Well, it’s time to replace my push mower. I swore late last year never again to buy a Craftsman, so I’m looking at Husqvarna, Toro, and Snapper. I don’t have strong feelings about self-propelled, but I’d prefer it not have that feature.
I have a John Deere rider for the big stuff, this is for the rental properties and my parent’s smaller lawns. What I want is quality at a reasonable price. What say you?
I’d look for something with a Honda engine on it. I worked at a dealership as a small engine mechanic and I noticed that the Honda’s would really take a licking and still run. Right down to the casting and machining, they’re nicer than say, a Briggs motor. I believe Husqvarna uses Honda engines on their walk behind equipment.
Honda mowers probably cost more than you would like to spend, but if you do look at a new or used one, get a Hydrostatic transmission. The -2 and -3 speed transmissions go bad pretty often. Hydrostatic transmissions are generally more user friendly and robust than -2 or -3 speeds.
I can understand if you don’t want to shell out for a Honda brand mower, but their Engine is worth having on your mower, regardless off who assembled it.
Hope that helps!
I’m in complete agreement about Honda making a damn tough engine. Troy-Bilt has some mowers with Honda engines, and it would be a lot cheaper than buying a Honda mower. I’ve abused the hell out of a Troy-Bilt the last few years and it’s held up great. Except the side-discharge chute, but I guess nothing plastic is Golden Retriever proof. 
I have a 4 stroke Troy-Bilt with a Honda engine and the thing is a beast. Always starts on the first pull and it is nice not having to worry about Mixing Gas and oil. Last year I hit a stump and figured it was finished. Nope chip on the blade but the shaft and everything else was just fine.
I’m the OP - thanks for the help so far. Props to Honda engines! Thing is, the problem for me with the last 2 Craftsmans (What a sad decline from semi-greatness over the last 20 years - but that’s another topic) has NOT been the engines. The engine from the 9 year-old “parts” mower I have still works fine. The problem is EVERY other part!
Buy a used Honda off of Craigslist.
I just replaced my 10yo Toro w/Honda engine with the low end Honda HRR push model.
That is what I have been looking at doing.
Honda makes good stuff. I had a Honda for a while that I garbage picked. It ran really well but didn’t cut that great. I pulled the blade off to sharpen it and figured out that the previous owner had put the blade on backwards. After correcting that issue all was well. I left it at the house when I sold it and wish I hadn’t.
Commercial Lawn Boy. Not the ones you see at Lowes, Home Depot, or the hardware store. But at a commercial supply store, the place where the landscapers shop. Even a used one. It will last a long, long time under non-commercial use. Anything that might break, the commercial supply will always have the part for it, even if its quite old. Likely the last mower you will ever buy.
Either buy the cheapest one with a briggs engine or one with a honda engine. My $99 craftsmen is doing just fine after a few years of abuse and brush-hogging at times (with an old blade).
You must be aware that a lot of these items between stores are the same thing with different paint and stickers. A commercial lawn store is where you see the “real thing”.
My recent Consumer Reports issue rated Lawn Mowers.
The two CR Best Buys in the Gas-powered push mower category were a Cub Cadet/Yard-man 11A-18(MC (discontinued), or M9) and the Husqvarna 6021P.
The Self-propelled CR Best Buys were 3 variations of the Toro Recycler (20333, 20332, 20330).
Hope that helps.
Man, you beat me to it. They also recommend the Lawn-Boy 10640 as their #1 choice, the others you mentioned are CR best buys.
I buy Craftsman mowers because they are less expensive and I get good service from them. I just bought my 3rd in 15 years.
I don’t change oil or tune them, I just run them untill they quit and put no money in them in the meantime. Then I buy a new one and put the old one on the curb with a sign that says Free Mower - Needs Work. It is usually gone in less than a day.
That means the average annual cost of ownership to me is about $25, which is less than a lawn service would charge me to mow once.
+1 for the Honda engine
Don’t know too much about the other brands, but the Toro commercial is a tough sob.
Ariens
really? your on m4carbine to ask about a lawn mower?
Might want to try consumer reports.com bud.
Do you live in/near a more rural area that has Tractor Supply Stores? Their mowers are GTG and priced low.
Ive been happy with my Toro w/ B&S engine. It will bog down in grass 4-5" tall which happens if I dont mow weekly during the summer. I have St. Augustine so its a bit beefier of a grass than say Bermuda.
Wow, I bought a Craftsman Gold front driver with a 6.0hp Briggs and Stratton in 1997 and it’s still running fine. I do change the oil everyone once in a while, and change the air filter and plug usually at the same time.
I’ve had to replace worn tires, and the upper push handle (got too loose and wouldn’t tighten up), and also rebuilt the gearbox for the front drive. But I’ve had no problems with the motor, except for needing some carb cleaner now and then.
Thing I like about Craftsman is you get an exploded parts diagram and can order anything off their parts website.
The next mower I buy will have a Honda engine, though. Just not sure when I will need to buy one.