Totally off topic... Lawn Mower

[PJ]

I set out to buy a new lawn mower today and after researching everything I needed to know about a new "Honda" self propelled mower, I got to the hardware shop and they had another brand. The salesman had a good story and I really did like the other mower. It was one I had NEVER heard of. . AIRENS. . It did everything that the Honda did but came with a Brigs and stratten overhead valve motor 6 1/2 hp. The Honda was a bit hard to pull back and didnt have an axel in the front and rear. The Airens had 2 axels and was very easy to move around. It was a bit "ugly" but the sales guy said he has had one for 13 years and its still doing great. Needless to say, I still have my $600 and I came home to research it. . Any comments????????

 

[Bertram65]

I bought a Scotts push mower 5 years ago at HD. I have shown it no mercy, I have a rider I use for the majority of my yard but the areas with roots, rocks, or are just too steep for the rider I use the Scotts. It has the 6. 5 HP overhead Briggs on it, embarassed to say I have only changed the oil once, this is my 6th season with it, when I got it out of the storage shed this spring I just added gas and it started second pull, amazing... The motor is strong too, it takes a softball size rock to stop it, grass of any length cannot stop it. I also have a power washer with a Honda 5 HP on it, it runs good but it is very cold blooded and you cannot shut off the choke too soon or it dies. Briggs makes a rugged engine, I would look at HD $600 seems way high for a push mower, when I bought mine it was $280, no bagging system multch, the bagger was extra. It is front wheel drive which I like better for being able to pull it backwards when mowing under trees without disengaging the drive system. Solid front axle rear wheels are independent.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I've got a Honda Harmony something or other. I'll never buy another one. Paid something like 400 for it. Used it four times before I bent the crank when I hit a root. Spent another 300 having that fixed. Now the cable is broken for the drive handle so I have to push it to mow the 1 acre of grass I have.

 

[merryman]

Two words; Dixon ZTR

Our local equipment rental will rent out no other. They say it is because they never have problems with them. I have only been using mine (actually grandkids borrow it more than I use it) for 15 years and it is still going strong with barest minimum of repair--none significant.



Vaughn

 

[Jdonoghue]

Originally posted by Dl5treez
Ariens makes high quality lawn mowers & garden tractors--lots of them out here, last seemingly forever.

I have a Ariens riding mower that was given to me - abused before I got it, I beat the heck out of it, it still runs good.

 

[lil red cummins]

i have a 1965 ariens snow blower and 1967 ariens riding mower that still both run like a charm. both are original with only oil change and spark plug every 10 years or so.



the snow blower starts almost always on first pull.



the rider has electric start, but i don't even use it anymore - it starts 1st or 2nd pull also.



great manufacturer overall.



jim

 

[PJ]

The one that I was looking at is a Ariens LM21S deluxe. Rear drive, solid axels, gear driven, 6. 5 hp Brigs, rear bagger. . Really nice and it will pull backwards very easy, unlike the Honda HRX with the same specs, but no straight axel. The Honda had some wizzie plastic housing that will never rust but seeing the two side by side, I think I may lean towards the Ariens. .



Anyone else?

 

[Ncostello]

Ariens is a premium product. If you've never seen them it must be an regional thing until now. Honda makes some decent stuff like motorcycles and cars... but their mowers were never anything I'd buy.



B&S has cut an awful lot of grass in this world. I've got a Cub Cadet walk behind mulcher with a Briggs Quantum 6 HP. That engine takes some abuse and is never lacking power even using a gator blade and mulching grass thats overgrown.



Another brand I used to like was Lawn Boy. They have changed over the years... but my Grandpa has a 1970's model Commercial pusher that still in mint condition after years of use. That mower has cut tons of grass. But that was back when Outboard Marine Corp made them. Todays are OK... my buddy at work bought one with the aluminum deck and glider self propel... when you push the handle harder it goes faster. Felt OK to push... but man was that 2-cycle they use today LOUD!

 

[scootergmc]

My dad was a gardener for years. They exclusively used the commecial Lawn-boy 2 cycles. They were great. We had one at home which he bought used from work that I grew up with (10+ yrs). After moving to WA, he bought another new-fangled lawn boy with the Magnesium deck, still 2 cycle. The thing pretty much rocks and is still going strong after 13 years.



I stuck with the tried and true Snapper. While the basic snapper models have cheapened over the years, the Snapper commercial grade mowers with Honda engines are still one of the best buys out there. That is, if you're still willing to kick down at least $500 clams.

 

[RT66DOC]

Bought a John Deere self-propelled mower about 6 years ago. Pricey but never fails. Kawasaki 4 cycle motor. Guy said it was guaranteed to start first pull always. Always has, even after sitting idle for months. Built like a tank. I'd buy another one.

 

[cpeters]

I think what scooter means is Kawasaki motor on the snappers, I was in the lawn biz for many years and still have the 1970 snapper deck we got from my grandpa in 1985 it is just now getting a little flimsy and being retired. The mower I kept when I quit the lawn biz is the first snapper I bought and used commercially for 10 years I took a kawasaki off of a john deere and put it on right after I got it. There is no better deck than the snapper, all steel, solid axels, steel wheels, excellent trans, easy back up, great bagger, clean cut while mulching. Put the motor of your choice on it. I have blown a lot of briggs up and rebuilt 2 more, only changed the oil and air filters on my 5hp kawasaki 14hp kawasaki and 17hp kawasaki

 

[MrWinkey]

I have a B&S 5 3. 5 on my el cheapo push mower I abuse..... i've never changed the oil and it constatly hits rocks/trees and mows huge feild grass. Pour gas in the sucker and mow... .





BTW I thought Honda used the same engine in the mower as the cars... ... . (heheh)

 

[scootergmc]

Originally posted by cpeters

I think what scooter means is Kawasaki motor on the snappers, I was in the lawn biz for many years and still have the 1970 snapper deck we got from my grandpa in 1985 it is just now getting a little flimsy and being retired. The mower I kept when I quit the lawn biz is the first snapper I bought and used commercially for 10 years I took a kawasaki off of a john deere and put it on right after I got it. There is no better deck than the snapper, all steel, solid axels, steel wheels, excellent trans, easy back up, great bagger, clean cut while mulching. Put the motor of your choice on it. I have blown a lot of briggs up and rebuilt 2 more, only changed the oil and air filters on my 5hp kawasaki 14hp kawasaki and 17hp kawasaki

No, I meant Honda, I have no experience with the Kawi engines other than my 2003 ZX6R 636 I recently sold And you're right about the decks, they last FOREVER... ... .

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I just let the horses and mules in the yard every so often. Kind of a spotty job with a few muffin piles. But sure beats slaving away my weekends.



My wife has a craftsman self propeled jobber in Bozeman that she seems happy with. :-laf

 

[Will24]

We have a self propelled Honda that is now I believe 23 years old (bought before I was even thought of ) Anyway, till my brother ran it with NO oil last spring it would start first pull even if it sat for an entire winter, that thing's awesome. I have to get the motor apart, it's going to get a full rebuild, 100% worth the money in parts





-Will

 

[Paychk]

http://www.ariens.com/lawn_products/walk_behind_mowers/lm_21_s_deluxe/



Comes with a choice of three engines.

 

[PJ]

I went to look at a Snapper today 3 miles from home. When I pulled up at the shop, they had a row of pretty red Snappers in front and I also saw a few Orange ARIENS!!!!!! I thought, heck, i drove 60 miles yesterday and was about to buy one but got cold feet with the $600 price tag. Well, i got out of my car (the wife had the Cummins), I went inside to talk mowers! I was shocked that just 3 miles from home, the very same Ariens was $499!!!!

That was $100 cheaper than the one at Ace hardware. I would have bought it today had I not been in my Vette. Unless I have a change of heart tonight, I think Im going back first thing in the morning and buying a new mower! My guess is that they may even deal since Sunday is Fathers Day. Ill keep everyone informed. Also, if anyone else has any more comments at to the yea or nay on the Ariens mower, speak up. . Im all ears tonight.



$499. 00 and NO SALES TAX!!!!!Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[PJ]

Thanks for all the help guys. . I bought a new Snapper. . It is GREAT! Starts on the first pull.

 

[Spooled-up]

Or, for a few thousand more....

Dixie Chopper

 

[PJ]

The one I bought is a 7hp Briggs OHV rear propelled, chute/baq and very easy to operate. The list was $750 and I got it for $540 in Medford Oregon. Tax free was also nice. Im very happy with the new toy! The guy at the shop showed me one that had 10 years of total abuse and I was impressed. It all still worked! I still wanted new. He spent 45 min with me on the do's and dont's and upkeep. Like I said, Im very impressed! I feel I made the right choice.

Oo.