Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...


I think the Craftsman/Honda was about $250. 21".
I heard the Honda small engines were the best, but maybe things have
changed. My last house had a small enough yard I just used a reel
mover, then an electric I got real cheap from a guy driving by seeing
me pushing the reel. Had it in his trunk. Hope it wasn't stolen.
First mower I bought for this place was a Black and Decker battery
mower. It actually worked real good for about 4 years, then the
battery went. Think I paid $189. Biggest deficit is they're heavy.
I'll keep that Briggs and Stratton in mind for my next mower.
No sense in paying extra for a name.

--Vic

My experience with Briggs and Stratton small gas engines is that you either
get a good one that runs forever or a bad one that never starts again after
the first season. The Honda engines seem to be better, but maybe I have
just been lucky.

One thing about John Deere stuff though. You may pay more for a "name",
but their equipment is good and tough.
I've had new Murrays, Craftsman riders and thought they were ok until I
bought a used, 10 year old John Deere to mow a horse pasture. The 10 year
old John Deere felt like riding around on a Cadillac compared to the much
newer Murray or Craftsman.

My John Deere tractor has been abused, worked hard, left out in the snow and
rain all winter and it still runs like a top.
The pins on all the pivot points for the front end loader and the back hoe
are starting to wear, so they are getting a little sloppy, and a couple of
hydraulic cylinders need new seals, but it still does more than what it is
rated for. At some point I'll replace all the pins, rebuild the weeping
cylinders and it will be good for another 8-10 years.

Eisboch

Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:12:46 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

My experience with Briggs and Stratton small gas engines is that you either
get a good one that runs forever or a bad one that never starts again after
the first season. The Honda engines seem to be better, but maybe I have
just been lucky.

Honda engines are absolutely first class. I have one on a generator
and another on a pressure washer, both great engines. I bought the
Honda generator during a multi-day power outage back in the northeast,
after first getting a B & S which would not start at all. The Honda
ran continuously for over a week after hurricane Charlie, supplying
both our house and a neighbor.

Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:12:46 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .


I think the Craftsman/Honda was about $250. 21".
I heard the Honda small engines were the best, but maybe things have
changed. My last house had a small enough yard I just used a reel
mover, then an electric I got real cheap from a guy driving by seeing
me pushing the reel. Had it in his trunk. Hope it wasn't stolen.
First mower I bought for this place was a Black and Decker battery
mower. It actually worked real good for about 4 years, then the
battery went. Think I paid $189. Biggest deficit is they're heavy.
I'll keep that Briggs and Stratton in mind for my next mower.
No sense in paying extra for a name.

--Vic

My experience with Briggs and Stratton small gas engines is that you either
get a good one that runs forever or a bad one that never starts again after
the first season. The Honda engines seem to be better, but maybe I have
just been lucky.

One thing about John Deere stuff though. You may pay more for a "name",
but their equipment is good and tough.
I've had new Murrays, Craftsman riders and thought they were ok until I
bought a used, 10 year old John Deere to mow a horse pasture. The 10 year
old John Deere felt like riding around on a Cadillac compared to the much
newer Murray or Craftsman.

My John Deere tractor has been abused, worked hard, left out in the snow and
rain all winter and it still runs like a top.
The pins on all the pivot points for the front end loader and the back hoe
are starting to wear, so they are getting a little sloppy, and a couple of
hydraulic cylinders need new seals, but it still does more than what it is
rated for. At some point I'll replace all the pins, rebuild the weeping
cylinders and it will be good for another 8-10 years.

Eisboch


I've had only four lawn mowers in my short life. All four had B & S
engines. Two conveyed when I sold the houses. On one I bent the crankshaft
hitting a metal drain protector, and the fourth is still going strong. I've
never had a self-propelled or riding mower.

If I ever get a place where I need a garden tractor, you can get your
patootey it'll be a John Deere. Something like this looks like it would do
the trick: http://tinyurl.com/jkzz6

Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:12:46 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


My John Deere tractor has been abused, worked hard, left out in the snow and
rain all winter and it still runs like a top.
The pins on all the pivot points for the front end loader and the back hoe
are starting to wear, so they are getting a little sloppy, and a couple of
hydraulic cylinders need new seals, but it still does more than what it is
rated for. At some point I'll replace all the pins, rebuild the weeping
cylinders and it will be good for another 8-10 years.

Sometimes older models are better than newer.
I mow only about 1/3 an acre, and don't have any tasks for a tractor.
Will have to do some dirt hauling and grading for an area where I had
a tree/stump removed but I have shovels/wheelbarrow for that.
If I had some acreage and was considering a tractor I'd read this
thoroughly.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/
That Massey Ferguson would be a good beginner tractor, but might
affect my reputation in the neighborhood.
On this subject I worked for IH at the dozer plant for almost 9 years,
but have no info on their Farmall line. Nobody in the Chicago plant
talked about lawn tractors because nobody had big lawns.
One of my workmates used to bitch about the poor mileage his Travelall
got, and this was when gas was cheap. I saw Scouts around sometimes,
but they never interested me.
I did a little searching on the net for my old plant, which was
alternately called "Tractor Works" and "McCormack Works," but found
only one picture. This was a major employer in Chicago for many
decades, and now you find hardly anybody heard of it except some
"oldtimers."
IH became essentially defunct before the internet, maybe 1981, so info
is sparse. I did find old TD-30/40's still for sale, so there may be
parts I made still in use. Our competition then was Cat.
After I left there and began computer contracting, one of our clients
was Komatsu, and I was happy I didn't have to do any work there, since
I *still* had Harvester loyalty.
But I never bought a Harvester product.
I understand all small tractors are now essentially manufactured
overseas, so making the choice on that basis is a non-issue.
I've noticed that people swear by certain brands of lawn tractors just
like they do about cars.
If I were to get a lawn/utility tractor I'd probably get the biggest
honking diesel that would fit in my garage. And a bunch of
attachments. I'd like a hammer on that sucker so I could break up my
driveway and put in pavers. Some claws and a bucket.
Aw hell. I'll probably just hire it out.

--Vic

Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

Vic Smith wrote:
On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:12:46 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

My John Deere tractor has been abused, worked hard, left out in the snow and
rain all winter and it still runs like a top.
The pins on all the pivot points for the front end loader and the back hoe
are starting to wear, so they are getting a little sloppy, and a couple of
hydraulic cylinders need new seals, but it still does more than what it is
rated for. At some point I'll replace all the pins, rebuild the weeping
cylinders and it will be good for another 8-10 years.

Sometimes older models are better than newer.
I mow only about 1/3 an acre, and don't have any tasks for a tractor.
Will have to do some dirt hauling and grading for an area where I had
a tree/stump removed but I have shovels/wheelbarrow for that.
If I had some acreage and was considering a tractor I'd read this
thoroughly.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/
That Massey Ferguson would be a good beginner tractor, but might
affect my reputation in the neighborhood.
On this subject I worked for IH at the dozer plant for almost 9 years,
but have no info on their Farmall line. Nobody in the Chicago plant
talked about lawn tractors because nobody had big lawns.
One of my workmates used to bitch about the poor mileage his Travelall
got, and this was when gas was cheap. I saw Scouts around sometimes,
but they never interested me.
I did a little searching on the net for my old plant, which was
alternately called "Tractor Works" and "McCormack Works," but found
only one picture. This was a major employer in Chicago for many
decades, and now you find hardly anybody heard of it except some
"oldtimers."
IH became essentially defunct before the internet, maybe 1981, so info
is sparse. I did find old TD-30/40's still for sale, so there may be
parts I made still in use. Our competition then was Cat.
After I left there and began computer contracting, one of our clients
was Komatsu, and I was happy I didn't have to do any work there, since
I *still* had Harvester loyalty.
But I never bought a Harvester product.
I understand all small tractors are now essentially manufactured
overseas, so making the choice on that basis is a non-issue.
I've noticed that people swear by certain brands of lawn tractors just
like they do about cars.
If I were to get a lawn/utility tractor I'd probably get the biggest
honking diesel that would fit in my garage. And a bunch of
attachments. I'd like a hammer on that sucker so I could break up my
driveway and put in pavers. Some claws and a bucket.
Aw hell. I'll probably just hire it out.

--Vic



I've got a real tractor and a lawn tractor. I just hit 215 hours on the
lawn tractor. It's a Husqvarna brand, with a two cylinder Kawasaki
gasoline engine. In the five years I have had it, I've had no service
calls. I change the oil and the filter twice a season, and keep it
clean. I change out the blades every season. Guys in my 'hood with
similar lawn tractors from John Deere, IH, Sears, et cetera, seem to
have two service calls a season for repairs.

My Honda lawnmower has been in the shop twice.

I think I've just been lucky with my Husky...that's all.







--
"The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade
and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion,
regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts
to weaken or undermine that right."

Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

On Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:55:34 -0400, hk wrote:


My Honda lawnmower has been in the shop twice.

Done nothing with mine in 5 years except touch up the blade on the
grinder. I really should change the oil. Since it always starts on
the first pull I won't touch the plug.

I think I've just been lucky with my Husky...that's all.

Luck counts. I bought a new washing machine last year despite mixed
reviews on breakdowns because that's the one my wife liked best.
I did spend an extra couple hundred for a 5-year warranty because of
the reviews, but figured the total cost was ok if my luck was good.
So far so good.
Same happens with cars. I've had cars with almost zero problems, but
hear all kinds of bitching about this and that failing.
Luck counts.

--Vic

Popular Mechanics Lawn Mower of the Year
 

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...


If I were to get a lawn/utility tractor I'd probably get the biggest
honking diesel that would fit in my garage. And a bunch of
attachments. I'd like a hammer on that sucker so I could break up my
driveway and put in pavers. Some claws and a bucket.
Aw hell. I'll probably just hire it out.

--Vic


Nah. It's a lot more fun making the mess yourself, then have the town
issue a cease and desist order because you didn't bother to get a permit.

Eisboch