I have also been very pleased with Briggs engines on mowers. I treat them like dirt and they just keep running. I change the oil once a year and clean the air filter maybe every third year.
Walk Behind Mower
- Thread starter l2alphmacchio
- Start date
Love the Toro PP with the blade deactivator on the handle thingy. It lets you stop and pick the beer cans up out of the yard without stoping the engine.
I bought a Toro about 10 years ago and it was OK. It was a Super Recycler but always seemed to leave a trail of clippings.
When the Toro transmission started to fail about 3 years ago I switched to a Honda and it's been fantastic. Starts on first pull every time. Cut quality is much better than the Toro. I'd highly recommend Honda over Toro.
When the Toro transmission started to fail about 3 years ago I switched to a Honda and it's been fantastic. Starts on first pull every time. Cut quality is much better than the Toro. I'd highly recommend Honda over Toro.
I had a Toro PP from 2001 and it was like brand new the day I hit my basketball mount and broke the crank. I found the same basic model on Craigslist. The PP thing is genius. I'm a fan of the Honda motors but I will probably never buy a different mower. Save the money. There's a reason you see Toro's in the majority of lawns. At least here in Ankeny.
Love my Toro personal pace. I got a cheaper model without blade stop capability, but I only have to stop mowing once (and if I thought ahead of time and opened my back gate before mowing, I'd never have to stop until I was done). Replaced the blade once or twice and never bag. I've had to mow a lot down here in Houston - longer mowing season, plus when it's rainy, the grass will grow unbelievably fast.
My dad's got a nice John Deere, but he also likes spending money on toys like that.
My dad's got a nice John Deere, but he also likes spending money on toys like that.
I've got a 10 year old craftsman mower for sale at a garage sale this morning. It works great. IT IS NOT SELF PROPELLED. But has always worked first pull each season. 6 HP motor. I'd like to upgrade as well. I'd part with it for $50. PM me if interested. Sorry to hijack. But seemed appropriate given the topic.
From what I'm told Briggs is very lax on casting defects. My friend machined the heads and saw several of them with issues.
Personally the last Briggs engine I had decided it needed to vent the crank case a bit better on it's own after 3/4 of a summer.
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Toro Personal Pace.
Had a cub cadet that crapped out on me. Demo'd both a Honda and a Toro. Ended up buying the Toro and couldn't be happier.
Had a cub cadet that crapped out on me. Demo'd both a Honda and a Toro. Ended up buying the Toro and couldn't be happier.
This stuff is funny because the thumb activated self-propelled is why I love my Honda lawn mower. I much prefer it to any other self-propelled controller. However, I do realize it isn't for everyone as my mom hates it. But, like you said, some of the upper models have the lever with the adjustable speed controls for those who don't like it. To each their own I guess.
I have a JS28 John Deere. This is the third season, only issue I have had with it is the cable for the Mowmentum system. Other than that I had a no start issue last year, after I had washed the deck out, water got in the spark plug somehow. The Briggs engine starts every time on the first pull. The Mowmentum system is a little weird and first, but it works really well, only thing it lacks is blade stop.
I bought a Craftsman last year and have had trouble with it - I wouldn't recommend that.
My buddy works in a small engine sales place and swears by Husqvarna.
My buddy works in a small engine sales place and swears by Husqvarna.
Ive had my Husqvarna AWD with Honda Engine for 1.5 summers and am not disappointed. Had a John Deere for 20 years before she finally tanked.
My only complaint is when I pull back (going back and forth under a deck, tree, etc) the wheels don't always spin freely -- almost as if the self-propelled hasnt "let go" to allow them to roll in reverse. Anyone else experience this?
You talking about on your Husqvarna? Yes. Not often, but probably once a mowing I'll try to pull it back and it's like the wheels are locked up and dragging.
I've had three Toro Personal Pace mowers and while they are initially very impressive, the self-propelled has a tendency to break. Happened multiple times on all three. Finally decided to go for the Honda, and it is quite the impressive machine. The engineering is top notch and the variable speed self-propelled is a pleasure to use. I actually enjoy mowing with it. Here is the one I got...
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21...s-Mower-with-Auto-Choke-HRR216K9VKA/203709643
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21...s-Mower-with-Auto-Choke-HRR216K9VKA/203709643
I've found with my Husq AWD that you have to disengage the self-propel and then manually push the mower a bit to free up the wheels for reverse rolling. Can't remember where I read why this is, something to do with the AWD gearing / pulley cables.
Not terribly impressed with the mulching performance, but it does start on a soft pull first time, every time.
Sorry, it's just that it has been a long time since I have heard of someone talking of a snowblower. I don't know if I have ever seen one operate, even when I lived in Iowa. Scoop shovel on the farm.
Thanks for all the input. I have opted to buy the Toro 20383. It has free-spinning wheels to allow for easy reverse mowing. Although this was not one of my original requirements, multiple posts on here got me thinking that I reverse mow on the south side of my garage on a steep incline. The new personal pace Toro's have a handle underneath the personal pace bar that allows for pushing or pulling without the personal pace.
Again, thanks to CF and all of the users for the help in my decision.
Again, thanks to CF and all of the users for the help in my decision.
