Two Mower Choices: Pros & Cons?

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Originally Posted By: SrDriver

This time of year there should be some good sale prices on them.

Another good point. I bought mine in late September from a Toro dealer, and the dealer was willing to move on the price.
 
Originally Posted By: whip
Originally Posted By: SrDriver

This time of year there should be some good sale prices on them.

Another good point. I bought mine in late September from a Toro dealer, and the dealer was willing to move on the price.


Yeah and if you wait a little longer it gets even better.

I got my Husqvarna HU600F for almost 40% off in the winter (Floor Model)

Ive been very happy with it it.
Tossed a Oregon Gator blade on it and G-Oil 10w-30.
 
Thanks guys for all the responses. It's really helped me make up my mind. I've decided to go with Lawn-Boy...the '91 Lawn-Boy I've been using for 10 years.
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After thinking about it and reading everyone's responses, I think I'd be doing just as well (if not better) with a 21 year old Lawn-Boy S21ZPR that will likely last just as long as the price point I'm looking at for a new one. To appease my wife's desires of getting a mower with a bagger, I found on Amazon a rear bagger kit designed for just about all staggered wheel, 21" Lawn-Boys:
Lawn Boy 89906 Staggered Wheel Lawn Mower Bag Kit
I fixed the gas leak this morning (fuel line cracked), I'll put a fresh coat of Lawn-Boy green paint, the bagger, some new wheels, and it should last as long as a new Lawn-Boy would. It runs great, doesn't smoke, and had a new ignition put in a couple of years ago. Heck, I might even start looking for some deals on Craigslist and buy another one for down the road!

Thanks again for everyone's input. BITOG comes through for me again!
 
The Kohler motor is junk. I know first hand. I got the larger of the Kohler motors, I think it's a 187cc perhaps.

The carb has components in it that are made of junk metal and even 100% gasoline will corrode them. Mine wouldn't start after the first winter. Needle was all pitted and corroded. Looked on line, very common problem. I sonicated it with cleaner and it worked one more mowing.

I finally took the junk OEM carb off, made a manifold, and bent some throttle linkages around, and now I have an OEM Honda CVT carb off an Elite150 scooter on it and it runs AWESOME!!

I just saw the Kohler motor on thas Husky mower deck and bought it. I always assumed that the Kohler was a Wisconsin engine. Made in USA. After I mowed with it twice, I saw the freakin' made in China stamp on the block. My Gosh was I upset.

Get the Honda engine.
 
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That S21 Lawn-Boy you have is 10x the mower either of the other two would have been. That aluminum deck will nearly last forever and the Lawn-Boy "F" engine is one durable motor. I mowed with one as a kid and really love that F engine burble. With the muffler under the deck like it is, it's not all that loud.
 
Pat, I'm glad you posted that about the bagger kit. I have a 94 silver series with the steel deck and the [censored] techumsah engine. I'm tired of dealing with the grass clippings everywhere and the deck shoot clogging anytime the grass is even damp. I may try that bag kit and see if it does any better as a bagger. I'm picking up an old craftsman bagger with a b&s that a buddy is giving me this week. I'll have to see which one I like better first. I'm partial to lawn boys, my dad had a rear bagger that he bought new in 83 and used up until a few years ago. I used to follow him around when i was a kid with my fisher price lawn mower, and then eventually moved up to the real thing when I was about 10:) If I can find the parts, I might try and restore it. I've had a hard time though, most of the stuff I find is for the ones with the offset wheels.
 
Originally Posted By: afoulk
Pat, I'm glad you posted that about the bagger kit. I have a 94 silver series with the steel deck and the [censored] techumsah engine. I'm tired of dealing with the grass clippings everywhere and the deck shoot clogging anytime the grass is even damp. I may try that bag kit and see if it does any better as a bagger. I'm picking up an old craftsman bagger with a b&s that a buddy is giving me this week. I'll have to see which one I like better first. I'm partial to lawn boys, my dad had a rear bagger that he bought new in 83 and used up until a few years ago. I used to follow him around when i was a kid with my fisher price lawn mower, and then eventually moved up to the real thing when I was about 10:) If I can find the parts, I might try and restore it. I've had a hard time though, most of the stuff I find is for the ones with the offset wheels.


I ended up not getting the new bag kit. After analyzing as many pics of it as I could find that were actually ON a mower, I was concerned the chute might not wrap around mine sufficiently. The housing where the gas tank is on mine seemed a bit larger and I had some concerns about it fitting properly.

So, I picked up an NOS side-discharge kit on ebay last night. I wasn't thrilled about the bag on the side, but it'll look old school!
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Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
That S21 Lawn-Boy you have is 10x the mower either of the other two would have been. That aluminum deck will nearly last forever and the Lawn-Boy "F" engine is one durable motor. I mowed with one as a kid and really love that F engine burble. With the muffler under the deck like it is, it's not all that loud.


Agreed on all counts! After I mowed the front yard yesterday, I just got to thinking how well it runs, doesn't smoke (must be the Amsoil!
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), and is overall in great shape. Lawn-Boy carries a lot of parts for them on their website too. Just decided to put some $$ into the one I have and it should last a good long life.
 
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Pat, can you post a pic of your lawn boy with the bag on it once you get it? I thought of going that route with mine before I knew about the rear bagging kit, but I have a lot of obstacles to mow around and was and afraid it would stick out to far and get in the road
 
Originally Posted By: afoulk
Pat, can you post a pic of your lawn boy with the bag on it once you get it? I thought of going that route with mine before I knew about the rear bagging kit, but I have a lot of obstacles to mow around and was and afraid it would stick out to far and get in the road


Can do! I got a notice that it shipped out today, so I should have it by mid-week. These things seem to be readily available on ebay, some used, some NOS.

I found two auctions that provide some pics. Here's the rear bag kit on a Silver Series: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lawn-Boy-Silver-...=item4d04380928

And here's an older one with the side bag like mine will have:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lawn-boy-Model-7...=item1c2a664df9
 
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Originally Posted By: afoulk
Pat, can you post a pic of your lawn boy with the bag on it once you get it? I thought of going that route with mine before I knew about the rear bagging kit, but I have a lot of obstacles to mow around and was and afraid it would stick out to far and get in the road


Here it is! Threw it on tonight and cut the front yard just about in the dark because, well, that's what we do.
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The bag was pretty full, but it didn't stall. Guess at that point it just acted as if I had the mulching plate on it.
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I havent bought a new mower in 19 yrs. Best so far are the aluminum deck Toros or Lawnboys. When I see a Toro or LB by the roadside , I at least check it out. Present Toro is a 20 yr old GTS with s Suzuki 4 stroke and a 3 speed BBC.
 
I still kick myself everytime I see a lawn-boy for turning my nose up at one at a yard sale for $20...they were begging me to take it too. I still have NO idea why I didn't.
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