Mine seems terrible.
I moved to this place in 2004. I had a 4 year old Yard Machines 4 HP. There is just over half an acre to do and I mow about once a week in the warm months.
That mower lasted until the cam broke! I bought some $140 mower, I cant recall the name. I had it 2 years and "found" a horseshoe in some 10" grass. That bent the crank and made mowing a hand numbing experience due to the crazy vibration. In 2008 or so, I bought my Toro 6.5 HP unit. It is now rattling apart and ready to blow up.
Yes, I DO have oil in it.
How much do you have to pay to get a good push-behind, self propelled mower?
I Googled Lawn mowers and spotted Consumer Reports, Popular Mechanics and a few other sites with comparisons and ratings...Lots of info to digest.

 

Me and my friend who runs a lawn mowing business, we talk about this stuff alot.
Rules are dont get a Cub-Cadet, chraftsman, and John Deer. They break too fast. I have a cub-cadet and a chraftsman. The chraftsman doesnt run anymore. The cub-cadets belt flies out once every ten minutes.
For what you're looking for, a push behind lawn mower, i would probably get a Honda. I had one when I still lived overseas, and it never broke. It had this thing that you dont even had to push it. It's engine also powered its wheels.

Something like this:
http://www.hondalawnparts.com/Public...entMedia/31147

 

Thank you. I have asked this question other places as well and Honda has been getting good feedback. I may have to buy my first Honda...

 

Get the Honda and try and get gas without Ethanol. If not use an additive

 

I remember the one I had. The only thing I dissagreed with was the size of the bag, which was probably because I mowed way more than that little push behind could handle. lol!
The thing never broke down, easy to sharpen blades and clean. And the fact that I didnt have to push it was great. 8 year olds could use it.

 

Get you one of these to mow your grass!

 

Haha, bet that thing flies!

 

At 47 I still am capable of pushing a mower around!
When I bought this mower, I said that my NEXT mower would be a riding mower. Now I am REthinking that course of action. The economy has been so crappy for 5 years that I have averaged 7-8 months of work per year at best! I don't want to take on more debt and the reserves on hand are spoken for already...

 

Hate to say it, but mine has been perfect.


Now weed whackers... NOT so much.

 

Ethanol is really bad for gas powered yard equipment !!!!!
Did you know it takes 174 gallons of water to produce one gallon of ethanol

 

I have a Snapper commercial self propelled mower I got off a trash pile,i replaced the top cover [got it free] and have used it since 1993 [I don't ever remember changing the oil since I got it or adding any either].

 

Toro or Snapper is my Game......

 

I use a scag turf tiger 61" cut 27hp water cooled, not sure on total acres I cut, but I burn 5 gallons of gas per cutting

 

For the big job's.....
http://www.deere.ca/wps/dcom/en_CA/p...t_series.page?