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Looking to buy my first walk behind mower. Can spend $500-$700. Been looking at some John Deere's at Lowes. Any suggestions would be helpful. Doesn't have to be a JD.

AmClatter said:

Looking to buy my first walk behind mower. Can spend $500-$700. Been looking at some John Deere's at Lowes. Any suggestions would be helpful. Doesn't have to be a JD.

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It would be nice to have some more info like how big is your yard, and what kind of terrain is it? But I would recommend a Honda HRX, specifically the HRX217HYA. It is one of the best mowers available! It has a great cut! Here is some more info on it:

There are many reasons why a Honda HRX is the right choice. To start off, the GCV190 engine is way better (more powerful) than the GCV160 engine on all the other Honda models (the HRR, HRC, and HRS). Secondly, the NeXite deck on the HRX is very durable, won't rust, and repels grass! With the grass I mow, I hardly ever have to clean the mower deck! Next, the controls are great. You can get the BBC on the HRX217HYA, so you can stop the blades and keep the engine running. Lastly, it has the Clip Director, so you can switch from bagging to mulching or anywhere in between with no mulch plug! The list goes on and on, but those are some of the main points. Check out the link and pictures below, and ask if you have any questions!


Honda Lawn Mowers: HRX217HYA, HRX217K4HYA

The MSRP on the Honda website says the HYA is a bit out of your price range but I think I bought mine for less than the MSRP. If you want to spend less money, then look at the HRX217VKA. It has the Smart Drive system, which is different than the HYA.


Honda Lawn Mowers: HRX217VKA, HRX217K4VKA

im not sure the specific name but the husqvarna 4x4 with the honda engine looks to be a great mower. and fanatic is right, hondas are really good. and by what they say it is one of the best mowers to get.

metz12 said:

im not sure the specific name but the husqvarna 4x4 with the honda engine looks to be a great mower. and fanatic is right, hondas are really good. and by what they say it is one of the best mowers to get.

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Here is the Husqvarna AWD mower Metz is talking about:

• AWD (All-Wheel Drive) Walk Behind Mower | Husqvarna
• HUSQVARNA HU800AWD - Lawnmowers

Consumer Reports puts three Hondas and two Toros in their top five picks for mowers with multiple speed transmissions, and all would most likely be in your price range. My personal pick, Honda, and buy from a dealer not a big box store, for the product knowledge and support.

Having worked on Husqvarna, Honda, and Toro, in your price range I would highly recommend the Toro Personal Pace recycler with the cast aluminum deck. It will do what ever you ask of it and will be there long after the Husqvarna, and is more reliable and easier to use that the Hondas, plus it costs less.

Disclaimer. This is just my opinion and many of the younger members of this forum say it ain't worth much cause I'm an old fart.

Rivets said:

Having worked on Husqvarna, Honda, and Toro, in your price range I would highly recommend the Toro Personal Pace recycler with the cast aluminum deck. It will do what ever you ask of it and will be there long after the Husqvarna, and is more reliable and easier to use that the Hondas, plus it costs less.

Disclaimer. This is just my opinion and many of the younger members of this forum say it ain't worth much cause I'm an old fart.

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rivets, i'm not saying that at all. i have learned alot of things from you on this forum. i have used that exact mower and it does do the job quite well. i have never worked on the thing though.

Welcome to LawnMowerForum!

I moved your thread to the Mower Buying & Pricing forum. :smile:

Got to be Toro. They are not the biggest golf course equipment manufacturer in the world for nothing.
The 22" with briggs and rotostop is an amazing machine for the price.

The Toro doesnt have levers but a simple push the handles down further to go faster.
Reliable and easy starting.

The 30" also looks a fair machine and at full speed you need to run to keep up with it.

AmClatter said:

Looking to buy my first walk behind mower. Can spend $500-$700. Been looking at some John Deere's at Lowes. Any suggestions would be helpful. Doesn't have to be a JD.

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Well you've received a lot of good answers. The mowers that have been suggested are all real good mowers. Keep in mind though when you make your purchase that there a lot of mowers available in the $400 to $500 range, you just need to pick the one that would most suit your needs. Questions like How often are you planning on mowing, what type of terrain are you going to be mowing and what type of acreage do you have, all can play a part in the decision you make. Something else I would look at when buying is what type of engine it has, IMO a Kawasaki or Honda engine are the engines to have.

Thanx for all the great replies. Lot's of good info here.

The problem with forums is everybody has their own opinions and theirs is correct.
The best thing to do is go to a local dealer and see what they sell as they will be able to advise on your conditions and needs.
Im a briggs man and would only sell if the mower has a briggs but if the dealer only knows how to fix hondas then a Briggs would be no good.

Its like cars, whats best a Porsche or Ferrari? All personel opinions.

pugaltitude said:

The problem with forums is everybody has their own opinions and theirs is correct.
The best thing to do is go to a local dealer and see what they sell as they will be able to advise on your conditions and needs.
Im a briggs man and would only sell if the mower has a briggs but if the dealer only knows how to fix hondas then a Briggs would be no good.

Its like cars, whats best a Porsche or Ferrari? All personel opinions.

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As I said IMO Kawasaki and Honda are the engine to go with, and you are right it is a personal opinion. It's also my opinion that right now Kawasaki and Kohler own the market with mower engines.

AmClatter said:

Thanx for all the great replies. Lot's of good info here.

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Please let us know what you decide when you make a decision. :smile:

Ric said:

As I said IMO Kawasaki and Honda are the engine to go with, and you are right it is a personal opinion. It's also my opinion that right now Kawasaki and Kohler own the market with mower engines.

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Kawasaki and Honda only dabble with engines.

B&S produced 9.5 million engines in 2012.
They produce 70% of lawn and garden engines worldwide.
The "sprint" engine model 9/10 has now ended production due to not complying with emissions.
Since 1955 they have made approx 160million of that engine.

If everything was powered by the "Vanguard" range of engine then you probably wouldnt use anything else.
In 15 years of selling them I have done one warranty and that was due to engine being run in an enclosed area.
Downfall is it can be expensive so manufacturers go for a cheaper option which means quality is low.

For the upper range of money go with a dealer and get the Toro or the Honda. For Lowes just buy two for the price of one. If you are going to be doing the service work you may as well have the spare.

pugaltitude said:

Kawasaki and Honda only dabble with engines.

B&S produced 9.5 million engines in 2012.
They produce 70% of lawn and garden engines worldwide.
The "sprint" engine model 9/10 has now ended production due to not complying with emissions.
Since 1955 they have made approx 160million of that engine.

If everything was powered by the "Vanguard" range of engine then you probably wouldnt use anything else.
In 15 years of selling them I have done one warranty and that was due to engine being run in an enclosed area.
Downfall is it can be expensive so manufacturers go for a cheaper option which means quality is low.

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Kawasaki and Honda only dabble with engines??? Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year. Kawasaki is or does more than likely the same, but hey what can I say they only dabble right. You would be right though, B&S more than likely do produce 70% of the lawn and garden engines world wide and you can get them at Walmart. Kmart, Sears, HD, Lowes, Ace Hardware and so on. Any where you can buy mowers cheap, Big Box stores where people tell me not to buy mowers from. :confused2: Now I will admit the Vanguard is or was a decent engine but compare the sales of those to the Kawasaki or Kohler sales each year on mowers and see who sells more?

Ric I always look forward to see what you right your always write with what you say

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Carscw said:

Ric I always look forward to see what you right your always write with what you say

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

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Carscw, looking at your response I really don't know what to say so I'm not going to say anything. (Homophones)

Ric said:

Carscw, looking at your response I really don't know what to say so I'm not going to say anything. (Homophones)

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I thought you would be happy I used homophones

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Carscw said:

Ric I always look forward to see what you right your always write with what you say

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

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Carscw said:

I thought you would be happy I used homophones

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

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You don't have a clue do you???

Ric said:

Kawasaki and Honda only dabble with engines??? Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year. Kawasaki is or does more than likely the same, but hey what can I say they only dabble right. You would be right though, B&S more than likely do produce 70% of the lawn and garden engines world wide and you can get them at Walmart. Kmart, Sears, HD, Lowes, Ace Hardware and so on. Any where you can buy mowers cheap, Big Box stores where people tell me not to buy mowers from. :confused2: Now I will admit the Vanguard is or was a decent engine but compare the sales of those to the Kawasaki or Kohler sales each year on mowers and see who sells more?

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When it comes to garden machinery they only dabble.
Yes they may make 14million engines but if Briggs made bikes then they could be the same.
Im only talking about the garden side.
An engine for a lawnmower and bike may have the same 4stroke workings but ends there.
If the engine isnt right for the application then it dosent matter how many engines you make if its rubbish it wont work.
As far as I see in my market, Honda make between 2000 - 4000 units a year for their own and other oem.
Kawasaki and Kohler are below that.
Yes Briggs supply engines to manufacturers that sell in bigbox stores, dealers and internet from walk behinds up to tractors but thats only because nobody else can supply.
At this moment if Briggs were to disappear nobody could keep up will supply or demand.
The chinese are trying and now their engines are improving.
Even BMW are using chinese Loncin to produce a motorbike engine.

Ric said:

Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.

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Yeah....they are pretty big! :thumbsup:

I really want one of those older Honda offroad scooters:licking:.......

Anyways, I really like the Snapper mowers. Not only are they built very well, but they also cut well with the right blade. I can't say much for the newer ones, though.