what's so special about lawn boys?

[The motor guy]

I have a silver series lawnboy with the 4.5hp techumseh 4 stroke engine that's like 20 years old. I guess it's the 2 strokes that everyone likes? Runs great, but the self propel is super slow and it you have to add oil like every other time you mow. Always has since new and I think it's normal for these engines.

 

[bullwinkle]

It's the old ones, with the OMC engines (think Johnson & Evinrude outboards), as long as you add 2-stroke oil, they're almost impossible to kill.

 

[Leo99]

If it's lasted 20 years, it's a good machine.

 

[spk2000]

Tecumseh engines were a better snowblower motor than a lawnmower. They tended to overheat and normally had shorter lifespan than comparable competitors. 20 years though sounds like you did pretty good.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: spk2000
Tecumseh engines were a better snowblower motor than a lawnmower. They tended to overheat and normally had shorter lifespan than comparable competitors. 20 years though sounds like you did pretty good.


It hasn't been used much for the last 10 years, other than just running it to keep it running.

 

[Tdbo]

There is nothing remarkable about the 4 cycles
They are just average grade mowers.
The 2 cycles are the special units.
I have a 1979 and a 1983 that are still running, plus I have one of the final 2 cycles that I bought new.
They just keep going. Plus, the oil never has to be changed in them.

 

[JustinH]

I've really never had an engine go bad in a lawnmower. It is the rest of the mower that usually falls apart.

My briggs self propelled Deere has been fantastic. I give it 20 ounces of fresh diesel motor oil every year, and it doesn't burn a drop. 5w40 or 15w40 whatever is on sale. Always a fresh air filter and a sharp blade as well.

Starts on the third pull almost every time lol.

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
There is nothing remarkable about the 4 cycles
They are just average grade mowers.
The 2 cycles are the special units.
I have a 1979 and a 1983 that are still running, plus I have one of the final 2 cycles that I bought new.
They just keep going. Plus, the oil never has to be changed in them.


Do any of you guys know what year they stopped making them good or are all the 2 strokes prized even the newest years available?

 

[dblshock]

I have a '74 2 stroke self propelled..use it regular to trim for the Deere rider.

 

[skyactiv]

I bought a new Lawn-Boy two-stroke push mower back in 2002. I think 2004 was the last year for the two-stroke. I had the carb replaced under warranty and the coil went out. It's been a very good mower. It has a lot of power to mulch tall, thick fast growing Kentucky Blue grass in the spring. I had a Toro push mower before it with a B&S 5 HP engine that would stall trying to cut shorter grass.

The biggest difference to me?
The staggered front wheels allows me to get the blade closer to objects making my string trimming less work.

 

[BigD1]

Don't forget the magnesium decks.

 

[dlundblad]

I have a 6.5 horse Duraforce that was made in 2002 IIRC. I also have a mid 80s "commercial" mower (engine guard, orange wheels, kill switch and 1 gal fuel tank) as well as an early 90s model with the F series engine. They've been good machines.

 

[fdcg27]

Tecumsehs are good engines that'll last a long time although you may see some oil consumption after many hours of use. I have.
The old two stroke LBs were an entirely different proposition.
I had one and it was notable for its quietness as well as its ability to go through the tallest, thickest grass without bogging down.
No oil to change was a plus, or maybe that'd be a minus here.

 

[mjoekingz28]

I dont know about your oil loss- maybe a clean air filter could help/ or maybe it has been run far too long with a dirty filter...

As for the prop speed- I had a 2009 or so green 4 cycle and it went to the local shop and apparently came back faster- I dont know if they replaced the cable, adjusted it, or what?

Edit: if I recall correctly, it is a RWD model......if that helps!?!

 

[03cvpi]

I bought a new commercial 2 stroke in 1978 and it still runs great. Gets a new plug every few years. It will need new wheels in the next few years. Otherwise the only thing that ever broke on it was the recoil cord guide up at the handle. If it dies I'll try to find a newer 2 stroke.

 

[NH73]

Those smokey old machines. Smoke can out of the catcher bag, which the operator was next to. You can keep those old LB 2 cycles.

 

[jhellwig]

Originally Posted By: NH73
Those smokey old machines. Smoke can out of the catcher bag, which the operator was next to. You can keep those old LB 2 cycles.


I have a Deere push mower that has a lawnboy engine on it. The comparable lawnboy models exhausted under the deck but this one exhausts up above pointed to the front.

The deere is the first two stroke lawnboy engine I have ever had experience with. I bought it not running and only had to clean out the carb with spray to get it working again and replace the air cleaner. It starts up without much fuss. The only thing I don't like is that it is a heavy clunker to push around.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: NH73
Those smokey old machines. Smoke can out of the catcher bag, which the operator was next to. You can keep those old LB 2 cycles.


They aren't very smokey with modern 2cycle oil at modern mix ratio.

Some 2 cycle oil makes your eyes burn.. others you cant hardly tell it has an exhaust.

 

[WellOiled]

I had a 2 stroke Lawn Boy. 21" cut, good mulching performance, good bagging performance, light weight, very maneuverable, easy to push and maintain. EPA killed it. I put a short block in this one. I gave it up when I could not get wheels for it.

The Tecumseh powered ones were junk.

Briggs or Kohler powered are much better than the Tecumseh powered ones but definitely not as good as the 2 stroke ones.

If I could find a new 2 stroke today I would snap it up in 2 seconds dollar for dollar on the 4 strokes.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: spk2000
Tecumseh engines were a better snowblower motor than a lawnmower. They tended to overheat and normally had shorter lifespan than comparable competitors. 20 years though sounds like you did pretty good.
I ran one for about 20 years, regular changes with 20w 50 kept it going I suspect.