LAWN MOWER

My wife is looking for a self propelled lawn mower. She has two zero turns, but wants something for trimming etc.
We have a Lawn Boy that is over 30 years old that you mix the oil with the gas thAT works very well , but is strickly a pusher.
Want one with a good motor--maybe Honda motor.
Any very good self-propelled ones out there.........??

A self propelled walk behind mower is NOT a good mower for trimming.

I am looking for the 2 cycle 18" light mowers like I used to get in the 60's. For the same reason, she wants one. I picked up a cub cadet 20" self propelled mower, last week, at a consignment sale. It runs well, and mows well, but with it's self propelled feature, it is hard to pull backwards when trimming, in tight quarters. I would trade her mowers, except for the distance.

rusty farmalittle----It is a good mower if that is what the wife wants--are you a single feller that makes all the decisions???????????

How about at desperate depot look at the smallest red unit with a Briggs on it. Maybe 5 or 6hp. With the larger wheels in the rear? What are they like 14" or such. Makes push and trim and turn MUCH easier. Something around $150.oo or less. Mower is maybe 21" and light weight.

The BAD C ate a hole in her Femur and broke her leg and now she has a big rod in her leg. We have 2 zeros and a regular Lawn Boy pusher-she thinks a self propelled will work for her. She loves lawn work. The SP may not be the way to go, but willing to give it a try as that is what she wants to try...

How nice. I do that too. Even though I totally disagree with her I will go along just because that's what she wants. Sometimes she's actually right. (Hate it when that happens.) Maybe if it's something I feel really strongly about I will attempt to explain my reasoning to her but if it's just 'something' ... I like to see her happy.

phil n

Aren't most self propelled mowers front wheel drive? you just push down a little on the handle and let the front wheels spin in the air when you are backing up, that's what we do.

I have an old one. Yardman I think. Has a Honda motor on it, so you don't have to mix the gas. You squeeze a lever to made it go, and let it up to stop, or pick up the front wheels. That's all I use it for and it works good for trimming.

My boy has a honda mower, self propelled. He likes his.

I thought ZTR's eliminated the need for a trim mower.

Get a high-wheel string trimmer and don't buy it for the engine - honda, shmonda - give me a Briggs .......... every time!

it's the narrow places that stop you.

Use flowers. I put irises around trees to avoid weed wacking. I have a sod cutter, remove the sod and put flowers in the small places. I refuse to use a push mower. My trim mower is 48 inches. Main mower is 72.

I agree with Geo-TH, as much as possible landscape to eliminate the need to trim. We added hosta plants as borders around trees and buildings. They form a solid border that will stop most lawn grasses. The leaves overhang enough to give about four to six inches of leeway for mowers. They propagate quickly, divide them into four or six pieces at the spike stage in early spring.

Mulch also makes a great border if you don't mind adding more material every two or three years. That might be an easy way to start adding borders.

My experience with self propelled mowers is they are heavy and hard to maneuver in tight spaces, but they are easier to push up hills. On hills, rear wheel drive has better traction. For years we used a small Sears 20 inch mower for trimming and some mowing, it only weighed 70 pounds with a 4 HP Techumseh engine. I eventually wore out the cheap plastic wheels and put ball bearing wheels on the rear axle. Techumseh engines may not have a good reputation, but that one is over twenty years old with just reasonable maintenance.

I found some high wheeled mowers with the rear wheels far back were clumsy to maneuver because it is so hard to lift the front wheels to turn tightly. The high wheeled mowers with the rear wheels near the center of gravity were much handier. Before buying, have your wife pick the style she likes best by turning and twisting them around tight corners in a store.

The main 2 faults with Tecumseh engines as I see it is that:
1) they are not made for extended heavy usage. The cylinders are aluminum in most of the smaller ones, and wear out relatively quickly.
2) Their carburetors are quirky. When they run, they run good, but when they give trouble - look out!!

Now if you want a GOOD little engine, Clintons were nearly indestructible. Older Briggs engines held up well also. The cast iron Tecumseh engines were as good as any other. Kohler, Wisconsin, and Onan were high end and expensive both to own and maintain....

(quoted from post at 13:09:50 05/30/15)
A self propelled walk behind mower is NOT a good mower for trimming.

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That is what I use. What is the problem that I am having that I don't know about?