New - Buying a personal mower, recommendations? $400 budget

[keith204]

When going to the hardware stores tomorrow, what should I look for in a personal mower for a 1/4 acre yard?

I'd like to stick around $400. A priority will be that it's fun to operate and cuts clean. 21" or so.

Any ideas on well-rated models? I'm just starting out.

[willider]

http://www.bolens.ca/bolens/product.asp?id=2643&type=2

[DJL50]

I have been a fan of Toro mowers. Parts are not cheap but have never waited more than two days for a part on a 18 year old mower.
When looking at brand name mowers you will most likely find that dealers are priced the same as a stand alone store. I find that dealers will toss in a set of blades or the like to sweeten the deal.
As far as engines go I have noticed Other brands poping up in stores. Like Ryobi or Homelite at Home Depot or a no name brand. They are "Honda copy" engines from China and parts may not be available. Not sure but bet they would be hard to get.
Stick with a Briggs and Stratton, Honda, Kawasaki, Kohler and the like.

[betmr]

If you want a mower that will last really long, I would say The Toro Super Recycler. It is a 3 way machine with excellent mulching ability, Side discharge, Rear bag, or Mulch. It may cost a bit more, but it will last. 5 year warranty, Commercial grade. I'm a Groundskeeper and all my 21s are Toro's.

At home I have this machine. There is one thing about mine I do not care for. I bought the one with what they call the "Personal Pace", drive system. I wish I had gotten one with the regular old rear wheel drive, pull the lever and it goes. This one, the more you push the faster it goes, trouble is, sometimes when I go to pull back on it, the drive doesn't disengage all the way. I would suggest the one that you pull the lever up and it goes, let go, and it goes to free wheel, You know what I mean ?

Anyway, that's my thought on it.

[STIHL GUY]

I would check out Toros line of residential mowers

[cgaengineer]

I would check out Toros line of residential mowers

Are they not using the Tecumseh anymore?

[TomberLawn]

A Toro or Lawn-Boy will be good. The Lawn-Boys are actually made by or designed by Toro, so they are basically the same. The Sens-a-Speed or Personal Pace drive system is effortless to use.

[Mowingman]

Tec. is bankrupt and out of business.


Are they not using the Tecumseh anymore?

[Mowingman]

Forget the Bolens. They are another of the MTD brand names and are the junkiest of the junk, right along with Troybilt and Cub Cadet.


http://www.bolens.ca/bolens/product.asp?id=2643&type=2

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

Toro Super Recycler....but it may be just a little over your budget. Great machine, effortless to use. Also, the Lawn Boy sens a speed, look into that one.

[newz7151]

A Toro or Lawn-Boy will be good. The Lawn-Boys are actually made by or designed by Toro, so they are basically the same. The Sens-a-Speed or Personal Pace drive system is effortless to use.

re:Lawnboy - He may as well buy the Bolens at Lowes or Home Depot.

The Lawn-Boy lineup is now a Home Depot exclusive line and has been redesigned for that price point and is no longer available for purchases from dealers. Parts and service are still handled through Toro dealers.

[browng]

Toro for sure. I bought a 21" Toro with the 5.5hp GTS engine 17 years ago and it has never been in the shop and starts first pull every time. I purchases a ZTR last year and so the Toro had been sitting for a year without ever being used. I sold my ZTR and had to break out the Toro after sitting, I put some gas in it and it started right up on the first pull. I paid $675 for it 17 years ago and it was worth every penny.

[keith204]

thanks for all your help. I have finally found a place about 40 minutes away that has a Toro SR4 Super Recycler 20092 in stock for $529. I'll head down and get it tomorrow.

Thanks again.

[betmr]

That's the model I have at home, it's a great mower. Just be mindful of what I mentioned about the drive system.

[keith204]

That's the model I have at home, it's a great mower. Just be mindful of what I mentioned about the drive system.

Yes, definitely. After some research between the Toro VS Lawn Boy auto-drive, most Toro owners said they've had great luck with the Toro going/stopping as expected, and most LB owners said they had problems stopping and backing up)

Can't wait. Though a little over-budget, I think the Super Recycler will be a good choice. I read a little bit about bagging vs mulching, and apparently mulching is what I need to focus on.

My lawn is spotty right now, can't wait to clean it up, figure out something for helping it grow, etc. Maybe that's another topic :)

Man you guys are good. This is one intense forum with a lot of good content. Thanks a bunch, you saved me from making a mistake at Home Depot or Wal-Mart!

[Greg G]

Features to consider:

Front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive
Variable speed drive
Rear bagger or side discharge/ mulching capability
Larger rear wheels
Height adjuster levers

[1141520]

I currently have a Toro Recycler (Home Depot) and just picked up a new account where the small walk behind has to be used. What I have found out is this mower seems to struggle pulling the hills with the bag even half full. Cuts great bagging or mulching, but it will work you to death, seems to be too much of me pushing the mower instead of it pulling itself. Not sure if I have a lemon or it's just that weak, maybe I'm asking too much of it to pull the hills better?

[cutterschoice24]

I would have to say the honda harmony is a great choice I have two of them and they work great plus they come with the bagger so you can mulch or bag even 1/2 and 1/2 if you want too can't go wrong with the honda very good mower for the price you want to spend

[newz7151]

thanks for all your help. I have finally found a place about 40 minutes away that has a Toro SR4 Super Recycler 20092 in stock for $529. I'll head down and get it tomorrow.

Thanks again.

http://www.toro.com/home/promotion/nopay_12months.html

Apply for your Toro card online, take the information in to a participating dealer, and you SHOULD be able to get the 12 month NPDI program. This one costs the dealer 2% of the sale, but I guess it depends on how they look at it if they try to add it on to the price or not.

[newz7151]

I currently have a Toro Recycler (Home Depot) and just picked up a new account where the small walk behind has to be used. What I have found out is this mower seems to struggle pulling the hills with the bag even half full. Cuts great bagging or mulching, but it will work you to death, seems to be too much of me pushing the mower instead of it pulling itself. Not sure if I have a lemon or it's just that weak, maybe I'm asking too much of it to pull the hills better?

The SR4 Super Recyclers and Supper Baggers are not available through Home Cheapo, they are only available through an authorized Toro dealer. They are a different design, have a different deck system, have different wheels, a different transmission (improved for 2009 models) and greasable height adjusters. The regular Toro Recycler, while better than an MTD "different color only" mower, is still the entry level, "price point" Toro and likely will not perform to a "commercial" mowing outfits expectations.

[keith204]

I bought a Toro Super Recycler SR4 20092 for the typical $529 at Nixa Hardware in Nixa, Missouri. It is the model with the Personal Pace, Easy Start, etc...and does *not* have the blade override system.

This has a 2-pull start guarantee for 5 years...they must be pretty confident!

Get this: I drove a Yaris to get it (about 1 1/2 hours away) and didn't have them put gas OR oil in it so our car didn't stink up on the way home. Pulled it out of the car, added gas & oil, and it STARTED THE FIRST PULL! It was BONE dry 10 seconds before!

The personal pace system is unbelievable as well.

Thanks for the great advice guys, I'm pumped and thrilled to mow.