Looking for a self propelled mulching lawn mower, gas or electric

November 15, 2021, 06:57 PM

The Honda comes with two blades for mulching already on it,no changing stuff…I did learn to oil the drive shaft bearings where it goes thru the deck to the wheels, otherwise they seize up and you can’t drag it backwards…so I mow, (I’ve never used the bag) wait till it cools, wash off the grass under the deck , squirt the drive rod with wd40 and stow it after it’s dried

I’ve had to sharpen the blades once a season (bout halfway)for my Bermuda grass. Grass grows from arch till nov here in TX

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November 15, 2021, 07:12 PM

RogueJSK

quote:
Originally posted by RogB:
Do the blades that come with mower need to be changed to mulching blades?

No, as noted in my earlier post, they come with blades that are already set up for mulching.

November 15, 2021, 07:16 PM

mark123

quote:
Originally posted by Dreamerx4:
I have and heartily suggest a Toro Super Recycler.

I understand honda makes a great motor, but my Toro is simply amazing, and has been trouble free for 5 years. Lots of power, and it mulches like a dream.

I have the aluminum deck, it is simply fantastic.
I love that it remains running, and disengages the blade as well, so I am not constantly restarting if I am bagging.
The walk behind feature, where it goes at my pace, is also a great upgrade from normal mowers with a lever to engage the wheel drive.

Toro Super Recycler gets my vote as well. I bought a Honda and while it started every time, it cut like shit and leaves a trail of grass under one of the rear tires. I ended up recycling it at the scrap yard after about 6 months of terrible service. Absolute garbage. Total waste of $400+.

November 15, 2021, 08:20 PM

ZSMICHAEL

I have and heartily suggest a Toro Super Recycler.
^^^^^^^^
You gotta check what they have for an air filter. Some are so poor that they need to be changed every other week lest particles be ingested and score the pistons. Not every model was a problem, I have owned four over the decades. It was a engineering design problem.

November 15, 2021, 09:10 PM

tatortodd

Toro Recycler. On year 20 of mine, and my Dad is on year 30 of his. Every winter, I put in a new plug and a new air filter. Last winter was the first big maintenance which was swapping out the magneto and the carb (20-year old plastic crumbled when I removed the old carb). Amazon carburetors only cost about a dollar more than a carb rebuild kit.

I'm a big believer in 2 sets of identical mulching blades. Sharpen both sets at once (e.g. winter) and mid-summer do a swap (~20 hours for me). If you have a larger yard swap more often. Sharp blades cut better (quality and speed) and the grass looks better too.

November 16, 2021, 04:31 AM

sourdough44

I’ve been looking into a ‘mulching mower’, mostly to cut down on raking leaves. I have a Cub Cadet rider that’s going strong.

One thing I plan to do is block the discharge opening, so far just used it pretty much as-is, worked ok with a handful of passes.

I may look at that Toro if it’s on sale this Fall.

November 16, 2021, 09:33 AM

NavyGuy

I've had a Snapper NINJA mower for I'm guessing 20 years. Indestructible and mulches like.. well a Ninja. I sold it a few months back and the new owner loves it. Pricy for sure.

November 16, 2021, 10:26 AM

bronicabill

My Lawn Boy is a mulcher and came with the appropriate blade on it. Haven't used it in several years now but worked fine as long as you mow weekly.

November 16, 2021, 02:03 PM

PASig

quote:
Originally posted by mark123:

I bought a Honda and while it started every time, it cut like shit and leaves a trail of grass under one of the rear tires. I ended up recycling it at the scrap yard after about 6 months of terrible service. Absolute garbage. Total waste of $400+.

Huh. Maybe you had a lemon?

My Honda mulches the grass so finely you can hardly even tell it's there and cuts that grass like a master barber.

Maybe the lower end models aren't as good.

November 17, 2021, 08:28 AM

maxwayne

My Toro has worked fine for 20 years or so.

November 17, 2021, 09:10 AM

valkyrie1

Honda for me, been great at mulching or bagging for 8 years now, change the oil occasionally and sharpen the blades yearly

November 18, 2021, 03:38 AM

sourdough44

This thread may of been the catalyst, bought a used HRX-217, very nice shape. I used it a bunch yesterday, pretty much did all my leaves. I adjusted the deck some, blades were fairly sharp.

There was a Toro mulching mower for sale too, listed at $99, but an hour away.

I looked on fakebook marketplace, figuring it’s a good time to buy a mower.

November 18, 2021, 05:37 AM

Jelly

The problem with Honda 21" mowers from my experience with them they do not all cut the same. The biggest reason for this is the governor on them are not always set correctly. Honda manuals typically call for Maximum Governed Speed 2,950 ~ 3,100 rpm. They typical check out around 2800 to 2900 RPM. But I have seen some that were below that. One was set at 2550 and it did just what mark123 is talking about.

This issue can be fixed can be fixed with a good tachometer and a few simple tools. I typically set them around 3000 - 3050 RPM. Not only does this give you more power, the cut quality also goes up.

November 18, 2021, 11:03 AM

HRK

Since you asked about electric as well, there is a good option, EGO's 21 Inch Select Cut Model

Ego 21 inch comes with multi blades, you can setup the mower as you like, so you don't have to buy a set of mulching blades.

https://egopowerplus.com/21-in...ect-cut-xp-lm2156sp/

quote:
The Select Cut™ Multi-blade Cutting System is equipped with three, interchangeable lower blades; the Mulching Blade, High Lift Bagging Blade and Extended Runtime Blade. The Mulching Blade comes installed on the mower and is ideal for weekly mulching, giving you the mulching quality you would expected from a high-end gas lawn mower.

The High Lift Bagging Blade provides extra suction ideal for bagging, leaving your yard free of clippings. The Extended Runtime Blade provides an optimal balance of cut quality and runtime for all around performance. All three blades can be used interchangeably based on your desired cut.

The EGO Upper Blade is used in combination with the lower blade chosen to slice the grass into fine fragments; this greatly enhances cutting performance with all grass types

November 18, 2021, 07:59 PM

4MUL8R

Honda HRX 217. Variable speed drive. Bought from a Honda Powersports dealer. All set up, oil installed, warranty paperwork handled. Love it.

This replaced a Honda commercial push mower.

This replaced a Honda much like the HRX 217.

Honda's for 25 years or more.