Walk behind lawn mower recommendations/deals?

[JPK]

My old Craftsman has served well for the last 9 years. It has alway started with one or two pulls, but is starting to get a little worn out. I am thinking about a new one.

Since I completely distrust and am diametrically opposite of Consumer Report's way of thinking, I thought this might be an interesting place for input.

A few comments:
Looking for a rear bagger that can mulch
Would like variable speed self propelling
Any ipod mounting kits for lawnmowers yet?

They Home Depot guy recommended the top of the line Honda, but it is $750. Are they commissioned now? I don't want to spend that much on a mower.

JPK

[Jp!]

My Toro personal pace with cast aluminum deck (no rust) and electric start has been fine.

I have never had to charge the battery since new...about 8 years or so??? maybe longer.

[mattkime]

How large is your yard?

[OWC Jamie]

I have the Honda with the plastic deck, actually kinda nice weightwise.
These models apparently had lots of transmission failure problems.
Mine too. Out of warrantee.
Pull start. Always easy.
I now have a Husqvarna rider (and a inherited Honda) so pushing it in just a few spots is no biggee.

If a tiny lawn, I'd consider a 24 volt battery model.
Biggest complaint I've read is narrow cut width and a lot of walking.

[JPK]

I have a not so big yard, but the house is a walk out ranch, so half of the yard is a hill. The other half is manuevering around all the garden beds and shrub islands.

Right now it takes about about an hour when I bag or about 45 minutes when I mulch.

No way would a riding mower be applicable.

The driveway is another story! We have a circle driveway and our garage is located in the back, underneath the house. A lot of asphalt to snow blow. It takes about 70-80 minutes to snow blow the whole driveway. I have been trying to talk the wife into allowing me to by a 4X4 ATV with a plow, but this has not been greenlighted yet.

Not sure if I am "green" enough to try and electric mower yet! I rememeber my next door neighbor had one when I was a kid. He would chew through power cords all the time.
JPK

[John B.]

I have an older Honda that I bought used from an estate sale. It has the plastic/Xenoy (I think they call it) deck as well. Billb's comment about the transmissions interests me, as mine is starting to put up some resistance to being rolled backward (it moves forward in gear just fine).

You mentioned wanting a rear bagger...my Honda has a rear bagger, and my legs just get showered with dirt/dust/debris venting out of the bag. Never seemed to have that much of a problem with my old Lawn Boy side bagger.

[Jp!]

I hated when I snowPLOWed my drive with a tractor. You gotta have a lot of weight and power to push it after you've made your initial pile on the runs.

[mattkime]

>>I have a not so big yard,

The reason why I ask is because the older style engineless/motorless push mower can be good option for people that don't need to bag clippings. They're surprisingly light and maneuverable after spending years pushing an engine across the lawn.

[lafinfil]

[quote Jp!]I hated when I snowPLOWed my drive with a tractor. You gotta have a lot of weight and power to push it after you've made your initial pile on the runs.
Yeah I could never figure out how an ATV with a plow would push much snow

Most people who are really serious about it will have wheel weights, fluid filled tires,
and a few hundred pounds of suitcase weights on a bracket in back - plus chains.

a lot of the Deere guys will just leave the tiller on the back for extra weight too.

I've never seen a ATV blade that wasn't a fixed position either (no break away position)
You hit something like a curb with a fixed blade on an ATV and you will go flying

[Jp!]

At least my tractor had a spring-loaded blade. So, obstructions when hit caused the blade to flip over/forward. And it had a pretty good side to side swing/angle, too. But still, I much prefer my very cheap snow thrower to that.