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njnear76 · 06-23-2008, 08:05 PM

So it sounds like the Torro is the way to go for gas and Black and Decker is the way to go for electric.

I'm leaning towards electric. I'm planning on having a small vegetable garden next summer and it probably would be good not to have all that exhaust. Not to mention, I'm not a fan of breathing it either. Plus a quieter mower would be easy on the ears.

The obstacles are pretty minimal. There is only one tree and a soon to be defunct flag pole to maneuver around.

**ShortSnoutBrewing** · 06-23-2008, 08:05 PM

Corded Electric. That's what I have and what was used in the my house growing up. We had a old school push mower in a town house that worked great as well.

**the_bird** · 06-23-2008, 08:05 PM

Flag pole? You mean "hops pole"?

enderwig · 06-23-2008, 08:09 PM

Am I the only one that has considered other amenities in a mower that an avid homebrewer needs? Go with the one with the best cupholder!

Drunkensatyr · 06-23-2008, 08:09 PM

I guess I am part of the minority here...get a gas powered Troy Built. Grab one with a Briggs motor on it. Never had a single problem out of it and I use it for my lawn plus a chuck of the field behind my house. On a 3/4 acre lot, and cutting a patch as wide as my double driveway about 30 feet back in the field uses one tank of gas. A 2 gallon can keeps my going for over a month cutting weekly.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=250539-270-12AE449D011&lpage=none

**olllllo** · 06-23-2008, 08:10 PM

CAMRM
Campaign for Reel Mowers, lol.

**olllllo** · 06-23-2008, 08:11 PM

I just remember having a gas mower in a place (WI) where it sat idle for 9 months and it mostly sucked during that 1st start of the year.

njnear76 · 06-23-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_bird

Flag pole? You mean "hops pole"?

Heh. I can't wait to try my hand at growing some hops. Having a house is going to be good for my family.

Sure it will be a bit more work, but the benefit of not having to shove things under beds, couches to make room, plus having space to brew beer, and grow my own vegetables will be awesome.

My dog will be happy to have a fenced in yard to lord over and my wife can store all her baking crap.

I'm really lucky.

brauhaus · 06-23-2008, 08:21 PM

Reel mowers are where it's at...

I used to work at a John Deere sales shop as a mechanic and the worst mower to work on is the older craftsman mowers...

Briggs and Stratton are cheap motors, built with cheap parts and don't last as long as they used to... I remember when Briggs was the brand to buy... now... i'd avoid any briggs motor.

Kawasaki makes a great motor, as well as Kohler and Honda... they are solid engines that really take a good beating and still run at top shape...

I'd look into a Honda mower, or one with a Kawasaki or Kohler engine... look for less plastic and more metal.

Good Luck!

**GilaMinumBeer** · 06-23-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BraeHaus

Reel mowers are where it's at...

I used to work at a John Deere sales shop as a mechanic and the worst mower to work on is the older craftsman mowers...

Briggs and Stratton are cheap motors, built with cheap parts and don't last as long as they used to... I remember when Briggs was the brand to buy... now... i'd avoid any briggs motor.

Kawasaki makes a great motor, as well as Kohler and Honda... they are solid engines that really take a good beating and still run at top shape...

I'd look into a Honda mower, or one with a Kawasaki or Kohler engine... look for less plastic and more metal.

Good Luck!

I dropped $500 on a 8 hp Honda self propelled. The one with the casters out front for easier turning. 2 Days after the 3 year warranty was out the transmission locked up. It will freewheel when pushed forward and lock the back wheels when pulling it back.

It's made with a cheap aluminum x-mission but, it'll still cost $300 to replace.
Not everything Honda is worth the money. Now I have a John Deere and it can't keep the friggin' belt aligned nor can it get a decent prime with the chep bulb system they have on it.

When I have to do it again, I'll go with the commercial Toro with the iron/steel x-mission's. Heavy bastards but little maintenance.

There is nothing worse than a self-propelled mower that doesn;t self-propell.