First mower for <$300

[Snapper7800597]

Yeesch! 39ft? I am exhausted just thinking about that!! The Gator blade is awesome for mulching as well. My deck was steel, & yes, it was still good when I took it in.

 

[Snapper7800597]

I've been looking at used a little more, specifically Toro. Found this guy Toro self propelled mower 22" cut but not sure about the motor. Honestly $300 is my target but if there are mowers world's better for slightly more than I can stomach that. There is a Toro dealer just down the road from me. Worth checking out any of their recyclers?

Aha!! Briggs & Stratton engine!! And look, a flap on the side for easy switch out. Take the bag off & you'll be good to go...

 

[Carscw]

Toro has always made I good mower very well built. Will last as long as a snapper but nothing gives a better cut than a snapper

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[midnite rider]

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There is something charismatic about a black & white dog Yours is a cutie... Quote: Repairs to old mower $300.80, NEW gently used Snapper from a loving home $300 cash. I feel like I won the lottery!

Should have noted: The smoky mower is my OLD one--every hour it needed a new spark plug & 4 tbsp of oil..(I cleaned the plugs & reused them) My filter & pre-cleaner were toast once a month. NEW mower used only gas yesterday, & just blew out the filter with 240mph Worx corded blower. Lite weight is essential for girlie arms.. old blower was gynormous.

Curious to see what sort of mower our young troop ends up with!! You can seriously be a victim of information overload... I saw someone recommended a Toro--& since they sell them at my local Snapper dealership, they must be good too!!

I thought the picture was of your mosquito fogger. :laughing: Sounds like your purchase from the dealer will pay off quickly with the effort you were spending on the exterminator model. Seriously you can't go wrong with either the Toro or the Snapper but I am biased towards Snappers. I would recommend the same as yours for the young troop also. Stick around for you have a great perspective and ideas this forum could use. Say hello to Radar for me as I couldn't say no to those eyes either.

 

[Carscw]

I thought the picture was of your mosquito fogger. :laughing: .

Was thinking the same thing but did not say it I am trying out this new thing called be nice to every one 1 day a week.

Did you get any of the strong winds from that storm the a couple of days ago?
Went just north of me. I am thinking 2 more good storms and 1 more tornado and I won't have to rake pine needles Anymore.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[Snapper7800597]

Some wind...Made for a yard of leaves. Louise doesn't push her mower...Louise doesn't rake either. A yard full of leaves is an invitation for me to chop I will blow all the leaves into the center & now with glee.

Old mower, while it still cut just fine, was a smoking, LOUD, rattling disaster! After mowing, my whole body was still tingling from the vibrations, & I probably lost some hearing. When I pulled the throttle low on the new one, I was astounded by the soft purring engine.

ANOTHER thing to consider when getting the mower -- where will it live?? I would love a shed, but that's an arm, a leg & a foot. For now, it's on the back porch covered with a black sheet to keep it clean. Don't throw a tarp on it unless you want condensation to wreck havoc on the engine.

 

[midnite rider]

Was thinking the same thing but did not say it I am trying out this new thing called be nice to every one 1 day a week.

Did you get any of the strong winds from that storm the a couple of days ago?
Went just north of me. I am thinking 2 more good storms and 1 more tornado and I won't have to rake pine needles Anymore.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

I apologize cause I did not mean it that way. She made a wise choice in buying a better mower. :thumbsup:
We did not get the strong winds here at my place in Kennesaw but had about 2 inches of heavy rain overnight. Can not say the same of my land in Broomtown Alabama as I have not had the chance to visit it lately. it is in Dixie's Tornado alley. After the tornados and storms that went through Tuscallosa in 2011, I found pieces of insulation and even an intact photograph of a mother and newborn child in my woods there. Tuscaloosa is over 150 miles SW of Broomtown community!

 

[midnite rider]

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ANOTHER thing to consider when getting the mower -- where will it live?? I would love a shed, but that's an arm, a leg & a foot. For now, it's on the back porch covered with a black sheet to keep it clean. Don't throw a tarp on it unless you want condensation to wreck havoc on the engine.

If you have a crawl space under your house and can access it you may be able to fold the handlebars down and store it there. If you have a carport or garage with enough room is another option. I see small metal sheds on Craigs list ever so often that are inexpensive or come and get it.

 

[Snapper7800597]

If you have a crawl space under your house and can access it you may be able to fold the handlebars down and store it there. If you have a carport or garage with enough room is another option. I see small metal sheds on Craigs list ever so often that are inexpensive or come and get it.

Adorable--a crawl space in a Florida home...not gonna happen. I should have mentioned my porch has a cover - no way on the planet Snappy would be exposed to rain except for a bath! I was just thinking of where the soldier's wife will store the Toro/Snapper he plans to purchase. Short shed houses cost more than the 7x7 models which is insane. Mine is as protected from the elements as much as humanly possible... My worry now is theft. A lock on the gate & blankie over the mower will only go so far. My dream is a shed.

I apologize cause I did not mean it that way. She made a wise choice in buying a better mower. :thumbsup:

My old smoking mower had no reason for any apologies It was what it was...Saw absolutely nothing wrong with comments. I used carb cleaner to de-gunk the sprocket where the spark plug went. Then it was so dramatic, I snapped the photo. My neighbor saw the smoke & wondered if I was on fire.

As to a home for my mower - here is the problem that any woman on her own faces: I have nobody able/willing to build shed from the lovely $298 Lowes kit. I can buy them all day long, but who will install it properly so the next big wind doesn't fly it up to the Kennesaw Mtns?

These are the challenges I want to remind the husband before he makes the purchase---where will it live? (two overseas tours = two divorces----but this was also "way back" when calling cost $1.49/min, no PC's, no Skype...you know..the 80's!) AFN had only one station too!!

Just trying to say I totally understand the challenges that face a woman on her own. The mower should be the least of her worries... (AND HIS TOO!!) For the price, the Toro seems nice. Price a new one to compare...I see them here for 1/2 what the Snapper sells for.