Killed my mower, shopping for new?

Killed my mower. Was already kinda beat to shit and finally the pull start managed to fall loose and get sucked up into the top "spinney thing". After fighting it for half an hour gave up. It's super wound up in there. The very top metal cover bit where it's normally wound inside seems to be riveted to the top so that I'd have to destroy them to take it off, no other bolts or anything that I saw. Blade was already in need of replacing, the push bar elbow bolt all stripped and barely holding on etc.


I know I dont want an electric w/ batteries, but wondering if anyone is a huge fan of a corded electric for a modest/medium/average sized yard. There's the ultra basic mowers for like 180, but by the time I start finding ones that seem suitably decent price jumps pretty high at home depot. I know they can be shit for prices, so any place in particular I should be looking? I'm a little nervous about pawn shop etc type used mowers since I don't know if I'll get another POS needing a lot of work.

Finished with my manual scissor no engine push mower. Not so terrible except when it's as miserable as it is this evening.

Before I farmed my yard out to the Vietnamese (because I got tired of cutting it) I found some good ones on Craigslist.. usually the people who have to have the newest bestest mower on their block..get rid of the one they used for 5 months the previous year.. picked up a $400 mower that didn't even look used for $75.

Monky speaks the truth.

If you go electric, and I don't know why you'd want to drag a cord around the yard, you should at least consider the 80v cordless Kobalt Max mower at Lowe's. It comes with 2 batteries, and you could probably get through your yard without draining 1, if you mow semi regularly.

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You can get a $200 weedeater with rear bag at kmart of all places. Decent mower, starts easily. No issues for last several years.

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Originally Posted by fitz19d

Killed my mower. Was already kinda beat to shit and finally the pull start managed to fall loose and get sucked up into the top "spinney thing". After fighting it for half an hour gave up. It's super wound up in there. The very top metal cover bit where it's normally wound inside seems to be riveted to the top so that I'd have to destroy them to take it off, no other bolts or anything that I saw. Blade was already in need of replacing, the push bar elbow bolt all stripped and barely holding on etc.


I know I dont want an electric w/ batteries, but wondering if anyone is a huge fan of a corded electric for a modest/medium/average sized yard. There's the ultra basic mowers for like 180, but by the time I start finding ones that seem suitably decent price jumps pretty high at home depot. I know they can be shit for prices, so any place in particular I should be looking? I'm a little nervous about pawn shop etc type used mowers since I don't know if I'll get another POS needing a lot of work.

Finished with my manual scissor no engine push mower. Not so terrible except when it's as miserable as it is this evening.

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It's not riveted, That's the pull start housing. Remove the phillips (or torx) screws holding the plastic cover , pull that off. There will be 3-4 screws ( or 3/8? ) holding the starter housing to the engine.

Here's a cheap unit
https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/for/6182790455.html

There's a few $150 - 200 units around my area.

You could probably find a video for your make and model but here is one for a B&G.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8dfkgBe5Y0

Looks like I might be able from that video if similiar take apart a much wider "plate" on it. I had been trying to take off just that very top center metal housing which is riveted after I had already gotten plastic cover off.

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Originally Posted by fitz19d

Looks like I might be able from that video if similiar take apart a much wider "plate" on it. I had been trying to take off just that very top center metal housing which is riveted after I had already gotten plastic cover off.

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Look for the 3-4 bolts holding the recoil housing on. If you have time, drop it off on your way to or from work.

The mower I bought at Sears 13 years ago still starts on the first pull each time, even after sitting unattended in a shed every winter. I've never maintained it better than I would a cheap hammer and it's been 100% since day 1 - still has the original spark plug and air filter. Just a Briggs/Stratton(sp?) 6hp on it and the cheapest gas available.

Hustle up and order this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Husqvarna-22...9%3A6000001548

They make amazing stuff and it's a great price. Forget the electric crap.

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Originally Posted by sniper7

Hustle up and order this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Husqvarna-22...9%3A6000001548

They make amazing stuff and it's a great price. Forget the electric crap.

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I have a similar one that I bought off Craigslist, brand new in box from a former dealer. The Husqvarna is AWD, and a good machine at $350 for a $550 list mower. The larger 190cc Honda engine was worth it for my rough duty GJ yard where I mow 3 acres of wild grass, shrubs, rocks, and sprinkler heads. The 190cc engine is a beast compared to the smaller machines. I don't have a lawn, more wild land grasses, flowers and shrubs, and the dusty conditions really take a toll on the mower engines. Mower filters are low end crap. You'll see that I use a fine nylon filter net around the filter assembly to reduce dust and particulates. It helps some but gimme an oil bath or water bath filter, please.



http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psf6zhlg54.jpg


I once got a used Honda mower off CL for $65 that lasted 6 years, then got two cheaper Honda mowers from Sam's that barely lasted 2 years each. I won't buy a cheap mower again, they're just not built for longevity.


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Those are pretty hoss though especially for a home lawn prefer the speed of just muscling it myself. Got the one Kazoo linked which seemed to have been pretty good deal. Extra blade, seems in good shape.

I recently bought a kobalt 80v. Granted it was an open box special for 250 but I'm pretty damn impressed. For 500? Meh I'd be torn. Batteries charge fast, comes with two, lightweight, metal body. Honestly I have a new John Deere rider for my yard but I needed something with a bagger for the weeds and thr tall grasses. Some of these weeds are monsters at 4 feet tall and thick as hell. It mowed through them pretty easily. It cut out maybe 3 or 4 times. Backed it up, restarted and it was fine. I undo the handle and hang it upside down in the garage off a hook.

Worth 500? Not much is worth 500 to me but I wouldn't be super disappointed. At 250 I'm very happy.

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Originally Posted by hatidua

The mower I bought at Sears 13 years ago still starts on the first pull each time, even after sitting unattended in a shed every winter. I've never maintained it better than I would a cheap hammer and it's been 100% since day 1 - still has the original spark plug and air filter. Just a Briggs/Stratton(sp?) 6hp on it and the cheapest gas available.

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Sounds like you and I share a similar lawn mower maintenance philosophy.

I buy cheap ones at Lowes or Home Depot and use them until I can't use them anymore and then just buy another one. The one I have now was about $100 when I bought it and this will be the sixth year of mowing with it. The one before that went somewhere around eleven years or so before it became difficult to start when hot and I ditched it.

I have gone through lots of "self propelled" push mowers and it makes mowing suck! I picked up a well used honda for cheap off a neighborhood facebook page and for being old and well used these hondas are beasts! Pick up a used one on craigslist and i promise mowing will never be the same! Im buying a new one if this thing ever dies..but i dont see that for many years..check them out