Mower recommendation

[F6Hawk]

Hello all, and thanks for such a great forum! I spent hours last night reading after I found it.

I am needing (ok, strongly wanting) a new mower. Currently have a Wal-Mart special, SP with rear bag type. I am leaning towards a commercial 2-cycle model, like the Toro series, but WOW! what a price jump! Bear in mind, I am only mowing my own lawn here, no commercial work or anything. But I don't mind so much paying more $$$ for something that will perhaps be the last mower I buy, I just don't want to break the bank with it. I am going to a local Toro dealer today, I have heard their commercial mower is around $1,100 or so. Kinda hurts the head to think I could buy a rider at that price (and lose all that exercise?).

Advice on brands/models? Not a large lot, in the city, I think it around 12k sq ft total.

Also, (don't throw stones, please fellas, I know youz are pros, is why I am asking) I have this handy Weed Eater brand string trimmer that flips 180 degrees and can be a string edger. Still running ok, but will probably be replacing it this fall. Recommendations here? I see most prefer a straight shaft, though not sure why. I am vertically challenged at 5'5", and the one or three straight shafts I have used in the past seemed too long for me.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[NickN]

I'd recommend looking at the Cub 21" with castor wheels at Lowes.Around $500.Comes with bagger,discharge shute,and mulching blocker.I've used one all season for trimming and areas I can't or won't take the ZTR with no trouble.
I like it most because I can turn it with one hand instead of having to lift the front to turn.Cuts great too.

[Rtom45]

If I'm not mistaken, Toro also makes Lawn Boy. There's a nice self propelled series under either name that sells for about $350 to $400.

[ElephantNest]

Lawn Boy would be ok, also, Honda make some great mowers for under $500.00. I'd get another Honda before I got another Lawn Boy.

[CookTractor]

Husqvarna has a nice 21" mower thats starts for $249

[F6Hawk]

Wow, all kinds of choices!

The Toro I looked at today is one of the Proline series, 21" Commercial, 2 cycle. Not sure about the overall quality, but I like the idea of having an aluminum deck, and the BBC (Blade Brake CLucth?) is nice feature. Only thing I did not like about it (without having used it, bear in mind) is that it is not a variable speed SP, like thier cheaper line. One set the speed (1-3), and that is all you get.

I really like the one-handed bag feature, and there is no starter rope to get in the way on the handle, it remains on top of the engine.

Besides "mowing on the side of a hill", what, if any are the advantages of a 2-cycle vs. a 4-cycle mower? (well, that, and only having one can of gas in the garage, I mean?) I read on here lst night that a lawnboy (assumed it was a 2-cycle one) went for 8 hours on one tank of gas.... seems like a lot of running time to me; I thought 2-cycle used MORE gas than 4-cycle?

Thanks again for the input, I appreciate all the help!

[dvmcmrhp52]

Here's my 2 cents worth.............
If I were to quit cutting lawns tommorow and never cut a lawn other than my own I would still never buy homeowner equipment ever again.
I'll buy quality and spend my remaining years with it.
With that said,and if your bank account is O.K. with it, buy a commercial 21" mower and a Stihl (or equivelant) straight shaft trimmer and maintain them well. You will be set for a good long time.
I'm 5'7" and would not use a straight shaft trimmer for the same reasons you stated...........use one for a period of time and you will find that a curved shaft trimmer is nothing but chiropractor bills waiting come...............Just my opinion.

[F6Hawk]

Originally posted by dvmcmrhp52
I'll buy quality and spend my remaining years with it.
With that said,and if your bank account is O.K. with it, buy a commercial 21" mower and a Stihl (or equivelant) straight shaft trimmer and maintain them well. You will be set for a good long time.

Always a smart choice to buy quality, if the bank can handle it, eh? The local dealer has Toro, Stihl, and Echo. One Toro with a Suzuki 2-cycle engine, the other a Honda 4-cycle. Both commercial models, both aluminum decks, both 5.5 HP. Which would YOU prefer?

Also, with regard the trimmer, Stihl or Echo? The echo model has one that I can use a string attachment & an edger with. Pricey, at $259 + $70ish for the trimeer, and $90ish for the edger, but versatile. But is this a good choice?


I'm 5'7" and would not use a straight shaft trimmer for the same reasons you stated...........use one for a period of time and you will find that a curved shaft trimmer is nothing but chiropractor bills waiting come...............Just my opinion.

You lost me here.... you WOULD use straight, or you would NOT use straight? Kinda cornfused me!

[F6Hawk]

Ok, after visiting a couple of local commercial dealers, here is what I have narrowed it down to:

Mowers:

1) Exmark M216KASPC - 21", 6HP Kawasaki, regular fuel, aluminum deck, BBC. Basically, the same model as a Toro commercial. $1,069

2) Toro SP w/BBC - 21" SP, 2-cycle 5.5HP Suzuki engine, last year's model left on the floor. $999


Trimmers:

1) Stihl KM55 - $219.99 Homeowner model, with changeable heads, trimmer $99, edger $99.

2) Stihl KM85 - $359.95, Pro model, takes same attachments as above. Slightly smaller engine (25 vs. 27 cc), but it has a bit more power, and (I assume) a better-built engine, since it is a commercial model.

3) Echo PAS-260 - $259.99, trimmmer attachment is $100, edger is $80.


So waht do ye recommend, out there in professional land? I know that a swappable-head model is probably NOT the choice of most commercial users, but bear in mind that I am just a homeowner, probably never use the trimmer/powerhead more than once per week (or less). Is Echo as good as Stihl? Better? What would YOU add to your arsenal?

I was told by one of the dealers that Toro makes the Exmark 21" mower, but that they make their OWN mowers over the 21" size. Believable, after looking at both of them. This years' Toro has the 5.5HP Honda engine, but they wanted $1,099 for it.

Opinoins welcomed, let me know what YOU'D buy given these choices.

Thanks!
F6

[jsmonroeCT]

Go with the exmark mower - more hp and its a 4 cycle engine.

The Stihl trimmers are great. I have a FS80 and it has an unreal amount of power. I'm a homeowner but I believe what dvmcmrhp52 said - buy the best you can afford. But the commercial stihl. Just remember - a bigger engine means more weight. Good luck.

[F6Hawk]

Why do you prefer a 4-cycle over a 2-cycle?

And as for the Stihl engine, the larger commercial model actually has a smaller engine. The KM85RC has a 27.2 cc engine @ 1.01 bhp, and the KM85R has a 25.4 cc engine @ 1.27 bhp.

Originally posted by jsmonroeCT
Go with the exmark mower - more hp and its a 4 cycle engine.

The Stihl trimmers are great. I have a FS80 and it has an unreal amount of power. I'm a homeowner but I believe what dvmcmrhp52 said - buy the best you can afford. But the commercial stihl. Just remember - a bigger engine means more weight. Good luck.

[J.Gordon]

I maybe behind the times nowadays but I wouldn’t trade my Lawn boy 2-cycle push-mower for a 4-stoke any day! It starts first pull every time and they last for years. I mow some very steep slopes with it and would be afraid of oil starvation with the 4-strokes. The only thing I don’t like about the Lawn boy is the offset wheel. I have always wanted a Toro 2-cycle but couldn’t justify paying a grand or one when I can buy a good used commercial walk behind for about the same price. I am also a homeowner that does commercial mowing on the side. I try not to ever use my Lawn boy, but have to some times. A lot of different reasons to buy the best even for a homeowner and for me it would be the amount of time I save with quality equipment. I have an old Echo curved shaft trimmer that I have used for about 6 years and it still is going strong. About a year ago I purchased a 260 Echo trimmer from a dealer and I saved about an hour of trimming just in the front of my house! It may weigh more but I am not packing around as long. I will probably switch to RedMax when I purchase my next handheld trimmer because I have found a good dealer and my RedMax blower is awesome. When it comes to the handheld equipment I wouldn’t say any brand is that much better than the other, just buy commercial and get a good dealer that will stand behind his equipment!

Jeff

[theweedman]

hey, check into honda's, i have one... its been a good mower so far. i got one from home depot. the hrx217tda, for around $500. honestly, it has been excellent so far this season.,. it mulches well, bags well. i would think this is would be an excellent mower for home use.
Originally posted by F6Hawk
Hello all, and thanks for such a great forum! I spent hours last night reading after I found it.

I am needing (ok, strongly wanting) a new mower. Currently have a Wal-Mart special, SP with rear bag type. I am leaning towards a commercial 2-cycle model, like the Toro series, but WOW! what a price jump! Bear in mind, I am only mowing my own lawn here, no commercial work or anything. But I don't mind so much paying more $$$ for something that will perhaps be the last mower I buy, I just don't want to break the bank with it. I am going to a local Toro dealer today, I have heard their commercial mower is around $1,100 or so. Kinda hurts the head to think I could buy a rider at that price (and lose all that exercise?).

Advice on brands/models? Not a large lot, in the city, I think it around 12k sq ft total.

Also, (don't throw stones, please fellas, I know youz are pros, is why I am asking) I have this handy Weed Eater brand string trimmer that flips 180 degrees and can be a string edger. Still running ok, but will probably be replacing it this fall. Recommendations here? I see most prefer a straight shaft, though not sure why. I am vertically challenged at 5'5", and the one or three straight shafts I have used in the past seemed too long for me.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[dwost]

Here's what I used to have till I upgraded to a full blown commercial WB. Awesome mower and would buy another one in a minute if the need arises. Paid about $550 6 years ago. Definite commercial quality on everything except the engine (mine had a 6.5 Tecumseh). I personally never had any issues with it being used for residential. They do offer a commercial version (~$1,000) with a commercial briggs or Honda engine.

I'd look at the Honda powered version for this model Here's the link http://www.ariens.com/lawn_products/walk_behind_mowers/lm_21_sw_deluxe/