The lawn is small, less than a 1/4 acre. I haven't had to mow in a while, but when I was a kid I would have had the job done in 30 or 40 minutes.

I don't think I want a corded electric mower - they seem like a pain. But they are cheap, and if they aren't as much a pain as I think, tell me.

Battery powered?

A small gas one? Maybe a used one?

I want cheap. I have no love for lawn work, and the goal is to get the grass cut with minimal fuss and expense. Having a deluxe mower will bring me no joy.

Here, these are cheap, no gas or electricrequired.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Here, these are cheap, no gas or electricrequired.

If it was a little smaller, maybe.

Toro Recycler from HD. Mine is 21 years old and Dad's is 30 years old.

Phenomenal cut, flexible cutting (bagging or mulch), no oil change for 10 years, and 21" or 22" width. If you buy the right model you get a couple neat options:

Personal Pace - the self-propelled matches your walking pace (i.e. different than putting it in gear and you having to match lawnmower's speed).

Smart stow - designed to stored vertically on rear wheels so it takes up less room in garage/shed

$399 for basic 21" self propelled

$499 for 22" Personal Pace with SmartStow

quote:

Having a deluxe mower will bring me no joy.

Back story on mine. I'm a first time homeowner and money is tight so I elected to go with a rebranded no name mower from HD. The lawn equipment guy assures me that Tecumseh motors aren't junk any more. It started so poorly (e.g. 20 to 30 pulls) that I was making a spectacle of myself starting it at the end of the driveway so I began starting it in my garage. Within a few months, it failed to even start no matter what I did so I took it to HD for warranty repair. It comes back a few weeks later and there must be 40 of the same model coming back from the repair shop. I insist on test starting it to insure the fix lives up to 2nd pull warranty guarantee. It doesn't so I ask for the manager who ended up being a super nice guy. He tries to start it, looks at the sea of lawnmowers back from repair, and offers me 100% of the original purchase price of the POS towards a brand new Toro (still use it 21 years later).

What's brought me joy is first or 2nd pull starting all of these years. Winterize it and put it in my shed all winter in Alaska, fill it full of gas, and starts 1st or 2nd pull. Winterize it and put it in storage for 3 years while I lived in a condo in Socal, put gas in it in Houston, and starts 1st pull.

Low maintenance - I change the oil once a year, put in new plugs once a year, put in new air filter once a year, and put on sharp blades twice a year.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Ryobi Whisper Series
Bought mine at HD, yard is just under 1/2 acre.
Plenty of power, but when it's thick, I go through 4 batteries (2 6ah & 2 4ah) to do it all.
Also got a matching blower & am probably going to replace my 2 stroke Stihl weedeater with a Ryobi.

Simple, but pricey at the upper end. Mine has switchable AWD, the RWD & mid-tier models are a bit cheaper.

If you hadn't said cheap I would have recommended the Milwaukee M18 battery powered mower. In your case, if you don't have any other outdoor equipment that's gas powered, I'd recommend a cheaper battery powered mower from Ego, Snapper, Kobalt, Craftsman, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Toro Recycler from HD. Mine is 20 years old and Dad's is 30 years old.

Phenomenal cut, flexible cutting (bagging or mulch), no oil change for 10 years, and 21" or 22" width. If you buy the right model you get a couple neat options:

Personal Pace - the self-propelled matches your walking pace (i.e. different than putting it in gear and you having to match lawnmower's speed).

Smart stow - designed to stored vertically on rear wheels so it takes up less room in garage/shed

$399 for basic 21" self propelled

$499 for 22" Personal Pace with SmartStow

I have one of these also. For a small residential yard they are close to perfect.

Honda. Honda. Honda. In that order.

There are inexpensive models, and crazy expensive models.

A basic push mower, by Honda, would be awesome.

I began with a hydrostatic transmission gas-powered mower many years ago.

I followed with a commercial gas-powered mower, without any wheel drive, for my flat yard next.

Now, I have the Harmony with hydrostatic transmission again.

Buy from a real Honda dealer, not a big box store. Better service, better warranty registration, and the unit is put together for you.

One neighbor purchased an ego snow blower then in the spring went and got an ego mower.
The other neighbor did the same thing

Both are happy as kittens in the butter

HONDA
Self propelled, 21”
Starts on the first time, every time
It’s just like taking a walk, the mower does all the work

quote:

Phenomenal cut, flexible cutting (bagging or mulch), no oil change for 10 years, and 21" or 22" width. If you buy the right model you get a couple neat options:
Personal Pace - the self-propelled matches your walking pace (i.e. different than putting it in gear and you having to match lawnmower's speed).
Smart stow - designed to stored vertically on rear wheels so it takes up less room in garage/shed

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ONE big problem with personal pace is the design of the air cleaner. The manual says change every 25 hours. It should say every 15 minutes. This of course causes scoring of the cylinder. If they go back to a sponge filter and keep it away from the gas discharge should not be a problem.

quote:

One neighbor purchased an ego snow blower then in the spring went and got an ego mower.
The other neighbor did the same thing

Both are happy as kittens in the butter

Ad me to that list. Sold off my stihl leaf blower and trimmer for the ego versions. Good power and battery life. No more mixing gas and fusing with starting.
Wonder if I qualify for tax credits?

21" Toro Recycler served me well for fifteen years or so until I started paying someone to cut my grass. When I hauled it out last April to knock down the winter weeds in my garden, it started right up after four or five years of sitting. Solid design and implementation.

But, if I were to buy today, I'd probably go battery powered as I have for practically all of my other yard equipment. Just not having to deal with gasoline makes it a no brainer.

Battery. Minimum maintenance. No oil nor spark plug to change. No fuel to buy and store.

We have an EGo self-propelled, happy with it, others might be just as good.

EGo all day long for no more than you have to cut.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
HONDA
Self propelled, 21”
Starts on the first time, every time
It’s just like taking a walk, the mower does all the work

Can't go wrong with this suggestion.

I’d go with a tiny 28” Snapper riding mower or similar. I think Troy Bilt also makes a tiny 28 or 30” rider. You may find a used one on FB marketplace. They can be found under $500 used here.

Trust me, get a Honda

I have the HRX-217 with the Hydrostatic Drive and it’s been great

Right now I’m paying for a guy to come cut the grass because I’m just so busy trying to raise 3 little kids but this fall I’ll be using it to bag leaves then next year I’m back to cutting my own grass.

This thing doesn’t just mulch the grass, it PURÉES it! Also has an awesome bagging system if you like to bag, I blow my leaves into big piles then use the Honda with bagger to suck them up and chop them fine, then I dispose of.

It wasn’t cheap at around $1200 but it’s been worth every penny and I know it will last me forever.

Honda HRX Mowers

You mentioned cheap, it's been a while since I was in the market but $200 to $300 is probably the lowest you can spend while still getting something self propelled that is reliable.

I know Hondas get mentioned as often as Weber in a gas grill recommendation thread. I think they earn the reputation. I have one with a composite deck material and it's been excellent. If your turf is of decent quality (not an assortment of weeds) there is no accumulation of soggy grass because of the slick rust-proof surfaces the composite deck offers.

Hondas with this deck are in the $500 - $600 range if I recall correctly. Starts on first pull everytime with very little effort.

I keep mine in the garage and it's been working perfectly for 6 years now.

If you want it to start on the second pull, get any brand mower with a Honda gas motor. Run it dry before you put it up each winter, and it will start on the second pull and cut the grass without compliant, cursing, or mechanical intervention. Done and done.