Best brand and features for push lawn mower?
What is the best brand and what are some of the features for a push lawn mower? We have a large yard mostly flat with a slight slant. Where did you buy it?
my husband says he wants the exercise so he can lose weight
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It sounds like you probably want a push mower, though a self-propelled is much easier on the legs & back, especailly on hills with a large yard.
Some of the more recent improvements:
Squeeze lever control of self propelled wheel speed.
A one touch control of cutting deck. One lever instead of 4 moves deck.
Key (electric) Start
No choke starting.
Gas caps which automatically add fuel stabilizer to fuel to prevent clogging of carb.
Longer homeowner warranties. (2 years+)
With a large yard, I would get at least a 6.5 HP engine with a mulching blade. Large rear wheels are overrated, though they do make it easier to negotiate some turns.
The John Deere JS45 ($500) has the pivoting front wheels which makes the unit more manuverable around tight turns, a plus for a yard with alot of trees and beds. JD is also known for better cut quality and reliability. A smaller cut width (21" vs. 22") with a similar powered engine will yield a better quality cut. That would be my pick.
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Consumer reports Apr. 08 issue has a great comparison of nearly every push/self-propelled lawn mower.
Lawn Boy, Honda, Briggs and Straton, John Deere.
All make fine products.
I like large rear wheels for stability on uneven ground. Another nice feature is a 3-in-1 deck that will mulch, side discharge and rear bag.
Electric start is nice too, if you find it hard to pull.
You can buy at Lowes, ACE, Sears, Home Depot. All are fine. Might say go ahead and buy the extended warranty. Things just aren't made like they use to be.
If you have a large yard, get a tractor. As far as push mowers go, I would go with a cheap model….yes a cheap model. I have had experience with all kinds. The ones with a lot of features (self-propelled, larger motor,etc) add weight to the mower and believe me, you will feel it in your back very quickly. The cheap push mowers are light and easy to maneuver around trees, etc. Just get one of the low-priced Sears Craftsman models or one they sell at the Home Depot.
you don't want elec start or big back wheels, i agree with second poster except for, you should defiantly get one that has power driven wheels they are great. there is a lever you move to turn the drive wheels on or off. you can mow fast with much less effort. dont get the cheapest one
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productList&Ne=4294967294&category=Push+Mowers&N=4294952745
make sure whatever model you buy it has a mulching blade, you may consider if you want to bag the grass or not. if you do you'll want one with a bager. while all the mowers mentioned are fine mowers, they're a lot more expensive than the sears craftsman.
good luck to ya
the self propelled ones always slowed me down
I'd be more concerned with what kind of engine the mower is equipped with. Anything with Honda engine is your best bet. Briggs makes a decent engine but Honda is far more reliable and cheaper/easier to work on when you do get problems with it.
I'd say get a Cub Cadet though. They have Kawasaki engines which are great just as good, if not better than Hondas. They tend to be a little more pricey but if you are willing to spend a little extra they are worth it.
STAY AWAY FROM HOME DEPOT. Any big name stores like Home Depot and Lowes give you a better price but only because they take name brand mowers and put cheap parts/engine on them. You'll have it in the shop at the within a year. Look for a small local shop. Generally the smaller places actually know what they are talking about.
being that spring is around the corner, you're going to want to get the best products available, and if your husband wants to lose a bit of weight, check out this:
http://www.ordertree.com/cms/american-lawn-mower-20-inch-corded-electric-mower/2722.html