Best Push Lawnmower

My normal landscaper has steady been going up and used to discount for weekly instead of bi weekly. I found another guy that’s $50 cheaper/month (currently paying 75 bi weekly, could get $240/month) but another route I’m thinking is just a decent cheap mower to maintain my lawn now in growth season in DFW Texas, I’d mow in between the bigger edging/blowing every other week. Curious to hear the this tundra groups experiences with $300-$600 mowers.

Looking at Honda, toro, cub cadet. But open to others if there’s a specific brand. 3/4 acre with a big pool in the middle so 1/2 acre of movable grass with turns/edges etc…. Which has me leaning towards not buying a mower and switching to weekly with the cheaper guy.

 

Honda. I have a self-propelled one that is at least 12 years old now. I bought it used for $100 in 2013.

It still fires up first or second pull after sitting all winter.

 

Honda.
gas

get one while they last.

 

Honda or Toro.

 

#whatever agreeing with Honda. They're discontinuing the line of mowers in the US though so time is running out.

It's more than you're looking to spend but the HRX mowers have a composite deck so no worry about rust

 

I have an 11 year old Honda that I’ve worn the tires bald so the propulsion doesn’t work as well as it used to. Original spark plug, second set of blades, oil change annually, and non-ethanol fuel. Never taken more than two pulls to start. Pretty sure I bought it at HD.

 

I have used several and when I left DFW, I loaned my brother my Honda self propelled while I looked for a house. I ended up giving it to him because the house didnt work out like I planned. So it is on year 8-9 and starts almost every time on the first pull. The gas you use has a lot to do with that.

My mom just gave me my dads old mower since he passed away. So it is at least 5 years old, if not older. Honda self propelled. I put fresh gas in it and it started on the second pull.

There are some great toros out there. I loved mine (long story on why I owned so many, lets just keep it short and say I divorced the issue) but the two I owned were less than 100$ in savings from a Honda. So.. now, Honda only until I get my tractor.

 

EGO self propelled they work great and start at the squeeze of a trigger. But not cheap

 

Currently on a Honda gasser but considering a DeWalt flexvolt 60v because I use that battery platform. Currently run the dewalt flexvolt string trimmer and blower and they are great. You can find decent priced ones on fb marketplace. The flex volt batteries I usually buy off eBay (only from well rated sellers) and haven’t had an issue.

 

Honda with the football helmet material deck.

Literally last a lifetime.

They cost more (around 650) - but it’s worth it. Metal deck can be had without the self propel for around $200 less - pretty heavy gauge steel - but steel nonetheless. The plastic decks will never rot.

Years ago it was Lawnboy - wasn’t uncommon you could find one that was still going after 30 years - now it’s Honda. I wound up buying a spare at auction a couple falls ago for $50 - just because. Both start right up first pull and mow great.

 

Another one on the Honda bandwagon. Get 'em while they are still available...not cheap but they run for-freaking-ever.

 

Have you considered electric? I had a honda gas self propelled for close to 15 years that I loved (the wheel stripped out and it was going to cost A LOT to fix it due to the construction of the mower). I ended up getting the 40V self propelled ryobi that came with 2 batteries for $500. Even the cheapest push mowers were going for close to $400.......I have a half acre with a lot of twists and turns and edging and can get it done on one battery and about half charge of the second (you can have both installed and use a key to switch from one to the other if it runs out).

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-4...0-Ah-Batteries-and-Charger-RY401140/314600837

 

Second this ^^^
I'm going on my third year with the Ryobi and it just keeps surprising me how well it works Bought it for the wife because you know me man need gas power
Looking at their z-turn ridder now but will probably hold off another year and shop other brands but my next ridder will be electric
grease gun and garden hose are the only things needed for maintenance

 

Honda Gas!
Ego Electric!

 

Honda is killing of their mowers?? Why!?

 

If memory serves, CARB is restricting sale of small internal combustion motors including mowers, weedwackers, generators, etc. I don’t live in a place governed by CARB so perhaps others can chime in.

I’ve been in the Milwaukee m18 ecosystem for quite a while so I went with their m18 mower when it came out a few years ago. Left it in front the shop for an hour before my boys noticed it and hunted me down to beg me to let them put it together and use it. I’ve mowed the lawn twice since then. It’s out of your suggested price range but if you’re Team Red, it works as expected for an M18 tool.

 

Toro is no longer any good in my experience. Bought a nice one with the blade stop. Took very good care of it but it only lasted five years (should have gone Honda). Now I’m into year 1.5 with the free craftsman mower and I’m up to gear weight oil. Hoping that team yellow battery mower will go on sale for a reasonable price soon .

 

There's a reason 95% say Honda. Run it out of gas before winter and don't mow tree stumps with it, that's about it.

 

HRN216 Honda is the generic model you will find still. Basic but self propelled. Still lift able into the truck bed. There is technically a non self propelled model Honda makes but its next to impossible to find, I tried for a long time to find one, ended up with a self propelled. Honda is the way to go and like others have said don't wait too long as gas mowers are becoming hard to find. I would grab a spare blade set and maintenance items too. I do about 0.6 acres of grass with a 21" Honda and takes about 2-2.5 hours doing mulch mode. I told the wife I was going to get a riding mower one day and came home with an FJ cruiser so will be using the 21" for a while lol.

 

I would say Husqvarna as mine has been going on 6+ years with no problems. But it seems like they deleted the side discharge and are solely bagged on their new models.

 

I broke my unwritten rule - to never own a battery lawn mower.

I fired our lawn guy & bought a ryobi set.

awful. just awful. weak. pathetic.

my place at the lake lawn is tiny. it takes me 14 minutes to mow it.

never, ever, ever, buy a battery mower.



I have a Honda mower at the Houston house. beast.


I have owned 3 honda mowers.

All 3 still run like the day they were bought. I donated them to friends.

 

I was never a fan of the battery mowers but my son had one at his old house in diamond head , MS. Small yard and it impressed the hell out of me. Don’t remember the brand but it was green in color. I always had gas mowers, generally Briggs and Stratton engines. Smaller yards. Now I have a riding mower, also Briggs and Stratton engine. I only put non-ethanol fuel in it. So far so good.

 

My B&S mower wasn't running last fall. I cleaned the spark plug and it fired right up.

 

I've been beating the hell out of this El Cheapo mower for 21 years now. And I mean abusing it in every way imaginable, including using it like a miniature bush hog. But the silly thing starts on the first or second pull every single time, even after months of disuse. I do change the oil once a year and feed it ethanol free gas. I think maybe I changed the plug once but I can't be sure. It hilariously just refuses to ever die.

 

Okay, but the tires are barely worn. Is it 21 years of mowing a postage stamp sized lawn?

 

This is the way to go.
Mine was found in an ally 10 years ago, its a 4stroke that runs on last years 2stroke fuel, starts reliably with starter fluid and has all the safety measures removed.

 

Awesome. Mine live in the elements and always fire up. Little engines are champs.

 

That's funny there...