Lawn mowers: post your gear

[TripletDaddy]

What brand/model do you use? self-propelling? Any recommendations?

[Jeff Lebowski]

We have been using a Toro for many years and have had good luck with it. My favorite feature is what they call "Personal Pace". It is a self-propelled mower but rather than having an on/off lever like most self-propelled mowers, it simply has a sensor on the handle and when you push forward it engages the drive and when you stop walking, the mower stops automatically. Works beautifully and is especially nice for kids.

[wuapinmon]

I've got a self-propelled John Deere, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Only half the clippings make it into the bag, the self-propulsion system only has one speed: ON! There's no way I would let my kids use that thing until they were in their late teens, and even then I'd worry about getting a foot cut off.

I had a Troy-Bilt before that was awesome, save the opening on the clippings bag was really narrow; it was a workout to dump a bag 30-40 times while cutting my half acre, so I sold it and got this highly-rated John Deere that I do not like.

[Moliere]

This is mine.



I love Honda mowers and likely won't buy another brand. It starts on the first pull everytime (even after sitting for a couple months during the winter).

EDIT: The one feature I love is the blade control. The motor can be running without the blade moving. You have to hold that bar near the handle for the blade to engage, which makes for a nice safety feature. Plus, I can then roll over mulch/dirt/whatever without the blade engaged.

[falafel]

This is mine.



I love Honda mowers and likely won't buy another brand. It starts on the first pull everytime (even after sitting for a couple months during the winter).

EDIT: The one feature I love is the blade control. The motor can be running without the blade moving. You have to hold that bar near the handle for the blade to engage, which makes for a nice safety feature. Plus, I can then roll over mulch/dirt/whatever without the blade engaged.

I've had that same mower and I echo your comments. Lasted a long time too.

[ERCougar]

We have been using a Toro for many years and have had good luck with it. My favorite feature is what they call "Personal Pace". It is a self-propelled mower but rather than having an on/off lever like most self-propelled mowers, it simply has a sensor on the handle and when you push forward it engages the drive and when you stop walking, the mower stops automatically. Works beautifully and is especially nice for kids.

This sounds like the one I have. Got it at Home Depot after reading a CR review. Fantastic mower.

[old_gregg]

the only thing i don't like about toro is the awkward bagging system

[BYUMizzou]

I traded off my old John Deere LT180 for a new (ok, slightly used) X729

[ERCougar]

the only thing i don't like about toro is the awkward bagging system

What's not to like?

I do wish it had a blade-disengage feature, but I think I had a choice between that model and the one with the electric starter that I chose. I love the electric starter.

[old_gregg]

What's not to like?

I do wish it had a blade-disengage feature, but I think I had a choice between that model and the one with the electric starter that I chose. I love the electric starter.

they may have changed it, but the toro bags i've used looked like this:

[Donuthole]

they may have changed it, but the toro bags i've used looked like this:

I'm a big fan of Toro mowers. That's what my dad had for 25 years while I was growing up. I think in the 6 years since he got rid of his Toro, he's had 3 or 4 other mowers.

As for the bagging system, I think they are more effective at trapping the clippings than the open-ended bags, but they can be problematic to empty (particularly if you are trying to empty into an unfastened garbage bag). I eventually figured out that I just needed to place the bag in a large garbage can and use both hands to empty it.

[ERCougar]

they may have changed it, but the toro bags i've used looked like this:

OK...gotcha--because you have to open the plastic top while emptying into a bag?

Honestly, I'm not even sure what the bag looks on my mower because I've never used it.

EDIT: Just checked--no plastic cover. Just an open front like a normal bag.

[old_gregg]

OK...gotcha--because you have to open the plastic top while emptying into a bag?

Honestly, I'm not even sure what the bag looks on my mower because I've never used it.

right. and like donut said, it can be a pain in the butt trying to empty into a garbage back (without a can). do you mulch the clippings?

[ERCougar]

right. and like donut said, it can be a pain in the butt trying to empty into a garbage back (without a can). do you mulch the clippings?

Yup.

[FN Phat]

The mower that I can claim as mine (my dad's old mower):



The mower that I use (my dad's new mower):