It has been a long time-Need mower advise

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
My 1966 Lawn Boy has finally said enough is enough. I would say I got my monies worth out of it. Sounds crazy, but I am going to clean it up and mount it on the garage wall for good memories. It has cut grass from Texas to Wisconsin and then some. I've had that mower longer than I've had my wife so it's kind of part of the family, if you can get attached to a piece of machinery.


OT, but head over to mytractorforum.com and look in the walk-behind section. Tons of L-B fanatics in there who would love to help you restore your old 'Boy, if you wanted to keep it running. I'm a fellow L-B fan, and those old ones are real gems.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Some people seem to like them [Honda] though.


Those of us who like the Honda mowers probably like them for the same reason as Ford people like Fords and Chevy people like Chevys: we've had good experience with them.

Frankly, of the three major OPE engine makers (Honda, B&S, Tecumseh), the Hondas have been the only ones that I have NOT had to clean out the carburetor or fight a cold start problem. Even without a primer bulb and with just a choke, the Hondas always start easily and without fuss, for me. I'm a pro at cleaning the little pinhole jet out of Tecumseh carbs and I've had to replace a few B&S Quantum carburetors because they never would run right.

 

[01rangerxl]

Of those two choices, I would go with the Snapper.

Hondas are reliable when well cared for and used gently, but any rough use or abuse can cause major problems with them. Typically when you have a blade impact with a B&S engine, the crankshaft key will just shear. A new key usually fixes it. With Hondas, the crankshaft will bend. The company I work for services mowers by the thousands during the summer, and we definitely get far more Hondas with bent cranks than B&S or Kohler engines. I always keep Honda crankshafts in stock for this reason. As others mentioned, they are also somewhat prone to carburetor problems. They like clean, fresh fuel.

Another thing I don't like about Hondas is the thickness of the decks. They are very prone to getting dented and bent. We have actually replaced entire decks on Hondas before. We just don't see that with other brands, like Toro, who use thicker metal.

If you have a nice yard without many things that can damage the mower, if you take really good care of it, and don't treat it like a Bush Hog, the Honda will probably provide years of reliable service. If you want a mower you can beat on, put nasty gas in, and abuse...get something Briggs powered.

 

[boraticus]

If the pilot jet on the Honda is too small, why not open it up a bit with very fine file/cleaner used to clean out oxy-acetylene cutting/welding torches. I'm certain that it would only take a very little enlargement to get the desired result.

Hey Johnny: Is your old Lawn Boy broken? Won't start/run or runs poorly?

 

[meep]

One of the best brand-vs-brand threads I've read here in a while.

I've had two honda mowers. treated well they are great machines. consistent, reliable. don't like wet grass. clean cut if maintained. thrifty on fuel, but really need an inline filter as the carb will clog if the fuel has dirt in it.

I can't specifically compare, but in general think the crank-strength comments are likely right-on. The honda is a lightweight machine, AND it's slinging dual blades (perhaps a single-blade mod would reduce crank stress when a stump immediately stops all that mass?). I like the briggs upper-end engines (vanguards, etc.) but am not a fan of their entry-level offerings-- prefer the hondas there.

Pay attention to self-drive ergonomics. The honda variable speed twist grip is adjustable but not for everyone. I prefer a squeeze bar.

M

 

[occity79]

Johnny;

I have a Honda HRB216TDA (2002)love it since I adjusted the carb. Engine and Deck (zenoy) were my main factors as I hate rusty decks. My advise is to avoid the BBC go with zone start, and get a geared transmission, not Hydro, mine has a geared trans and it was semi-easy to take it apart for new grease and cleaning the gears.

You will have a super lean carb no matter the brand, this could be a headache with clogging from fine dirt in the fuel. (Wire gauge drills can help correct this). Honda has quality Keihn metal carb, or used to.

I do not know how well the new Honda autochokes work, I like my manual choke. Sucks the 2 stroke mowers ae no longer made, I'm a 2 stroke person with everthing except the mower.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: boraticus

Hey Johnny: Is your old Lawn Boy broken? Won't start/run or runs poorly?


It's running now (thanks for the carb tip) but it is getting tired. They tend to do that after 45 years of mowing. I know if I searched long enough I could find all the necessary parts to give it an overhaul, but to tell the truth, I'm getting tired of pushing a mower. Something that is self propelled or a small rider is in my future.

 

[Oldwolf]

I have a Snapper that I bought in 1998. It has a 6HP B&S 12J800 Diamond I/C cast iron sleeved engine in it. I've not had any major problems with it.

Last year I had to replace the ignition coil on it and rebuild the carburetor. Also, it is self propelled and two years ago I replaced the friction disc.

Sometimes upon start up I get a puff of smoke, so I guess one of these years I may need to rebuild the engine. It runs with a lot of power, so no hurry on the rebuild I guess.

I used Mobil 1 5w30 in it for may years w/o issue. I recently switched to Mobil 1 0W40 since I use that grade in my vehicles.

Consumer Reports doesn't rate Snapper real high for some reason. I like mine though and they seem to be very durable.

Still, I do lust after those big zero radius turning mowers that Craftsman sells for $1K+ or so. Definitely an overkill for my little yard.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: boraticus
If the pilot jet on the Honda is too small, why not open it up a bit with very fine file/cleaner used to clean out oxy-acetylene cutting/welding torches. I'm certain that it would only take a very little enlargement to get the desired result.



Because that would cause it to run rich. It has to be the correct size to run right.

 

[boraticus]

Originally Posted By: hate2work
Originally Posted By: boraticus
If the pilot jet on the Honda is too small, why not open it up a bit with very fine file/cleaner used to clean out oxy-acetylene cutting/welding torches. I'm certain that it would only take a very little enlargement to get the desired result.



Because that would cause it to run rich. It has to be the correct size to run right.


How do you know it will run rich?

Nobody said to run a 1/16" drill bit through the jet.

Take a cleaner that fits the jet and give it a couple strokes. Put it back together and see what happens. Chances are it will be right on. This isn't new stuff. People have been doing this with the Toro/LB R-tec engines for years.

 

[quietriot]

Honda for the engine, but snapper for the mower, snapper has an amazing mulching system, but im a discharge guy

 

[Johnny]

Well, I did it this morning. Thanks to some good information in PM's with 660mag, I went to my local Honda dealer and purchased the HRX217K2HXA. It will be delivered this afternoon.

Now all I have to do is wait on the snow to melt in the backyard, fertilize, and wait until May 1.

Thanks for all the input to everyone.

 

[Papa Bear]

Johnny, how are you going to "fix" the small jet in the Honda that 660 mentioned? He seemed to prefer the Snapper as I read it.
My LB is coming up on it's 22nd year, it needs wheels again and axle bolts. Engine still has good compression but a self propelled unit is looking more inviting as I get older...

 

[Johnny]

Well, if mine runs like the demo unit I operated this morning, it did not have any idling/running issues, but if it does I will just have another cup of coffee, push the throttle forward and start mowing. I'm not touching the carb for at least 5-years while it is under warranty.

I also like the Snapper mowers and the Snapper drive system, I don't like the idea of only being able to get a Briggs motor since Briggs now owns Snapper. If I could have gotten a hivac Snapper with the 190cc Honda engine, that would of been what I purchased. I actually paid less for the Honda than the equivalent Snapper would have cost.

If I can figure out how to retrofit one of the 160cc Honda engines to my old Lawn Boy deck, I might do that before the summer is over

 

[660mag]

Most of the blocked low speed jets are not from gummy fuel but debris. The b and s replacement pn 4101 will fit somewhat, but the honda filter is a little tighter fitting. I like to use a little grease (1 gram) on the back side of the filter foam to help keep anything from sneaking by.
I don't mean to be negative Nancy but honda's warranty does not cover clogged jets form old fuel or debris. However if you raise [censored] long enough the oem will sometimes foot the bill. It's not like the jet thing happens all the time. Just more often than the briggs.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
If I can figure out how to retrofit one of the 160cc Honda engines to my old Lawn Boy deck, I might do that before the summer is over


Johnny, check your PM. I put a Honda GCV160 on a L-B staggered wheel deck.