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So, dummy that I am, I drove nearly 200 miles round trip to pick up three Lawn Boys for $60 total. Good price; I could part 'em out and be ahead of the game. Problem is, two of them are school bus, rear discharge 20 inchers.....with no bags!

One of these 20s (Model 8157) has not only self propel but a blade clutch and an F engine with an exhaust that shoots down into the deck adaptor, then comes back UP and shoots ot the side, above the deck, like most mowers, albeit with a giant muffler. I assume they did this because there was no room under the deck for the clutch AND a conventional muffler? Is this a pre-Dura Force or something? Anyway, even the handle looks kind of mechanically intimidating, with levers, cables and springs and crap all over it. I think just the handle weighs as much as my whole 19" Brick Top. This thing is a far cry from the nice, simple, light weight Lawn Boys we all love, making it my LEAST favorite model, EVER. What's yours?

The only good thing to come out of this trip was that one of the rear baggers had an OEM side discharge adaptor on it, making it so that you can mow one of these machines without having to bag! This is something new to me, giving the school bus models some salvation, in my eyes. Anybody else seen these?

Your 8157 has a F engine.

Model 8157 Lawnboy

Well, that one sure looks better than mine....!!

Have you guys seen the side discharge thing? You open the back safety door and slip this thing over it, which holds the door open and shoots the grass out to the left side (standing at the handle.) I never knew you could get such a thing.

bwright1818 said:

Well, that one sure looks better than mine....!!

Have you guys seen the side discharge thing? You open the back safety door and slip this thing over it, which holds the door open and shoots the grass out to the left side (standing at the handle.) I never knew you could get such a thing.

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Kind of like this?

Yes, it's the same idea but green, for the green mower. Mine is also open on the bottom.

I used to hate those mowers because most of my mowing is without a bag. It kind of makes them worth having, now. Good thing because now I have three. (One is commercial.)

I'd say anything with an F-series engine has at least one good thing going for it. The Lawn-Boys made today are much worse. They're just generic, B&S-powered, and bizarrely styled -- but with the LB name -- it annoys me that such a great brand name is being put on such crap.

Two-Stroke said:

I'd say anything with an F-series engine has at least one good thing going for it. The Lawn-Boys made today are much worse. They're just generic, B&S-powered, and bizarrely styled -- but with the LB name -- it annoys me that such a great brand name is being put on such crap.

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I have 4 lawn boys with the F engines 2 push 2 self-propel

I have an 86 self propelled with an F series, and 76 model with a D 400 series.The two best models ever made wouldn't trade them for anything!!!!!:wink::smile::thumbsup::laughing::biggrin::licking:

robinb66 said:

I have an 86 self propelled with an F series, and 76 model with a D 400 series.The two best models ever made wouldn't trade them for anything!!!!!:wink::smile::thumbsup::laughing::biggrin::licking:

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On my 8252 with a D400 series engine i had a jump start when the self-propel was engaged.
On that engine i removed the coil and installed a solid state coil from a 8232. With that coil you have a better spark.

Two-Stroke said:

I'd say anything with an F-series engine has at least one good thing going for it. The Lawn-Boys made today are much worse. They're just generic, B&S-powered, and bizarrely styled -- but with the LB name -- it annoys me that such a great brand name is being put on such crap.

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Yeah, I guess I'd agree with that. In my mind, I wasn't even counting the new, Toro four-stroke crap.

It's just that this mower is very heavy and is loaded with gizzmos. My dad used to have a picture of a cowboy on a horse, after OSHA got done making him safe. There was no way he could even move, basically. This mower reminds me of that.

I had a 8255 (1976) that gave me problems restarting when hot (probably low compression). I bought the mower used so I can't complain too much. I went to a Lawn-Boy dealer in St. Clair Shores MI to buy parts and the guy there said that particular model was one of Lawn-Boys worst models. He said L.B's made before then and after that model were really good. Not sure if he was just trying to sell me a new mower or if that was true.

I don't know....I brought the picture of your 8255 up and it looks like one that I wouldn't have minded having....That one has the self-propelled drive down low on the engine. I have seen some self-propelled PTOs off the TOP of the crank shaft, that look pretty lame....LOL maybe he WAS trying to sell you a new one!

jp1961 said:

I had a 8255 (1976) that gave me problems restarting when hot (probably low compression). I bought the mower used so I can't complain too much. I went to a Lawn-Boy dealer in St. Clair Shores MI to buy parts and the guy there said that particular model was one of Lawn-Boys worst models. He said L.B's made before then and after that model were really good. Not sure if he was just trying to sell me a new mower or if that was true.

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You need to change the 2 oil seals to improve the hot starting.

I have 8 f series 1 d series 1 c series 1 m series 1 v series 3 e series I think the v series is the worst my favorite are the early 80s f series I keep a few spare magnetos on hand they burn out quick on the f series I use onlt 2 strokes I have a 1985 toro with a suzuki 2 stroke 3 jacobsens 2 are commercials with the subaru robin better than any lawn boy imho

jp1961 said:

I had a 8255 (1976) that gave me problems restarting when hot (probably low compression). I bought the mower used so I can't complain too much. I went to a Lawn-Boy dealer in St. Clair Shores MI to buy parts and the guy there said that particular model was one of Lawn-Boys worst models. He said L.B's made before then and after that model were really good. Not sure if he was just trying to sell me a new mower or if that was true.

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When a lawn boy 2 stroke is hard to start it needs the crankcase oil seals changed which is a easy job to do.

bjl8691 said:

I have 8 f series 1 d series 1 c series 1 m series 1 v series 3 e series I think the v series is the worst my favorite are the early 80s f series I keep a few spare magnetos on hand they burn out quick on the f series I use onlt 2 strokes I have a 1985 toro with a suzuki 2 stroke 3 jacobsens 2 are commercials with the subaru robin better than any lawn boy imho

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The V series were a very cheap lawn boy engine.