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Buying a cheap new self propelled mower

#1

P

Pushmow

Hi All!

I recently bought a house and will be moving there at the beginning of March and need to start gathering yard care items! With that being said, money is very tight since we need so many things including furniture and all that great stuff! Anyways, I bought a Troy Bilt Tuff Cut 210 for $50 and the thing starts right up and seems to run great except for the fact that the self propel is engaged the whole time. I was able to flip that and someone is coming to buy it for $100! Yipee! The main reason I don't want it is because I have read reviews where the mower is painfully slow - something I dont have patience for! I've been using a self propelled Honda with adjustable speed and that thing is awesome! I am a Honda freak in terms of the auto world and have done extensive modifications to my Hondas to say the least....

However, I think I am going to get either the Yard Machines Model # 12A-A1BA729r 140cc from Home Depot for $249 or the Murray Select 21" from Wal-Mart which has a more powerful Briggs & Stratton 190cc motor for $246. I read quite a few people say the Yard Machines version was very quick but did not see anyone mention that in the reviews for the Murray mower from Wal-Mart.

Any suggestions or helpful tips would be great!


#2

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

Pushmow said:
Hi All!

I recently bought a house and will be moving there at the beginning of March and need to start gathering yard care items! With that being said, money is very tight since we need so many things including furniture and all that great stuff! Anyways, I bought a Troy Bilt Tuff Cut 210 for $50 and the thing starts right up and seems to run great except for the fact that the self propel is engaged the whole time. I was able to flip that and someone is coming to buy it for $100! Yipee! The main reason I don't want it is because I have read reviews where the mower is painfully slow - something I dont have patience for! I've been using a self propelled Honda with adjustable speed and that thing is awesome! I am a Honda freak in terms of the auto world and have done extensive modifications to my Hondas to say the least....

However, I think I am going to get either the Yard Machines Model # 12A-A1BA729r 140cc from Home Depot for $249 or the Murray Select 21" from Wal-Mart which has a more powerful Briggs & Stratton 190cc motor for $246. I read quite a few people say the Yard Machines version was very quick but did not see anyone mention that in the reviews for the Murray mower from Wal-Mart.

Any suggestions or helpful tips would be great!
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This is just 1 option, but if you liked your Honda you could maybe look for a used one. You will get more for your money. But if you can't find a good deal, or if you are set on buying new, I'm not sure whether I would get the Murray or Yard Machines.


#3

reynoldston

reynoldston

I would say just get the color you like the best. As far as the two mowers go you are getting just about the same quality with both. You don't need the bigger engine.


#4

P

Pushmow

Thank You for all of the suggestions everyone!

It turns out I got a very small bonus at work and I think I am going to use it on a better quality mower with a variable speed. I have looked around a little bit online and have narrowed my choices to a few. I'd appreciate any input/experience with any of these units!

Snapper $300
FWD, tall wheels in the back. I know that Snapper refused to sell to Wal-Mart for YEARS because the would not cheapen up their product like Wal-Mart wanted them too. Now I see they are sold there but come with a Briggs and Stratton engine. In this case, what makes this one worth spending the extra money on instead of the Murray self propelled unit that wal-mart sells for $250 the looks to have the exact same engine?

Troy-Bilt $300
I don't have much experience with Troy-Bilt but they don't seem to have as great of a following as other brands.

I didn't see any Hondas for $300 or less :(

I was also looking at this Snapper weed eater as well.


#5

bt3

bt3

I can't speak for Snapper's current products, but in my Avatar, you see my Snapper Commercial with Wisconsin Robin Engine that I purchased new in 1987. I still use it today and it's fantastic. We are coming up on 30 years of service with that mower with just spark plug, oil, and air filter changes. Not too shabby.

Whatever you decide, keep us posted and enjoy your new home and your new lawn.


#6

Snapperfreak

Snapperfreak

Ok I'll throw in my .02. I wouldn't buy any snapper, or any other mower, from Walmart. I just don't trust anything from there to have any quality. Not sure about the FWD snapper you're referring to, is it the SP90 or something? I'd pass on that, goofy drive system and uncomfortable engage lever for the drive. If I was going to buy a new mower I'd look at the Hondas. Might be in the $300-500 range, can't remember what they were going for last time I looked at them. Not the $1,000 ones but even Home Depot has them for around the price you're looking at. Now having said that, your local mower shop may have the same model for the same price. That's the direction I'd go. Hope that helps.


#7

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

Snapperfreak said:
Ok I'll throw in my .02. I wouldn't buy any snapper, or any other mower, from Walmart. I just don't trust anything from there to have any quality. Not sure about the FWD snapper you're referring to, is it the SP90 or something? I'd pass on that, goofy drive system and uncomfortable engage lever for the drive. If I was going to buy a new mower I'd look at the Hondas. Might be in the $300-500 range, can't remember what they were going for last time I looked at them. Not the $1,000 ones but even Home Depot has them for around the price you're looking at. Now having said that, your local mower shop may have the same model for the same price. That's the direction I'd go. Hope that helps.
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Agreed. I would stay away from any Walmart mower.


#8

Ric

Ric

Pushmow said:
Thank You for all of the suggestions everyone!

It turns out I got a very small bonus at work and I think I am going to use it on a better quality mower with a variable speed. I have looked around a little bit online and have narrowed my choices to a few. I'd appreciate any input/experience with any of these units!

Snapper $300
FWD, tall wheels in the back. I know that Snapper refused to sell to Wal-Mart for YEARS because the would not cheapen up their product like Wal-Mart wanted them too. Now I see they are sold there but come with a Briggs and Stratton engine. In this case, what makes this one worth spending the extra money on instead of the Murray self propelled unit that wal-mart sells for $250 the looks to have the exact same engine?

Troy-Bilt $300
I don't have much experience with Troy-Bilt but they don't seem to have as great of a following as other brands.

I didn't see any Hondas for $300 or less :(

I was also looking at this Snapper weed eater as well.
Click to expand...


Snapper is being sold at Walmart and comes with B&S engines because there own by B&S and so is Murry so one isn't any better than the other. Troy-Bilt is owned I believe by MTD and it's just my opinion that none are worth the money they are asking. Rather than buy one of those you would be better off taking LMF's option and maybe look for a used Honda. You will get more for your money and be better off.


#9

P

Pushmow

Everyone here has made some good points.

I went back to Wal-Mart tonight and took quite a bit of time to check out the Murray and Snapper mower. In terms of the body, handle, and a few other things, they both look identical even down to the serial number sticker placement underneath the mower. The only real difference I could tell between the two is they have different B&S engines and the self propel engagement levers were different.

I think I have a Snapper dealer in town so I am going to head over there tomorrow and see if they carry the Snapper SP80 Like WalMart does or if they have something similar. I'll report back as to what I find out.


#10

ILENGINE

ILENGINE

The mowers look alike down to the model number because MTD makes both the Snapper and the Murray mower that you are looking at. Some of the push mowers are Husqvarna, and all the riders are MTD.


#11

chevitz

chevitz

I would save a little more money and buy a toro personal pace mower. they are fantastic


#12

P

Pushmow

I have tried to figure out more ways to save up for a better mower but with everything else we need, it isn't going to happen. I more than likely am going to purchase the Snapper that I mentioned along with a Snapper weed wacker, do you guys think it is worth it over the much cheaper Murray versions?

Also, the B&S 725EXi engine on the Snapper claims that the oil never needs changed, just add and go. Coming from the auto world I do not and will never believe in "lifetime" fluids. Do you guys know if this motor even has a drain plug so I can change the oil? I plan on breaking it in for a couple mowing sessions with the oil that it comes with and then switching to a full synthetic. Next time I go to Wal-Mart ill see if it has a drain plug.


#13

B

bertsmobile1

No it does not hava drain plug which maker the engine cheaper to manufacture which is the whole point.
Walmart demand cheaper & cheaper mowers so they can make more profit.
If the Walmart mower goes bang, don't expect any help from Walmart and a frosty reception from the dealer.
Do you really need a SP.
If you are strapped for cash momenatrilly why not just get a bigger push mower for now and your SP latter when you have accumulated some more money for your favourite brand of SP mower.


#14

P

Pushmow

Yeah im pretty turned off by the neve having to change your oil so i have ruled it out. I did however find a Troy Bilt at Lowes that has a 160cc Honda engine so i am going to go with that. With 10% off coupon it will be the same price as the other mower i was looking at.


#15

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

Pushmow said:
Yeah im pretty turned off by the neve having to change your oil so i have ruled it out. I did however find a Troy Bilt at Lowes that has a 160cc Honda engine so i am going to go with that. With 10% off coupon it will be the same price as the other mower i was looking at.
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Good choice with the Honda engine. :thumbsup:


#16

T

tom white

Pushmow said:
I have tried to figure out more ways to save up for a better mower but with everything else we need, it isn't going to happen. I more than likely am going to purchase the Snapper that I mentioned along with a Snapper weed wacker, do you guys think it is worth it over the much cheaper Murray versions?

Also, the B&S 725EXi engine on the Snapper claims that the oil never needs changed, just add and go. Coming from the auto world I do not and will never believe in "lifetime" fluids. Do you guys know if this motor even has a drain plug so I can change the oil? I plan on breaking it in for a couple mowing sessions with the oil that it comes with and then switching to a full synthetic. Next time I go to Wal-Mart ill see if it has a drain plug.
Click to expand...

About changing the oil. I have a lawn boy without a drain plug. What the owner's manual says to do (and what I do) is turn it on its side and remove the filler cap, draining the oil out that way.

Seems to have worked OK on mine.


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