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cgallery said:

I have a 10247 two-cyclone push mower. My original reason for going with this mower is I like the chute/bag style. I have a small lot and I use it for fall leaf clean-up, it is awesome.

It hasn't been quite as reliable as I'd have hoped. The mower it replaced (I purchased the Lawn-Boy new) was a used home-center cheapie w/ Briggs and Stratton engine. It was already seven or eight years old when by dad gave it to me, and I used it for a few years, and we never had a problem w/ it.

The 2nd season after getting the 10247 it seemed like it was running a bit rougher. Any extra gas left in the tank leaked out the muffler if the unit was stored for a day or two. The automatic throttle vane tended to get stuck. Right after warranty it wouldn't start and I took it in and was told the coil had to be replaced.

But I still like it a lot. And I've owned it for about 10 years now, and I've done some work on it myself (for example, I replaced the float and needle to prevent the tank draining through the muffler if it sits.

The last few weeks have been dry and the grass hasn't done much. So I went to start the mower today and found the primer bulb was split. I thought it would be a good time to add a cutoff to the fuel line (it still drains the tank very slowly after the float/needle replacement), replace the spring on the throttle vane (it broke and I previously bent it into shape), and obviously install a new primer bulb.

I started taking things apart and ripped the gasket on the float bowl chamber (dumb). I went to my local parts depot and they had everything I needed but the gasket (figures).

But the thing that stunned me was this depot, where I had purchased the mower, had no green mowers for sale. Only red (Toro). Apparently Lawn-Boy is now a home-center brand, there are no two-stroke engines (I had known those were going away because of emissions standards), the Lawn-Boy product line I somewhat knew and with which I had a love/hate relationship, is gone.

So I got to thinking, what is the future of Lawn-Boy parts? If the gov't doesn't want two-cycle engines sold, will they mandate against parts availability? What about the oil I add to the gas, how long will I be able to find that?

Anyone care to comment?

Also, did Lawn-Boy ever make a four-stoke unit that will handle the same type of rear-bag with big black chute as my 10247, that didn't have self-propel? I'd keep my eyes open for one of those, if they made one, on Craigslist. My lot is small, I really don't want self-propel. I do know they made a unit w/ self-propel because I already found one of those.

Well anyhow, thanks for listening to me ramble.

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