvarna has a better side discharge, so if you are not bagging or mulching that might be your choice. The Honda is better at mulching due to its blade design, but when switched to discharge it tends to clog.

If you are bagging, then either will be a fine choice and give you excellent service.

 

[bepperb]

FWIW the Honda's are really quiet. My two mowers are both Briggs and I do like them, but if the lower volume makes a difference to you then go with a Honda engine.

I'm not sure how big your lawn is, but if your gas mower now is bogging that's probably not a great idea. And mulching is a lot harder, if you could side discharge you might get away with it.

 

[Errtt]

2 of my co-workers had bought and tried electric and both were very disappointed.
Had one of my kids mowed the lawns this morning with my Honda HRX and it just runs swell, like the day I bought it.
A friend uses the Husqvarna and he's happy with it.

 

[123Saab]

My mother in law mowes about half an acre with a Neuton Electric and loves it. I tried it and it is a nice mower.

Myself I have a Husqvarna and I am very happy with it.

 

[01rangerxl]

Of those three, the Honda hands down. The decks get dented easily, but otherwise it's higher quality than a consumer grade Husqvarna. Forget that Black & Decker electric thing.

I'd rather have a Toro or Lawn Boy personally.

 

[yeehaw1960]

Always see electrics for sale around here second hand. Probably because they work so well, folks want others to experience it. NOT!

The Husqvarna is a good mower if you're not working with a tough yard. If it was $100 cheaper, I'd say to get it.

The Honda is far and away the superior mower. If it has the 160 engine on it, you're dealing with the bottom of the line Honda engine though. While most of it's parts are far superior to their Chonda cousins, the carbs still need you to be meticulous about what fuel you put in them, what you treat your fuel with, and how they're stored in the winter. Honda carbs can be finicky and clog easily. Blame the EPA.

Toros, Ariens or Honda models that are three or better up from the bottom of the line are mowers that could conceivably last the rest of your life for 2 to 3 hundred more dollars. Lot of money, but last and last and last.

Is Ariens still good guys? I haven't kept track if some junky company has bought them yet.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: yeehaw1960

Is Ariens still good guys? I haven't kept track if some junky company has bought them yet.

Commercial Ariens is great, and still made by Ariens.

Consumer Ariens sold at big box stores is made by AYP/Husqvarna. It's okay, but lower end.

 

[mcrn]

Ok great info guys! I appreciate it! Sounds like the honda is the way to go. What kind of fuel should be used in the hondas? I have access to ethanol free fuel if thats the issue?

 

[Nukeman7]

Yes! Always use ethanol free pure gas in outdoor power equipment if available. It is important for 4 cycle engines like the Honda mower to minimize carburetor gumming issues and critical for 2 cycle engines. It is worth the difference in price to eliminate or minimize potential problems.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: mcrn
My current old snapper bogs down and dies through part of my yard. TIA

There is a fix for that...

This thing snickers at grass that caused the original B&S engine to die from fright...

 

[dwcopple]

Please go check your local Honda dealership before buying from HD. They will often have couple year old leftover models that are much higher end than that one for the same price or lower. The one I worked at always had leftover mowers and Honda gave MASSIVE discounts to move old stock. These were the GOOD mowers with the plasticized decks too.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
Please go check your local Honda dealership before buying from HD. They will often have couple year old leftover models that are much higher end than that one for the same price or lower. The one I worked at always had leftover mowers and Honda gave MASSIVE discounts to move old stock. These were the GOOD mowers with the plasticized decks too.


The plastic Nexite (or whatever it's called) decks are tough as nails compared to the paper thin steel decks, and normally I do not like plastic on OPE! I just used an 18 year old plastic deck Honda earlier this week...always starts on the first pull and cuts well. It needs new wheels and a transmission cable bad, but is still usable and reliable. Oh and it hasn't had a real air filter for years, just the remains of the prefilter.

The main downside to any Honda mower is the weaker crank compared to a Briggs or Kohler engine. They are more prone to getting bent on stumps and rocks. If you don't hit things with it, a Honda mower can easily last 20 years.

 

[96Cherokee]

If I had to pick between them 3,,,,electric is a no go for sure.

I would buy the Husky, I like orange.

But I cant see paying $400 for a push mower. I have a Briggs $ Stratton I bought in 1993 still running. I had to replace the big rear wheels last year and replaced the diaphragm on the carb but runs good to this day. I payed about $100 when new, it's not self propelled.

 

[Spazdog]

Part was mowed with a bottom of the line 6 year old MTD Troy-Bilt. Part was mowed with a $500 7 year old Honda.

Yeah, it is a little crispy but it is August and one of us is observing the watering restrictions

Either way, I would avoid the electric. It's cost prohibitive. That much money is into Ariens powered by Kohler price.

Just take care of your mower and it will take care of your lawn. Keep the blade sharp, don't run over stuff you shouldn't, and change the oil and air filter regularly.

 

[123Saab]

Originally Posted By: SF0059
Electrics are a joke, so eliminate that one.



[censored].

Electrics are as good as gas mowers.

You just need to plan ahead when using a device that needs charging time.

Like cordless drills, what a crazy idea that was!

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Originally Posted By: SF0059
Electrics are a joke, so eliminate that one.



[censored].

Electrics are as good as gas mowers.

You just need to plan ahead when using a device that needs charging time.


Yeah that's why everyone has one... Not...

Originally Posted By: 123Saab



Like cordless drills, what a crazy idea that was!


Not a valid comparison, unlike a drill swapping batteries is generally a pain on electric mowers... I'd need probably three sets($$$) to cut my lawn...

 

[mcrn]

ok thank you guys! I ended up with the cheapest self propelled Honda....Got it at home depot and got a friend to buy it with his military discount $382 out the door. Just mulched my front yard and then rear discharged the back. Mower did very good. It did bog down a couple times but it was so much easier than I am used to! And the speed of this thing is great! Hard to keep up at times! The grass that was mulched is barely even visible. I am happy and thanks for the recommendation. What do you guys think about the extended warranty from home depot? its only $59 for 3 more years giving me 6 years total! I was also thinking of installing an inline fuel filter. Good idea? thanks again.

 

[mcrn]

Oh one more thing. This thing is so quiet its hard to believe! I think I could mow at night and not bother my neighbors. Did not think a little engine could be this quiet.