Advice for first lawn mower and weed eater.

[Spazdog]

Mowers? Doesn't matter as much as many imply.

I have a bottom level MTD Troy-Bilt. My neighbor has a high end "quadra-cut" Honda. If we mow on the same day, you cannot tell where his lawn ends and mine begins.

Did it cost 2 1/2 times more than my B&S powered mower? Yes.
Does it cut 2 1/2 times better than my B&S? No.
Will it last 2 1/2 times longer than my B&S? Maybe...:shrug. Mine is already in it's 8th year of operation. His will have to go 20 years if mine were to die today.

As far as I can tell, my B&S is as easy or easier to start and doesn't really vibrate any more or less.

As far as the trimmer? (and leaf blower and other stuff...) go Echo or Stihl. Even if the MTD models (ie: Poulan Ryobi Troy-Bilt...) last as long as the Echo or Stihl (they won't) the better brands are just more pleasurable to use and start.

 

[lars11]

if that's all lawn, forget about electric. I would consider electric for non complex lawns of max 250 sq meters. Yours is 1200.
Trimmer: go battery. Your wife will use it and it will work fine since it is not for clearing semi wood. Choose a heavier duty battery trimmer by stihl, hva or the like. Your wife will not use a gas trimmer unless she is more motivated tham most. You will use the gas trimmer.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: afoulk
how do you tell which husquvarna trimmers have the honda engine?


If you look at Husqvarna's website and "compare" string trimmers, only those which require no mixing of fuel and oil (5th field down) are the Honda-powered 4-cycle ones:

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/trimmers/compare-trimmers/

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Even if the MTD models (ie: Poulan Ryobi Troy-Bilt...) last as long as the Echo or Stihl (they won't) the better brands are just more pleasurable to use and start.


Same goes for the mowers.

The controls are nicer. The aluminum (or nylon) decks don't rust. The blade brake clutch lets you empty the bag without stopping the engine. They're even easier to wheel around when off because of the easier-rolling tires. I owned Craftsman and MTD mowers before. It's like the difference between a Mercury and a Mercedes. You either see the value in it or you don't. Whether the more expensive ones are "worth it" for the OP is only something the OP can decide.

 

[Jim Spahr]

I agree with those that say you won't be happy with an electric mower. You should try to borrow a gas mower and try it once on your yard. You will quickly see the need for certain features like the big diam. rear tires or self propelled and so on. It depends on things like how smooth the yard surface is, roots and rocks you didn 't notice will become obvious when you are pushing a whirring blade in front of you. Then if you still aren't sure on what to buy, try the suggestion of buying a used one which will help you finalize the features of the 'ultimate mower'. This is to help you avoid the expensive mistake of buying the wrong shiny new mower and then you are stuck with it.

 

[Cujet]

I ABSOLUTELY hate working in my yard. It's a huge waste of my time (of which, I have very little)

With that in mind, I purchase lawn equipment that won't give me trouble, will last a long time and is a pleasure to use.

Echo has been my choice for weed wackers. Stihl Pro is top-tier-best too, however, I am not enamored with the "homeowner" quality Stihl's.

I recently purchased a "Toro" weedwacker powerhead for a specific use (a hand held tiller powerhead) . Not great. It's down on power, and it won't power my blower unless I use race gas! The Echo is WAY better. Homeowner quality lawn equipment is a mistake in my opinion. And, even I fell for the "trap".

I have a 20 year old snapper commercial mower that is finally starting to need "thinking" about. And, I've bent the crankshaft twice on it.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Even if the MTD models (ie: Poulan Ryobi Troy-Bilt...) last as long as the Echo or Stihl (they won't) the better brands are just more pleasurable to use and start.


Same goes for the mowers.

The controls are nicer. The aluminum (or nylon) decks don't rust. The blade brake clutch lets you empty the bag without stopping the engine. They're even easier to wheel around when off because of the easier-rolling tires. I owned Craftsman and MTD mowers before. It's like the difference between a Mercury and a Mercedes. You either see the value in it or you don't. Whether the more expensive ones are "worth it" for the OP is only something the OP can decide.


I'll concede the blade brake. That would be a nice addition. Not for 2.5 times the price but a nice feature nonetheless. The rest?

meh....

It is far nicer than my '96 Murray 3.5. That thing won't freakin' die.

As far as I can tell, my B&S is easier to start. I don't even pull the rope all the way. Two pumps on the primer, gentle tug half way and it's running.

Never had a mower rust. Even in coastal areas

 

[CTownIntegra]

Just returned from a Lowes and Home Depot run.

Pretty much everything stocked here was Honda powered. Sam's Club had a few as well that were Honda powered but I'd rather stick with a reputable brand.

We will be moving into our new home on May 1st, which is plenty of time for me to settle on something. I may even consider ordering something online and having it shipped to the new home as I don't see our Honda Civics being able to haul the giant box home.

None of the Toro's locally were auto-mix or four stroke but I'm sure I will find something. Lowes did stock the twin blade battery operated mower and Home Depot stocked the SPCM1936 but I believe you guys have talked me out of that. My original plan was to mow the back, charge and finish trimming the back, then hit the small front with the remaining charge. But after seeing them in person, the plastic decks almost looked like a joke compared to the beefier gas powered ones beside them.

 

[Spazdog]

WalMart has Snappers

Yeah yeah I know....it's not the same Snapper anymore but it says Snapper on it.

 

[CTownIntegra]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
WalMart has Snappers

Yeah yeah I know....it's not the same Snapper anymore but it says Snapper on it.

I don't buy too much from Wal-Mart....sometimes clearance oil, but I usually stick to Advance with their sales and rebates.

I am being told by some co-workers to not use a trimmer for edging the driveway and to buy one with a blade on it.

Also looking into picking up a few new power tools since I do a little bit of contract work on the side (Networking installs, etc) and need to have the basics. Rigid seems like an awesome brand, and the lifetime warranty through Home Depot seems to make it an even sweeter deal. Opinions? Can I take this thread off topic or do I need to start another in the appropriate section. Help the 24yr old first time home buyer make some decisions...although I will turn 25 Friday. Woot.

 

[KD0AXS]

Someone else mentioned it, and I will too. Look on Craigslist for a used mower. I got mine off of CL for $150.

(Guy thought there was something wrong with the transmission but it was just operator error)

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: CTownIntegra
I am being told by some co-workers to not use a trimmer for edging the driveway and to buy one with a blade on it.


Unless you're REALLY good at it (I do it all the time, and I'm still only so-so), a blade edger will give a much better line than turning a string trimmer sideways will. With a string trimmer turned on its side, you have a vertical "cut" from the string, but you tend to get an uneven line and the grass will "fray" rather than get cut nice and straight as from a real blade.

I edge my driveway with my string trimmer, only because I'm too cheap so far to buy a stick edger. But a stick edger would work much better.

 

[Spazdog]

Someone dumped all their yard waste in my dumpster at work.

In among all the clippings and debris was a Black and Decker Edgehog.

Total cost to make it functional? A $7 blade. The original was worn down to a nub.

It's a good tool. I don't know that I would pay the $80 cost new for an electric or not but for $7 it is outstanding. Edges up real nice and accurate.

 

[WhyMe]

its funny how many silver series lawn boys are still running out there. i bought mine in 94 with the 4 stroke and its been running since. just change oil and clean the filter. it has yet to rust out in the PNW wet lawns.

I would be leary of getting the consumer Hondas are HD. my brother has one for 3-4 years and the thing on the bottom is rusty as heck. i think its gonna be done in a couple of years. and the transmission does not work right.

I would find something rear wheel drive with metal trans and gears. mom has a scotts on and the plastic gears went bad.

string trimmers are stihl or echo. if oyu have the green, a tanaka is the best

Congrats on the new house and all the headaches it involves!! LOL

 

[Shannow]

Having grown up with two stroke mowers, 4 stroke is the way to go.

Steel deck (seen too many aluminium deks have holes punched through them), roller bearings, and a 4 stroke. Currently got around 15 years on my Victa mulch and catch with Quantum 50. Every couple of years, I pull the engine, and wire brush and epoxy paint the underside.

Hove an older Homelite trimmer, that's still going strong, but needs a new head (aftermarket is on it and way too heavy) ran it at 30:1 since new, and can still see the marks on the bore...under the plastic it's identical to FIL's Ryobi.